15 days tour

Car Rental Round Trip Carretera Austral & Ruta 40

Car Rental Round Trip Carretera Austral & Ruta 40

This tour includes:

Transport

Rental car category F2 (Nissan X-Trail or similar), 4x4, 5-door

Others

Border crossing fees to Argentina Repatriation costs of the rental car to Balmaceda On-site customer service

Meals

Breakfast

Accommodation

Overnight stays in a double room or cabaรฑas in the hotels mentioned (or at least equivalent) with breakfast

Insurance

Included insurance: fully comprehensive cover with excess. Damage to glass and tires is excluded. Recommendation: Additional CDWplus insurance to exclude the excess (โ‚ฌ7.10 per day)

Not included:

Flights

Guide

Optional

If the hotels mentioned are not available, equivalent hotels will be booked. The tour can start daily depending on availability Ideal travel time: October to April. The distances given are approximate and may vary depending on the route chosen. The program points mentioned are suggestions and are not included in the tour price. Surcharge for GPS with saved hotel addresses: โ‚ฌ45 per person. Alternatively, you can use your own smartphone to navigate. We recommend downloading offline maps in advance (free apps available on the Internet). Cool box and maps are not provided by the rental company. Good road maps for Chile are available at COPEC service stations. Single room supplement on request

Others

Flights All excursions and activities described as optional Entrance fees to Torres del Paine, other parks and museums tips

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Car Rental Round Trip Carretera Austral & Ruta 40

  • Day 1 Balmaceda - Villa Cerro Castillo
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Balmaceda - Villa Cerro Castillo

      Flight from Santiago to Balmaceda and acceptance of the rental car.

      From Balmaceda Airport, take Ruta 245 towards Coyhaique. After about 16 km, turn left onto Ruta 7. Follow Ruta 7 until you reach Villa Cerro Castillo after about an hourโ€™s drive .


      Overnight stay at the Hotel Refugio Cerro Castillo 


      Villa Cerro Castillo

      72 km / approx. 1h 15min

  • Day 2 Cerro Castillo National Park
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Cerro Castillo National Park

      The Cerro Castillo National Park has developed into a new, attractive hiking area over the last few years . We would particularly recommend the 7-hour hike with a climb to the โ€œ Laguna โ€ of the Cerro Castillo mountain range. This tour can easily be done on your own as the hiking trail is always well marked. At the park entrance you will be given a small map and pay the entrance fee (approx. 18 USD). Enjoy the wonderful view of the wide valley, the mountains and the town along the way. Passing impressive glaciers, after 3-4 hours you reach your destination - the majestic peaks of Cerro Castillo. Intoxicate yourself with this sight before you head back to the village and have a pleasant, warm shower waiting for you at the hotel.


      Overnight stay at the Hotel Refugio Cerro Castillo 


      Villa Cerro Castillo

      Breakfast

  • Day 3 Villa Cerro Castillo - Puerto Rio Tranquilo
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Villa Cerro Castillo - Puerto Rio Tranquilo

      Today you continue on the Carretera Austral Head south until you reach the village of Puerto Rio Tranquilo to reach. On the way you will pass Lake Verde and the wild rivers Ibaรฑez and Murta .


      Please note that there may be construction work on this section of the Carretera Austral and the road may be closed from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The road here is expanded and tarred between September and March (Monday to Friday).


      Our tip: visit the museum just behind Cerro Castillo. You will gain insights into the history and geography of the area.


      Overnight stay at Hostal El Puesto 


      Puerto Rio Tranquilo

      Breakfast

      125 km / approx. 3 hours

  • Day 4 Exploring The Valle Exploradores
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Exploring The Valle Exploradores

      Our tip for today: day trip to the Laguna San Rafael glacier (optional)


      Today visit the northernmost glacier, San Rafael, which calves from the northern ice field into the Pacific. You first drive through the Valle Exploradores valley in your rental car (2.5 hours); the slope was only completed a few years ago. At the end of the street the boat awaits you. First you go down the river to the fjord, but from here itโ€™s another 1.5 hours to the glacier bay. The long journey is more than rewarded by the sight of the impressive glacier, which is 45 km long and 2.5 km wide. In the middle of the mountains of the national park it actually looks like a blue miracle.


      Another option: From Puerto Tranquilo there are boat tours to the Marble Caves offered (best in the afternoon or evening because of the light).


      Overnight stay at Hostal El Puesto 


      Puerto Rio Tranquilo

      Breakfast

  • Day 5 Puerto Rio Tranquilo - Lago Posadas (Argentina)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Puerto Rio Tranquilo - Lago Posadas (Argentina)

      Drive along the huge lake Lago General Carrera, which is the second largest lake in all of South America. Shortly after entering Lake Bertrand, the road leaves the lake and, after reaching the Baker River , follows it down the valley. After about 20 kilometers the junction of the Baker and Nef rivers can be visited (20 minute hike).

      A little further on, turn left onto the single-lane gravel road that leads to Valle Chacabuco in the Patagonia Natural Park founded by Douglas & Chris Tomkins leads. The dirt road is the international pass road to Paso Roballos. Thousands of guanacos are now back in the valley. After passing the two border stations , a different, lonely landscape opens up on the Argentine side as you drive south (to Hypรณlito Yrigoyen, also called Lago Posadas ): dry pampas, small salt lakes and, when visibility is good, the view of the imposing San Lorenzo mountain range .


