Chile - Carretera Austral (Francesco's Version)
"The Carretera Austral is a renowned road in the bicycle touring world. This remote highway in Chilean Patagonia is an incredible journey that has become increasingly popular over recent years. The Carretera Austral runs from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins past fjords, glaciers, blue lakes, and breathtaking mountains. Bicycle touring the Carretera Austral is a rewarding but challenging endeavour, as Patagonia is famous for its ferocious winds and unforgiving climate."
Ride difficulty rating
This is the version of the Carretera Austral by Francesco and Manuela, who cycled from Puerto Montt to El Calafate during January-February 2023, covering all 1,247 km (of which 609 km were gravel). The road is progressively being paved, so the gravel sections are decreasing. The Carretera Austral ends at Villa O’Higgins, but most cyclists continue to El Calafate, where an international airport can be found, or continue toward Tierra del Fuego.
Francesco and Manuela cycled for a total of 21 days, averaging 50-70 kilometres per day with one rest day. The major climbs are Cuesta Moraga and Cuesta Quelat, with some sections exceeding 12% gradient.
Finding supplies along the way was easy (2-3 days' worth of food is sufficient); gas for cooking is always available. You can camp almost anywhere, either wild camping or in organized campsites, and it's also easy to find hostels.
Important points:
- Villa Cerro Castillo with its namesake park
- Puerto Rio Tranquilo with boat trips to the Catedral de Marmol
