ACTIVITIES IN CARRETERA AUSTRAL

Beginning from the start of this trip in Puerto Montt, we can visit the Alerce Andino National Park and see a unique and ancient forest, with examples of over 3,000 years of existence.

In addition to this natural area, in the same area you can visit the Hornopirén National Park with its great natural beauty and areas that are completely free of intervention. Here we can practice outdoor activities such as sport fishing in the lagoons.

Continuing south we come to Caleta Gonzalo, where Pumalín Park is located and offers well-marked hiking trails, picnic areas, cabins and craft shops.

Here we also cross the 11th Region of Aysen and Coyhaique where you can reach Futaleufu. Here we find beautiful national parks and one of the best rivers in the world for rafting on the river.

In addition to this, in this area we find the Puyuhuapi sector with the Puyuhuapi Springs in Isla Magdalena and excellent tourist services.

Here you can also tour the Isla Magdalena National Park, a protected area that can only be accessed through the sea.

Continuing along the Carretera Austral wefind Queulat National Park, which has stunning natural attractions: the Salto Padre García Hurtado (Padre Hurtado García Falls) and the wonderful Ventisquero Colgante (Hanging Glacier), offering a one of a kind landscape.

As we advance towards the southern zone we can see the Cerro Castillo National Reserve, which has approximately 180 thousand acres, with roads, glaciers, lakes and beautiful surrounding scenery.

We also find the General Carrera Lake with the National Reserve of the same name, which is known for its attractions such as the Capillas de Mármol (Marble Chapels), on the shores of General Carrera Lake, and can be crossed in boats, exploring within its rocky caverns.

In this sector we can explore one of the most important attractions: the San Rafael National Park, explore the Northern Ice Fields, the Monte San Valentin and Bahía Exploradores.

If we continue our journey south, we find the Bertrand Lake, one of the best places in the country to fly fish. Then, its waters flow into the Baker River, the roughest river in Chile, with beautiful turquoise waters that are ideal for water sports such as rafting and kayaking.

Beyond the Baker River, the Carretera Austral changes and becomes more a rugged and winding road. In this area we find the town of Cochrane, the last city with services and commerce, so it is recommended to stock up if you plan to continue the tour. This area stands out because we can find a big huemul population that live naturally in their surroundings, such as the Tamango National Reserve.

From here we continue towards Caleta Tortel with its unique wooden walkways that give a unique charm to this location. In its surroundings we can find natural areas such as theIslas de los Muertos (Island of the Dead), the Steffens and Neff glaciers and more.

From Tortel we can resume the Carretera Austral and proceed to Villa O'Higgins. The road becomes narrow and difficult as you get to Villa O'Higgins, that is the end of Route 7, 1,247 kilometers from its starting point in Puerto Montt. One of its main attractions is the Santiago Park, which has a hill with a panoramic viewpoint and you can see the entire city.

Villa O'Higgins is the gateway to the "Capital of Trekking (Hiking)", the town of El Chalten in Argentina.