We deal directly with each tour operator, which means we can guarantee you the best price. If within 24 hours of your booking you find the exact same tour elsewhere for a lower price, let us know and we'll refund you the difference!
Best of Carretera Austral
Duration
13 days
Site savings
$116
From
$5,684 USD
A 13-day Patagonia bike tour exploring the most spectacular landscapes of the Carretera Austral Norte. From Puerto Varas to Puerto Tranquilo, this journey of 600 km will give you the best bits on one memorable cycle tour. You'll start the route with ferry journeys crossing estuaries and fjords that will connect you with different locations of the Carretera Austral. You will begin the journey navigating the Reloncavi Estuary and the bimodal route and pedalling in the middle of national parks, mountains, lakes, rivers, fjords, glaciers and native forests of the Lakes Region and Aysén.
- CategoryAdventurous
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration13 days
- Culture LevelAdventurous
- Skill Level3 - Intermediate
- Activity Level4 - Challenging
- Elevation3 - Intermediate
- TerrainRugged
- Distance362.3 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance43.5 miles
Best Price Guarantee
No booking or payment fees
Save $56 on your next booking
Quick Stats
- Duration13 days
- Main DestinationPatagonia
- Distance362.3 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance43.5 miles
- Elevation3 - Intermediate
- TerrainRugged
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Puerto Varas
Pick up at El Tepual airport (PMC) at Puerto Montt city.
At 3 pm, participants and staff will meet at the hotel in Puerto Varas for a welcome meeting and have a brief of the bike journey, check the bikes and equipment. A welcome dinner is included tonight.
- Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra
- Dinner
- Day 2Hualaihue coastal ride towards Hornopirén
You will leave Puerto Varas in the minibus going along the coast of Puerto Montt to approach the Carretera Austral or Route 7 where you'll take a ferry will cross the Reloncaví Estuary to reach Caleta Puelche. After a nice lunch in Contao village, the ride starts leaving the city behind and taking the coastal road with less traffic. Ride through the landscape shaped by the rural sector of Hualaihué and the handcrafted boat building connecting with local traditions, nature, and coastal views, passing by the El Manzano slope and reaching the city of Hornopirén.
Road type: Paved
- 46.6 miles
- 39.4 ft
2,595.1 ft
2,555.8 ft - Hotel Oelckers
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks
- Day 3Ferry crossing & Pumalin NP to Chaitén
Early in the morning, you will embark with your bike on a fantastic ferry journey along the Bimodal Route. The first navigation lasts 3.5 hours, passing through majestic fjords in Chilean Patagonia, offering spectacular views of the Andes Mountains. Then, after a 10 km transfer, you will take the second ferry, which takes 45 minutes to reach Douglas Tompkins Pumalín National Park in Caleta Gonzalo. This park was part of the largest land donation for conservation purposes in the world. There, you will cycle through the middle of the evergreen forest and hike the trail of Alerce's ancient trees. You will continue on the gravel road, crossing beautiful lakes and hills, along with unique natural scenery, until reaching Chaitén, with amazing views of Corcovado Volcano and the active Chaitén Volcano.
Road type: Gravel & paved
- 24.9 miles
- -475.7 ft
1,883.2 ft
2,358.9 ft - Kahuel Posada de Expediciones
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
- Day 4Scenic route towards Yelcho Lake & glacier
This route is one of the nicest, paved and flat routes with not much climbing. The ride explores the beautiful mountains of the El Amarillo sector of Pumalin Park. The route goes on until you reach the town of Puerto Cárdenas and the famous Yelcho suspension bridge, where it is possible to admire the mouth of the lake and the glacier of the same name. You will ride along the beautiful Yelcho Lake, following its shoreline until you arrive at the accommodation.
Road type: Paved
- 36 miles
- 95.1 ft
1,683.1 ft
1,587.9 ft - Yelcho en la Patagonia Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
- Day 5Moraga slope challenge & ride to La Junta
The route begins with beautiful scenery, surrounded by native forest and views of the Yelcho Glacier. You will ride the Moraga slope until reaching the pass, where the downhill begins, offering a view of the impressive trace left by the terrible alluvium of Villa Santa Lucía (2017), an event that radically transformed the town's landscape and the lives of its inhabitants. You will continue on the asphalted road, bordering the Frío and Palena Rivers, entering the Aysén Region, enjoying a nice picnic in Villa Vanguardia, and finishing this long stretch in the town of La Junta.
