Itinerary
- Day 1
Santiago
You'll get picked up from Santiago airport and head to your hotel in the city center. The city tour takes you through the old town, stopping at the market, cathedral, and Plaza de Armas to get a feel for the city. Later, you'll climb Santa Lucia hill, which gives you great views of Santiago and the Andes in the distance.
Included Activities
- City tour of historic Santiago old town
- Visit the market
- Visit the cathedral
- Visit Plaza de Armas
- Santa Lucia hill viewpoint
Landmarks Plaza de Armas Santa Lucia Hill Santiago Cathedral - Day 2
Santiago to Coyhaique
After breakfast, you head to the airport for a flight to Balmaceda, a small town in Patagonia. From there, it's a short drive to Coyhaique, which has a nice plaza, pedestrian zone, and local shops. Spend the rest of the day walking through town to get your bearings and start settling into Patagonia.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to Balmaceda
- Drive to Coyhaique
- Stroll through Coyhaique town center
Landmarks Coyhaique Plaza - Day 3
Coyhaique to Puerto Río Tranquilo
You'll drive the Carretera Austral through forested mountains, rugged cliffs, and snow-capped peaks. After 45 minutes, Villa Cerro Castillo appears with its imposing mountain pinnacles. Check out the Paredón de Manos rock face with 3,000-year-old handprints from indigenous people. The road turns to gravel after Cerro Castillo and gets slower but more remote, so watch for huemuls (shy Andean deer). After about four hours of varied driving, you'll reach Puerto Río Tranquilo on Lago General Carrera. Then take a boat tour to the marble caves, Capillas de Mármol.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive Carretera Austral
- Visit Villa Cerro Castillo
- Visit Paredón de Manos handprints rock face
- Boat tour to Capillas de Mármol (marble caves)
Landmarks Villa Cerro Castillo Cerro Castillo Mountain Paredón de Manos Capillas de Mármol (Marble Caves) Lago General Carrera - Day 4
Puerto Río Tranquilo
You'll drive gravel roads through untouched nature to Valle Exploradores for a four-hour hike to Exploradores Glacier in San Rafael National Park. The hike takes you through impressive vegetation and species-rich flora while condors circle overhead. From two viewpoints, you'll see the ice field and Cerro San Valentín (4,058 m), the highest mountain in Patagonia. On the way back, stop at Campo Alacaluf hostel where a German couple who've lived here 25 years run a café with homemade cakes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Excursion to Valle Exploradores
- Four-hour hike to Exploradores Glacier in San Rafael National Park
- Stop at Campo Alacaluf hostel café
Landmarks Valle Exploradores Exploradores Glacier San Rafael National Park Cerro San Valentín - Day 5
Puerto Río Tranquilo to Cochrane
You'll drive to Cochrane along the bright turquoise Río Baker as it winds through deep valleys. The real highlight is Confluencia, where the glacial Neff River dramatically joins the Baker, an impressive natural spectacle where a planned dam was stopped by protests. Visit Patagonia National Park, the former Estancia Chacabuco turned into a nature reserve by Douglas and Kristin Tompkins. Take an easy hike through the vast steppe, then check out the park's museum, one of Chile's most interesting. You'll also visit Douglas Tompkins' grave, he died kayaking here in 2015.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive along Río Baker
- Visit Confluencia
- Easy hike through Patagonia National Park
- Visit Patagonia National Park museum
- Visit Douglas Tompkins' grave
Landmarks Río Baker Confluencia Patagonia National Park Estancia Chacabuco Patagonia National Park Museum - Day 6
Cochrane
After a 1.5-hour drive south of Cochrane, you'll reach a little-known glacier on the Calluqueo lagoon. Along the way, you'll see the spectacular mountain world of this region. When you arrive, you'll see Cerro San Lorenzo, the second highest mountain in Patagonia at 3,706 meters. Around the lagoon, you can see how much the Calluqueo glacier has shrunk over the decades. A moderately difficult hike takes you closer to the ice before heading back.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive to Calluqueo lagoon
- Hike to Calluqueo glacier
Landmarks Calluqueo Lagoon Calluqueo Glacier Cerro San Lorenzo - Day 7
Cochrane to Villa O'Higgins
You'll travel to Villa O'Higgins, the end of the legendary Carretera Austral on the edge of the southern ice field. The journey takes 6-7 hours depending on ferry service. A free ferry from Puerto Yungay takes you through a fjord before continuing on gravel roads through beautiful landscapes. The remote town of Villa O'Higgins has good infrastructure, friendly locals, and lots of hiking trails with impressive viewpoints.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive to Villa O'Higgins
- Ferry crossing from Puerto Yungay
Landmarks Puerto Yungay Villa O'Higgins - Day 8
