Cycling Carretera Austral Norte
Puerto Varas to Coyhaique
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
From North to South – Puerto Varas to Coyhaique
We’ve highlighted the days we suggest to book lodging in advance:
Arrival at Tepual Airport
- LODGING at Hostal in Puerto Varas
- Dinner at Hotel in Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas - Ensenada 45 km
- Pick up BIKES - AUSTRAL BIKES
- Departure Puerto Varas (Breakfast included at lodging).
- LODGING at Hostel in Ensenada
- Dinner at Hostel in Ensenada
Ensenada - Cochamó 48,2 km
- Departure Ensenada: (Breakfast included at lodging).
- LODGING at Cabin in Cochamó
- Dinner at Cabin in Cochamó
**** YOU CAN BUY LUNCH IN ROUTE
Cochamó - Contao 77,6 km
- Departure Cochamó (Breakfast included at lodging)
- LODGING at Lodge in Contao
- Dinner at Lodge
Contao - Hornopirén 45,1 km
Day 5Hornopirén - Caleta Gonzalo/ Pumalín National Park 134 km (-59,2 kms ferry).
- Bimodal Ferry Route:
HORNOPIRÉN - CALETA GONZALO.
**It´s very important that you buy the ticket at least 60 days in advance.
Pumalín Park - Yelcho Lake. 65 kms
Day 7Yelcho Lake - La Junta 82 kms
Day 8La Junta - Puyuhuapi 45,4 kms
Day 9Puyuhuapi - Queulat National Park 25 kms
Day 10Queulat National Park - Villa Amengual 66,3 kms
Day 11Villa Amengual - Villa Mañihuales 58,1 kms
Day 12Villa Mañihuales - Coyhaique 87 kms
Day 13DROP OFF BIKE - Coyhaique to Puerto Montt- Return Home
- Departure Coyhaique (Breakfast included at lodging)
- Dinner at Hostel in Puerto Montt
Coyhayque - Puerto Montt
- Drop off bikes
- Departure Coyhaique: (Breakfast included at lodging)
Bike and Outdoor Rental
Need a quote?
Send us an email to: info@australbikes.cl
Total distance: 679 km.
Total days: 14
Difficulty: Medium / high
Road type: 90% pavement – 10% gravel.
NEED LODGING?
Please, write us a message: info@australbikes.cl if you need help with some bookings, although we advise that only for your first and final dates.
It´s very risky to do that for other days, as you may need more days to explore while on your journey, or the road might be closed for one or two days due to climate: rain, snow or river floods.
self guided tour
included
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– IF YOU WANT TO BOOK LODGING:
We can help booking your B&B, Hostel, Cabin – Twin or Double Bed Rooms.
Breakfast and Dinner: can be included in some of the B&B, Lodges, Hotels, Cabins and Hosteles.
– IF YOU NEED CAMPING GEAR:
A tent, a sleeping bag, a matt, a camping stove, camping pots, 2 x 230 cc gas for the stove, a USB light/ lantern and cuttlery are a must.
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Bike rental: 14 days included. Excellent quality bikes, Merida brand, specially selected for the trails of the zone and the gravel road on Carretera Austral (easily handleable).
All of our services include: Topeak Explorer Rear Racks, Ortlieb waterproof panniers 40 lts (20 lts each side), handlebar bag (15 lts), mini-triangular frame bag, Gyro helmets, bottle cage, lock, lights, spare tubes, multi tools, tyre levers, allen wrench set, pump, chain cutter, quick link, patches, glue and reflective vests.
Bike Dropoff at Coyhaique
Phone assistance
Pick up bikes: Austral Bikes Store – Puerto Varas
not included
Airport transfer to Puerto Varas: arrival from Tepual Airport – Puerto Montt.
– Bus/Flight Tickets Returning from Coyhaique to Puerto Montt.
– Tickets for both ferries
– Airport transfer to El Tepual Airport in Puerto Montt: Return to Santiago.
– Guide
– All that´s not mentioned above as included.
make your reservation
Carretera Austral starts officially in Puerto Montt, but we advise you to start from Puerto Varas, Ensenada, Cochamó, Puelo and Contao, because it´s a beautiful place, that you will miss if starting from Puerto Montt.
What to Do Before You Hit the Road
Pack enough food and water:
Double-check that you’ve got everything you may need!
Be sure to carry enough cash money:
Remember that you´ll need to find the next ATM machine. Although there are now plenty of ATM´s along the Carretera Austral, the rule of thumb is to check you have enough to pay for food and lodging as in most places it will be impossible to pay with debit or credit cards.
Pick up a copy of the COPEC – Map Chiletur Copec Area 7- Carretera Austral:
This map is indispensable for anyone cycling in Carretera Austral. You can buy it at our store, or in any COPEC gas station for around $4,900 CLP.
Download Maps.me before you set off:
This free app allows you to download maps of the Carretera Austral to your phone (do this while you still have a wifi connection) that can then be used offline.
Download the ioverlander app:
This free app is a guide to road conditions and campsites as compiled by people who travel. It is an indispensable resource for helping you to find good wild camping spots, as well as up-to-date information about the state of the Carretera Austral. You do need internet to be able to access the maps in the app.
