From Coyhaique, head south 72 miles until arriving at Puerto Ibáñez, where you’ll take the ferry across Lake General Carrera to Chile Chico. Depending on the day of the week, the ferry runs either in the morning or the afternoon. Make sure to check the schedule and prices and reserve your spot at:
http://www.barcazas.cl/barcazas/wp/region-de-aysen/lago-general-carrera/horarios-y-tarifas/

After a few hours in boat, you’ll arrive at Chile Chico, a border town with various offerings for lodging, restaurants, and other services.

1.5 hours in car from Coyhaique to Puerto Ibáñez

2 hours in boat from Puerto Ibáñez to Chile Chico

Today, we invite you to visit the Jeinimeni sector of Patagonia National Park, which features beautiful steppe landscapes, rock formations, the Moon Valley, and the gorgeous Lake Jeinimeni, which is surrounded by Lenga forests.
To get to the park, take the road to the border and, around 1.2 miles from the Chile Chico town square, take a right on Route X-753 (toward the aerodrome). At kilometer 25 (mile 15.5), you’ll arrive at the Piedra Enclavada sector. This sector is the starting point for circuit hike that reaches a 130-foot-tall volcanic rock formation, visits a small, rocky cave where you can see vestiges of the Tehuelche people’s life here, and finally ends in the beautiful Moon Valley. The complete circuit takes around 4 hours.
Continue until you reach kilometer 65 (mile 40) of Route X-753, where you’ll find the stunning Lake Jeinimeni, and from which you can set out on various hiking trails, including the Escorial del Silencio Trail, the Mirador del Lago Trail, and the Laguna Esmeralda Trail. In this sector, you’ll also find picnic sites and campsites. You can stay here for the night or head back to Chile Chico.

1.5 hours from Chile Chico to Laguna Jeinimeni (one way)

Cross the border at Río Jeinimeni Pass and follow the road to the town of Los Antiguos. It’s important to buy your international insurance in advance, whether you’re driving your own vehicle or a rental. After around 45 minutes, you’ll arrive at Perito Moreno, where you can take Route 40 south. Roughly 52 miles from Perito Moreno, along your left, you’ll find the north entrance for visiting the Cueva de las Manos (Cave of the Hands). If you have enough time, we suggest driving along the gravel road that will bring you to the Pinturas River Valley, which offers beautiful views of the cave, declared a UNESCO heritage site. Be sure to make reservations in advance; cave access is only available with guided tours: http://www.cuevadelasmanos.org/investigacion.html

Once you’ve finished your visit, take the exit south to Bajo Caracoles, which is 29 miles away. We suggest tanking gas here as you won’t have access to another gas station until Cochrane.

From Bajo Caracoles, take Route 41 west for around 2.5 hours, until you arrive at the border crossing. Once you’ve crossed through the Argentinian and Chilean control points, it’s around a 1.5-hour trip until you arrive at the administrative offices of Patagonia National Park, though at kilometer 45 (mile 28) along Route X-83, you’ll see the first camping area (Alto Valle). The second camping area is located at kilometer 25/mile 15.5 (Casa de Piedra), and the final camping area is 1.25 miles from the administrative center and also features two lodges, which require prior reservations. You can stay in one of the campsites or in a nearby town, such as Cochrane, which is located around 17 miles away.

6.5 hours from Chile Chico to the Patagonia National Park administrative center, via Argentina (this doesn’t include the stop at the Las Manos Cave or time spent waiting at the border)

Dedicate this entire day––at least––to exploring the various trails of Patagonia Park, although ideally, we suggest leaving at least two days for this. Whether you stay in the park or in a nearby town like Cochrane, you’ll have access to a network of trails, and you can choose which to hike based on the weather, your fitness level, and the total amount of time you have available to spend in the park.

One can’t-miss route for seasoned hikers is the Lagunas Altas trail, a 14-mile hike that features 7 lagoons and spectacular views of the Chacabuco Valley, where you can see the Patagonian steppe in all its splendor. There are also easier hikes, such as La Vega, which takes 15 hours and also offers an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the Chacabuco Valley, a natural corridor long used by native groups as well as a large diversity of fauna. Stay the night in Patagonia Park or in Cochrane.

7 hours of hiking (approximately) to complete the Lagunas Altas Trail

If you’re out of time, go back to the Carretera Austral, which will take you to the city of Cochrane. There, you can tank gas and visit the Tamango sector, where you’ll find a wide variety of trails and campgrounds that provide a great opportunity to take in the beauty of the river and Lake Cochrane.

