Cycle Tour Chile: Northern Austral Road

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Puerto Montt - Hornopirén

   Today you will start the first stretch in a van along the coast of Puerto Montt to enter Route 7. You will take a barge to cross the Reloncaví Estuary up to Caleta Puelche. Here you will start pedaling as you continue along the coast near the town of Contao, to continue on paths with slopes and mixed terrain of gravel and pavement, which will allow you to get to know the rural sector of the Hualaihué area, until reaching the town of Hornopirén.

   For guests arriving today, a minibus will be waiting at the El Tepual Airport between 9:00 - 10:00am. If arrival will be later, arrangements can be made with the Tour Operator.
   

   • 28 miles
   • Hostel Quilda
   • Breakfast, Dinner, and Snacks
2. Day 2Hornopirén - Pumalin National Park

   In the morning you will depart with your bicycle on the barge of the Bimodal Route. The route is divided in two, a first navigation of 3.5 hours through the fjords of Patagonia where you will have fantastic views of the Andes mountain range. You will then go on a 10km gravel road to reach the second barge which will have a travel time 40 minutes. Your destination will be the south entrance of the Pumalin National Park in Caleta Gonzalo.

   Inside the National Park, you will be cycling in the middle of an evergreen forest for 11km until you reach the Alerce trail. Take a walk on this easy trail will take around 40mins. You'll be surrounded by alerce trees which are thousands of years old and were nearly cut into extinction for their valuable wood. The day's journey ends at Camping El Volcan.
   

   • 18.6 miles
   • Camping El Volcan Pumalin
   • Breakfast, Dinner, and Snacks
3. Day 3Camping El Volcan (Pumalin NP) - Lago Yelcho

   You will keep on going along a paved road through El Amarillo sector of the Pumalín Park. The route goes on until you reach the town of Puerto Cárdenas and the famous Yelcho suspension bridge, where it is possible to admire the mouth of the lake and the glacier of the same name. Bordering the beautiful Yelcho Lake, you will arrive at the night's campsite.

   There will be an opportunity to buy supplies in Chaitén if needed.
   

   • 39.8 miles
   • Camping Yelcho en la Patagonia
   • Breakfast, Dinner, and Snacks
4. Day 4Lago Yelcho - La Junta

   The route begins with beautiful scenery surrounded by native forest and views of the Yelcho glacier. You will face a high and difficult climb of Moraga hill, and as you pass this peak you will continue the descent where you can admire the impressive trace left by the terrible alluvium of Villa Santa Lucia of the year 2017, a phenomenon that radically transformed the landscape of the town and the life of its inhabitants. You will continue the journey along a winding paved road, bordering the Frío River, Palena, entering the Aysén Region until reaching the town of La Junta.
   

   • 55.3 miles
   • Casa Museo
   • Breakfast, Dinner, and Snacks
5. Day 5La Junta - Puyuhuapi

   You will continue in the direction of Puyuhuapi bordering the river and Lake Risopatrón. Then you will become immersed in the impressive scenery of The Queulat National Park, to reach the town of Puyuhuapi which is known for its carpets factory and architecture influenced by German settlers. You will arrive at the accommodation, have lunch and in the afternoon drive in a van to enjoy the hot springs in front of the Puyuhuapi fiord.

   Laundry can be done on this day (extra service)
   

   • 30.4 miles
   • Aonikenk Cabins
   • Breakfast, Dinner, and Snacks
6. Day 6Puyuhuapi - Queulat National Park

   On a paved road, you will cycle the border of a wonderful fjord to reach the Queulat National Park. The evergreen forest owns the landscape and you'll have the opportunity to trek through the park. There are two alternatives; one option is to go on the interpretive trail and the trail to the Témpano Lagoon to admire the imposing hanging glacier. And the other option, for the more adventurous ones, is to take a guided interpretive trek along the trail that leads to the viewpoint of the hanging glacier. This day will be key to get some rest and face the Queulat slope the next day.
   

   • 13 miles
   • Camping in the National Park
   • Breakfast and Dinner

   • 

     Queulat National Park

     Visit and stay in this spectacular landscape on day 7 and trek through it

7. Day 7Queulate National Park - Villa Amengual

   After getting to know and touring the Queulat National Park, you will continue the journey with a stretch of gravel and dirt roads until coming face to face with a challenge of incredible beauty, the Cuesta Queulat. A progressive climb of a continuous winding road, consisting of 33 curves that show the best of the landscape of the park and its surroundings. After a long descent, you will continue a winding paved road and another high-intensity steep hill to reach Villa Amengual.

   The accommodation is 6km before Villa Amengual, there is a coffee shop with local products and beer.
   

   • 41.6 miles
   • Camping Refugio Cisnes
   • Breakfast, Dinner, and Snacks
8. Day 8Villa Amengual - Villa Mañihuales

   Continuing Route 7 on a paved road, you will cross the Las Torres National Reserve, and it will be possible to enjoy a ride in the middle of a privileged scenery of colours formed by the sky, rivers, forests and mountains, in a transition from the temperate rain forest to the Patagonian steppe. At the end of the tour you can observe the agricultural fields, the unique Lagoon Esponja and the Colmillo Hill in the town of Villa Mañihuales.
   

   • 28 miles
   • Camping Borderio Mañihuales
   • Breakfast, Dinner, and Snacks
9. Day 9Villa Mañihuales - Coyhaique

   Over a paved and gravel road, the final section of the Northern Carretera Austral offers some typical landscapes of Patagonia. On the way you will stop for lunch in Villa Ortega and have some rest to continue the last 32km (20mi) that will take you to the city of Coyhaique, where you will complete the tour.

   
   

   • 18.6 miles
   • Huella Patagonica
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks

   • 

     You've made it!

     Arrive at your final destination on day 10 feeling proud and accomplished

10. Day 10Departure

    Enjoy the final breakfast of the tour as you Northern Austral bike adventure comes to an end.
    
    It is possible to continue cycling into Patagonia and to add the Southern Austral Road tour to your itinerary. Please contact us for more information.