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Start: Puerto Montt Airport
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Departure: Daily
Description
The Ruta Austral is a scenic mountain road starting in Puerto Montt and ending 1240 kilometers /770 miles south in Villa O’Higgins at the foot hill of the Southern Ice Fields, visiting, lakes, rivers, milenary black forest, glaciers and volcanos.
Arrival and departure flights: Arrival in Puerto Montt up to 3:30 pm. Departure at the same time you received your vehicle the first day.
Itinerary
Day 1: Puerto Montt – Hornopirén
Reception of the vehicle at the El Tepual Airport in Puerto Montt. Departure at 04:00 pm approx. Ir order to start the trip heading south by the Ruta 7 (Route 7), known as Carretera Austral (Southern Road). The trip from Puerto Montt to Hornopirén combines land and sea, trip that is made by ferry boat crossing from Caleta La Arena to Caleta Puelche. We continue to Hornopirén. Menu dinner and accommodation in Hostería Bahía Catalina. Arrival at 07:30 pm.
Day 2: Hornopirén – Caleta Gonzalo – Yelcho
Breakfast. Departure at 09:15 am to the Hornopirén dock in order to board and sail to Caleta Gonzalo through a bimodal route. This route is divided into three sections:
Section 1: All days from Hornopirén to Leptepu, the barge set sails at 10:30 am, in a 3-and-a-half-hour trip.
Section 2: The 10-kilometer trip continues by a narrow gravel road. Length: 30 minutes approximately.
Section 3: Half-hour crossing from Largo Fjord to Caleta Gonzalo. Set sail at 3:30 pm.
Note: Sailing time subject to changes according to the Bimodal Route policies.
After arriving to Caleta Gonzalo village, we suggest continuing by the Southern Road heading south during 100 kilometers to the Yelcho Lake area. We suggest visiting the Pumalín Park in order to carry out a trekking through the paths of Los Alerces, having the chance to admire its thousand-year forests surrounded by virgin nature. Dinner and accommodation in Lago Yelcho Lodge. Arrival approximately 07:00 pm.
Day 3: Yelcho Lake – La Junta
Breakfast. In the morning we suggest carrying out a trekking by the surrounding of the lodge, enjoying the nature. During the evening we will continue heading south through the mystical Southern Road to the La Junta village (100 kms approximately, a 1-hour-and-a-quarter trip). On route, you will find several attractions, such as the Santa Lucía village and Palena River. Dinner and accommodation in Montaña Espacio y Tiempo Hotel.
Day 4: Day at leisure
Breakfast. Today we suggest rafting by the Rosselot River, visit to the El Sauce thermal pools, touring the Raúl Marín Balmaceda village, with a unique style and unbeatable landscape, or rafting by the Palena River. Dinner and accommodation in Montaña Espacio Tiempo Mountain Hotel.
Day 5: La Junta – Queulat National Park – Coyhaique
Breakfast. We continue our trip heading south by the Southern Road, until we get Puyuhuapi town (44 kms, 1-hour app). We suggest visiting its traditional carpet factory and, after that, we will continue to Queulat National Park. This park features several paths with different difficulties, however, we suggest walking 600 meters, among forests, through a well-defined path in order to get the hanging snowdrift Queulat viewpoint. Finally, we continue by the same Southern Road, until we get Coyhaique, regional capital (222 kms, 4 hours app.) Dinner and accommodation in El Reloj Hotel or similar.
Day 6: Coyhaique
Breakfast. Today we suggest visiting the city and surroundings, Coyhaique National Reserve, making an outdoor activity such as biking, fly-fishing rafting, kayaking, among others.
Another excellent choice would be a full day in San Rafael Lagoon from Puerto Chacabuco (departure subject to schedule dates). Or we could continue by the Southern Road to the south, until we get Puerto Tranquilo village (213 kms app) – 5 hours, in order to carry out an excursion to Capillas de Mármol (Marbel Caverns) with accommodation in the same village, and in the 7th day, we can go in the morning to the Balmaceda Airport.
Dinner and accommodation in Coyhaique or in Puerto Tranquilo.
Day 7: Coyhaique – Balmaceda Airport
Breakfast. We will hand the vehicle at the Balmaceda Airport (at the same time you receive it)