National Park Fees Along the Carretera Austral: What Cyclists Need to Know (2025 Update)
If you’re planning to cycle the Carretera Austral from Puerto Varas to Villa O’Higgins, get ready for some of the wildest, greenest, and most awe-inspiring landscapes you’ll ever experience. Glaciers, ancient forests, turquoise rivers, hanging bridges, and remote valleys—this route is not just about pedaling, it’s about entering the heart of Patagonia.
And the good news? Many of these wonders are protected inside Chile’s national parks. Before you roll into these majestic places, here’s what you need to know about entrance and camping fees along the way.
Let’s ride south—one park at a time.
🚴 1. Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park
📍 Near Puerto Varas – Lago Todos los Santos / Petrohué Falls
Entrance fee (foreign adults): CLP 11,400
Camping not available inside main tourist areas
This is where many cyclists begin their adventure. Stop by the thunderous Petrohué Falls, pedal around Lago Todos los Santos, or take a detour to the Osorno Volcano for an unforgettable view.
🚴 2. Hornopirén National Park
📍 South of Contao – after the ferry crossing
Entrance fee: ~CLP 3,000 (private land access)
Basic camping available with permit
A lesser-known gem, this park is wild and remote. Expect rainforest, fjords, and silence. Trails are few and often muddy—but that’s Patagonia.
🚴 3. Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park (North & South)
📍 From Caleta Gonzalo to Chaitén
Free entrance
Camping: CLP 6,000–10,000
This is bikepacking paradise. Towering alerces (1,000+ years old), suspension bridges, perfect gravel roads, and pristine rivers. The park was created by conservationist Doug Tompkins and is one of the most cyclist-friendly in the world.
🚴 4. Queulat National Park
📍 Between Puyuhuapi and Villa Amengual
Entrance fee (foreign adults): CLP 8,000
Camping: CLP 10,000
Don’t miss the Hanging Glacier (Ventisquero Colgante). It’s a short detour from the Carretera, but totally worth it. A surreal view of waterfalls pouring off a glacial cliff.
🚴 5. Cerro Castillo National Park
📍 South of Coyhaique – on the way to Villa Cerro Castillo
Entrance fee (foreign adults): CLP 15,000
Various paid campsites in Villa Cerro Castillo
Home to one of the most spectacular treks in Chile, this park boasts jagged peaks, turquoise lagoons, and condors flying overhead. The climb here—Cuesta del Diablo—is legendary among cyclists.
🚴 6. Patagonia National Park
📍 From Cochrane to sectors like Jeinimeni and Tamango
Entrance fee (foreign adults): CLP 11,400
Camping: CLP 3,000–6,000
Created by Tompkins Conservation, this is Patagonia at its purest—open valleys, guanacos, flamingos, and pumas if you’re lucky. The route to Lago Cochrane is a cyclist’s dream: gravel, vastness, and solitude.
🚴 7. Bernardo O’Higgins National Park
📍 Between Tortel and Villa O’Higgins – mostly accessed by boat
No fixed entrance fee (many areas require guided tours)
This is Chile’s largest national park, a rugged and inaccessible land of fjords, glaciers, and ice fields. If you’re finishing your trip in Villa O’Higgins, you’re already skirting its edges. Boat tours and guided trips to the O’Higgins Glacier are available from the village.
Final Tips
• Fees can vary depending on the time of year and whether you’re a resident or foreign visitor.
• Most parks only accept payment online or in cash (CLP)—have bills ready.
• Always check the CONAF website or local ranger stations for up-to-date access info.
• Wild camping is allowed in many areas outside national parks, but inside parks, stick to designated sites.