The long way south. From the lakes of Bariloche the road crosses into Chile and follows the Carretera Austral through fjords, hanging glaciers and rainforest, comes back over the Andes into the Argentine steppe on the Ruta 40, and finishes at the great names of the south: Fitz Roy, the Perito Moreno glacier and the towers of Paine.
Day 1 · Bariloche to the Chilean lakes
Highlight · The first border crossing, from the Nahuel Huapi to the Chilean lakes.
The road leaves Bariloche and the Nahuel Huapi behind for the first border crossing, two nights at Laguna Larga Lodge, on a lake on the Chilean side.
Night · Carretera Austral
Day 2 · On the lake
Highlight · Laguna Larga, on the water or in the forest.
A free day at Laguna Larga, on the water or in the forest.
Night · Carretera Austral
Day 3 · Carretera Austral to Puyuhuapi
Highlight · Puyuhuapi at the head of its fjord, near the hanging glacier of Queulat.
South on the Carretera Austral to Puyuhuapi, a village at the head of a fjord, near the hanging glacier of Queulat.
Night · Carretera Austral
Day 4 · Coyhaique
Highlight · The main town of Aysén, halfway down the road.
On to Coyhaique, the main town of the Aysén region and the halfway point of the road.
Night · Carretera Austral
Day 5 · Puerto Guadal
Highlight · From the steppe down to the shore of Lago General Carrera.
South into the steppe and down to Puerto Guadal, on the shore of Lago General Carrera.
Night · Carretera Austral
Day 6 · Lago General Carrera
Highlight · The second largest lake in South America, shared with Argentina.
A day on the lake, the second largest in South America, shared with Argentina.
Night · Carretera Austral
Day 7 · Back to Argentina on the Ruta 40
Highlight · The open steppe of the Ruta 40 and a night at an estancia.
Across the border to the Argentine side of the lake and south on the Ruta 40, through the open steppe, to a night at an estancia.
Night · Los Antiguos & Lago Posadas
Day 8 · El Chaltén
Highlight · The Ruta 40 south to the foot of Fitz Roy.
Further south on the Ruta 40 to El Chaltén, under Fitz Roy.
Night · El Chaltén
Day 9 · El Chaltén
Highlight · The trails that leave from the village under Fitz Roy.
A day on the trails of El Chaltén.
Night · El Chaltén
Day 10 · El Calafate
Highlight · Lago Viedma and Lago Argentino along the road south.
South along Lago Viedma and Lago Argentino to El Calafate.
Night · El Calafate
Day 11 · Perito Moreno
Highlight · A whole day for the ice of the Perito Moreno.
A day for the Perito Moreno glacier.
Night · El Calafate
Day 12 · Into Chile to Torres del Paine
Highlight · Across the border into Chile and the national park, for four nights.
The border again, this time into Chile and the Torres del Paine national park, for four nights.
Night · Torres del Paine
Day 13 · Torres del Paine
Highlight · The trail towards the base of the towers, or along the lakes.
A day on the park's trails, towards the base of the towers or along the lakes.
Night · Torres del Paine
Day 14 · Torres del Paine
Highlight · Grey lake and its glacier, or the Salto Grande and the Cuernos lookout.
Grey lake and its glacier, or the Salto Grande and the Cuernos lookout.
Night · Torres del Paine
Day 15 · Torres del Paine
Highlight · A spare day in the park, held back for the weather.
A spare day in the park, kept for the weather.
Night · Torres del Paine
Day 16 · Punta Arenas
Highlight · Puerto Natales, then the Strait of Magellan at the end of the drive.
South past Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas, on the Strait of Magellan, where the drive ends.
