Discover the rugged south of Patagonia, Chile's stunning Lake Region and the overwhelming Carretera Austral road. You visit the vibrant capital Santiago with its many faces, historic squares and breathtaking city panoramas. Near Puerto Natales you are immersed in wild nature with massive mountains, turquoise lakes and huge glaciers. Travel to one of the southernmost cities in the world and observe the vitality of the King Penguins on Tierra del Fuego. Then you fly in the Lake Region and take your rental car. Here at Puerto Varas, the view of cone-shaped volcanoes and picturesque waters will overwhelm you. You are heading south on the notorious Carretera Austral road. The North Patagonian region is characterized by dense forests, fjord landscapes and magical seclusion. The sympathetic Chaitén symbolizes the beauty and drama of the active nature of Chile. Forested mountain landscapes and raging rivers dominate the region around Futaleufú. The village of Puyuhuapi on the Pacific Fjord impresses you with its warm thermal baths and the culture shaped by German immigrants. Marvel at the massive hanging glacier Ventisquero Colgante in the Queulat National Park surrounded by rustic ambience. At Coyhaique / Balmaceda your journey by rental car along the Carretera Austral ends and you fly back to central Chile. Finally, in the port city of Valparaíso, colorful hills, bumpy elevators and outstanding street art are waiting for you.
Nature spectacle Torres del Paine
Cone-shaped volcanoes on Lanquihue Lake
Seclusion of the Carretera Austral
The magic of Puyuhuapi
Massive hanging glacier in the Queulat National Park
Chile's heart beats here in Santiago. And at the same time, it feels a bit like what gave this country its name according to a legend: Chilli – where the world ends. You visit the historical center of the capital. On the city hills you enjoy fantastic panoramas of the metropolis. And you visit the beautiful Andean nature of the Maipo Valley. You are not far away from Santiago, but you experience a completely different landscape in a wonderful atmosphere.
You travel to Puerto Natales in the extreme south of the country, the starting point to one of the most important sights of the continent: the famous Torres del Paine National Park. Discover the highlights of the Nature Reserve with its turquoise lakes, mountain landscapes and ice fields. And you cruise by boat on Patagonian fjords to the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers. It is rough out here and enchanting.
You continue your journey to Punta Arenas, one of the southernmost cities on earth. This is where the American continent ends and this is how it feels. You cross the famous Strait of Magellan and observe the amusing hustle and bustle of the local penguin colonies. Enjoy the rough landscape of the historic Tierra del Fuego and the special flair of Patagonia.
You pick up your rental car near Puerto Varas. The city has its very own magic with its panorama of the beautiful Llanquihue Lake and the snow-covered volcanoes. Watch the endless rupture of the waterfalls of Petrohué. On the adjoining Lago Todos Los Santos, you take a pleasant boat trip. And you experience the island of Chiloé with its waterside houses on stilts, the typical wooden churches and the maritime gastronomy.
On your way from Puerto Varas to Hornopirén you enter through the northern gate of the notorious Carretera Austral road. You cross dense forests with Alerce trees that are up to 3.600 years old, pass abandoned settlements and National Parks that invite you to take short hikes. Finally, you stop in the small village on the Gulf of Ancud.
After your ferry ride from Hornopirén to Caleta Gonzalo you drive through the enormous Pumalin Nature Reserve. The magnificent park is characterized by its quaint vegetation, mountain landscapes and waters. You arrive in the harbor town of Chaitén, which is marked by the devastating volcanic eruption in 2008. Surrounded by forests, green hills, volcanoes and the ocean, this is your stopover.
On your route of today is the Yelcho Glacier Lake, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in Chile with its colorfulness and the snow-covered mountains surrounding it. On the border with Argentina, the town of Futaleufú welcomes you with its clear rivers and lakes, inviting water sports enthusiasts and anglers from all over the world.
With its breathtaking nature, its solitude and its harmony, your next destination Puyuhuapi is symbolic for the unique ambience of the Carretera Austral. On the fjord shore nearby Puyuhuapi, you can visit the hot thermal baths or devote yourself to the Queulat National Park and contemplate the spectacular Hanging Glacier Ventisquero Colgante.
You say goodbye to the tranquil Puyuhuapi and cross the magnificent landscape of Northern Patagonia further south. Finally, you reach Coyhaique, the capital of the region surrounded by rocky mountains, wide fields and green nature. Here you can recharge your batteries after the past days in the seclusion of the Carretera Austral and enjoy the benefits of urbanized life.
Back to central Chile, you stay in Valparaíso. The port city is famous for its colorful sheet metal covered houses, its historic elevators and the outstanding street art full of political and ironic messages. You stroll through the alleys of the UNESCO awarded hills and get an impression of Chilean food culture during an entertaining cooking class. Taste excellent wine in the Casablanca Valley and enjoy the peace of the fishing village of Quintay surrounded by pine forests.
Basic package Full package
Basic package Full package
Basic package Full package
Basic package Full package
Basic package Full package
Included:
Total price per person:
From 2.504,00 €
Excluded:
Arrival and departure, half and full day tours, entrance fees, travel insurance, short rides, meals
Included:
Total price per person:
From 3.215,00 €
Excluded:
Arrival and departure, entrance fees (partly with exceptions), travel insurance, short rides, meals
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Chile Central promotes sustainable and solidarity tourism. By booking your trip, you support CO₂ offset as well as a social project for disadvantaged children in Santiago.