Chile Aisen and the Carretera Austral
Home to lush, temperate forests, tumultuous rivers and jagged mountain passes, Aisen is a pristine wilderness made accessible by the Carretera Austral.
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South of the lake district lies the remote Aisén region, crossed by the Carretera Austral (‘Southern Highway’), a tremendous feat of engineering which opened up this fractured wilderness area in the 1980s. This lonely road negotiates a shattered landscape of felled and standing forests, mountain passes and glaciers, and crosses dozens of icy rivers, lakes and fjords as it weaves south from Puerto Montt to where the land runs out. This beautiful region is frequently unjustly overlooked by visitors to the lakes and southern Patagonia, although is popular with fishing enthusiasts and horse-riders. Nowadays new lodges mean that the area is at last beginning to open up.
Holidays Aisen and the Carretera Austral
Browse our off-the-beaten track holiday travelling to Aisén on the Carretera Austral. Take a look now and book with Journey Latin America.
Things to do
Enjoy a range of activities whilst visiting Aisén, from driving the Austral road, to observing the solar eclipse. Book with Journey Latin America now.
Accommodation
After a long day exploring Aisén and the Carretera Austral, relax in our selection of well-located and idyllic hotels. Book now with Journey Latin America.
Where to go when - our guide to Aisen and the Carretera Austral
The weather in Aisen and the Carretera Austral is wide and varied
The lush, temperate forests, tumultuous rivers and jagged mountain passes of Aisen were made accessible by the Carretera Austral, a lonely road which winds through little-known, pristine landscapes. At times little more than a narrow dirt track, traffic can build up in the warmer summer months (December - February) and those wishing to avoid other visitors may prefer to visit in the quiet and cooler shoulder seasons (March - May and September - November). Wildlife is varied and abundant here as Aisen’s natural beauty has been left largely untouched. With fewer visitors in the shoulder seasons, you’ll glimpse guanacos, condors, and if you’re lucky, the elusive puma. Many of the cosy lodges will close during the harsh winter months, when temperatures drop, rainfall is heavy and the landscape freezes over.
View our Aisen and the Carretera Austral weather guidePapagaio
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Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Consultant
Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made team.
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Ben Line - Travel Consultant
Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Manager of the Tailor-made Department.
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Evie Oswald - Travel Consultant
It’s hard to believe that Evie has had time to cram so much in to her life so far. Having lived as a child in the Americas and Europe she found herself immediately attracted to Latin America.
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Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Consultant
Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our Sales team.
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Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Consultant
Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.
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Hannah Donaldson - Travel Consultant
Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is an invaluable part of our Group Tours team.