Continue south to Puerto Yungay and marvel at the beautiful views this part of the drive has to offer. At Puerto Yungay, take the ferry that crosses the Patagonian channels and fjords and arrives at Puerto Natales. Remember to check the schedule and reserve your tickets in advance at:
http://www.tabsa.cl/portal/index.php/es/horarios/318-horario-yungay-natales.
One option is to take a detour on Route X-901 to see the majesty of the Calluqueo Glacier on Mount San Lorenzo, or visit the Los Ñadis sector, which is located 28 miles south of Cochrane. There, you’ll also find the “Corte San Carlos,” which has been declared a National Historical Monument. Finally, you can also visit Tortel, a town made of boardwalks built from Ciprés de las Guaitecas (Pilgerodendron), located just at the mouth of the Baker River.

Board the ferry and get ready to enjoy your first night exploring the Patagonian Channels.

Four hours in car from Patagonia Park to Puerto Yungay

Today, you’ll wake up near Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. Come out from below deck and take in the incredible views of the fjords and channels, long explored by the Kawésqar people, who rowed through them in boats made from Coigüe bark and covered in vegetable fibers.

One you cross through the English Narrows, you’ll dock around midday at Puerto Edén, a town located just south of the Gulf of Penas, which has the highest concentration of Kawésqar descendants of any town. Depending on the weather and the tides, you’ll have around two hours to explore this port’s boardwalks and gorgeous lookout points. Go back to the ferry and continue your voyage south through the Patagonian Channels, taking in the beauty of these pristine landscapes.

2 hours in boat from Yungay to Tortel

13 hours in boat from Tortel to Puerto Edén

Enjoy your final morning in the ferry, which will now be traveling through the area near Kawésqar National Park. You’ll pass the entrance to the Montañas Fjord and through the Kirke Narrows––the narrowest passage of the entire voyage––and then dock in Puerto Natales in the afternoon. In Puerto Natales, you’ll find a variety of options for lodging, food, and tourist excursions.

To stretch your legs after the trip in ferry, we recommend walking the road along the shoreline. On clear days, you’ll be able to spot the Paine Massif. Stay in Puerto Natales for the night.

26 hours in boat from Puerto Edén to Puerto Natales

Get ready to see the Eighth Wonder of the World and one of the most beautiful mountains on the planet in Torres del Paine National Park. We suggest taking Route Y-290 to the park and stopping at the Milodón Cave Natural Monument before continuing toward the park’s southern entrance (Serrano). The total route is 50 miles.

We recommend taking this day to explore the southwestern section of the park, visiting natural marvels like the Grey Glacier, the River Pingo forest, and the view from the Ferrier lookout point. You can also make a stop at the visitor’s center, located on the north shore of Lake Toro. The visitor’s center has a lookout point designed for birdwatching. You can stay in the park (there are various hotels and campgrounds, which should be reserved in advance), or return to Puerto Natales in the evening.

1.5 hours in car from Puerto Natales to the Serrano park entrance, along Route Y-290

Set aside a whole day––at least––for exploring Torres del Paine National Park. We suggest using this day for exploring the northeastern side of the park, visiting the Grande and Chico waterfalls and hiking one of the trails that offer views of the beautiful colors of the Paine River, Lake Pehoé, and Lake Nordenskjöld, like the Mirador Cóndor or Mirador Cuernos trail. If you’d like to take some time to try to spot wild fauna, you can also hike the Portería Laguna Sarmiento–Laguna Amarga trail and visit Lake Sarmiento. Along Lake Sarmiento’s shore, you can find strange, primitive calcium carbonate formations––very similar to coral––called thrombolites, which are linked to the first expressions of life on our planet.

If you’re interested in longer hikes, we suggest Base de Las Torres (12 miles), Valle Francés (10 miles), or Glaciar Grey (15 miles). For the latter two, you’ll need to coordinate a boat trip and make a reservation in advance for crossing Lake Pehoé:
http://www.hipsur.com/web/.

Stay in the park for the night (remember to make your reservations in advance) or return to Puerto Natales.

45 minutes in car from the Serrano park entrance to the Sarmiento park entrance

Head to Punta Arenas, passing through the town of Cerro Castillo along the way. If you leave the park at dawn, you can see the Torres del Paine reflected in the Laguna Amarga or Laguna Azul––a gorgeous spectacle of nature’s beauty.

You can tank gas in Puerto Natales, then continue along Route 9 for around 2.5 hours until you reach Punta Arenas, which has a wide variety of restaurants and hotels.

1.5 hours in car from the Sarmiento park entrance to Cerro Castillo

50 minutes in car from Cerro Castillo to Puerto Natales

2.5 hours in car from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas

Before continuing on to your next destination, take some time to explore Punta Arenas, whether that’s walking along the shore to admire the beauty and history of the Strait of Magellan, visiting some of the museums––such as the Salesiano, Sara Braun, or Nao Victoria Museum––or exploring the Municipal Cemetery or the Magallanes National Reserve.

30 minutes in car from the Punta Arenas city center to the airport