Chile self-drive

"Of all the routes I've driven, the Carretera Austral is at the top", says Johan. The route is more than 1,200 kilometers long, 60% of which are unpaved. You pass small villages, pass volcanoes, lakes and fjords. You drive through dense forests. is like driving through a nature film and crossing rivers with ferries and driving from nature park to nature park, a true adventure!

It is recommended to cross the border to Argentina every now and then when doing a self-drive trip through Chile. The border passes are often breathtakingly beautiful. Crossing the border is generally very fast and with driving in Argentina and Chile you will experience a lot of variety in landscapes and nature in a short time. In the south you with one trip you can do both the Chilean Carretera Austral and the Argentine Ruta 40, two of the most beautiful car routes in the world.

When you explore the Aisén region, the region where the legendary Carretera Austral runs through, you can spend the night at the Uman Lodge. The lodge is located on top of a hill and offers a view to a spectacular landscape where two rivers meet. Within the area you can discover deep blue glacial lakes, lush green valleys, dense forests and majestic peaks covered with eternal snow. A unique location where luxury and adventure come together.

The Chilean Lake District is ideal to explore by rental car, especially if you want to drive less long distances per day. Drive along lakes, through dense forests, and  admire impressive mountain peaks covered in eternal snow. With a domestic flight you can fly from Santiago to Puerto Montt, the capital of the Chilean lake district, in about an hour.

When exploring the Chilean Lake District, the AWA hotel is an absolute must to stay. The hotel has only 16 rooms and is located in a breathtaking environment, right on the Llanquihue lakeshore with a view to the Osorno volcano.

The north of Chile is also excellent to explore by rental car. From Arica, a Chilean city close to the Peruvian border, you can follow a beautiful route via the coastal town of Iquique to San Pedro de Atacama, an oasis in the Atacama desert, the driest desert in the world. Along the way you will pass ancient Inca sites, the ghost town of Humberstone, hot springs and impressive desert landscapes including the Valley of the Moon.