recommended route
Multi-stage route
Carretera Austral - Route 7
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One of the seemingly endless roads of the Carretera AustralPhoto: Isabelle Ernst, Outdooractive Editors
The Carretera Austral is one of the most beautiful long-distance cycling routes in the world. It winds its way from the north of Patagonia, Puerto Montt (in Chile's Maritime District) to its southernmost point: Villa O'Higgins (Aysén Region).
On the Carretera Austral, you pass several national parks and have a different breathtaking landscape every hour, graced by glaciers, forest rivers, rolling hills, rugged mountain ranges and a great diversity of species ranging from guanacos to condors and huemuls. The mix of civilization and wasteland also makes this route definitely worth an adventure. There are some official campsites in beautiful natural surroundings and small supermarkets at least every 150 kilometers. (Note: most closed in low season).
The route is now 2/3 asphalted. At the moment, however, there are ongoing road works aiming at almost complete asphalting. A few obligatory but scenic ferry passages connect the route sections.
Nearly all of the route is paved.
Nearly all stages of the route feature permanent ascents and descents.
The route shows the complete course of the Carretera Austral with one small but important exception for cyclists: the section before Coyhaique runs on the X-50, as the original Route 7 has poor road conditions here.
Author’s recommendation
Ride the route from north to south due to wind and increasing demands.
Do not underestimate the altitude difference and definitely allow more time for the unpaved part. Asphalt varies in passability from coarse gravel to clay. The route is rideable with both gravel and mountain bikes.
Track types
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
The journey begins in Puerto Montt, the northern gateway to Patagonia. From here, you follow the Carretera Austral or Route 7 for 1230 kilometers. The end is Villa O'Higgins. Here, at the harbor, you will also find the sign with the "End of the Carretera Austral".
Major towns/villages and national parks are in order north-south:
Chaitén & Parque Nacional Pumalin
Puyuhuapi & Queulat National Park
Coyhaique (largest city)
Villa Cerro Castillo & Parque Nacional Cerro Castillo
Puerto Rio Tranquilo
Cochrane & Parque Patagonia
Villa O'Higgins
In between, there are some villages with only 20 houses, but they have a small village shop to stock up on food.
Public transport
By plane from Santiago de Chile to Puerto Montt (2 hrs).
By bus from Santiago de Chile to Puerto Montt (15 hrs). There are various providers that can be requested directly at the bus terminal in Santiago de Chile. Bicycles can be taken along for a small extra charge.
Coordinates
Localization
Weather at the route's trailhead
Statistics
- 17 Stages
From the start in Puerto Montt to just 30 kilometres before Hornopiren. A stage full of views but also strenuous due to the metres in altitude.
Starting just 30 kilometres before Hornopiren to Lago Negro. Here you already pass the first national park (Pumalin Park) . Trail conditions: ...
From the Mirador Rio Lago Negro, we follow Route 7 via Chaitén (not to be confused with El Chalten!) to a little deeper into the Pumalin National ...
This stage leads from Camping Rio Grande in the Pumalin National Park to shortly after Villa Santa Lucia. Trail condition: mainly asphalt, ...
An idyllic, relatively flat stage that is often reminiscent of the foothills of the Alps in terms of scenery. Gentle hills and many fenced-in ...
This is a half-day stage. It offers enough time afterwards to discover the beautiful town of Puyuhapi. Trail surface: asphalt .
The most demanding stage, with a long pass road in gravel terrain. Nevertheless, a beautiful view and fun on the paved descent are guaranteed.
This is a stage that is more downhill on average. Nevertheless, the many smaller climbs should not be underestimated. Mainly asphalted and with a ...
This stage leaves Route 7 for a short stretch and takes the X-500 instead. This is highly recommended, as this road is better and faster to drive ...
Half-day stage with beautiful views and not quite as demanding as the other stages of this tour. Ends in a tiny village with a small kiosk and ...
Beautiful stage that includes the most beautiful descent of the tour. Directly past the snow-covered Cerro Castillo mountain group down to the ...
Although this stage is rather short in terms of distance, it contains (as of 2022) one of the most difficult gravel sections, which means that ...
This stage leads to Puerto Rio Tranquilo with not quite as many metres in altitude. Especially the last third of this stage is beautiful and ...
A beautiful stage that leads from Puerto Rio Tranquilo past the Tres Lagos and offers a wonderful view of the lakes. In addition, the surface ...
This stage leads us through untouched nature back to "civilisation" and has several individual climbs. Therefore, the distance should not be ...
Bumpy gravel road, with many metres of altitude and partly very poorly constructed road. Nevertheless, it is worth it for the view.
This stage offers two passes that drag a bit, but provide views of the valley and the harbour. After the passes, there is a flat gravel passage ...
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