Well,dear friend, Carretera Austral is a remoted exotic  place. It lies in the southern hemisphere and if you insist I am going to be more specific: it is in the Chilean Patagonia. It is build to a high altitude, in the Andes, and offers some unique landscapes.

The map of carretera austral, one of the world's toughest highways

The map of carretera austral, one of the world's toughest highways

Carretera Austral is 1200 km long, and mostly unpaved still today, 30 years after the beginning of its construction by the former Chilean dictator Pinochet. To make yourself an idea about the dimensions of this stone desert imagine one simple thing: Carretera Austral facilitates civilization access for 100 000 people! Maybe this makes it finally provocative to you!

Breathtaking landscapes in the Queulat National Park, on the Carretera Austral

Breathtaking landscapes in the Queulat National Park, on the Carretera Austral

Even during the austral summer is not very hot there, even on the contrary, as you can walk on glaciers and admire breathtaking glacier lakes. Fight against Carretera Austral, and fight against yourself and go for a long walk on this marvelous highway! But I am warning you: Carretera Austral is not going to let you  unveiling its secrets easily! Even in summer there can be heavy snows, storms and rains. You must be prepared not to see humans for days and live by hunting and fishing.

On the Carretera Austral, in the Andes. Simply fantastic!

On the Carretera Austral, in the Andes. Simply fantastic!

And now back to the basics : Carretera Austral leads from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higins. There are three ferries on this way, and one of them, namely from Hornopiren to Calota Gonzales (100 km) is only open in the mid summer months, January and February. Along the carretera austral there are some wonderful natural reserve, like Hornopiren and Queulat. The last mentioned, Queulat, is impossible to describe without becoming pathetic. The Queulat National park is simply fantastic! So spectacular that you will hardly be able to go away. The landscape is simply unique and compares to nothing!

If hiking on The Carretera Austral might be too much for you, you can ride the bike! It would be also an unique experience, which is not less difficult than backpacking, but it only takes less time. The precautions and dangers are very similar!

Even driving on Carretera Austral is an adventure! Simply imagine: there are no service stations, and the gas stations are very seldom! The last proposition: take an organized tour along Carretera Austral. Could be much simplier, but it isn’t actually, the difficulties are still there in any variant!

Whatever way to discover Carretera Austral you take, it could be the adventure of a lifetime. Just do it!

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