Cycle Tour Chile: Northern Austral Road

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Stage 1: Departure

   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. If you prefer to travel light, you can send your luggage to Coyhaique for pickup on the last day of the trip (extra service). It's day 1 of your Carretera Austral adventure!
   
   
   

   • Acommodation in Puerto Varas
   • Dinner
2. Day 2Stage 2: The Bike Journey

   You will leave Puerto Varas in a minibus, travelling along the coast of Puerto Montt to approach 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 entering the rural sector of Hualaihué, where you can admire nature, forests, and coastal views until you reach the town of Hornopirén.
   

   Type of road: Asphalt
   

   • 28 miles
   • Accommodation in Hornopirén
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
3. Day 3Hornopirén - Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park, Chaitén

   Early in the morning, you'll embark on a fantastic ferry journey with your bikes along the Bimodal route. This 5-hour navigation will take you through majestic fjords in Chilean Patagonia, offering spectacular views of the Andes Mountains. After a 10 km ride, you'll take a second ferry to reach the Douglas Tompkins Pumalin National Park in Caleta Gonzalo. This park, part of the largest land donation for conservation in the world from The North Face founder to the Government of Chile, features cycling through the evergreen forest, hiking the trail of ancient Alerces trees, and continuing along a gravel road next to beautiful lakes that will lead to your next accommodation.

   Type of road: gravel and asphalt
   

   • 18.6 miles
   • Accommodaiton in Chaitén
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
4. Day 4Chaitén - Lago Yelcho

   You'll continue along a paved road, passing by Chaitén City, where you'll stop for lunch. This city was affected by the 2008 volcanic eruption. The asphalt road winds through beautiful mountains, often offering the chance to spot condors in the El Amarillo sector of Pumalin Park. The route continues until you reach the town of Puerto Cárdenas and the famous Yelcho suspension bridge, where you can admire the mouth of Yelcho Lake and its glacier. You'll then border the stunning Yelcho Lake to arrive at your accommodation.

   Type of road: asphalt
   

   • 39.8 miles
   • Accommodation in Lago Yelcho
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
5. Day 5Lago Yelcho - 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: asphalt
   

   • 55.3 miles
   • Accommodation in La Junta
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
6. Day 6La Junta - Puyuhuapi

   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, you'll experience a unique cultural encounter by sharing a traditional Patagonian BBQ, featuring lamb on a sword, prepared by a pioneering family.

   Type of road: asphalt
   

   • 30.4 miles
   • Accommodation in Puyuhuapi
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
7. Day 7Puyuhuapi - Queulat National Park

   Today will be a multi-adventure day to recharge for the Queulat slope challenge tomorrow. You'll explore the famous Queulat National Park and its hanging glacier, hike the trail to the main viewpoint, and navigate the Témpano Lagoon to get closer to unique photo spots for admiring the glacier. To end the day, you can relax in the hot springs in front of the Puyuhuapi fjord (extra service).

   Type of road: asphalt
   

   • 13 miles
   • Accommodation in Queulat National Park
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
8. Day 8Queulat National Park - Villa Amengual

   Today is a multi-adventure day to recharge for tomorrow's Queulat slope challenge. You'll explore the famous Queulat National Park and its hanging glacier, hike the trail to the main viewpoint, and navigate the Témpano Lagoon to capture unique photos of the glacier. To finish the day, you can relax in the hot springs overlooking the Puyuhuapi fjord (extra service).

   • 41.6 miles
   • Accommodation in Villa Amengual
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
9. Day 9Villa Amengual - Villa Mañihuales

   To begin the day, you'll tackle an uphill start to reach Amengual. The journey continues through Las Torres National Reserve, offering a ride amidst intriguing geological formations and mountains. You'll witness the landscape painted by the sky, rivers, forests, and mountains, transitioning into the Patagonian steppe. Along the way, you'll observe agricultural fields, the unique Lagoon Esponja, and the Colmillo Mount near the town of Villa Mañihuales.

   • 37.3 miles
   • Accommodation in Villa Mañihuales
   • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks

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     You've made it!

     Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishing a goal

10. Day 10Stage 3: The Return & Integration of the Experience

    The last day promises to be the most challenging yet rewarding experience. Starting from Mañihuales, cyclists will embark on a journey that begins on paved roads, transitioning to gravel paths through the stunning Patagonian landscape. This route winds through beautiful mountains, crosses rivers via bridges, and traverses the rural scenery of Villa Ortega town. After a picnic break, the ride continues toward the main viewpoint near the Coyhaique sign, marking the final stretch into the city beneath Mount Mackay.
    
    Tonight is a celebration, a time to embrace the multicultural encounters among participants and the shared experiences. A farewell dinner will be held, providing an opportunity to cherish friendships, share final thoughts, reflections, and the lessons learned throughout the journey, contributing to personal growth and development.

    • 49.7 miles
    • Accommodation in Coyhaique
    • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
11. Day 11Departure

    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 14:00 hrs.
    

    • Breakfast