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Carretera Austral: the Day-by-Day Itinerary
The Carretera Austral is Patagonia's gravel highway, and it rewards everyone who makes the effort. Hanging glaciers appear around corners, boats slip into the marble caves of Lago General Carrera, and ferries bridge the roadless fjords. Nights are spent in wood-stove guesthouses at the end of the world.
Carretera Austral is a 1240 km one-way journey (self-drive). It works best as 5–7 days; the plan below is the 7-day version for January, built from 37 verified places, with real road-routed transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.
Customize this plan → 5-day plan · 7-day plan · best time to go
7
days
2158 km
distance
43.1 h
driving
21
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- Patagonian summer: 17 h of light and every ferry running — still pack for four seasons a day.
- Heavy transit: day 1 (13h24), day 4 (6h30), day 6 (7h02), day 7 (9h57) run over 6 hours on the road. Around 7 days would keep daily driving comfortable on this route — or keep the dates and start each of those days by 08:00.
Day 1 Puerto Montt → Chaitén
🌡 1.1–28.8°C · 🌧 ~14 rain days · ☀ 14.8h light
09:00
Alerce Andino National Park
Enjoy ancient trees in a preserved forest landscape.
90 min · Puerto Montt · 4,000 pesos for foreigners
open: 09:00-15:00
Overnight: Chaitén
e.g. Tierra Viva
Day 2 Around Chaitén
🌡 1.1–28.8°C · 🌧 ~14 rain days · ☀ 14.8h light
09:00
Volcán Michinmahuida glacierhikingglaciers & ice
Hike to glimpse the beginning of a remote volcanic glacier.
90 min · Chaitén
10:30
Volcán Chaiténhiking
View steaming craters and colorful lakes from the caldera edge.
90 min · Chaitén
12:00
Parque Pumalín
Explore lush rainforests and ancient Alerce trees on varied trails.
90 min · Chaitén
13:30
Museo de Sitio
See preserved houses that survived the 2008 eruption.
50 min · Chaitén · free
14:20
Chaitur
Discover tailored tours for fishing, biking, and trekking adventures.
90 min · Chaitén
15:50
Cocinerías Costumbristas
Delight in fresh local seafood and traditional soups.
60 min · Chaitén
Overnight: Chaitén
e.g. Tierra Viva
Day 3 Futaleufú
🌡 -1.3–31.3°C · 🌧 ~11 rain days · ☀ 14.9h light
12:01
Tourist Boardmuseums & heritage
Find helpful travel advice in the main square information center.
50 min · Futaleufú
Overnight: Futaleufú
e.g. Hostal Frontera · Camping Laguna Espejo
See the remaining 4 days of the 7-day plan →
Route map
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