Elqui Valley is almost hidden away in an area that isn’t on the international tourist trail. Most people will travel up the coast near La Serena (Where the beaches in Chile slowly start becoming warm enough to swim it), but if they venture towards the Andes they will be rewarded by one of Chile’s most important valleys. This is Elqui Valley, famous for pisco-producing and stargazing.
Agua Negra Pass is a border crossing between Chile and Argentina. At over 4700m it is one of the highest passes between the countries in the world and is only passable outside the winter months.
The road is gravel from the Chile side and brand new asphalt on the Argentina side. (A proposed tunnel has been started from the Argentina side to allow easier access to the Chilean port town of La Serena.
The road from Chile is a gradually climb from the beautiful Elqui Valley region. This should not cause any issue with altitude sickness if you climb at a normal pace. The Argentina side is similar however because the road is asphalt you will be able to climb faster, therefore take your time.
My tracking from La Serena (Chile) over the Agua Negra Pass to Argentina. (GPX / KML files)
Elevation Profile
Highlights
Stunning Landscapes
The pass has some stunning landscapes and is relatively quiet in regards to traffic. It is also very cold at the top of the pass (even in summer it was 0 degrees)
Paso Agua Negra, Chile
Glaciers
Just before you reach the top, on the Chile side, you will experience riding/driving through a glacier. I’m not sure how is cut but the glacier is split to allow the road to pass through it. awesome stuff.
Paso Agua Negra, Chile
Penitentes
Penitentes are snow formations found at high altitudes. They take the form of elongated, thin blades of hardened snow or ice, closely spaced and pointing towards the general direction of the sun. You can find these amazing formations at the top of the pass. For a stunning drone view of these formations check out this video
Paso Agua Negra, Chile
Why is it a ‘Best Ride’
Well, apart from the snow formations, riding through glaciers and the stunning landscapes. The ride is also very challenging, only passable in summer and with temperatures ranging from 30 degrees to Zero. Want to see the whole trip in a time lapse? Check out the video below.
Ruta X-728 is a dead-end road that starts from Puerto Rio Tranquilo to the Glacier Exploradores. It is a spectacular road that winds through lakes, cliff walls and is surrounded by Glaciers and mountains.
The wooden churches of Chiloe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are a unique architectural phenomenon in the Americas. Unlike classical Spanish colonial architecture, the churches of Chiloé are made entirely in native timber with extensive use of wood shingles. The churches were built from materials to resist the Chiloé Archipelago’s humid and rainy oceanic climate.
Wooden Churches of Chiloé, Chile
Wooden Churches of Chiloé, Chile
Wooden Churches of Chiloé, Chile
Castro, Chile
Castro is famous for its palafitos, traditional wooden stilt houses which were common in many places in Chiloé. Some of them are preserved in the town district Gamboa in the west of the town in a bay called Fiordo de Castro.
Castro, Chile
Castro, Chile
Sunsets
Sunset Explosion over the beaches in Chiloe Island
The Marble Caves (Cuevas de Mármol) are located on a peninsula of solid marble. Lake General Carrera sits at the base… 6000 yrs of the lakes waves have formed this unique cave…. add the blue glacier water from the lake and you’ll find a very surreal mix of cathedral caves with ice blue reflections.
Patagonia is a sparsely populated region located at the southern end of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes mountains as well as the deserts, pampas and grasslands east of this southern portion of the Andes. For overlanders, Patagonia has always been top of the ‘must-do’ on
Patagonia is a HUGE place that incorporates both Argentina and Chile. Highlights are many. You could stay for ages but you’ll be pushed north by the short summer period, longing to the day you return.
Carretera Austral
Carretera Austral is the legendary name given to the official Ruta (Route) 7 in Chile. The road runs from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins. It exists entirely in the Patagonia section of Chile.
The construction of the road started in 1976 and was one of the biggest infrastructure projects at the time in Chile. Unlike Argentina, on the other side of the Andes Mountain range, constructing a road south into Chile was not easy. Argentina had the flat plains to run the road along when the mountain terrain became to difficult. This is seen in the famous Ruta 40 in Argentina, which mostly runs along the easier, flat lands away from the Andes. Chile dint have this luxury as the stunning terrain is full of steep mountains, fjords, forests, canals and glaciers. Apparently, 10,000 army personal were involved in the roads construction. When finished the road was completely dirt. Today work is underway to pave the entire length, a task that will take some time. Until then, enjoy the road before it becomes ‘too accessible’. Check out my post on the Carretera Austral.
Mirador Cerro Castillo, Aysén Region, Chile
Perito Moreno Glacier
The Perito Moreno Glacier is classed as one of the ‘Must Sees’ of a trip to Patagonia, and with good cause. Its incredible! Firstly the size, the photo below show the width of the section that is view-able from the platform. incredibility this is 5kms wide!! More amazingly, it is part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field which has an area of 12,363 km2. Check out my post on this amazing site.
El Chaltén
El Chaltén is a small mountain village in Argentina. These days it is solely based on tourism and its the capital for hiking and all mountaineering activities in Argentina. It is located inside the Los Glaciares National Park, meaning the surrounding landscapes are sure to please. The most famous peak, Mount Fitz Roy is located near the town.
