THE ADVENTURE OF DRIVING THE CARRETERA AUSTRAL
We have no doubts, a road trip along the Carretera Austral is an adventure in itself. It is not the destination, but the journey that fills us with sweet experiences. There are long hours on the road, with gravel roads that require more skill at the wheel and a thorough knowledge of the different areas. In recent years, hundreds of kilometers have been paved on this road that connects Puerto Montt with Villa O'Higgins, but even so, many who still do not know Aysén wonder if it is reasonable to self drive or if it is better to hire a guided service, such as those that we offer at Aysen Journeys. Here we tell you some information to drive the Carretera Austral.
Can we get lost? Could it be that perhaps we will miss some attractions because we do not know the way well? What if we suffer an accident in a remote place as a result of the road conditions? There are many questions, and it is precisely the safety, comfort and knowledge of the roads that are the factors to take into account when we hire a tour or a program together with a tour operator like ours.
SAFE DRIVING IN CARRETERA AUSTRAL
But if you still decide to venture with a vehicle, we must take several factors in mind, among them: renting a vehicle with a reliable agency, checking that the engine and the conditions of the car are favorable; Have a map at hand with all the route information, its quality and that highlights the main attractions; Be attentive to travel times (remember that if we must drive 100 kilometers, we must consider two hours of travel). You can check out our blog post where we talk about that topic here; Find out about weather conditions and possible roadblocks, being a good way to be informed through MOP Aysén's Twitter; Consider the times and values of the ferries that transport vehicles in fjord areas.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
1) Take note of the service stations: on the Copec website you will be able to see all the locations where you can refuel.
2) Do not miss the main national parks of Aysén and Los Lagos: you can check all the protected areas and their schedules on the website of the Route of National Parks and Conaf.
3) A mechanical failure can occur at any time: you can get the Turismo Sobre Ruedas travel guide, where you can find the locations and contact details of various mechanical workshops and vulcanizations in case you need to repair tires.
4) Avoid driving at night and under adverse weather conditions: In the dark, remote areas are even more desolate, so it can be difficult to fix a mechanical problem on the road. In addition, there is a lot of fauna that crosses the road, which could cause an accident.
Driving on the Carretera Austral can be the most wonderful experience in life, but it can also be a nightmare if we don't take the necessary precautions while driving. In any case, the people of Patagonia are very friendly and are always willing to give us a hand if necessary.
At Aysen Journeys we have some programs that may interest you, either to do alone or with a partner, friends or family. We also invite you to contact our director Paula Christensen at her email [email protected], she is an Expert Travel Advisor and will be able to advise you on your next trip in which you decide to drive the Carretera Austral.
Categorías - Photo - Parks - Roadtrip - Adventure - Route Patagonian Parks