Calling all cycling aficionados! On this 10-day tour through Chilean Patagonia, we'll cycle the Carretera Austral Sur from Coyhaique to Caleta Tortel - an unforgettable route!
Carretera Austral Sur 10-Day Bike Tour
Day 1: Coyhaique
We start this 10-day cycling route by meeting at 4 pm at the Huella Patagonica hostel in Coyhaique. Here we finalize the details of the route, which will run through one of the most beautiful areas of the Carretera Austral Sur.
We then spend the rest of the day getting the bikes ready, followed by dinner at a restaurant in Coyhaique, and rest at the hostel until the next day. A great adventure awaits us!
Day 2: Coyhaique - Villa Cerro Castillo
After a comforting breakfast at the hostel in Coyhaique, we embark on an exciting bike tour along Chile's Route 7. Along this route, one of the most spectacular stretches of the Carretera Austral Sur, we admire the captivating landscapes of Cerro Castillo National Park.
We then conclude this intense day by spending the night in a hostel in Villa Cerro Castillo.
Day 3: Villa Cerro Castillo - Murta Valley
After breakfast at the hostel in Villa Cerro Castillo, we start another cycling route along the Carretera Austral Sur. This time we leave the paved road behind for rugged paths that will allow us to access the Laguna Verde ('Green Lagoon').
We also cross the dead forest of the Ibañez River, whose landscape was shaped by the ash from the eruption of the Hudson Volcano in 1991.
Mid-route, we stop for a picnic lunch. Finally, the day comes to a close at a campsite in the Murta Valley.
Day 4: Murta Valley - Puerto Río Tranquilo
Following a good breakfast, we leave the Murta Valley campsite behind and continue on our cycling route. The itinerary of the fourth day takes us through unique endemic forests and extensive farms, which in this part of South America are called predios.
We continue pedaling along the Murta River until we reach the Chilean shore of General Carrera Lake, a lake shared with Argentina, which calls this body of water Lake Buenos Aires.
To end this intense day we head to the riverside town of Puerto Río Tranquilo, one of the main tourist towns of the Carretera Austral Sur. This is a unique place where we take a boat ride through the marble chapels and cathedral, one of the area's great geological treasures.
Afterward, we return to Puerto Río Tranquilo to spend the night at a campsite in town.
Day 5: Puerto Río Tranquilo - Puerto Bertrand
We begin this fifth day with a bike tour along the shores of General Carrera Lake. The landscapes are enchanting! During the route, we admire the valleys that descend from the Northern Patagonian Ice Field. We also make a stop at General Carrera Bridge where we can see the source of Bertrand Lake.
The route then continues to the Cruce El Maitén, an intersection with a road that connects with the towns of Puerto Guadal and Chile Chico. From this point, we continue the route along the Carretera Austral and cross a stretch of continuous ascents and slopes that lead us to a cabin in Puerto Bertrand.
Day 6: Puerto Bertrand - Cochrane
On day six, we continue pedaling along the Carretera Austral Sur following the course of the Baker River. This riverbed crosses some unique landscapes of the Patagonian steppe, where the trees begin to disappear, giving way to grasslands between mountains.
To better appreciate these landscapes, we go on a hiking route along the confluence of the Baker and Neff rivers, whose course descends from the depths of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field.
As a finishing touch to this sixth day, we border the surroundings of Patagonia National Park until we reach a hostel in the town of Cochrane.
Day 7: Cochrane - Los Ñadis
Leaving Cochrane behind, we continue pedaling our way south, passing by the Esmeralda, Juncal, and Chacabuco lakes. Crossing the fields of the Patagonian steppe gives way to one of the best views of Monte San Lorenzo, a mountain along the border between Chile and Argentina.
The day's journey ends at a campsite in Los Ñadis.
Day 8: Los Ñadis - Caleta Tortel
On this last day of cycling, we pass through a stretch of wetlands and peat bogs, observing the transition from the Patagonian steppe to the Andean forest. During the ride, we enjoy captivating Andean landscapes, which amaze all its visitors from beginning to end.
We end the day at a centrally located hostel in Caleta Tortel, a town that has become famous for its unique Guaitecas cypress footbridges. These striking bridges connect various houses with the historic center of the town.
Day 9: Caleta Tortel - Coyhaique
After breakfast at the hostel in Caleta Tortel, we return by minibus to the meeting point in Coyhaique. Arrival in this Chilean town is expected in the late afternoon.
We then spend the night at the Huella Patagonica hostel in Coyhaique.
Day 10: Coyhaique
Breakfast is included at the hostel in Coyhaique, where this fascinating 10-day cycling tour through Chile comes to a close.
Accommodation & meals
The tour includes 9 nights of accommodation with breakfast in the following establishments:
- Day 1 in Coyhaique: Huella Patagónica 2-star hostel, cabin, or similar hotel
- Day 2 in Villa Cerro Castillo: Domos La Araucaria 2-star hostel, cabin, or similar hotel
- Day 3 in Valle de Murta: Doña Dora campsite, cabin, hotel, or similar hostel
- Day 4 in Puerto Tranquilo: El Pudú campsite, cabin, hostel, or similar hotel
- Day 5 in Puerto Bertrand: Cabañas Buena Vista, hostel, or similar hotel.
- Day 6 in Cochrane: Cabañas La Isla 2-star hostel, cabin, or similar hotel.
- Day 7 in Los Ñadis: La Araucaria campsite, cabin, hostel, or similar hotel.
- Day 8 in Caleta Tortel: Residencial Estilo 2-star hostel, cabin, or similar hotel.
- Day 9 in Coyhaique: Huella Patagónica 2-star hostel, cabin, or similar hotel.
Lunches are served at the different outdoor stops we make during the cycling route and consist of two snacks, which we give you each day at two different times:
- Snack: includes nuts, energy bars, fruit, sweets, and chocolate.
- Picnic bag: includes a sandwich, fajitas, or a similar food, juice, tea, coffee, and mineral water.
Dinners are served at the accommodations or at local restaurants, depending on availability. They consist of roasts or a la carte menus which are not included in the price of the tour.
Bike rental
When you make your reservation, there is an option that includes a bike and helmet rental. If you already have your own cycling equipment, however, you can also book the tour without equipment.