Road type: Paved
- 55.3 miles
- -29.5 ft
4,557.1 ft
4,586.6 ft - Alto Melimoyu
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks
- Day 6Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa
The ride continues towards Puyuhuapi, bordering the Risopatrón River and Lake. You will immerse yourself in the beauty of the scenery shaped by Queulat National Park until reaching the town, known for its carpet factory and architecture influenced by German settlers. Today will be great for taking a good rest in the afternoon after the long days before and enjoying the hot springs at Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa.
Road type: Paved
- 37.3 miles
- -111.5 ft
2,447.5 ft
2,559.1 ft - Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
- Day 7Queulat National Park & hanging glacier hike
This will be a multi-adventure day to recover energy for the next day's Queulat slope challenge. Today you'll visit the famous Queulat National Park and its hanging glacier with the opportunity to hike the trails to the viewpoint and navigate the Tempano Lagoon to get closer to unique picture spots to admire the glacier.
After visiting Queulat NP, the minibus will take the group back to Muelle Austral to cross the fjord to the mythical Puyuhuapi Lodge & SPA to enjoy its hot springs and gastronomy.
Distance: 2.5 kms hiking
- Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 8Queulat pass - Amengual Village & transfer Puerto Aysen
The ride starts from the hanging glacier route 7 viewpoint to continue towards the Queulat slope, one of the main challenges that make the Carretera Austral route legendary. In the middle of the evergreen forest you'll have fantastic views of the glaciers and fiords. The gravel road will lead you to an incredibly beautiful but hard-progressive climb of 33 curves where it is possible to appreciate the unique landscape of remote Patagonia in the Queulat pass where the asphalted descent starts to lead you next to the Cisnes rivers. This will guide you to Amengual Village where you will be transferred to Puerto Aysen.
Road type: Loose gravel & paved
- 33.6 miles
- 931.8 ft
5,170.6 ft
4,238.8 ft - Gran hotel Aysen
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks
- Day 9Traditional raft crossing & epic gravel backroads to Coyhaique
This is one of the most challenging yet rewarding days of the journey. The ride begins with a river raft crossing that takes you to the best backroad of this bike adventure, a scenic route surrounded by nature and free from road congestion. The rural road leads you to Coyhaique, the capital of this part of Patagonia, passing by stunning lakes hidden in the heart of the mountains.
- 48.5 miles
- 908.8 ft
4,461.9 ft
3,553.1 ft - Pura Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks
- Day 10Cerro Castillo National Park pass challenge & devil's slope
The first stretch of the southern part of the route will be a paved road of the Southern Way, riding through flatlands along what is called the Chinese Wall, where the countryside of Coyhaique emerges, passing through El Blanco town and accompanied by a spectacular landscape of Patagonian steppe and rock formations. After the junction between Route 7 and Balmaceda, the road begins to slightly ascend until Laguna Chiguay, a perfect place for a picnic lunch. You'll continue the ride along the overwhelming Cerro Castillo National Park to reach its pass, the highest point of the Carretera Austral. The "Devil's Slope" downhill begins, passing from the viewpoints of the Ibáñez River and reaching Cerro Castillo Village.
- 61.5 miles
- 177.2 ft
5,351 ft
5,173.9 ft - Refugio Cerro Castillo
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
- Day 11Cerro Castillo NP lagoon & glacier hiking
Experience a full-day trek to the stunning turquoise lagoon and glacier of Cerro Castillo and panoramic views of the Ibanez river and valley. Set amidst some of Patagonia's most spectacular mountain scenery
Distance: 14km/8.6 miles hiking
- Refugio Cerro Castillo
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks
- Day 12Chelenko Lake & El Belga uphill to Puerto to Río Tranquilo
Transfer to San Sebastian passing by the Ibañez river and the dead forest viewpoints. From here, you'll pedal beside glacial rivers through the peaceful Murta Valley and along the turquoise shores of General Carrera Lake — also known by its ancestral name, Chelenko. As the road narrows beneath towering Patagonian peaks, we conquer the iconic “El Belga” climb before descending into the lakeside village of Puerto Río Tranquilo. A farewell dinner is included tonight.
Road type: Gravel
- 49.7 miles
- -918.6 ft
3,198.8 ft
4,117.5 ft - El Puesto
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 13Sunrise kayak marble chapels & transfer to Balmaceda Airport