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Highlights
Explore the stunning Aysen Region and Lago General Carrera on the Aysen Patagonia self-drive tour
Explore Chile’s Aysén province in-depth on a self-drive adventure that winds along the stunning coastline of the Carretera Austral (Route 7).
Witness the majestic peaks of the Cerro Castillo as you hike in this national park and ascend to the Laguna found here.
Visit and stay in charming small villages away from the crowds, like Chile Chico and Puerto Bertrand.
Explore the wonders of the world-famous Patagonia National Park as you hike the Valle Lunar and spot majestic wildlife.
The Aysen Patagonia Tour is a unique self-drive adventure in Chile that whisks you away into the Chilean Andes to journey along Chile’s largest lake, Lago General Carrera. The stunning coastline that paves the way for the Carretera Austral (Route 7) will be your playground on this wondrous Chilean self-guided tour.
Over 8 adventure-filled days on this spectacular Aysen tour, you’ll explore the unique natural wonders of Chile’s Aysén region including highlights like Lago General Carrera’s impressive marble caves and the mighty Baker River. Enjoy incredible hiking in the Cerro Castillo and Patagonia National Parks where you’ll stand in awe of imposing glaciers, azure lagoons and snow-capped peaks. Experience lively cities like Coyhaique and get off the beaten path as you visit and stay in the small villages of Puerto Guadal and Chile Chico.
Enjoy the ease of this Aysen Patagonia self-drive tour that includes car rental and a GPS app with trek coordinates. Discover the beauty and excitement of southern Chile for yourself on this unique self-drive adventure!
Lago General Carrera
Jointly shared by both Argentina and Chile, Lago General Carrera (also referred to as Lake Buenos Aires in Argentina) is a glacial lake set within the rugged landscape of the Andes mountain range. Featuring a surface of 1,850 km², the lake is the fourth largest in Argentina and the largest in Chile.
Due to its breathtaking surroundings and a small number of settlements along the shore, Lago General Carrera is a popular destination for tourists, particularly those traveling through the province of Aysén, Chile. If you are hoping to take in the natural beauty of Chilean or Argentinean Patagonia, then a stop to visit Lago General Carrera is a must!
The Aysen Patagonia Tour is a unique self-drive adventure in Chile that whisks you away into the Chilean Andes to journey along Chile’s largest lake, Lago General Carrera. The stunning coastline that paves the way for the Carretera Austral (Route 7) will be your playground on this wondrous Chilean self-guided tour.
Over 8 adventure-filled days on this spectacular Aysen tour, you’ll explore the unique natural wonders of Chile’s Aysén region including highlights like Lago General Carrera’s impressive marble caves and the mighty Baker River. Enjoy incredible hiking in the Cerro Castillo and Patagonia National Parks where you’ll stand in awe of imposing glaciers, azure lagoons and snow-capped peaks. Experience lively cities like Coyhaique and get off the beaten path as you visit and stay in the small villages of Puerto Guadal and Chile Chico.
Enjoy the ease of this Aysen Patagonia self-drive tour that includes car rental and a GPS app with trek coordinates. Discover the beauty and excitement of southern Chile for yourself on this unique self-drive adventure!
Lago General Carrera
Jointly shared by both Argentina and Chile, Lago General Carrera (also referred to as Lake Buenos Aires in Argentina) is a glacial lake set within the rugged landscape of the Andes mountain range. Featuring a surface of 1,850 km², the lake is the fourth largest in Argentina and the largest in Chile.
Due to its breathtaking surroundings and a small number of settlements along the shore, Lago General Carrera is a popular destination for tourists, particularly those traveling through the province of Aysén, Chile. If you are hoping to take in the natural beauty of Chilean or Argentinean Patagonia, then a stop to visit Lago General Carrera is a must!
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Aysen Patagonia Self-Drive Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival and Drive to Villa Cerro Castillo
The journey begins at Balmaceda Airport in Southern Chile’s Aysén province. After picking up your rental car, travel south on the Carretera Austral that traverses Chile’s remote south. It doesn’t take long before you get to enjoy spectacular views of the Cerro Castillo mountain range on the right-hand side. Tonight you’ll spend the night at a comfortable hotel in Villa Cerro Castillo.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Villa Cerro Castillo
Distance: 72km driving
Meals: None
Day 2 Hike Cerro Castillo National Park
On the second day of this Aysen Patagonia Tour, you will visit Cerro Castillo National Park, which has become a new attractive hiking destination over the past few years and is beloved by both locals and visitors. There are various options to explore the landscape today!
