Overview

South of the Chilean lake district lies the remote Aisén region, crossed by the Carretera Austral (‘Southern Highway’), a feat of engineering which opened this fractured wilderness area in the 1980s. This lonely road showcases over 1,200km of incredible scenery: negotiating temperate rainforests, mountain passes and glaciers, and crossing dozens of icy rivers, lakes and fjords as it weaves south from Puerto Montt to where the land runs out. For self-drivers, just a few days on the Carretera Austral makes for an epic road trip with a sense of discovery.

Exploring Aisén demands time so this region has long been overlooked by most visitors heading for Patagonia’s better-known attractions. Although new national parks, upscale lodges and highway upgrades are finally putting Aisén on the map, you will still feel the raw essence of wild Patagonia and what makes it so very special.

Read More

THE UK’S NO. 1 SPECIALIST IN TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA

What our clients say Contact Us

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.

Foitzick lake beside Carretera Austral near to Coyhaique

Private Journeys

Chile

Self-drive Chile: Off the beaten track

14 days from £4,240pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Carretera Austral

Group - Discovery

Argentina / Chile / Patagonia

Untouched Aisen: Little-known Patagonia

15 days from £4,014pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

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.

Where to go when - our guide to Aisen and the Carretera Austral

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 guide

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

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.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Ben
    Ben Line - Travel Expert

    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 Head of Sales.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    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.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Paul
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    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 a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

0 1 2 3 4 5