      Overnight stay at Hotel Rio Tarde Casa Patagonica 


      Lake Posadas

      Breakfast

      235 km / approx. 7 hours

  • Day 6 Lago Posadas - El Chalten
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Lago Posadas - El Chalten

      On Ruta 40 We continue south through the Patagonian Pampas to the idyllic mountaineering village of El Chalten at the foot of the mighty Fitz Roy . A few estancias, herds of cattle and birds cross the path, which today is quite long. At the end of the long day of driving, you will be rewarded with a view of the gigantic Fitz Roy massif.


      Overnight stay at Hotel Lunajuim 


      El Chalten

      Breakfast

      536 km / approx. 8 hours

  • Day 7 Hiking In The Shadow Of The Fitz Roy
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Hiking In The Shadow Of The Fitz Roy

      The day is free for hikes in Los Glaciares National Park . We recommend a tour to Laguna de los Tres at the foot of Fitz Royfrom El Pilar (shorter option to Laguna Capri, same route) or to Laguna Torre at the foot of Cerro Torres . But a boat trip on Lago del Desierto or a hike to the Huemul Glacier are also worth it.


      Overnight stay at Hotel Lunajuim 


      El Chalten

      Breakfast

  • Day 8 El Chalten - El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      El Chalten - El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier

      Today you can take a detour to the Salto El Chorillo waterfall , 500 m from the town. Then we continue on Ruta 40 along Lake Viedma and Lake Argentino to El Calafate . The small town of El Calafate on the southern shore of Lago Argentino is the southern entrance to Los Glaciares National Park  and thus the starting point for a visit to the breathtaking natural spectacles in the glacier park.


      Of course you have to go to the Perito Moreno glacier drive, one of the biggest attractions in southern Patagonia. The phenomenon of the breaking glacier edges can even be observed up close from a wooden walkway - an unforgettable experience when the ice masses fall into Lake Argentino with a deafening roar! A boat trip along the glacier wall is also a real adventure.


      Overnight stay at Hotel Sierra Nevada 


      El Calafate

      Breakfast

      380km / approx. 8 hours

  • Day 9 El Calafate - Torres Del Paine (Chile)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      El Calafate - Torres Del Paine (Chile)

      After about 5 hours of driving through the steppe, you will approach the magnificent Torres del Paine National Park,  which is already in Chile. The national park is considered one of the most spectacular national parks in the world with its unique natural backdrop of rugged mountains and blue lakes, connected to the southern Patagonian ice field , as well as its originality and remoteness.


      You can go on a short hike on this day, for example to the โ€œ Salto Grande โ€ or the โ€œ Mirador de los Cuernosโ€ . You will spend the night in a hotel in the Serrano sector, on Lake Toro.


      Overnight at Hotel del Paine 


      Torres del Paine National Park

      Breakfast

      290 km / approx. 5 hours

  • Day 10 Torres Del Paine National Park
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Torres Del Paine National Park

      This day is available for further exploration or hiking in the park. We can only recommend a hike to the โ€œBase de las Torresโ€ viewpoint , but it requires a good level of fitness.


      The first part of the route leads through the typical steppe to the Ascencio River. The 3 kilometers after the bridge go steeply uphill to the mountain pass succinctly called โ€œThe Windโ€ (moderately difficult 1.5 hours). The โ€œEl Chilenoโ€ mountain hut is reached after another 30 minutes. Continue up the valley through southern beech forest to the moraine (easy 30 minutes). Climb the scree moraine, follow the footpath through the rocks (difficult 1 hour) to the spectacular viewpoint of the 3 granite towers.


      Overnight at Hotel del Paine 


      Torres del Paine National Park

      Breakfast

  • Day 11 Torres Del Paine National Park
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Torres Del Paine National Park

      We recommend a boat trip to the Gray Glacier Wall today (approx. 4 hours). The boat travels impressively close to the Gray Glacier, which can only be reached this way. This way you can experience the natural power of eternal ice up close. We would be happy to help you reserve the catamaran in advance.


      Overnight at Hotel del Paine 


      Torres del Paine National Park

      Breakfast

  • Day 12 Torres Del Paine - Puerto Natales
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Torres Del Paine - Puerto Natales

      After your final activities in the national park, you drive to Puerto Natales , the tranquil town on the Fjord of the Last Hope.


      Overnight stay at Hotel Vinnhaus 


      Puerto Natales

      Breakfast

      120 km / approx. 2 hours

  • Day 13 Exploring The Fjord Of Last Hope
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Exploring The Fjord Of Last Hope

      The day is at your leisure for various activities. Visit the Cave of Milodon and learn the history of this portly giant who lived here more than 10,000 years ago. Or take a boat trip through the Ultima Esperanza fjord and be amazed by the Serrano and Balmaceda glaciers that you will discover along the way. We would be happy to help you organize a boat trip through the Fjord of the Last Hope.


      Overnight stay at Hotel Vinnhaus 


       


      Puerto Natales

      Breakfast

  • Day 14 Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas

      Drive to the port city of Punta Arenas . In Punta Arenas we recommend visiting the following attractions: Bulnes Fortress, the Maritime Museum, the Cerveza Austral beer factory, the cemetery and the free trade zone. Also a boat trip to the penguin colony on the island of Magdalena is an unforgettable experience.


      Overnight stay at Hotel La Yegua Loca 


      Punta Arenas

      Breakfast

      250 km / approx. 3 hours

  • Day 15 Departing
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Departing

      You drop off the rental car at Punta Arenas Airport and take your flight back to Santiago.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Personal

Youโ€™ll be just with your guide or pilot. Examples of these activities are paragliding, sky diving, personal mountain climbing, etc.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Average

There are several physical activities that last from 2 to 6 hours in easy terrains, low altitude flats, or water experiences. Please ask if youโ€™re not sure this applies to you.

Age range

Age range

Min: 18 / Max: 100

Age range allowed for this experience.

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