In early 2019 Judith and I took a winter vacation in Chile. We flew into Santiago. There we walked the old town and the Italia Barrio. We flew to the lake district and took a tour of wineries. We flew south to Puerto Montt and rented a car. For 9 days we drove south through the national parks.
Friday 25th January – Start of your Self-Drive trip in the Lake District
We
will pick you up this morning and take you to the airport for your
flight south to Puerto Montt, in the heart of the Chilean Lake District.
We won’t be hanging around, however, as you pick up your vehicle and
drive north to the small village of Puerto Varas, on the shores of the second largest lake in Chile, Lake Llanquihue.
Driving: Puerto Montt-Puerto Varas – 15 miles / ½ hour
Saturday 26th January –Free time by Lake Llanquihue
You will have some free time today to enjoy exploring around the shores of Lake Llanquihue, with its string of pretty lakeside villages. As well as driving, it’s a great place to do some walking and you can enjoy some spectacular views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. (Breakfast included)
Sunday 27th January –On to the Carretera Austral
Today you will drive back to Puerto Montt and then head south along the famous Carretera Austral. As you follow this road along the coast, you’ll pass the villages of Chamiza and Metri before you reach the ferry point at Caleta La Arena, from where you will sail across the Reloncavi estuary over to Caleta Puelche. Following the coast again, you will then head south to Hornopiren, where you will stay tonight. (B)
Driving: Puerto Varas-Hornopiren – 80 miles / 3 hours (with ferry crossing)
Monday 28th January – Chilean Fjords
This morning you will drive to the harbour to catch the ferry south along the Leptepu Fjord to the town of Leptepu itself.
During this fantastic 3-hour boat journey you will have some stunning
views of the fjord and the surrounding mountains. On arrival in Leptepu you will have a short drive across the Huequi Peninsula, with great views up to the 1435m Pico Bulli, before catching the short ferry across the Reñihue Fjord to Caleta Gonzalo, which is the gateway for visits to the beautiful Pumalin National Park. (B)
You will have the whole of today free to visit the PumalinNational
Park. This epic landscape of temperate rainforest, snow-clad peaks and
beautiful coastline offers some excellent walking possibilities and
guarantees some superb photos. (B)
Wednesday 30th January –South to Lago Risopatron
Today you will continue south along the Carretera Austral through the humid evergreen forests of northern Partagonia. You will pass the beautiful Lake Yelcho and the small towns of Chaiten and La Junta as well as savouring some more beautiful views before arriving at El Pangue, on the northern shores of Lake Risopatron, which is famous for its sunsets. (B)
Driving: Caleta Gonzalo-La Junta – 130 miles / 3 hours
Thursday 31st January–Puyuhuapi Spa Hotel
Driving south from Lake Risopatron today, you will be able to enjoy some more stunning sights in the Queulat National
Park on your journey. You will be spending the night at one of our
favourite spa hotels in Chile, set in the remote countryside of Puyuhuapi, and we highly recommend arriving early so you can enjoy plenty of time soaking in the hotel’s natural hot springs. (B)
Driving: La Junta-Puyuhuapi – 30 miles / 45 minutes
Friday 1st February – Puyuhuapi Spa Hotel
You’ll have another day here, to enjoy the delights of the spa or a hike in this remote region of Chile. (B)
Saturday 2nd February – On to Coyhaique
If you set off early enough today you can spend the afternoon climbing Cerro Mackay, the mountain overlooking Coyhaique. Alternatively there
is some great trout fishing in the nearby Simpson River. This will be
your last night in Patagonia and the town’s handicraft market is a great
place to buy your souvenirs. (B)
Driving: Puyuhuapi-Coyhaique – 150 miles / 4 ½ hours
Sunday 3rd February – Fly to Santiago
Sadly it’s time to drop off your hire car this morning at the nearby airport of Balmaceda. From there you will board a flight back to Santiago. On arrival we’ll meet you and take you back to your hotel so you can get ready to head out and enjoy your last night of your holiday in Chile. (B)
Jan 18 2019
Chile 2019
In early 2019 Judith and I took a winter vacation in Chile. We flew into Santiago. There we walked the old town and the Italia Barrio. We flew to the lake district and took a tour of wineries. We flew south to Puerto Montt and rented a car. For 9 days we drove south through the national parks.
