For the active and adventurous the Carretera Austral is a huge 1 200 km long playground set amid the natural wilderness of Patagonia.
There all sorts of ways to experience the Carretera, but to give you just a quick idea, check out the list of suggestions below.
Some Background
Construction of the Carretera was begun in the 1970s on the orders of General Augusto Pinochet, the de facto Chilean president of the time. A Southern Highway had been considered a strategic requirement for some time. Patagonia is a highly challenging environment for transport infrastructure – everywhere you look there is an obstacle of some sort, be it a mountain range, a fjord, or a glacier. As such, there was no land route that provided access to the highly isolated territory of southern Chile. Air and sea travel, meanwhile, was difficult to say the least because of the ferocious winter conditions. As a rather embarrassing result, most Chilean land-based transport had to travel through Argentina.
With the Beagle Conflict with Argentina in the 1970s, however, Pinochet decided enough was enough. Scared of Argentine encroachment, he declared the Carretera be built in order to strengthen the Chilean presence in this vulnerable territory. It wasn’t officially completed until 2003 when it finally connected the north with Villa O’Higgins. The village’s lake, Lago O’Higgins, marks the end of the road.
Key Facts about the Carretera
– It extends for over 1 200 km, connecting Puerto Montt in the north and Villa O’Higgins in the south.
– The road is unpaved for the majority of its length.
– There are points where you are required to cross a lake by ferry in order to continue along it.
Reasons to Travel Along the Carretera Austral
Road Trips
We can’t talk about the Carretera without talking about the awesome road trips that can be made along it. People say that there’s nothing quite like the freedom of the open road. But here at Swoop, we say that there’s nothing like the freedom of the Carretera Austral. Following the Southern Highway as it meanders around the endless and breath-taking fjords and lakes, and as it climbs over majestic peaks, is an unforgettable experience. Whatever you’re into, a Carretera Austral road trip is the way to travel around Chilean Patagonia…
Hiking
The Carretera passes some fantastic hiking routes, many of them well-kept secrets. It provides access to no fewer than 22 national parks and reserves, meaning you’ll get to hike in acres of untouched beauty, often with few other people around. Spectacular highlights along the Carretera Austral include views of Cerro Castillo or the San Rafael glacial lagoon and the Queulat National Park.
Glaciers
The glaciers are a key part of the landscape in Patagonia, and one of the major reasons many people choose to visit. Whether you want to take some fantastic photos of some of the best known glaciers in the world, or you want to go ice-hiking on top of them, Swoop will make sure you visit the ones that are best suited to you and that you have the chance to appreciate some unmissable views like those of San Rafael and O’Higgins.
Fishing
Rivers full to the brim with all manner of trout and salmon make this one of the world’s greatest regions for fishing. The Baker and Palena Rivers are of particular note among Patagonia’s various world renowned rivers that provide plentiful opportunities.
Birdlife
Aysen’s birdlife is fantastically varied; uniquely so, in fact. For example, there are Plovers and Sandpipers with their own sub-species that are native and unique either to central and northern Chile or to the south of Patagonia. Yet in the region of Aysen, the two habitats overlap, presenting a fantastic chance to see both kinds of bird in just one area! Winding through the mountains on the Carretera is the perfect way to observe these birds from above and below.
Ice Cap Expeditions and Mountaineering
The Patagonian ice cap is the third largest in the world (approx.. 18 000 km2) after Antarctica and Greenland. Split into the Northern and the Southern ice-fields, it is home to world famous glaciers, such as the San Rafael and O’Higgins, as well as the tremendous peaks of San Valentin / San Clemente (4, 058m – the highest in Chilean Patagonia).
Photography
The region’s beautiful lakes such as the General Carrera and San Rafael Lagoon; the incredible cove of Tortel Harbour, which is built upon stilts and raised wooden pathways; its jagged mountain peaks like Cerro Castillo, and the glacial fjords that carve up the entire Aysen region… The fantastic panoramas of the region are a paradise for photographers. Here at Swoop we’re forever blown away by returning customers and the memories that they’ve captured with their cameras.
Canoeing, Kayaking, and White-Water Rafting
The Rio Baker, in particular, is a spectacular and challenging place for rafting and kayaking. It’s home to Class II and III rapids and can provide adventure for those of varying experience at different points along its course.
The Rio Palena, meanwhile, can be descended all the way from the Argentinean border down to its estuary town of Puerto Raul Marin Balmaceda, on the Pacific coast.
Personal Discovery
Finally, the Carretera stretches for about 1, 240 km (770 miles) from north to south. Traversing the Carretera takes you on a journey that begins by winding through the enormous Andes mountains to vast, deserted expanses of dramatic landscapes and wilderness. In such an environment, you can’t help but wonder in awe about how big the world is and how small each of us really are…
In short, we LOVE the Carretera Austral and think it’s the perfect (and only!) way to travel around Chilean Patagonia. If you want a properly Patagonian adventure along the Carretera, get in touch or check out our section dedicated to this wonderful part of the world.