A local sim card:
Entel provides the best coverage along the Carretera Austral. If you plan on booking accommodations and doing other logistical stuff en-route, don’t expect to be able to rely on the internet along the Carretera Austral. The internet reception might be very poor, not all hostels or cabins have WIFI, so sort this. Entel, Movistar, Claro and Wom may not have coverage everywhere.
Carretera Austral remains a work in progress
Unpaved at some points and impassable due to the rain, snow and wind:
Qualities that have helped secure the Carretera Austral as one of South America’s most remote and beguiling road trips. The road works can cause sections of the road to be closed, this information is best found by consulting the tourism office of the town you’re in and then planning accordingly.
Pack the right clothing for hot and cold weather:
Clothes that can be layered up in cold weather and stripped down in warm weather are versatile for any temperature.
A water bottle and water filter:
Water is potable in Carretera Austral, however, if you have a sensitive stomach, it’s best to err on the side of caution.
Toilet paper:
Public toilets are few and far between! Be sure to come prepared instead.
Camping:
There are many campsites along the route and is generally permissible to set your tent where ever you want along the Carretera Austral, your common sense will give you a right idea where you can’t and where it’s recommendable to stay, anyway, remember you will be staying on wild and pristine areas, so practice leaving no trace principles and make sure that you won´t leave any rubbish. If the land is clearly privately owned and there’s a dwelling nearby, be sure to pop in and ask for permission before settling down for the night.
Cycling Carretera Austral Norte
This is a Self Guided Tour, with no Guide.
We rent you the bikes, give you maps and take care of lodging and dinner at some places if you need.
Cycling Carretera Austral Norte
ITINERARY:
Don’t miss out on the many activities in the area:
DAY 1 – Arrival at Tepual Airport
The nearest Airport is El Tepual (PMC) in Puerto Montt. All domestic flights are operated by three local airline companies: Latam, Sky Airlines and JetSmart. Its very easy to get transport to Puerto Varas. Two good transfer companies at Tepual´s Airport are Turis Tour or Survip.
They offer regular and private shuttles to Puerto Varas at $30.000 CLP.
Day 2 – Puerto Varas – Ensenada:
After arriving to Ensenada, you can leave your bags at the hostel and visit Saltos de Petrohué ** remember to secure the bike with the lock that we have provided to you, and you can also visit Lake Todos los Santos (if you are not too tired).
Day 3 – Ensenada – Cochamó:
Cochamó has been called the Yosemite of Chile, the Valley is beyond comparison, the granite cliffs rise one thousand meters from the valley floor, here are also a bunch of day hikes, as well as multi-day adventures that you can access from Cochamo Valley.
Day 5- Contao – Hornopirén:
As you continue South, the density of the forests will increase considerably and inversely the towns and houses will decrease.. After Contao, the supplys offered will be mostly bread. Hualaihué, Caleta Manzano and Pichicolo are good options to have lunch or find some more supplies, you can also chose to buy supplies in Hornopirén where there are supermarkets, stores and restaurants. At Hornopirén you will find the office of Naviera Austral: you can buy tickets for the Bimodal Ferry that will allow you to continue to Caleta Gonzalo in Pumalín Park.
Day 7 – Pumalin Park – Yelcho Lake:
Pumalin Douglas Tompkins National Park is a stunning area that offers some great opportunities for outdoor lovers, beautiful hiking trails and in-nature campsites. The scenery in Pumalin is truly spectacular: crystal clear rivers, lush green forest, unique flora and fauna. Lake Yelcho is well known for its emerald green waters and for being an excellent place for sport fishing.
It is surrounded by high mountains and a lush vegetation of evergreen temperate Patagonian rain forest. Where the Yelcho River is born, in Puerto Cardenas is located one of the landmarks of the Carretera Austral, a suspension bridge 250 meters long built in 1989, the first of its kind in the country. This bridge made it possible to connect almost unexplored territories to the south of the Carretera Austral and unite the Aysen Region with the Los Lagos Region.
Day 8 – Puerto Cardenas:
Puerto Cardenas is home to an impressive selection of attractions and experiences, making it well worth a visit.
Day 9 – Puyuhuapi:
Puyuhuapi is a quiet and peaceful village located at the far end of a fjord, surrounded by hills and mountains covered with thick green vegetation. German immigrants founded it in 1935 and their influence can still be noticed in the local architecture and cuisine. Stroll through this tiny village and admire the local houses, the church, the beauty of the fjord with the clouds drifting over the water in the morning and the colourful fishing boats.
Four species of dolphins play in the waters of Puyuhuapi. Take a kayak or boat tour to observe the wonderful fjord and these amazing creatures.
Day 10 – Puyuhuapi – Queulat National Park:
You will arrive to Queulat after two hours of cycling (we have designed this on purpose), you can spend the rest of the day walking the trails or taking an excursion. Don’t miss out on the Queulat National Park (entrance 24 km south of Puyuhuapi) with rivers winding through its fairy tale lush wilderness. The most popular route is the 3,2 km hike to the famous hanging glacier or “Ventisquero Colgante” where you can see and hear the ice crashing down on the rocks. In summer you can hop on one of the small boats that navigate you across the Laguna Témpanos to the glacier.
51 km south of Puyuhuapi is the Bosque Encantado (Enchanted Forest), a moist, magical forest where gremlins and elves must live.
An hour’s walk takes you to where the glacial waterfalls drop into the river.Take all your wet weather gear.
check out the view!
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