El Chalten, Argentina
Seven Lakes (San Martin de Los Andes to Bariloche)
As the name implies, this 107km road goes through several lakes in the Patagonian area of Argentina. This area is also very close to the border of Chile and has some very accessible crossings. As a generalization, the roads running parallel to the Andes in Argentina are less spectacular than Chile. This is mostly due to the fact that Argentina was more flat lands (Pampas) then Chile. Therefore, it is much easy to run roads on flat land than mountain ranges. This section is the exception, the road zigzags around the lakes before moving back on the flat lands both north and south of this region. Because of this, if you are heading north or south of this area, I’d recommend jumping across to Chile. Check out my post on the Seven Lakes Road
Traful Lake, Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina
Cordillera Castillo
Cerro Castillo is a jagged rocky peak located on the Carretera Austral. At the bottom is the small town of Villa Cerro Castillo. There is a good day hike to a lake located half way up the mountain. Check out my post here.
Cordillera Castillo, Aysén, Chile
Marble Caves (Carrera Lake)
The Marble Caves (Cuevas de Mármol) are located on a peninsula of solid marble. Lake General Carrera sits at the base… 6000 yrs of the lakes waves have formed this unique cave… add the blue glacier water from the lake and you’ll find a very surreal mix of cathedral caves with ice blue reflections. Check out my separate post here
Paso Rodolfo Roballos is a border crossing pass between Chile and Argentina. It is one of the last crossings from the Carretera Austral (Ruta 7) that can be done with a vehicle. The turn off to the Pass is 17 kilometers north of the town Cochrane in the Aysen region of Chilean Patagonia. Once in Argentina the Pass joins the famous Ruta 40, where you can continue south.
The start of the pass is located on the Rio Cochrane (Cochrane River). A stunning, glacier feed river.
Rio Cochrane, Chile
All dirt, no people, complete isolation
This is the Patagonia you have heard about… no traffic, no people, isolation bliss. In fact the border station is run with Solar panels. The staff are super friendly as I can imagine the number of people per day crossing this pass is very small.
X-83, Aysén, Chile
Lagoons and Flamingos
Flamingos can be found hanging out in Lago Ghio on the Argentina side.
Flamingoes, Argentina
Wild Camping
Complete isolation allows for some great wild camping
Carretera Austral is the legendary name given to the official Ruta (Route) 7 in Chile. The road runs from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins. It exists entirely in the Patagonia section of Chile.
The construction of the road started in 1976 and was one of the biggest infrastructure projects at the time in Chile. Unlike Argentina, on the other side of the Andes Mountain range, constructing a road south into Chile was not easy. Argentina had the flat plains to run the road along when the mountain terrain became to difficult. This is seen in the famous Ruta 40 in Argentina, which mostly runs along the easier, flat lands away from the Andes. Chile didn’t have this luxury meaning the stunning terrain is full of steep mountains, fjords, forests, canals and glaciers. Apparently, 10,000 army personal were involved in the roads construction, and when finished the road was completely dirt. Today work is underway to pave the entire length, a task that will take some time. Until then, enjoy the road before it becomes ‘too accessible’.
Note: You can only go as far as Villa O’Higgins on the Carretera Austral. Even from there it is not possible to cross into Argentina with a vehicle. I crossed at Paso Rodolfo Roballos, one of the last vehicle crossings on the Austral. (Close to Cochrane)
My tracking from my time on the Carretera Austral. (GPX / KML files)
GPS Elevation Profile
Highlights
Stunning Landscapes
The landscape here are some of the best in the world. Be prepared for lush forests, glacier topped jagged mountain ranges. the bluest of blue rivers. All this in one of the least population density places in the world. Enjoy the isolation.
Cerro Castillo Time Lapse
Little towns and friendly people
There are heaps of little towns to explore, also the road is famous for hitch-hiking, biking (both on cycles and motos).
Why is it an ‘Epic Ride’
The Carretera Austral is ‘the’ Best Ride in South America. This is definition of Adventure Riding. It ticks all the boxes and more.
As of 2018, loose hard packed gravel. Because it is a mountainous road, it may become impassable during heavy rain and winter.
When is the best time to Ride?
The best time to visit the Conguillío National Park is between the spring and summer (November to March) when the climate is milder and the roads are in excellent conditions.
My tracking from Vallegrande to Samaipata (via La Higuera) . Tracking files can be downloaded here. (GPX/KML)
Highlights
Llaima Volcano
Within the Park lies Llaima Volcano. At 3150m it is one of Chiles most active Volcanos.
During the winter, one side of the Volcano is a ski resort.
Conguillío National Park, Chile
Why is it an ‘Epic Ride’
It is not far off the main road and it is very peaceful place. Most of the tracks are dirt so you can spend alot of time exploring the area.
As you ride around the city you’ll experience amazing street graffiti, a hoard of street dogs all trying to take your leg and crazy hilly terrain. Checkout the video below..
Los Libertadoes Pass is a mountain border crossing between Chile and Argentina. It is the busiest pass in terms of traffic, linking Santiago (Chile) and Mendoza (Argentina), at over 3900m.
The road is all asphalt. The climb from both Chile and Argentina is gradually and therefore should give you no issues from altitude sickness if you climb at a normal pace.
The Border Crossing station is on the Chilean Side and it a joint station (Argentina and Chile). The station is also the customs office.
My tracking from Mendoza (Argentina) to Los Andes (Chile). Tracking files can be downloaded here. (GPX/KML)
Elevation Profile
Highlights
Tunnel of Christ the Redeemer
Tunnel of Christ the Redeemer terminates Route 7 (Argentina) to Route 60 (Chile) and vice versa. The tunnel is 3km long and can be closed during winter months.
Route 60 (Chile)
Straight after you have entered Chile, you will start the descent down Route 60. This road is excellent asphalt and well, i’ll let this picture from Google maps show parts of the road. Google Maps Location here.
Why is it a ‘Epic Ride’
Awesome climbs and descents, a very high, long tunnel, and part of the pan-american highway. The pass is not the greatest between Chile and Argentina but it is a common pass linking important regions in both Countries.
