Southern Carretera Austral + Route 40 to Torres del Paine Self-drive Tour
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DAY 1: BALMACEDA - COYHAIQUE (56 KM/ 35 MI)
Pick up your car at Balmaceda Airport and start your self-drive adventure through the Patagonia. Your destination for the day will be Coyhaique the capital of the Aysén Region and home to nearby rivers and green landscapes. Overnight in Coyhaique.
DAY 2: COYHAIQUE - GENERAL CARRERA LAKE (258 KM / 160 MI)
This morning, you will need to depart early and follow the road leading you to the General Carrera Lake. Along the way make sure to make stops at the different lookout points with beautiful views. Continue your journey along the lengthy and uninhabited stretch of the Carretera Austral. Don’t miss a visit to the Marble Caves close to Puerto Tranquilo. Overnight at the shores of the General Carrera Lake. (B)
DAY 3: GENERAL CARRERA LAKE
You will have the entire day to enjoy and discover your surroundings. Lake General Carrera is the biggest lake in Chile and home to several outdoor activities including; hiking, horseback riding, fishing and boat ride excursions. Overnight at the shores of the General Carrera Lake. (B)
DAY 4: GENERAL CARRERA LAKE - LAGO POSADAS (202 KM/ 126 MI)
After breakfast start your drive south following Route 7. Today’s journey will take you near the Cochrane National Reserve and through the Chacabuco Valley, both known for their incredible views. Once having reached the border crossing of Paso Roballos you will be met with by the famous pampas of Argentina. A little further along the drive you will reach the city of Bajo Caracoles and then your stunning destination Lago Posadas. Overnight in Lago Posadas. (B)
DAY 5: LAGO POSADAS - EL CHALTÉN (535 KM / 333 MI)
For the majority of the day you will follow the famous “Patagonian Highway” (Route 40) to El Chaltén, situated at the foot of the Fitz Roy Mountain Range. Overnight in El Chaltén. (B)
DAY 6: EL CHALTEN - VIEDMA GLACIER (112 KM / 70 MI)
Today take advantage of your location and visit the Viedma Glacier that is part of the huge Southern Patagonian Ice Field. It is located on the western end of Lake Viedma in the undefined part of the limit between Chile and Argentina (B)
DAY 7: EL CHALTÉN - EL CALAFATE (212 KM / 132 MI)
Your drive today will take you past breathtaking landscapes and natural beauty including lakes and vast expanses. Your destination is El Calafate known as a quaint town filled of local charm. Overnight in El Calafate. (B)
DAY 8: EL CALAFATE - PERITO MORENO GLACIER (48 KM / 30 MI)
After breakfast take a trip to the Los Glaciares National Park to visit the magnificent Perito Moreno glacier. This is a true spectacle of nature and a must see. In addition to enjoying the various walkways of the park for up-close views of the glaciers, a trek or boat ride can also be organized. Overnight in El Calafate. (B)
DAY 9: EL CALAFATE - TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK (253 KM / 157 MI)
You will drive into Chile via Cerro Castillo through the vast steppe or Pampa and arrive in one of the most beautiful national parks of the American continent; Torres del Paine. Enjoy the view of the Torres on your way to your hostería. Overnight in or close to the Torres del Paine National Park. (B,D)
DAY 10: TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK
You will start early to make the most of this day. Visit some of the various sites within the park, navigate to the Grey Glacier in a boat or trek on one of the shorter trails to experience this magnificent landscape close-up. Overnight in or close to National Park Torres del Paine. (B,D)
DAY 11: TORRES DEL PAINE - PUNTA ARENAS (347 KM / 216 MI)
Today you will start to get back into civilization by driving to Punta Arenas: the southernmost port city in the world. It is located by the Brunswick Peninsula and the Magellan Strait. Overnight in Punta Arenas. (B)
DAY 12: PUNTA ARENAS - AIRPORT
Your adventure through Patagonia has come to an end. After dropping your car off you can catch your connecting flight. (B)
Pick up your car at Balmaceda Airport and start your self-drive adventure through the Patagonia. Your destination for the day will be Coyhaique the capital of the Aysén Region and home to nearby rivers and green landscapes. Overnight in Coyhaique.
