Self Drive The Austral Highway in Chile
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Tour Itinerary
View a day by day summary below or
Day 1: Arrive in Santiago, transfer to your hotel
Touch down in Santiago, capital of Chile. Your friendly guide will be waiting at the airport to welcome you to Chile and take you by private transfer straight to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Meals Included: None today
Suggested Accommodation: Hotel Orly
Day 2: A Private City Tour of Santiago
Discover the history and culture of Santiago on a leisurely tour accompanied by one of our excellent local guides.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Hotel Orly
Day 3: Fly to the Chilean Lake District
After breakfast, take a short flight to Puerto Montt and transfer to the pretty lakeside town of Puerto Varas. This afternoon you have some free time to explore this beautiful town known as the ‘city of Roses’. Take a stroll along the lakeside path, browse the shops, or get a coffee.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Hotel Mero Gaucho
Day 4: Catamaran trip to Peulla
Today you will enjoy a spectacular catamaran trip across the emerald green coloured Todos Los Santos lake to the beautiful town of Peulla. There are magnificent views of snow capped volcanoes and you will also stop at Petrohue falls.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Hotel Mero Gaucho
Day 5: Day trip to Chiloé Island & Penguins
Explore the mystical island of Chiloe, the historic town of Ancud and the Penguin islands where you will take a boat trip to see the Humboldt and Magellan penguins.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Hotel Mero Gaucho
Day 6: Start your self drive on the Carretera Austral
Start your drive south on the historic Austral highway. Pass the towns of Chamiza and Metri before taking the ferry to Caleta Puelche. From here continue to the small settlement of Hornopiren where you stop overnight.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Hosteria Catalina
Day 7: Hornopiren to Caleta Gonzalo
Today you have a 3 hour ferry crossing with impressive views of the Andes mountains and Patagonian Fjords. Disembark at a beautiful bay and take a short drive to Caleta Gonzalo. Pull up to your characterful accommodation on the edge of the Renihúe Fjord.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Cabañas Caleta Gonzalo
Day 8: Exploring Pumalin National Park
Created in 1992 by legendary conservation icons, Douglas and Kristine Tompkins, Pumalin national park makes up 994,000 acres of beautiful natural scenery. Explore this beautiful area with the many well marked hiking trails.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Cabañas Caleta Gonzalo
Day 9: Caleta Gonzalo to Queulat National Park
Today’s drive will be about 125 miles in total, taking you further into the humid evergreen forests of Northern Patagonia. Stop overnight at a hotel on the edge of Risopatron lake.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Hotel El Pangue
Day 10: Queulat National Park to Coyhaique
Continue your road trip passing the quaint town of Puyhuapi on the edge of a fjord. Visit Queulat national park and the Ventisquero hanging glacier before stopping tonight in Coyhaique.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Hotel Belisario Jara
Day 11: Puerto Rio Tranquillo & Marble Caves
Drive further south past Cerro Castillo national park and wonderful scenery arriving at Puerto Rio Tranquillo on the shore of Lake General Carrera. This afternoon visit the mesmerizing Marble Caves by boat.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Hostal El Puesto
Day 12: Exploradores Glacier Hike & Ice Caves
A fascinating day trip to see the verdant Exploradores valley then hike on the glacier itself. Visit the ice caves and witness the crystal clear ice on frozen pathways with panoramic views.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Hostal El Puesto
Day 13: Drive around the lake to Puerto Guadal
A short drive today around to the other side of the lake. Check in to your lodge with log cabin style rooms and incredible views of the turquoise water of the lake. Have a leisurely afternoon admiring the stunning scenery.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: El Mirador de Guadal
Days 14 & 15: Exploring Patagonia
Two days to explore the area. We highly recommend you visit Parque Patagonia, located about an hour south toward Cochrane. You can also visit the confluence of the Baker and Nef rivers as well as the Leones valley and glacier. Optional extension to Caleta Tortel – please discuss this with us.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: El Mirador de Guadal
Day 16: Balmaceda to the Wine Valley
Today you depart early for the drive back to the nearest airport in Balmaceda. From here fly back to Santiago. In Santiago a driver will be waiting to take you to your relaxing wine hotel in the Casablanca valley. Please ask for options to stay on a vineyard. Evening at leisure by the pool.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Suggested Accommodation: Hotel Boutique Casablanca
Day 17: Departure or extend
End your trip here, or why not extend it further! You could fly north to the Atacama desert, or stay on a few more nights in a vineyard. Every trip we organise is different, tailored to your particular requirements. Get in touch with someone who knows Chile like the back of their hand to start planning.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our Suggested Accommodation
With this tour we have picked a selection of characterful mid range properties, most of which are small, family owned guesthouses and B&B’s. If you would like to upgrade the hotels to more luxurious options, please let us know and we can make some excellent personal recommendations.
Tour Inclusions
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