Villa O'Higgins
You'll explore the area around this Patagonian pioneer settlement. Hike in Parque Glaciar Mosco nature park to the Mirador del Valle viewpoint where you'll see the Huemula glacier, the confluence of the Mosco and Mayer rivers, and views of Lake O'Higgins and Lago Ciervo. In the early evening, head to the 'Fin de la Carretera Austral' (end of the world's most scenic roads), located around 9 km south of Villa O'Higgins at a small harbor, for a photo at this iconic spot.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike in Parque Glaciar Mosco nature park
- Visit Mirador del Valle viewpoint
- Visit Fin de la Carretera Austral
Optional Activities
- Optional boat trip to O'Higgins Glacier (approximately 10-11 hours); weather dependent; tickets available in the village the day before
Landmarks Parque Glaciar Mosco Mirador del Valle Huemula Glacier Lake O'Higgins Lago Ciervo Fin de la Carretera Austral O'Higgins Glacier - Day 9
Villa O'Higgins to Caleta Tortel
You'll travel to Caleta Tortel, a small fishing village in a fjord between Chile's northern and southern ice fields. The journey takes 3-5 hours depending on ferry service. Tortel was only settled in the 1950s, and residents live from tourism, cypress timber trade, and fishing. You'll park at the village entrance, then walk about a kilometer on wooden walkways to your hotel since the village can only be reached this way. These cypress paths are being renovated as part of a government program, and Tortel has unique architecture with picturesque charm.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive to Caleta Tortel
- Ferry crossing to Caleta Tortel
- Walk through wooden walkways to hotel
Landmarks Caleta Tortel - Day 10
Caleta Tortel
You'll take a 3-hour hike around Tortel. The first part follows the wooden walkway along the sea for several kilometers. In the second section, you'll hike above Tortel with wonderful views of the surrounding fjord and mountain landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- 3-hour hike around Caleta Tortel
- Walk along coastal wooden walkway
- Hike above Tortel with fjord views
Optional Activities
- Optional boat trip to Montt glacier (10 hours); weather dependent; tickets available at hotel
- Optional kayak or boat trip to Isla de los Muertos (approximately 3 hours) with visit to cemetery of abandoned woodworkers from 1915; tickets available at hotel; weather dependent
Landmarks Montt Glacier Isla de los Muertos - Day 11
Caleta Tortel to Puerto Guadal
You'll head back to Puerto Guadal along a scenically impressive route with snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and untouched rivers. The remote region feels even more isolated than northern Patagonia, so you'll be retracing some of your earlier route but seeing it from a new perspective.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive to Puerto Guadal
Landmarks Puerto Guadal - Day 12
Puerto Guadal
In Puerto Guadal, you'll have a relaxing day with snow-capped mountains and the deep blue General Carrera Lake as your backdrop. In the afternoon, take a short hike to Cascada El Maqui to stretch your legs and enjoy more of the local scenery.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Short hike to Cascada El Maqui
Optional Activities
- Optional day trip by jet boat to Leones glacier
- Optional day trip by helicopter to Leones glacier
Landmarks General Carrera Lake Cascada El Maqui Leones Glacier - Day 13
Puerto Guadal to Villa Cerro Castillo
You'll drive to Villa Cerro Castillo, saying goodbye to Lake General Carrera and traveling alongside the wide Ibáñez River. The new light conditions and different season make the landscape look completely different from when you came through. After almost four hours, you'll reach the small village at the foot of the striking mountain massif.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive along Ibáñez River
- Drive to Villa Cerro Castillo
Landmarks Ibáñez River Villa Cerro Castillo - Day 14
Villa Cerro Castillo
Your ascent to Laguna Cerro Castillo is the highlight of this round trip. The challenging 6-8 hour hike climbs over 1,200 meters to a spectacular viewpoint with views of the mountain massif, glacier, and deep blue glacier lagoon. You'll need to be surefooted, but the effort pays off with an incomparable backdrop. If you want something easier, walk to the first mountain station for great views over the Ibáñez Valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Challenging hike to Laguna Cerro Castillo
- Alternative hike to first mountain station with Ibáñez Valley views
Landmarks Laguna Cerro Castillo Cerro Castillo Mountain Ibáñez Valley - Day 15
Villa Cerro Castillo to Balmaceda
On your short final leg, you'll head to Balmaceda Airport where your trip ends, completing your Patagonian journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive to Balmaceda Airport
Landmarks Balmaceda Airport
