Aysen Patagonia Self-Drive Tour

The journey begins at Balmaceda Airport in Southern Chile’s Aysén province. After picking up your rental car, travel south on the Carretera Austral that traverses Chile’s remote south. It doesn’t take long before you get to enjoy spectacular views of the Cerro Castillo mountain range on the right-hand side. Tonight you’ll spend the night at a comfortable hotel in Villa Cerro Castillo.

On the second day of this Aysen Patagonia Tour, you will visit Cerro Castillo National Park, which has become a new attractive hiking destination over the past few years and is beloved by both locals and visitors. There are various options to explore the landscape today!

You can ascend to the “Laguna” of the Cerro Castillo Mountain massif on a well-marked trail where you’ll enjoy views of the wide valley, mountains, and the village below. On this 3-4 hour hike that leads past imposing glaciers, you’ll reach the lagoon with the majestic peaks of the Cerro Castillo in the background. Take your time to enjoy the incredible surroundings, before descending the same way.

Today on your Chilean self-drive tour, your trip continues south on the Carretera Austral. Follow the course of the Murta River until it finally flows into Chile’s largest lake, Lago General Carrera, whose blue-green glacier water is visible from far away. Near Puerto Rio Tranquilo, stop to visit the Marble Caves, a unique geological formation made mostly of marble on the pristine shores of the lake. The rock formation “Capilla de Mármol” (Marble Chapel) is one of its highlights. Afterwards, the journey continues along the shore until you reach lively Puerto Guadal, a small town found on the south-west edge of Lage General Carrera.

Before departing Puerto Guadal this morning, check out the “Fossil Mountain” and the impressive waterfall Los Maquis, both well worth a visit.

Later on, continue your Aysen travelling experience along the southern shore of Lago General Carrera to the small village of Chile Chico, located near the Argentine border. Its mild microclimate allows for the cultivation of cherries and other fruits, which is why it is also called the Chilean “sun city”!

Discover Patagonia’s breathtaking landscape on a unique hike in the recently opened Patagonia National Park (formerly Reserva Jeinimeni). The 7.4km (4.6 mi) long circular trail of medium difficulty starts about one hour from Chile Chico and takes around 4 to 5 hours to complete.

Marvel at the 40m (130ft) high freestanding rock ‘Piedra Clavada’ in the middle of the pampa and discover the cave ‘Cueva de las Manos’ with countless old wall paintings, dating to several thousand years ago and one of the most important cultural legacies of this region. The colorful rock formations of Valle Lunar will remind you of a lunar landscape. On the way, you are likely to encounter wild guanacos and condors, and if you’re lucky, even pumas!

Drive back along the southern shore of the lake to the village of Puerto Bertrand, where you stay amid beautiful scenery near the eponymous lake. It is the source of the Baker, one of Chile’s mightiest rivers, which flows together with the Neff about 20km (12 mi) further south. This spectacular confluence is definitely worth a detour!

Today´s journey on the Carretera Austral leads back north to Coyhaique, the largest city in the region. Back in “civilization”, there are superb options for restaurants, cultural sightseeing, and shopping!

Drop off your rental car at Balmaceda Airport. From here you can continue your trip to another region of Chile or fly back home via Santiago.