Overview & Highlights
With the freedom of a hire car, explore regions which, although of outstanding natural beauty, are little visited wildernesses. Discover Chiloé Island, the lake district and, travelling the remote Austral road, the Aysén region of fjords and glaciers.
This holiday goes off the beaten track to discover some of the more sparsely populated corners of this wildly beautiful country, including the Carretera Austral, only completed in the early 1980s and the first proper road to negotiate this fractured region of fjords, glaciers and rivers.
A 4,000km long, skinny coastal strip backed by the Andes mountain range, Chile has a variety of climate and landscape to match its changing latitudes. This holiday explores a little visited part of Patagonia. First, we take you exploring the back-roads of the deeply traditional island of Chiloé and intact, ancient forests in the lake district. The most rewarding way to explore your next destination, Aysén (Chile’s Region XI), is in your own hire vehicle. An area of staggering natural beauty, Aysén was for centuries neglected: its fractured landscape of fjords and glaciers hard to negotiate, its agricultural potential meagre, its natural resources hidden away. Political dissidents were sent into exile here, and immigrants from persecution also found peace among the pines. Now the region, long favoured by fishermen, is opening up to visitors and becoming popular with outdoor adventure activities enthusiasts. The Austral Road offers one of South America’s great iconic road trips with scenery of almost unimaginable beauty. To help you on your way, all your hotels are pre-booked and we have suggested a route to help you get the most out of this magnificent region.
- Guided 3-day visit to rugged Chiloe, an island steeped in tradition
- Excursion to the millenary trees of Alerce Andino National Park
- 6 days of self-driving along Chile's legendary Austral highway
Outline itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Santiago. Transfer to hotel in an arty up-and-coming district of the capital.
Day 2
Transfer to airport and fly to Chiloé Island. Visit Dalcahue port and Castro, the capital.
Day 3
Guided tour of the surrounding area.
Day 4
Take a ferry to Quinchao island. Onward ferry to the mainland, continue to Puerto Varas.
Day 5
Guided excursion to Alerce Andino National Park.
Day 6
Fly to Balmaceda in Patagonia, collect hire vehicle, and drive to Puerto Rio Tranquilo.
Day 7
At leisure to explore the region.
Day 8
Drive to Caleta Tortel, a village on the Carretera Austral.
Day 9
At leisure to explore the area.
Day 10
Drive to Puerto Guadal on the shores of Lake General Carrera.
Day 11
At leisure to discover local highlights.
Day 12
Drop off car at Balmaceda airport and fly to Santiago.
Day 13
At leisure to explore the capital.
Day 14
Transfer to airport for international flight home.
Things to do
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Accommodation
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Inspired by this trip
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Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
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