Coyhaique

Coyhaique sits right in the middle of the Carretera Austral, and given the town's size and proximity to Aysen's main airport, it is one of the best places to start your self-drive adventure. The Carretera Austral is one of the most famous 'road trip' roads in the world, a 1,200km route that connects the most remote areas in Chile and passes through rainforests, plains and valleys, past fjords, hanging glaciers, snow-capped peaks and sparkling glacial rivers.

To the north lies the magnificent Queulat National Park, where you can drive, trek or kayak through the rainforest in search of hanging glaciers and waterfalls. Drive south from Coyhaique and you'll head into the Cerro Castillo mountain range, full of jagged peaks which can be explored in day or multi-day treks. 

Coyhaique's local airport is in Balmaceda, 34km away. Most international flights to Balmaceda will go via Santiago.

You can also drive to Coyhaique along the Carretera Austral, it is 345km from Cochrane and 1646km from Santiago. 

If you have a little more time, it is possible to sail from Puerto Montt to Puerto Chacabuco, a merchant port 79km from the city. This route takes 22 hours, but you will see some beautiful remote scenery along the way. This is a 22 hour trip. 

The benefit of building a city at the bottom of a mountain is that the steep streets leading up the hillside give the opportunity for some fantastic views. Our favourite hotels in Coyhaique sit a little way up and out of the centre, where you can see the whole town and the Simpson valley from your hotel room.

If you'd prefer to be closer to the action, more central hotels are often a little easier on the budget, and will give you quicker access to all the cafes, restaurants and the central plaza.