The Carretera Austral (Southern Highway) takes the driver through over 700 miles of jaw-dropping scenery and an incredible diversity of climates, vegetation and geography.
This highway, built less than 20 years ago, also passes through numerous national parks. With no more than five per cent of the total population of Chile and Argentina living in Patagonia, this camino is gloriously empty. Its natural conclusion is the insurmountable barrier of the Southern Ice Field.
Deep tree-lined fjords penetrate into the heart of a land of spiralling volcanoes and glaciers, running beside rushing rivers and temperate rainforest rich in southern Chile's unique flora. The only town of any size, Coyhaique, lies in the valley of the Rio Simpson. South of Coyhaique are Lago General Carrera, the largest lake in Chile, and the Rio Baker, one of the largest rivers in the country. Further south still are the icefields of the Campo de Hielos Sur, which feed the magnificent glacier at Laguna San Rafael.
This is a rugged, unspoilt wilderness that richly rewards those travellers's with the inclination and time to explore this remote, little known region.
The luxurious Hotel and Spa Termas de Puyuhuapi, 11 kms south of Puerto Puyuhapi on the edge of the fjords, is built attractively out of wood with large windows overlooking the spectacular landscape.
Mincho's Lodge was built as a fly-fishing lodge on the banks of the river Simpson very near Coyhaique city in Chilean Patagonia.
Terra Luna Lodge is located on the shores of Lake General Carrera in the remote XI region of Chile. With spectacular views over the Lake General Carrera is a unique Lodge.
