For many people, Torres del Paine is their ideal of the remote, rugged, majestic Patagonia of their dreamsWell, Torres del Paine is iconic for a reason, but it's no longer a secret. It can get very crowded in the peak season
But the Southern Carretera Austral is still relatively unknown. Places like Cerro Castillo offer the same raw Patagonian intensity: dramatic trekking, sweeping landscapes, the feeling of being somewhere the crowds haven't found yet. For people who want that Patagonia feeling without the lines, this is the answer.
If you want even more solitude, you can skip the peak summer season because autumn there (March-May) is genuinely one of the most beautiful seasons. The lenga forests turn deep red and gold. The light softens. The roads quiet down. Lodges that are fully booked in January have availability and the same guides, the same landscapes, but a fraction of the crowd.
If you want even more solitude, you can skip the peak summer season because autumn there (March-May) is genuinely one of the most beautiful seasons. The lenga forests turn deep red and gold. The light softens. The roads quiet down. Lodges that are fully booked in January have availability and the same guides, the same landscapes, but a fraction of the crowd.
For a number of years a classic road trip was the main way to visit the area because there was not much infrastructure The road trip is great, but now it is not the only way. You can base yourself in a well-located lodge or estancia and explore the surroundings through guided excursions, with no driving required. This opens the route to a much wider variety of travelers - couples, older travelers, anyone who wants immersion without the stress of renting a car and making their way through the rugged landscape.
The Carretera Austral is a long piece of territory, as is evidenced by the sample 12 day self-drive itinerary we have on our website. But don't be fooled into thinking that the northern and southern sections are the same - they're not even close. The north is lush, dense, green with rivers, lakes, and temperate rainforest while in the south it shifts into open steppe, sharp peaks and glacial lagoons. Two completely different landscapes, two completely different moods. So people who've done one section have every reason to come back for the other, equally spectacular, but in a different way.
As was mentioned, in the past, lodging options were pretty limited along the way. But now, thoughtfully designed lodges and authentic working estancias have developed to quietly transform the accommodation landscape along this route so that people can be staying somewhere genuinely special, with service that matches. You won't have to rough it, unless you want to.
The Carretera Austral is a long piece of territory, as is evidenced by the sample 12 day self-drive itinerary we have on our website. But don't be fooled into thinking that the northern and southern sections are the same - they're not even close. The north is lush, dense, green with rivers, lakes, and temperate rainforest while in the south it shifts into open steppe, sharp peaks and glacial lagoons. Two completely different landscapes, two completely different moods. So people who've done one section have every reason to come back for the other, equally spectacular, but in a different way.
As was mentioned, in the past, lodging options were pretty limited along the way. But now, thoughtfully designed lodges and authentic working estancias have developed to quietly transform the accommodation landscape along this route so that people can be staying somewhere genuinely special, with service that matches. You won't have to rough it, unless you want to.
Are you interested in going to Patagonia? Jorge has worked on itineraries to the region for many years, so contact him and see what he can do for you.
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