Including part of the Lakes Region and Aysen (tenth and eleventh regions), from Puerto Montt up to Campo de Hielo Sur, this area's main feature is including zones not explored by man yet. Indubitably, the road that crosses this region for more than a thousand kilometers, represents one of the biggest efforts of man to control these places.
The "Carretera Austral" (southern road), starts in Puerto Montt, and within its first kilometers, the national parks Alerce Andino and Hornopirén attract immediate interest. To the south, we find the park Pumalín, result of a private arrangement to mantain and protect our biological variety.
After Chaitén, town gifted with all the necessary facilities, you can choose between a delicious bath at Termas del Amarillo, or Yelcho Lake, an excellent place to fish. A side road takes to Futaleufu, the ideal place to practice kayak and rafting. The river, bearing the same name as the town, has white and troubled waters, a challenge for the bravest. Going to the south, we find the magnificent Queulat National Park, with a spectacular hanging snowcap visible from the road.
From Puyuhuapi town, near the limits of Queulat, you must board a vessel to get to Termas de Puyuhuapi, a true paradise. A detour leads to Puerto Cisnes, and another one leads to Coyhaique, the capital city of Aisén, with the ski center El Fraile, a few kilometers away.
From this city, and among parks and national reservations, Puerto Aisén and Puerto Chacabuco are a step to the west. From here, navigation along channels and fiords take to a place simply spectacular: San Rafael Lagoon, place where San Rafael snowcap, (San Valentín Ice Camp snowdrift), and the sea meet.
But continuing along the road, this goes very near the small and beautiful Elizalde Lake, and also the General Carrera Lake. In this lake, the biggest of the country, nature created a wonderful and impressive landscape. The marble cathedral.
Baker river, whose origin is located to the north of Cochrane, is the paradise for fly catching fishermen.
At the end of about a thousand kilometers journey, the Austral road ends in Villa O’Higgins, a step away from Campo de Hielo Sur.
For more regional information on the Austral Region, go to: