South America Tours - Chile

Discovery Overland - Lakes & Glaciers

10 Days / 09 Nights (Easy)

Season: All Year Round

The Austral Road starts South of Puerto Montt and makes its way through gigantic fjords for over one thousand kilometers. It is the place where the glaciers born in the Andes come to die. The famous ice- field spreading from Coihaique to Tortel fades away in Mount St.Valentin (4,058m) near the wellknown Saint Rafael Lagoon. Further South this land is virtually unexplored. In this program, we will discover this region, recently opened to tourism. We will find fjords superb landscapes: exhuberant vegetation, hanging glaciers caressing the botton of green valleys, fiords, thermal waters and lakes surrounded in some cases by small fishermen villages. We will overnight in nice hotels and fisherman lodges. By plane, by car or by boat, this roundtrip reveals new horizons to us.

DAY 1:     (SANTIAGO) - PUERTO MONTT - CHAITEN - EL AMARILLO

Reception at Puerto Montt airport. Connecting flight to Chaiten, a fishermen village located at the beginning of the Austral Road. We take the car and start our trip southbound. Visit of El Amarillo hot springs where we spend the night in a lodge. (L)

DAY 2:    EL AMARILLO - PUYUHUAPI

Our trip continues down the Austral Road. A multitude of lakes and mountains captivate our sight. Spectacular hanging glaciers crawl down the bottom of green valleys. Possibility to trek to the base of one of them. Arrival at Puyuhuapi, where we take a boat to see the famous Puyuhuapi hot springs. Overnight in a lovely hotel and resort. (B,L)

DAY 3:        PUYUHUAPI-FJORDO QUEULAT

Full day excursion to Ventisquero Colgante (hanging glacier). Short trek to a glacier, in the Queulat National Park and/or rest in the resort that offers various alternatives of activities. Short transfer to Queulat fiord hostel. Hotel (cabañas). (B,L)

DAY 4:         FJORDO QUEULAT - COIHAIQUE

We head straight southbound on this winding road. Forests, lakes and valleys with green prairies are our scenery. Then, we reach Coihaique, the capital of this region. Transfer to the hotel. (B,L)

DAY 5:         COIHAIQUE - TERRA LUNA

The landscape slowly changes. The dense forests are replaced by rocky peaks with barren slopes and hundreds year old glaciers. We reach the shore of Lake General Carrera, the second biggest lake in South America. We do an excursion (if possible) to “Capilla de Marmol” (marble chapel), a natural marvel, a cave carved by quiet water. We keep going southbound to reach Puerto Guadal, where we spend the night in Terra Luna lodge which has a spectacular view on the lake. (B,L)

DAY 6:         TERRA LUNA

Trekking in the surroundings Terra Luna. We have an incredible view on the surrounding mountains and the lake. It is also possible to enjoy one of the numerous activities (optional) the area offers (mountain-biking, horseback riding, fishing, boating, etc...). We can also organize a fabulous flight (optional) over the northern icecap mountain range and to the famous Saint Rafael Lagoon. This is a real experience, do not miss it. Overnight in Puerto Guadal. (B,L)

DAY 7:         TERRA LUNA - COCHRANE

Our trip continues southbound. We follow the Baker River, a paradise for fishermen. We arrive at Cochrane. In the afternoon, we go up to the Huemul reserve where we do a magnificent walk and try to take a picture of this beautiful animal. Back to Cochrane. Overnight in a hotel. (B,L)

DAY 8:         COCHRANE - TORTEL

We follow the last section of the Austral Road to Vagabundo area. The landscapes are absolutely wild and unexplored. Then we continue our drive to Caleta Tortel. No words can describe the unique experience of discovering a village cuddled between the ocean and the hills. Tortel is an amazing village. There are neither streets nor cars but Tortel keeps a special atmosphere. Overnight in a guesthouse in Tortel (B,L)

DAY 9:         TORTEL - TERRA LUNA

We return to Terra Luna. Transfer to the hotel. (B,L)

DAY 10:         TERRA LUNA - COIHAQUE - COIHAIQUE - (SANTIAGO)

We drive to Chile Chico alongside Lake General Carrera. We take a small plane to Balmaceda (or Coihaique) and take our connecting flight back to Santiago. (B)

SERVICE DETAILS

Included Services

09 nights in Hotel, Pousada (Inn). Standard Room, including room and government taxes 
09 breakfasts

09 Lunches

Land transfers as detailed in the itinerary
Guided Tours as detailed, including National park taxes. Tours can change due to operational, safety or weather condition.

Not Included  

Flights 

Optional Tours  

Travel Insurance

Meals not included in the itinerary. 

Drinks, Laundry, Tips, Telephone calls, and any other personal expenses etc…. 

Meals
Meals included in the program are detailed in the following chart.

Accommodation:

Double rooms can have separate beds or not. A third person depending on the hotel has the possibility of using a sofa bed. Consult for children policy.  

Payment:

Deposit of 30% to guarantee your reservation. The remaining amount must be paid a minimum 30 days before start of the tour. If reservation is made within 30 days of the tour full payment required to make a reservation.   

Cancellation:

Up to 30 days before full refund is given unless the flight tickets have been emitted. In this case there will be a penalty due to the cancellation of the tickets. This depends on the rules of the airline used.  No refund is given when a cancellation is made within 30 days of departure.  

Operation of tour:

Minimum of 1 pax to operate. 

Responsability:

Brasil Travel / Melchior & Hodson Ltda and/or agencies involved with the packages, flights and tours shall act only as agents of the tour members in making arrangements for hotels and any other services and do not assume any liability what so ever for any injury, damage, death, loss, accident or delay to persons or property due to an act of God, default by any hotel, company or person rendering any of services included on the tours or flights. Furthermore, no responsability is accepted for quarentine, government restrains, weather or other causes beyond control. No responsability is accepted for any additional expenses, omissions, delays, re-routing or acts of government authority.

Insurance:

Not included (optional)