Chile: The Carretera Austral: A Guide to One of the World's Most Scenic Road Trips

by Hugh Sinclair, Edward Menard (Editor), Warren Houlbrooke (Contribution by)

Overview

This new, thoroughly updated second edition of Bradt's Chile: the Carretera Austral is written by resident expert Hugh Sinclair and remains a unique guide to this stunning and remote part of the world, complete with information which in some instances has taken over a decade of experience to compile. This is the only guidebook focussed entirely on the magnificent and historic road uniting northern and southern Patagonia. The few hardy travellers that embark on this journey struggle to find even basic information about the region. The book provides visitors to the often-visited Bariloche and Chilean Lake District with a spectacular alternative means to reach the southern extremes of Patagonia.
Completing three entirely new traverses of the Carretera Austral and speaking to countless visitors encountered along the way, the authors have updated the guide comprehensively while offering an expanded suggested itineraries section to aid in planning. Meanwhile increased focus on conservation is helping to preserve the region's pristine beauty.
Packed with everything you need for a successful trip, from practical advice such as accommodation and eating options en-route to history, culture, trekking and rafting, new features and information include the Route of the Parks, details of new ferry services, coverage of islands previously not included, an expanded section on micro-breweries, new maps and further details on parks and reserves.
Increasingly established as one of the definitive road-trips worldwide, the Carretera Austral continues to evolve, firmly placing it as the definitive means to travel between northern Patagonia and the deep south. Bradt's Carretera Austral offers everything you need to plan and complete a successful trip from the high Andes to the remote Pacific coast.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784774752
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	01/01/2023
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.53(w) x 8.24(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

Hugh Sinclair lives in Bariloche (Argentina) with his Dutch wife and two daughters. He is an author, economist, former investment banker, and has worked in the development finance sector for the last two decades. In 2001 he successfully established the Guinness World Record for the fastest traverse of the Americas (Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina) by motorbike, fully sponsored and raising money for UK charity Action Aid. He has traversed the entire Carretera Austral fifteen times, by car and motorbike, including one trip with his heavily pregnant wife, and three trips with his eldest daughter, now aged 9, and a contributor to the ‘travelling with kids' section.
This edition has been updated with the help of Edward Menard, a gap year student who was looking to do something exciting and innovative before starting his degree at UCL when he became involved with the Carretera Austral. With family in Bariloche and a love of the great outdoors, and unburdened by jobs and studies, he became an obsessive Carretera expert and spent days wondering about why huemuls are dying out and buses don't ever arrive when expected, hoping that such insights may help others to explore this glorious region. Based in the south of England, he speaks Spanish and German.

Table of Contents

PART 1GENERAL INFORMATION
Chapter 1 Background Information
Geography, Climate, Natural history & conservation, History of the Carretera Austral – an overview, Government & politics, Economy, People & culture, Language
Chapter 2 Practical Information
When to visit, Highlights, , Tour operators, Tourist information, Red tape, Embassies, Getting there and away, Health, Safety and hassles, What to take, Money & Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating & drinking, Public holidays, Shopping, Activities along the Carretera Austral, Photography, Communications, Cultural etiquette
Chapter 3Suggested Itineraries
Overview of travelling in Patagonia, The bridge connecting northern and southern Patagonia, The Carretera Austral as part of a broader tour of Patagonia, The classic route, The northern Carretera, The southern Carretera


PART 2 THE NORTHERN CARRETERA AUSTRAL
Chapter 3 Puerto Montt
History, Getting there and around, Tour operators, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment & nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do
Chapter 4Puerto Montt to Villa Santa Lucía
Towards Hornopirén, Hornopirén, Parque Nacional Hornopirén, Towards Chaitén, Chaitén, Parque Pumalín, El Amarillo to Villa Santa Lucía


PART 3THE CLASSIC ROUTE
Chapter 5Futaleufú to La Junta
Futaleufú, Palena – a detour, Puerto Ramírez, La Junta and around, Raúl Marín Balmaceda – a detour, Lago Verde – a detour
Chapter 6La Junta to Puyuhuapi and Cisnes
Puyuhuapi, Puerto Cisnes – a detour, Villa Amengual and a detour to Paso Río Frías-Apeleg
Chapter 7Puerto Aysén and Chacabuco
Mañihuales and around, Puerto Aysén/Puerto Chacabuco, Reserva Nacional Río Simpson
Chapter 8Coyhaique
History, Getting there, Tour operators, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, Sightseeing and excursions
Chapter 9South of Coyhaique: to Cruce El Maitén via Lago General Carrera
Lakes south of Coyhaique, Balmaceda – exiting the Carretera Austral, Puerto Ibáñez – a detour, Cerro Castillo, Bahía Murta and Puerto Sánchez – a detour, Puerto Río Tranquilo, Cruce El Maitén, Chile Chico – a detour


PART 4THE SOUTHERN CARRETERA AUSTRAL
Chapter 10The Deep South: Cruce El Maitén to Caleta Tortel
Puerto Bertrand, Parque Patagonia, Cochrane, Caleta Tortel – a detour
Chapter 11Exiting/Entering the Carretera Austral: Villa O'Higgins and beyond
Villa O'Higgins and around, Crossing into Argentina
Chapter 12 The Islands


Appendices
Language
Further info
Index