Carretera Austral
Chile's ultimate road trip
About this destination
The Carretera Austral (Route 7) is not just a road — it's an expedition. Stretching 1,240 km from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins, it passes through some of the wildest and least-visited terrain on the planet. Hanging glaciers drip into emerald rivers. Isolated fishing villages appear around bends with no warning. There are ferry crossings with no bridge alternatives, stretches with no fuel for 200 km, and patches where the 'road' is barely a track. It is utterly magnificent. Only attempt it in a well-equipped camper with a full fuel tank, spare food and water, and a sense of adventure.
Highlights
- Queulat Hanging Glacier
- Río Baker rapids
- Marble Caves
- Cochrane wetlands
Must-see stops
Queulat Hanging Glacier
The Ventisquero Colgante — a glacier suspended between two peaks, calving chunks of ice into the turquoise lagoon below. One of the most surreal sights in Chile.
Marble Caves
Accessible only by boat from Puerto Río Tranquilo, these marble caves have been sculpted by millennia of wave action into smooth, swirling patterns.
Río Baker
Chile's largest river by volume flows turquoise-green through a deep canyon. The rapids near Cochrane are spectacular, and the fishing is world-class.
Puyuhuapi Hot Springs
Remote thermal pools accessible only by boat from Puyuhuapi village. Soaking in hot springs while rain falls on the fjord around you is unforgettable.
Combine with
These destinations pair well with Carretera Austral.
