The Austral Highway, a scenic route through fjords, ancient forests, and glaciers, along with Coyhaique, its regional capital, offers unique experiences for high-socioeconomic travelers. This article reveals how to explore this Patagonian gem with sophistication—from trekking in private reserves to exclusive boat tours.
🏔️ NATURE AND ADVENTURE: PATAGONIA’S MUST-SEES
1 ❄️ TREKKING IN CERRO CASTILLO
Hike the “Las Horquetas” trail, with views of granite spires and turquoise lakes.
Local guides share stories of pioneers and endemic wildlife like the huemul deer.
VIP Tip: Hire a porter to carry gourmet gear and enjoy a picnic with glacier views.
2 🌊 QUEULAT NATIONAL PARK: HANGING GLACIER AND COLD RAINFOREST
Admire the suspended glacier from exclusive viewpoints accessible via 4×4 vehicles.
Navigate by inflatable boat across Laguna Témpanos, surrounded by evergreen forests.
3 🧊 ICEBERG NAVIGATION IN LAGUNA SAN RAFAEL
Join ships exploring this fjord, a designated Biosphere Reserve.
Spot sei whales and condors, paired with a gourmet dinner facing San Rafael Glacier.
4 🎣 FLY FISHING ON THE BAKER RIVER
Experience Chile’s most exclusive fly fishing on the Baker River, Patagonia. Catch giant trout, enjoy private tours, and luxury lodgings.
5 TREKKING IN PATAGONIA NATIONAL PARK
Patagonia National Park is a 304,527-hectare jewel protecting unique ecosystems: steppes, lenga forests, and turquoise lagoons.
🧭 CULTURE AND TRADITION: THE AUSTRAL SOUL
6 🐎 GAUCHO EXPERIENCE AT A PRIVATE ESTANCIA
Join cattle drives, milking, and preparation of Patagonian barbecues.
Includes dinner with spit-roasted lamb and wines from the Aysén region.
7 📜 HISTORICAL TOUR IN COYHAIQUE: REGIONAL MUSEUM AND ARTISAN HOUSE
Discover relics from Chilean and European settlers who populated the area.
Purchase sheep wool textiles and Mapuche silver at the Artisan Market.
🛶 NAUTICAL EXPERIENCES: FJORDS AND CHANNELS
8 ⚓ BOAT TOUR ON THE BAKER RIVER
Navigate Chile’s most powerful river, famed for its electric-blue waters.
Stops for brown trout fishing and fresh ceviche tastings on deck.
9 🚤 KAYAK ON LAKE GENERAL CARRERA AND THE MARBLE CATHEDRAL
Paddle near the Marble Chapels, natural formations sculpted by water.
Expert guides reveal geological secrets of these floating caves.
🍷🍴 AUSTRAL GASTRONOMY: FLAVORS OF LAND AND SEA
10 🦪 KING CRAB AND SEA URCHIN TASTING IN PUERTO CHACABUCO
Sample seafood harvested hours earlier, served with local craft beers.
Recommendation: Clam ceviche with merkén and Patagonian cilantro.
11 🍖 PATAGONIAN BBQ AT A REMOTE ESTANCIA
Savor spit-roasted lamb with native potatoes and Maipo Valley wines.
Rustic ambiance with fine linens and personalized service.
12 🧀 SMOKED CHEESE TOUR IN COYHAIQUE
Visit family-run dairies using ancestral techniques with lenga wood.
Pairings with calafate and rosehip jams.
💎 EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES: BEYOND THE ORDINARY
13 🚁 HELICOPTER FLIGHT OVER NORTHERN ICE FIELDS
Marvel at glaciers like San Valentín and emerald lagoons from above.
Landing at virgin sites for professional photography or gourmet picnics.
14 🌌 VISIT CALETA TORTEL: A VILLAGE BUILT ON WOODEN BOARDWALKS
Caleta Tortel is a Patagonian village defying geography: its streets are cypress wood boardwalks winding over fjords, channels, and hills.
15 🧖 SPA WITH HOT SPRINGS IN PUYUHUAPI
Relax in thermal pools surrounded by coigüe and lenga forests.
Treatments with volcanic mud and maqui oils.
📌 TIPS FOR A REFINED TRIP
Clothing: Technical rain and wind gear, plus elegant attire for dinners.
Transport: 4×4 vehicles with drivers or small-plane flights between sectors.
Ideal Season: November to March for trekking; September-October for wildlife spotting.
