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CHILEAN - ARGENTINIAN ANDES and PATAGONIA . ROADTRIP.

Registration:  join us here.


Photo credits: Erik Helleman en Mik van den Noort


North / South roadtrip by rental 4x4 through the Patagionian Andes, partly over the Chilean 'Carretera Austral'  partly over the famous/infamous Argentinian 'Ruta 40'  over (usually: well-maintained) rural roads and hardened tracks - no heavy offroading.

Past staggering fjords, glaciers, over amazing border pass tracks, on old-fashioned ferries, through and over stunning mountain area's, along rivers, through lush rainforest, past volcano's, over pampas - there are not enough superlatives to describe this coastal landscape. 

Duration: 24 days Amsterdam - Amsterdam ( you can extend your journey, please see further down this page)

Maximum number of participants: eight, in maximum four vehicles.

Accomodation: good, clean, hotels / homestays.


Price: 6.950,= Euro per participant (please register per team of two participants)

If you fly in and out of Santiago by your own arrangement, the price will of course be different, please contact us for further details. 


The above amount is inclusive of international direct flights Amsterdam -Santiago v.v., inland flights, airport transfers, accomodation, breakfast, ferries, car rental 19 days, drop off Punta Arenas, full car insurance and second driver.

The above amount is exclusive of fuel, lunches, dinners, personal expenses, tips, entrance fees national parks/museums, parking-, toll and/or further vehicle related costs, booking costs (25.= Euro) and contribution to the Netherlands 'calamity fund'. (2,50 Euro)

  

HIGHLIGHTS:

Santiago -  Torres del Paine (three days) - stunning fjord- and lakeviews- Straight Magellan - Lanin Volcano - pampa's - Parque Nacional Pumalin - El Salto Grande (cascade) - el Ventisquero de Colgante- Valle des Exploradores- Tortel- El Calafate - Parque Patagonia- Fitz Roy- Lago Argentino - Bariloche -Parque Nacional Los Glaciares- Perito Moreno glacier - and much, much more.

You will see auracana's, gunnera's, bamboo, firebush, guanaca's, nandus, pinguins, gorse, flamingos, dolphins, lupins en orca's (no guarantee for all of these, though...) 

Please bring light hiking boots and small packs for staggering vista's.

This tour can be extended with a visit to the Atacama desert, Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires, other South-American destinations - or even Antarctica.



Photo credits: Erik Helleman en Mik van den Noort

Want to come along? Join us here.

 

DAY 1 en DAY 2:

 

FLIGHT AMSTERDAM-SANTIAGO

Vlucht KL 701 from Amsterdam to Santiago de Chile, stopover in Buenos Aires

Departure 21;15 h., Arrival 10: 05 h.    (time difference Chile-Europe: five hours).

Transfer hotel Santiago. Rest of the day off.

 

DAY 3 SANTIAGO-TEMUCO-PUCON 1.5 h.

Morning flight toTemuco, pick-up rental car.  100 km. drive to Pucon, a cozy little town with thermal baths on a beautiful lake.

 

DAY 4 PUCON

Day off. Tip: visit the lava tubes at the foot of the Villarica volcano.

 

DAY 5 PUCON – SAN MARTIN DE LOS ANDES 3h.

Leave Chile for Argentina by the impressive Paso Mamuil Malal. Age old auracaria woods, past the Lanin volcano to the almost 'Swiss'little village of SSanMartin de los Andes on the Lago Lacar.

 

DAY 6 SAN MARTIN DE LOS ANDES – PETROHUE 4h.

Past the many lakes of this area to Villa La Angostura. Incredible views. Chile border crossing. By the 'red interlagos' past Alto Grande Falls to the hamlet of  Petrohue.

 

DAY 7 PETROHUE-HORNOPIREN 4 h.

The Carretara Austral, day one! Along Lago Llanquihue to La Arena, ferry (45 min.) to Hornopiren, a small town on the Golfo de Ancud.

 

DAY 8 HORNOPIREN – CALETA GONZALO 6 h. (by ferry)

This is actually a coastal cruise. along an unforgettable coast. You will arrive in the very heart of the Parque Pumalin, a rare rain forest.

 

DAY 9 CALETA GONZALO

Fantastic walking/rambling opportunities. Old cypresses, impressive falls - it is all there. Ask the park information people at the ferry landing for the state of the tracks before you set off.


DAY 10 CALETA GONZALO – PUYUHUAPI 4.5 h.

Through the utterly barren landscape around the Chaiten volcano (last eruption: 2008) along many falls and big rivers to the 'hanging glacier'of Ventisquero de colgante. Hotel on the fjord shore. 

DAY 11 PUYUHUAPI – COYHAIQUE 4.5 h.

Ferns, bamboo, falls, glaciers, broom, lupine, fuchsia - a beautiful stretch with many 'Kodak moments'. 

 

DAY 13 COYHAIQUE – PUERTO TRANQUILLO 5.5 h.