DAY 2: COYHAIQUE - GENERAL CARRERA LAKE (258 KM / 160 MI)
This morning, you will need to depart early and follow the road leading you to the General Carrera Lake. Along the way make sure to make stops at the different lookout points with beautiful views. Continue your journey along the lengthy and uninhabited stretch of the Carretera Austral. Don’t miss a visit to the Marble Caves close to Puerto Tranquilo. Overnight at the shores of the General Carrera Lake. (B)
DAY 3: GENERAL CARRERA LAKE
You will have the entire day to enjoy and discover your surroundings. Lake General Carrera is the biggest lake in Chile and home to several outdoor activities including; hiking, horseback riding, fishing and boat ride excursions. Overnight at the shores of the General Carrera Lake. (B)
DAY 4: GENERAL CARRERA LAKE - LAGO POSADAS (202 KM/ 126 MI)
After breakfast start your drive south following Route 7. Today’s journey will take you near the Cochrane National Reserve and through the Chacabuco Valley, both known for their incredible views. Once having reached the border crossing of Paso Roballos you will be met with by the famous pampas of Argentina. A little further along the drive you will reach the city of Bajo Caracoles and then your stunning destination Lago Posadas. Overnight in Lago Posadas. (B)
DAY 5: LAGO POSADAS - EL CHALTÉN (535 KM / 333 MI)
For the majority of the day you will follow the famous “Patagonian Highway” (Route 40) to El Chaltén, situated at the foot of the Fitz Roy Mountain Range. Overnight in El Chaltén. (B)
DAY 6: EL CHALTEN - VIEDMA GLACIER (112 KM / 70 MI)
Today take advantage of your location and visit the Viedma Glacier that is part of the huge Southern Patagonian Ice Field. It is located on the western end of Lake Viedma in the undefined part of the limit between Chile and Argentina (B)
DAY 7: EL CHALTÉN - EL CALAFATE (212 KM / 132 MI)
Your drive today will take you past breathtaking landscapes and natural beauty including lakes and vast expanses. Your destination is El Calafate known as a quaint town filled of local charm. Overnight in El Calafate. (B)
DAY 8: EL CALAFATE - PERITO MORENO GLACIER (48 KM / 30 MI)
After breakfast take a trip to the Los Glaciares National Park to visit the magnificent Perito Moreno glacier. This is a true spectacle of nature and a must see. In addition to enjoying the various walkways of the park for up-close views of the glaciers, a trek or boat ride can also be organized. Overnight in El Calafate. (B)
DAY 9: EL CALAFATE - TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK (253 KM / 157 MI)
You will drive into Chile via Cerro Castillo through the vast steppe or Pampa and arrive in one of the most beautiful national parks of the American continent; Torres del Paine. Enjoy the view of the Torres on your way to your hostería. Overnight in or close to the Torres del Paine National Park. (B,D)
DAY 10: TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK
You will start early to make the most of this day. Visit some of the various sites within the park, navigate to the Grey Glacier in a boat or trek on one of the shorter trails to experience this magnificent landscape close-up. Overnight in or close to National Park Torres del Paine. (B,D)
DAY 11: TORRES DEL PAINE - PUNTA ARENAS (347 KM / 216 MI)
Today you will start to get back into civilization by driving to Punta Arenas: the southernmost port city in the world. It is located by the Brunswick Peninsula and the Magellan Strait. Overnight in Punta Arenas. (B)
DAY 12: PUNTA ARENAS - AIRPORT
Your adventure through Patagonia has come to an end. After dropping your car off you can catch your connecting flight. (B)
Price per person in US$ till April 30, 2025:
car type |
1 person |
2 people |
3 people |
4 people |
sgl supp. |
Mitta D1 - 4x4 - Hyundai Tucson Plus 2.0 or Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 or similar |
$3589 |
$2550 |
$2205 |
$2031 |
$1167 |
Mitta Y1 - Toyota 4Runner 4x4 or similar |
$4232 |
$2872 |
$2420 |
$2192 |
$1167 |
Price per person in US$ Oct. 1 till Dec. 31, 2025:
car type |
1 person |
2 people |
3 people |
4 people |
sgl. supp. |
Mitta D1 - 4x4 - Hyundai Tucson Plus 2.0 or Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 or similar |
$3839 |
$2729 |
$2359 |
$2174 |
$1250 |
Mitta Y1 - Toyota 4Runner 4x4 or similar |
$4529 |
$3074 |
$2589 |
$2346 |
$1250 |
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Notes: Based On Half Twin. The single supplement also applies for 1 person.
Hotels we use in this program: Hotel Belisario Jara (Standard Room), Mirador Playa Guadal (Superior Cabin), Hostería La Posada del Posadas (Standard cabin), Estancia Lunajuim (Standard Room), Hotel Sierra Nevada Standard Room), Hotel del Paine (Standard Room), Hotel Cabo de Hornos (Standard Room). Included: - 9 nights including breakfast + 2 nights with half board at Hotel del Paine - 12 days car rental including unlimited free mileage. - Local tax. - Full CDW coverage with deductible (for details see rental contract) for any damage that may occur during the rental period. - Roadmap and descriptions. Not included: In Chile car rental companies charge an additional airport service fee at the time of vehicle pickup at the airport. This service charge is not included in the rates published above, it has to be paid upon returning the car. Pai & Saca Insurance. Note: The special Pick-Up Drop-Off Coyhaique- Punta Arenas is included! "It went very well, thank you – everything that was planned happened as we expected, and I think the way the itinerary was organised was spot on. The maps and instructions were very helpful, and we never got (completely) lost – just a couple of small detours. The choice of accommodation was also just right – nothing too grand, just how we would have chosen ourselves (if we’d known where to look for it). We certainly wouldn’t have any major suggestions for change, perhaps a couple of minor ones relating to some more navigation details for some of the dirt roads (especially in Argentina), and maybe some minor advice on greetings, directions & customs for non-Spanish speaking people like us – especially from countries like ours where tipping is not the thing. But really, it was as good as we’d hoped it would be – and probably better." Dave |
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