Carretera Austral

The Carretera Austral is one of the world’s great long-distance motorcycle roads. Running south from Puerto Montt towards Villa O’Higgins as Chile’s Ruta 7, it cuts through some of the most remote landscapes in Patagonia. Across roughly 1,240 kilometres, the road links temperate rainforest, glacial valleys, fjords, lakes, mountains and vast stretches of wilderness where settlements can be few and far between.

The riding character changes constantly. The northern sections wind through dense forest and alongside fjords, while further south the landscape opens into dramatic valleys and exposed mountain terrain. The route is not technically demanding in the same way as a tightly packed alpine pass, but its combination of gravel sections, changing surfaces, narrow roads, weather and long distances demands concentration. The road’s rhythm comes from the landscape as much as from the corners.

For a motorcyclist, the real attraction is the feeling of travelling through somewhere genuinely remote. Rivers fed by Patagonian glaciers, snow-covered peaks, turquoise lakes and dense southern forests appear throughout the route, while the famous General Carrera Lake, Queulat National Park and the Marble Caves add some of the journey’s defining landmarks. The long distances between major towns also make the route feel like an expedition rather than a conventional touring road.

The Carretera Austral rewards riders who are willing to slow down and let Patagonia set the pace. It is less about chasing one perfect corner and more about experiencing an entire landscape unfold beneath the wheels.

The Carretera Austral is a remote and partly unpaved route, with road conditions varying considerably depending on weather and ongoing construction. Several ferry crossings are an integral part of the full journey, so schedules should be checked carefully before riding each section. Fuel, accommodation and mechanical services become increasingly limited farther south, particularly beyond Coyhaique. Patagonia is also notorious for strong winds and rapidly changing weather, while gravel, dust and heavy rain can make some sections considerably more demanding than their distance suggests.

The Ride Beyond route begins at Puerto Montt, where Ruta 7 heads south into the Chilean fjordlands. The first major section follows the western side of the Andes through the Los Lagos region, with ferry crossings and increasingly remote roads leading towards Hornopirén and the spectacular landscapes around Pumalín.

South of the fjords, the route enters the heart of Aysén. Forested valleys, mountain passes and glacial landscapes dominate the ride as Ruta 7 passes through areas including Chaitén, Puyuhuapi and Coyhaique. The road becomes increasingly wild, with Queulat National Park and the spectacular Ventisquero Colgante providing some of the route’s most memorable scenery.

From Coyhaique, the Carretera Austral continues south towards General Carrera Lake, where the landscape becomes broader and more exposed. The road passes through Chile Chico country and the southern Aysén wilderness before reaching Puerto Río Tranquilo, Villa Cerro Castillo and eventually the final southern section towards Cochrane and Puerto Yungay.

After the final ferry crossing from Puerto Yungay to Río Bravo, Ruta 7 makes its last run south through increasingly remote Patagonian terrain before reaching Villa O’Higgins. From there, the road terminates at Puerto Bahamondes — the southern end of the Carretera Austral. For Ride Beyond, this is a route where the distance is part of the achievement: Patagonia is best understood one kilometre at a time.