Introduction

This part of the Carretera Austral cuts right into the heart of the Aysen Region of Chile. The scenery is different to the northern sector of the Austral road. It is less lush with fewer trees.

Here is the large General Carrera Lake, the remote village with no streets: Caleta Tortel and the end of the road: Villa O’Higgins.

It goes without saying that here at ExperienceChile.Org we will arrange the rent a car you will need to drive through the Patagonian forest and Andean valleys, as well as your accommodation.

First Leg: Coyhaique to Cerro Castillo

Coyhaique to Cerro Castillo

Total: 209km

Coyhaique Balmaceda Turn Off Cerro Castillo

Route Description

The road south from Coyhaique is initially paved and passes along a quite spacious valley floor. After 40km you will arrive to the entrance, on the left, that takes you to Balmaceda airport, which is about 5km from the actual turn off. Passing by the entrance to Balmaceda airport the road will continue towards Cerro Castillo, the distance from Balmaceda to Cerro Castillo is 47km.

From Balmaceda Airport

Many of you will arrive at Balmaceda airport (Coyhaique) pick up the car and then head south, however, you must make sure you have a full tank of gas, which may require you to go into Coyhaique (45km north of Balmaceda) to fill up.

From the exit point of the Balmaceda airport onto the main Carretera Austral, you come out of the main airport road and meet the main Ruta 7. Here you turn LEFT and head towards Villa Cerro Castillo on a good, paved road for 47km.  This road will pass the entry sign into “Comuna de Rio Ibanez”, marked with entry posts either side of the road saying “Bienvenida a Comuna de Rio Ibañez”. The scenery here starts to look pretty and interesting, with steep valley sides of different coloured rock, and it feels like going through a canyon.

Cerro Castillo

The paved road will then arrive to a point where there are a number of sharp, meandering turns that need to be navigated as the road heads down a fairly steep hill side to the valley below where the village of Cerro Castillo is located. This section of the road reveals splendid views down the valley to the snow-covered mountains, glaciers, and valley plains of the Cerro Castillo National Park. The landscape here is impressive with jagged peaks, like “pin heads” pointing up on top of the mountain summits giving the impression that there is a castle on top of the mountain, hence the name “Castillo”, which means castle.

The route takes in the Cerro Castillo valley floor for a while until it heads up and then down into another valley that was covered in volcanic ash around 1990 - 1991. The hot ash from the Hudson Volcano eruption fell over the trees and river in this valley resulting in the devastation of most of the plant life for many years as well as blocking the river flow. However, over time the trees have recovered, and the river flow has found new routes through the valley.

Second Leg: Villa Cerro Castillo to Puerto Rio Tranquilo 122km

Villa Cerro Castillo to Puerto Rio Tranquilo

Total: 122km

Villa Cerro Castillo Puerto Rio Tranquilo

Route Description

The next place of interest, apart from the natural scenery along all of the route, will be the village of Puerto Rio Tranquilo. This is 122km south from Cerro Castillo. After passing through the valley previously covered in volcanic ash the road will rise up fairly steeply. To your right will be a superb view down the valley.

Marble Caves

In Puerto Rio Tranquilo there is not much of particular interest in the village, but a couple of km or so the other side of the village, on the left is the entrance point into a car park beside the Lake General Carrera. It is from here where the excursions depart to take people to see the Marble Caves.

National Park Laguna San Rafael

It is also the start point to get to Laguna San Rafael National Park in a vehicle (not the catamaran trip from Puerto Chacabuco).

Third Leg: Puerto Rio Tranquilo to Puerto Guadal 59km

Puerto Rio Tranquilo to Puerto Guadal

Total: 59km

Rio Tranquilo El Maiten Puerto Guadal

Route Description

The Lago General Carrera runs west to east for a length of around 160km between Chile and Argentina. It is an extremely large body of water, surrounded by incredible, draw-dropping scenery.

Past the car park entrance point for the marble caves the Lake General Carrera will be in view on your left. This is the second largest lake in Chile and shared with Argentina, whereupon it is called Lake Buenos Aires. If you feel that your eyesight is deceiving you because the colour of the water in the lake is turquoise, do not be alarmed. This is the real colour.

The road will continue following the north-western arm of the lake until you get to an orange bridge. This bridge is the crossing point where the large Lake General Carrera flows through a narrow channel into another lake called Lake Beltrand.

Once across the bridge you will be following the western shores of Lake General Carrera and it is from this point that many accommodation options are located.

Eventually there will be a junction in the road called “Cruce Maiten”. This point is 50km south from Puerto Rio Tranquilo. At this road junction you need to turn left to Puerto Guadal, or continue to Puerto Bertrand, to the right. We will take you to Puerto Guadal which is 9km east of the Cruce Maiten. In this area ExperienceChile.Org will have hopefully arranged your accommodation for a few nights.

Places of Interest & Activities in this Sector Include:

Activities

Trekking, horseback riding; the Maqui waterfalls, which are up to 25m in height, the “forgotten mine” – an old zinc and copper mine where the original uninhabited buildings can be viewed; walking through native Lenga forest; fossil hunting where it is possible to find sea creature fossils that prove that this part of the world was, at one time, covered by the ocean.

The Marble Caves

In Lake General Carrera is an area of marble rock that has been eroded by the natural lapping of the waves in the lake and this action has smoothy sculptured away areas of the marble. The result is varied shapes of marble that look highly impressive when the sun is shining.

Jet Boat

There is a great, fast-speed jet boat that takes passengers on an exhilarating wild trip on the lake and up the River Leones to see the Leones Glacier.

Glaciers

If you like to see glaciers or even hike on them, then this is also possible too. It is even possible to get to the Laguna San Rafael from here to see the large San Rafael Glacier. These excursions are all managed by local suppliers, but we can prearrange them for you.

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