Tour Overview
| Duration | 7 Days / 6 Nights |
|---|---|
| Region | Chilean Patagonia — Aysén Region, Carretera Austral |
| Price From | $2,895 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Private / Overland Adventure / Nature |
| Data Source | swoop-patagonia.com — 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Balmaceda to Coyhaique
Arrive at Balmaceda Airport in Chilean Patagonia. Transfer to Coyhaique, the capital of the Aysén Region. Afternoon orientation: the city’s main plaza, artisan market for handcrafted wool products, and views of the surrounding snow-capped peaks. Welcome dinner featuring Patagonian lamb and local craft beer. Overnight in Coyhaique.
Day 2: Cerro Castillo & Marble Chapels
Drive the Carretera Austral south to Cerro Castillo National Park. Hike to the turquoise Laguna Cerro Castillo beneath the iconic basalt spire (2,675m) — one of Patagonia’s most photogenic peaks. Continue to Puerto Río Tranquilo on General Carrera Lake. Boat excursion to the Marble Chapels (Capillas de Mármol) — surreal calcium carbonate formations carved by wind and water into caves and pillars. Overnight in Puerto Río Tranquilo.
Day 3: Exploradores Glacier & Baker River
Full-day adventure to Exploradores Glacier in Laguna San Rafael National Park. 4×4 drive through native lenga forest, then a guided ice hike on the glacier itself. Walk among crevasses, ice caves, and seracs with crampons and ice axe. Afternoon at the confluence of the Baker and Neff rivers — Chile’s mightiest river, turquoise with glacial sediments. Overnight in Cochrane.
Day 4: Patagonia National Park — Chacabuco Valley
Explore Patagonia National Park, one of South America’s most ambitious conservation projects (founded by Kris and Doug Tompkins). Hike the Lagunas Altas trail through temperate grasslands to alpine lakes with views of Mount San Lorenzo (3,706m). Watch for guanacos, Andean condors, and the endangered huemul deer. Visit the park’s award-winning visitor center. Overnight in a park eco-lodge.
Day 5: Caleta Tortel — Wooden Walkways
Journey to Caleta Tortel, a unique fishing village with no streets — only wooden boardwalks (pasarelas) connecting houses above the fjord. Boat trip through the Baker River delta and the Tortel fjords. Visit Isla de los Muertos (Island of the Dead) with its tragic history of early settlers. Fresh seafood dinner at a palafito restaurant. Overnight in Caleta Tortel.
Day 6: Villa O’Higgins — End of the Road
Drive to Villa O’Higgins, the official southern terminus of the Carretera Austral — as far as roads go in Chilean Patagonia. Hike to the O’Higgins Glacier viewpoint overlooking Lake O’Higgins/San Martín, the deepest lake in the Americas (836m). Visit the local pioneer museum. Farewell dinner with local calafate berry liqueur — legend says you’ll return to Patagonia. Overnight in Villa O’Higgins.
Day 7: Return to Coyhaique
Scenic drive back north along the Carretera Austral, taking in the views one last time. Flight from Balmaceda to Santiago or connect to your next destination. Hasta luego, Carretera Austral!
Inclusions
- 6 nights accommodation (eco-lodges and mountain hotels)
- Daily breakfast + 3 dinners
- Private 4×4 transportation with driver
- English-speaking adventure guide
- Marble Chapels boat excursion
- Exploradores Glacier ice hike with equipment
- All national park entries
- Caleta Tortel fjord boat trip
Why the Carretera Austral
- One of the world’s greatest road trips — untouched, raw Patagonia
- Marble Chapels: geological wonder found nowhere else on Earth
- Glacier ice hiking: walk on 3,000-year-old ice
- Patagonia National Park: conservation success story with incredible wildlife
- Caleta Tortel: a village with no streets, only wooden walkways
- Zero crowds — most travelers never venture this far south