You can ascend to the “Laguna” of the Cerro Castillo Mountain massif on a well-marked trail where you’ll enjoy views of the wide valley, mountains, and the village below. On this 3-4 hour hike that leads past imposing glaciers, you’ll reach the lagoon with the majestic peaks of the Cerro Castillo in the background. Take your time to enjoy the incredible surroundings, before descending the same way.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Villa Cerro Castillo
Distance: 7-8h, 15 km, 1,061m of ascent hiking
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Drive the Carretera Austral to Puerto Guadal
Today on your Chilean self-drive tour, your trip continues south on the Carretera Austral. Follow the course of the Murta River until it finally flows into Chile’s largest lake, Lago General Carrera, whose blue-green glacier water is visible from far away. Near Puerto Rio Tranquilo, stop to visit the Marble Caves, a unique geological formation made mostly of marble on the pristine shores of the lake. The rock formation “Capilla de Mármol” (Marble Chapel) is one of its highlights. Afterwards, the journey continues along the shore until you reach lively Puerto Guadal, a small town found on the south-west edge of Lage General Carrera.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Puerto Guadal
Distance: 180km driving
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Drive and Explore the Southern Shoreline of Lago General Carrera to Chile Chico
Before departing Puerto Guadal this morning, check out the “Fossil Mountain” and the impressive waterfall Los Maquis, both well worth a visit.
Later on, continue your Aysen travelling experience along the southern shore of Lago General Carrera to the small village of Chile Chico, located near the Argentine border. Its mild microclimate allows for the cultivation of cherries and other fruits, which is why it is also called the Chilean “sun city”!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Chile Chico
Distance: 105km driving
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Hiking in Patagonia National Park
Discover Patagonia’s breathtaking landscape on a unique hike in the recently opened Patagonia National Park (formerly Reserva Jeinimeni). The 7.4km (4.6 mi) long circular trail of medium difficulty starts about one hour from Chile Chico and takes around 4 to 5 hours to complete.
Marvel at the 40m (130ft) high freestanding rock ‘Piedra Clavada’ in the middle of the pampa and discover the cave ‘Cueva de las Manos’ with countless old wall paintings, dating to several thousand years ago and one of the most important cultural legacies of this region. The colorful rock formations of Valle Lunar will remind you of a lunar landscape. On the way, you are likely to encounter wild guanacos and condors, and if you’re lucky, even pumas!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Chile Chico
Distance: 4-5h, 7.4km hiking
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Lakeshore Drive to Puerto Bertrand
Drive back along the southern shore of the lake to the village of Puerto Bertrand, where you stay amid beautiful scenery near the eponymous lake. It is the source of the Baker, one of Chile’s mightiest rivers, which flows together with the Neff about 20km (12 mi) further south. This spectacular confluence is definitely worth a detour!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Puerto Bertrand
Distance: 130km driving
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Journey through Carretera Austral to Puerto Bertrand
Today´s journey on the Carretera Austral leads back north to Coyhaique, the largest city in the region. Back in “civilization”, there are superb options for restaurants, cultural sightseeing, and shopping!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Coyhaique
Distance: 285km driving
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Departure
Drop off your rental car at Balmaceda Airport. From here you can continue your trip to another region of Chile or fly back home via Santiago.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Aysen Patagonia Self-Drive Tour Price and Dates
This self-drive tour in Aysen is always run as a private tour for your group only and the price per person depends on the types of the rooms that your group chooses. The prices below are per person:- Solo Traveller: USD2895 per person
- Group of 2+: USD1530 per person
Accommodation on Aysen Patagonia Self-drive Tour
This tour is based in midrange hotels that offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Standard rooms are of double occupancy and those willing to have single rooms will need to pay a supplement (on request).
What’s Included in the Aysen Self-drive Tour?
Meals
7 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 7 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
This is a self-drive tour where you’ll be driving a rental car throughout the tour duration. It starts with picking your vehicle in Balmaceda and dropping it off in the same location on the last day of the tour.
Also Included
- Car Rental for 8 days:
-
- F2 category vehicle (Nissan Xtrail or similar)
- Collision Damage Waiver with USD240 deductible
- Unlimited mileage
- Airport Service Charge
- Programmed GPS
- GPS app with trek coordinates
Not included
- Guide services
- Meals not noted as included
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
- Fuel
Optional Extras
- Extra nights before or after the tour
- How hard is the Aysen Self-drive Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Chile?
- Are meals included on the Aysen Self-drive Tour?
- Do I need travel insurance?
- Is the vehicle insurance included?
- How do I get to Balmaceda to start this tour?
- Is the Aysen Self-drive Tour in English?
- Where does the Aysen Self-drive Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Chile?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Chile?
We rate this tour as a 2 / 5. Although most of the hikes on this tour can be swapped for easier alternatives, being reasonably fit will help you to get the most out of this tour.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
7 breakfasts are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover hiking. Get your Travel Insurance.
Yes, vehicle rental includes Collision Damage Waiver, however, there is a 240 USD deductible, and some exceptions apply. Please enquire for more info.
Fly into Balmaceda Airport in Puerto Montt which can be reached from several cities in Southern America.
This tour is self-guided, therefore guide services are not included. However, you will be provided with GPS-app with trek coordinates in English.
The tour ends where it starts, in Balmaceda with your rental vehicle rental drop off.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
Customer Ratings
In Andes Nativa, their name says it all. Their highest priority are authentic travel experiences in Chile, where the mighty Andes Mountains are a steady companion. NATIVA represents the pristine and fragile, worthy of protection.
