Carretera Austral
Listed under Road Trips in Puerto Montt, Chile.
The Carretera Austral, or Southern Highway are the other names for Chile's Route 7 which runs 1,240kilometres between Puerto Montt and Villa O'Higgins through some of rural Patagonia's most stunning scenery. It was built to connect the remote communities in this area, and has been gradually growing in length and being paved over the past 20 years, though there are still large unpaved stretches, but just as valuably it allows visitors to get into this beautiful region.
Written by 
Nell Anderson.
Comments, reviews and questions by other travellers
Who's been here
Similar Experiences
The Alaskan Highway
For beauty, stillness and serenity, the Alaskan Highway claims priority. With little to distract your attention, this drive fro…
Garden Route: Slang River to Tsitsikamma
With several forest and marine reserves, and offering snorkelling, scuba diving, boat trips to see dolphins, whales and sharks,…
Drive New Zealand's South Island
From majestic glacial peaks of the Southern Alps to rainforest wildlife, turquoise sea and soothing waterfalls, New Zealand’s S…
Nearby Experiences
Lake Llanquihue
The second largest lake in Chile and helping to makew up its scenic lake district, Llanguihue Lago has a backdrop of volcanoes …
Southern Chile Fishing
A fishing trip to Southern Chile is much more than a bit of piscatorial madness that will see you pack your bags and travel hal…
Osorno
The graceful snow-capped Osorno, Chile's own version of Mt. Fuji, is perhaps the most beautiful volcano of Chile's glorious Lak…
Related links
- Puerto Montt travel guide
- Los Lagos travel guide
- Chile travel guide
- Chile travel specialists
- The best Road Trips
The Carretera Austral
The Carretera Austral is an unpaved road stretching south from Puerto Montt to Caleta Yungay. It's possible to travel this road by car, but be careful while driving because the road is often narrow. The Carretera Austral will take you through Chile's small villages, lush rainforests, staggering mountain peaks, and past countless cascading waterfalls. This road trip shows the less travelled sights of Chile and displays many of the country's hidden gems.