Chile Pure – Secluded Nature of the Country on a Round Trip in 3 Weeks

Overview

Discover the pure nature of Chile on a round trip in 3 weeks. You visit the vibrant capital Santiago with its many faces, historical places and great city panoramas. On a tour with a rental car along the fabulous Carretera Austral road in northern Patagonia, you are flanked by ancient trees, convoluted fjords and slumbering volcanoes. The dazzling Lago General Carrera between Chile and Argentina spreads an aura of contemplation with its vastness and the snow-capped mountains on the horizon. Wooden footbridges instead of usual streets connect Caleta Tortel in the Patagonian forest. Pointed mountain ridges cover the Cerro Castillo National Park like towers of a medieval castle. Afterwards you admire picturesque waters near Puerto Varas and wooden churches on the island of Chiloé. At San Pedro de Atacama, sandy moonscapes and salt lakes, bubbling geysers and starry skies surround you. Finally, you will once again pick up a rental car in Central Chile. In the quiet coastal village of Quintay, chill out on the secluded beach and enjoy local fish. And in the port city of Valparaíso, colorful hills, jolting elevators and outstanding street art are waiting for you.

Highlights

Seclusion of Carretera Austral

Boardwalks of Caleta Tortel

Conical volcanoes in front of Puerto Varas

The driest desert in the world

The murmur of the ocean

Itinerary

Day 1-3: Santiago de Chile

Welcome to Chile! Here in Santiago beats the heart of Chile. And at the same time, at the foot of the snow-covered mountains and not far from the mighty ocean, you feel what gave this country its name according to a legend: Chilli - where the world ends. Glorious buildings and busy commerce on the streets, flourishing parks and modern high-rise complexes come together in Santiago. And the secrets of the Andean habitat of central Chile get revealed on an excursion to the Cajón del Maipo.

Day 3-4: Coyhaique

In the coming days, you explore the isolated nature along the Carretera Austral on touring by rental car. First, Coyhaique accommodates you in the center of the arterial road. It is the capital of the region of Aysén and yet has a very leisurely, rural character. The mountainous, verdant countryside is somewhat reminiscent of the green alpine region of central Europe. Amble through the town's welcoming core and feast on local cuisine.

Day 4-6: Puerto Río Tranquilo

The long-distance road Carretera Austral tells about pristine vegetation and luminous waters, Patagonian glaciers and remote villages full of heartiness. In Puerto Río Tranquilo, these characteristics merge. Boats depart from the bay near the town for a trip on the turquoise Carrera Lake to Capillas de Mármol. Here you admire eroded rock formations, remarkable marble caves and a special constellation of colors.

Day 6-8: Caleta Tortel

Swallowed in the primeval forest and slightly off the Carretera Austral, Caleta Tortel hides at the shore of one of the many Pacific fjords of this region. Footbridges of local cypress wood, rather than ordinary streets, connect the colorful houses on the overgrown hills. In the bay of Caleta Tortel, local boat owners are ready to take you into the labyrinth of Patagonian fjords and escort you to immense glacier complexes.

Day 8-9: Cochrane

You continue your journey and come to Cochrane. The small town represents the hub of supply for the southern part of the Carretera Austral, yet it is uncluttered as well as placid. On an individual trek in the Tamango Reserve, you get introduced to Lenga and Ñirre forests, Patagonian steppe and crystal-clear waters. And animal lovers have the chance of sighting resident South Andean deer.

Day 9-11: Villa Cerro Castillo

The steep cliffs of Cerro Castillo National Park flaunt like the battlements and towers of a medieval castle, pointing the way to your upcoming stop at Villa Cerro Castillo. Edged ridges, blinding waters, hanging glaciers and wild fauna – the reserve rightly bears the reputation of being the equivalent of the world-famous Torres del Paine far from the limelight. A day hike gives you a pictorial demonstration of the purity of this jewel. At this point your tour with the rental car ends.

Day 11-14: Puerto Varas

You fly to the Lake Region. Puerto Varas carries its own magic with its panorama of the sparkling Lago Llanquihue and the snowy volcanoes on the horizon, with German architecture and inviting cafes. The inexhaustible rapids of Río Petrohué break over the volcanic rocks and roar impetuously. With its cone shape and snow-capped dome, Volcán Osorno looks like something out of a picture book. And on the island of Chiloé, you discover colorful stilt houses, wooden churches and indigenous mythology.

Day 14-18: San Pedro de Atacama

Pink-feathered flamingos gather on the shores of Andean lagoons. Between small desert settlements with traditional adobe architecture stretches the crusted salt field of the immeasurable Salar de Atacama. The fascinating desert scenery of Valle de la Luna looks like the ground of an alien planet. And smoke rises from the bubbling geysers of El Tatio while vicuñas and rheas roam the mountains. This and more is presented by the Atacama Desert around the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama.

Day 18-20: Quintay

You return to Central Chile and pick up another rental car. Apart from tourist crowds, you indulge in a moment of deceleration, contemplation and unfiltered connection with your environment in Quintay. The boundless Pacific Ocean shimmers on the horizon in front of you. Small restaurants offer maritime gastronomy in the bay of the secluded fishing village. And during a leisurely walk along the sandy beach, you can listen to the harmonious sound of the sea and the singing of the seagulls.

Day 20-22: Valparaíso

Valparaíso is known for its colorful tin-clad houses, historic elevators and street art full of politics and irony. View the dazzling ocean in front of the broad mountain silhouette. Meander attentively through the winding sidewalks on the hills of this freedom-loving coastal metropolis. And go up the myriad, exhilaratingly designed stairways of the port city.