Carretera Austral
Everything you need to know to cycle the Carretera Austral.
The Carretera Austral is Chilean Patagonia's most iconic highway and one of three "sections" on the Bicycle Patagonia Tour. It covers Chile's Los Lagos and Aysén regions and features glaciers, dense rainforest, a network of fjords, and Chile's largest lake, Lago General Carrera. Construction of the Carretera Austral (officially named Ruta 7) began in 1976, during the regime of General Augusto Pinochet, and was completed in 2003. The highway, which is slowly being paved, stretches from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins, connecting some of Chile's most remote communities.
Water sources (and rain) are plentiful along most of the Carretera Austral with notable exceptions around Coyhaique and Cochrane, where the highway nears the fringe of the Patagonian steppe. Most of the lakes and rivers here are fed by glaciers and residue from these glaciers gives the water of these lakes and rivers a milky-turquoise color. Glaciers can be viewed within Parque Nacional Queulat (the hanging glacier), south of Puerto Río Tranquilo and north of Villa O'Higgins (within the Northern Patagonian Ice Field).
Cycle the Carretera Austral
Route Summary
The Bicycle Patagonia Tour joins the Carretera Austral in Villa Santa Lucía, just north of La Junta, and proceeds south, meeting the Pacific Ocean at Puyuhuapi. After briefly tracking the fjord, the Carretera Austral climbs through Parque Nacional Queulat toward Aysén's capital (and the largest city on the Carretera Austral), Coyhaique. From there, the highway ascends beneath the jagged peaks of Cerro Castillo then along the shores of Lago General Carrera (home to mystical marble caves) and Lago Bertrand before tracking Chile's largest river, Río Baker. South of Cochrane, the scenery is especially wild and rugged and vehicle traffic is minimal. At Puerto Yungay (on the Caleta Tortel to Villa O'Higgins route), there is a complimentary ferry crossing, extending the Carretera Austral further south through to Villa O'Higgins.
Explore Routes and Towns on the Carretera Austral
Weather
Most of the Carretera Austral is classified as a oceanic climate–with cool, moderate temperatures and frequent rains. Be prepared for rain around Puyuhuapi, Puerto Aysén, and Caleta Tortel. Cities and towns east of the route, such as Chile Chico or Cochrane, typically have drier conditions and cold, snowy winters. Strong northwesterly winds prevail throughout, especially at higher elevations.
Cities & Towns
Because of the relatively recent construction of the Carretera Austral, many towns were isolated no so long ago. As more kilometers are paved, more and more services are popping up. Each town will generally have a small grocery store, basic accommodation, and a restaurant to grab a bite to eat. ATMs on the route can be found in Coyhaique, Cochrane, and Villa O'Higgins.
Parques & Reservas Nacionales
Chile is home to many beautiful protected areas–from the fjords to the mountains. As infrastructure improves, the parks and reserves on the Carretera Austral will attract more foot-traffic and tourists.
