Cycle Tour Chile: Northern Austral Road

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1 Puerto Varas, the touristic entrance of Carretera Austral

   At 3 pm, participants and staff will gather at the hostel in Puerto Varas for introductions, a briefing on the bike journey, and to check bikes and equipment. This is the last chance to find any necessary items for the trip in a big city. By the end of the day, the group will have a delicious dinner altogether. 
   
   

   • Hotel Cabanas del Lago
   • Dinner

   • 

     Hotel Cabañas del Lago

     Rest and recharge in comfortable stays surrounded by spectacular scenery

2. Day 2Contao Coastal Hualaihue road to Hornopirén

   You will leave Puerto Varas in a minibus, travelling along the coast of Puerto Montt towards the Carretera Austral, or Route 7. You’ll take a ferry across the Reloncaví Estuary to reach Caleta Puelche. After a nice lunch in the village of Contao, you’ll begin your ride, leaving the city behind and taking the quieter coastal road. Along the way, you’ll experience the cultural landscape shaped by the rural sector of Hualaihué and its handcrafted boat-building traditions, connecting with local culture, nature, and coastal views. You’ll pass by the El Manzano slope before reaching the city of Hornopirén.

   Type of road: Paved

   • 50.3 miles
   • Hosteria Catalina Cabins
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
3. Day 3Pumalín Douglas Thomkins National Park to Chaitén

   At 10 am, you will embark with the bikes on a fantastic ferry journey along the Bimodal Route. The navigation lasts 5 hours, passing through the majestic fjords of Chilean Patagonia and offering spectacular views of the Andes Mountains. After a 10 km transfer from Leptepu Fjord to Grande Fjord, you will take a second ferry to reach Caleta Gonzalo in Douglas Tompkins Pumalín National Park, part of the largest land donation for conservation purposes in the world.

   There, you will hike a trail among ancient Alerce trees before cycling through the evergreen forest along gravel roads. With beautiful lakes and mountain views along the way, you will eventually reach the sea and our next accommodation in Chaitén.
   
   

   • 24.9 miles
   • Kahuel Posada de Expediciones
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
4. Day 4Chaiten passing by el Amarillo to Yelcho Lake

   You'll continue along a paved road through the El Amarillo sector of Pumalín Park. The route continues 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. You will then border the beautiful Yelcho Lake to arrive at our accommodation.

   Type of road: Paved

   • 35.4 miles
   • Yelcho en la Patagonia Cabins
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
5. Day 5Facing the cuesta Moraga Slope to La Junta

   Your route begins with beautiful scenery, surrounded by native forest and views of the Yelcho Glacier. You'll tackle the Moraga slope, reaching a pass where the downhill begins, allowing you to see the impressive traces left by the devastating alluvium in Villa Santa Lucia (2017), an event that radically transformed the town's landscape and the lives of its inhabitants. You'll continue on the asphalt road, bordering the Frio and Palena Rivers, entering the Aysén Region. Enjoy a nice picnic in Villa Vanguardia before completing this long stretch in the town of La Junta.

   Type of road: Paved

   • 57.2 miles
   • Espacio y Tiempo Hotel
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
6. Day 6Amidst Queulat National Park and Risopatron Lake to Puyuhuapi fiord

   You’ll continue your ride towards Puyuhuapi, following the Risopatron River and Lake. Immerse yourself in the stunning scenery shaped by Queulat National Park. Arrive in Puyuhuapi, a town renowned for its carpet factory and architecture influenced by German settlers. Today, a surprise awaits to offer a unique cultural encounter.

   Type of road: Paved

   • 46 miles
   • Explora Queulat
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
7. Day 7 Queulat National Park day of Adventures

   This will be a multi-adventure day to recover energy for the next day's Queulat slope challenge, with a scenic ride. On this day, the famous Queulat National Park and its hanging glacier will be explored, with the opportunity to hike 2.5 trails to the viewpoint or navigate the Tempano Lagoon to get closer to unique picture spots to admire the glacier. To finalize the day, the chance to relax in the hot springs in front of the Puyuhuapi fjord will be possible (extra service).

   Type of road: Paved

   • 13 miles
   • Explora Queulat
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
8. Day 8The Legendary Cuesta Queulat Slope to Cisnes River

   The Queulat slope, one of the main challenges that makes the Carretera Austral route legendary, is faced today. In the middle of the evergreen forest, with fantastic views of glaciers and fjords, the gravel road takes you through an incredibly beautiful but demanding terrain, with a progressive 33-curve climb, offering a unique perspective of remote Patagonia at the Queulat Pass. From there, the asphalted descent begins, leading you next to the Cisnes River, which will be the guide to the accommodation in the rural village of Amengual. 

   Type of road: Loose gravel and paved

   • 31.7 miles
   • Regfugio Cisnes B&B
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
9. Day 9 Villa Amegual passing by Villa Mañihuales & Puerto Aysén

   To start the day, an uphill ride begins to reach Amengual. The journey continues through the Las Torres National Reserve, enjoying a ride amidst the interesting geological formations and mountains, as well as the scenery shaped by the sky, rivers, forests, and mountains. This route marks the transition to the Patagonian steppe, where it is also possible to observe agricultural fields, the unique Esponja Lagoon, and Mount Colmillo in the town of Villa Mañihuales. After lunch, the minibus will take the group to Puerto Aysén, the second largest city in the region. 
   
   
   

   • 41 miles
   • Patagonia Green Hotel or Grand Hotel Aysen
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks

   • 

     You've made it!

     Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishing a goal

10. Day 10Puerto Aysen gravel backroad towards Coyhaique

    The last day is the most challenging, but also the most rewarding. The ride begins with a river raft that will take you to the best back road of this bike journey, full of nature and free from road congestion. The rural road will guide everyone to the final destination in Coyhaique City, passing through stunning lakes hidden in the mountains. This night is for celebration and to embrace the days of multicultural encounters among participants and the experiences we've shared. A farewell dinner will take place to share friendship, final words, reflections, and the learnings the journey has left as takeaways for personal development.

    • 47.8 miles
    • Raices Bed & Breakfast
    • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
11. Day 11Coyhaique & Balmaceda Airport

    The tour concludes with breakfast included at your accommodation. Please note that accommodation is not provided on this day. It's recommended to schedule your flight for after 2:00 PM

    • Breakfast