The valley at the Hudson volvano was completely filled with hot ash during an eruption in 1991. The vegetation is returning slowly. Wooden houses and wooden churches in East-European style are characteristic for this picturesque area. Depart early and make a boat trip to the marble caves in the afternoon - worth it. 

 

DAY 13 PUERTO TRANQUILLO – COCHRANE 2 h.

Through the Valle des Exploradores, to be rewarded at the end by unforgettable views on the gigantic high glaciers of the Campo de Hielo Norte. Return along deep blue Lago General Carrera and the Rio Baker. You are now in famous Parque Patagonia, founded and funded by Doug and Kris Tompkins.Hotel in Cochrane, if you are early, you can follow the road all the way to Tortel, a village entirely built on stilts in Rio Baker. 

 

DAY14 COCHRANE - ESTANCIA LA ANGOSTURA 3.5 h.

Through Parque Patagonia , founded and funded by Doug and Kris Tompkins to Argentina. Ruta 40! Sleep in the Estancia La Angostura and see the 'asado'lit up for your evening meal. It does not get any more Argentinian then this!

 

DAY 15 ESTANCIA LA ANGOSTURA – EL CHALTEN 6 h.

One more pampa day – with Fitz Roy at the end. Weather allowing, you can see its massif after the bend of El Chalten already. The track can be bad here and the belly clearance of the car comes into its own. El Chalten is a ski resort at the foot of Fitz Roy. You are back in civilazation for a few hours. 

 

DAY 16  EL CHALTEN – EL CALAFATE 3.5 h.

Along Lago Viedma and Lago Argentino to El Calafate. The views of the mountains, the glaciers and the deep blue lakes remain mind boggling. Keep your camera handy. El Calafate, thanks to the Perito Moreno glacier, is not exactly without tourists. Many good bars and restaurants.

 

DAY 17 EL CALAFATE

Drive to the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (20 km.) to vist the staggering ice wall of Perito Moreno. You can even book a 'mini-trek'over the ice, or take a sightseeing boat to get closer to the immense chunks of glacier that keep falling off. 

DAY 18  EL CALAFATE -TORRES DEL PAINE 6 h.

'Behind' the Andes, in a big arc, to arrive at Torres del Paine. You can spot guanaco's condors and nandus. (you'll see) World famous Torres del Paine is a mountain massif that rises straight from the earth.  The 'torres' (towers) and the 'cuernos' (horns) are the gigantic remnants of magma ducts from long-gone supervolcanos. 


DAY 19 en DAG 20  TORRES DEL PAINE
Recce this vast park by car and by foot. Ask us for tips.

DAY 21 TORRES DEL PAINE – PUNTA ARENAS 5.5 h.
Via Puerto Natales. On the way, you can visit the milodon cave, once home to a giant sloth.  From the Seno Ultimo Esperanza wonderful views on the Balmaceda mountains. Punta Arenas: see Straight Magellan and Fireland. Good  coffeeshops.

DAY 22 PUNTA ARENAS - SANTIAGO
Drop off car at airport. Flight to Santiago, (3h.15 m.). Transfer to airport hotel. 

DAY 23 and DAY 24   FLIGHT SANTIAGO - AMSTERDAM
KL 702  departure: 12:45 h.  arrival: 09:55 h.


Average driving hours: 76.5 hrs. (over 20 driving days)  7 hrs. on ferries. 

Welcome to the adventure of a lifetime! Our 23-day car journey through South Chile and Argentina is just that. You will travel from North to South, exploring the stunning Andes and Patagonia regions.

The journey really begins in the picturesque town of Pucon, nestled in the foothills of the Villarrica volcano. From there, you wil hit the road and journey southward (the famous/infamous Carretera Austral), taking in the breathtaking views of the Andes mountain range. You will stop at several natural parks along the way, where you can hike and explore the gorgeous scenery.

You will also visit several charming towns and cities, including the historic city of Valdivia, known for its beautiful riverfront and delicious seafood, as well as the colorful city of Bariloche, Argentina, which is famous for its chocolate and stunning lakeside scenery.

But the real highlight of this journey is the opportunity to explore Patagonia, one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in the world. Especially Torres del Paine National Park, where you can witness the majestic peaks of the Paine Massif and hike through the stunning valleys and over glaciers, will leave an indelible impression - take our word for it.

And no trip to Patagonia would be complete without a visit to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the few advancing glaciers in the world. You can witness this natural wonder up close and even take a boat tour to explore its stunning blue ice formations.

As you journey further south, you wil pass through the beautiful Tierra del Fuego region, home to a unique ecosystem and stunning landscapes. The journey will culminate in Punta Arenas, where you can reminisce on the unforgettable memories that you have made on this incredible adventure.

Contact us now for an unforgettable 23-day car journey through South Chile and Argentina. With stunning natural parks, charming towns, and breathtaking landscapes, this journey is sure to leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.