Friday 25th January – Start of your Self-Drive trip in the Lake District
We will pick you up this morning and take you to the airport for your flight south to Puerto Montt, in the heart of the Chilean Lake District. We won’t be hanging around, however, as you pick up your vehicle and drive north to the small village of Puerto Varas, on the shores of the second largest lake in Chile, Lake Llanquihue.
Driving: Puerto Montt-Puerto Varas – 15 miles / ½ hour
Saturday 26th January – Free time by Lake Llanquihue
You will have some free time today to enjoy exploring around the shores of Lake Llanquihue, with its string of pretty lakeside villages. As well as driving, it’s a great place to do some walking and you can enjoy some spectacular views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. (Breakfast included)
Sunday 27th January – On to the Carretera Austral
Today you will drive back to Puerto Montt and then head south along the famous Carretera Austral. As you follow this road along the coast, you’ll pass the villages of Chamiza and Metri before you reach the ferry point at Caleta La Arena, from where you will sail across the Reloncavi estuary over to Caleta Puelche. Following the coast again, you will then head south to Hornopiren, where you will stay tonight. (B)
Driving: Puerto Varas-Hornopiren – 80 miles / 3 hours (with ferry crossing)
Monday 28th January – Chilean Fjords
This morning you will drive to the harbour to catch the ferry south along the Leptepu Fjord to the town of Leptepu itself. During this fantastic 3-hour boat journey you will have some stunning views of the fjord and the surrounding mountains. On arrival in Leptepu you will have a short drive across the Huequi Peninsula, with great views up to the 1435m Pico Bulli, before catching the short ferry across the Reñihue Fjord to Caleta Gonzalo, which is the gateway for visits to the beautiful Pumalin National Park. (B)
Driving: Hornopiren-Caleta Gonzalo – 50 miles / 4 hours (with ferry crossing)
Tuesday 29th January – Pumalin National Park
You will have the whole of today free to visit the PumalinNational Park. This epic landscape of temperate rainforest, snow-clad peaks and beautiful coastline offers some excellent walking possibilities and guarantees some superb photos. (B)
Wednesday 30th January – South to Lago Risopatron
Today you will continue south along the Carretera Austral through the humid evergreen forests of northern Partagonia. You will pass the beautiful Lake Yelcho and the small towns of Chaiten and La Junta as well as savouring some more beautiful views before arriving at El Pangue, on the northern shores of Lake Risopatron, which is famous for its sunsets. (B)
Driving: Caleta Gonzalo-La Junta – 130 miles / 3 hours
Thursday 31st January – Puyuhuapi Spa Hotel
Driving south from Lake Risopatron today, you will be able to enjoy some more stunning sights in the Queulat National Park on your journey. You will be spending the night at one of our favourite spa hotels in Chile, set in the remote countryside of Puyuhuapi, and we highly recommend arriving early so you can enjoy plenty of time soaking in the hotel’s natural hot springs. (B)
Driving: La Junta-Puyuhuapi – 30 miles / 45 minutes
Friday 1st February – Puyuhuapi Spa Hotel
You’ll have another day here, to enjoy the delights of the spa or a hike in this remote region of Chile. (B)
Saturday 2nd February – On to Coyhaique
If you set off early enough today you can spend the afternoon climbing Cerro Mackay, the mountain overlooking Coyhaique. Alternatively there is some great trout fishing in the nearby Simpson River. This will be your last night in Patagonia and the town’s handicraft market is a great place to buy your souvenirs. (B)
Driving: Puyuhuapi-Coyhaique – 150 miles / 4 ½ hours
Sunday 3rd February – Fly to Santiago
Sadly it’s time to drop off your hire car this morning at the nearby airport of Balmaceda. From there you will board a flight back to Santiago. On arrival we’ll meet you and take you back to your hotel so you can get ready to head out and enjoy your last night of your holiday in Chile. (B)
By Daniel • Timeline, Travel