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Chiloé, Pumalín & Futaleufú: Northern Carretera Austral Adventure

Chiloé, Pumalín & Futaleufú: Northern Carretera Austral Adventure

Chile
11 Days

Overview

Northern Patagonia's most compelling landscapes don't follow a single road — they require a sequence of ferry crossings, forest trails, and gravel highways that most travelers find genuinely complex to coordinate independently. This 11-day private Carretera Austral itinerary moves through all of it: the UNESCO wooden churches and penguin colonies of Chiloé Island, the ancient alerce forests of Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park, the turquoise rapids of the Futaleufú River, and the remote fjords of Hornopirén — with every ferry connection, private transfer, and protected area access pre-arranged so the logistics never compete with the experience..

  • Private Transfers & Synchronized Ferry Crossings: Every vehicle connection and maritime boarding is coordinated in advance — your private driver is always waiting on the other side.

  • Handpicked Boutique Hotels Along the Route: Properties selected for their character, location, and access to each day's landscapes rather than proximity to main roads.

  • Local Guides With Firsthand Route Knowledge: From Chiloé's stilt villages to Pumalín's alerce trails, each section has a dedicated guide who knows the terrain and the right timing for each experience.

  • Fully Customizable Pace: This private northern Patagonia itinerary is a starting point — extend Futaleufú for more rafting days, add Puerto Varas, or connect south toward Torres del Paine.

Trip Highlights

The signature moments that make this journey unforgettable.

  • A route built around the region's most complex logistics, with ferry crossings, gravel highways, and forest trails coordinated in advance rather than left to chance

  • Puñihuil Penguin Colony, one of the few places on Earth where Humboldt and Magellanic penguins coexist

  • Chiloé's UNESCO wooden churches, colorful palafito stilt houses, and the fishing villages of Quemchi and Dalcahue

  • Tepuhueico Park, home to the endangered pudú, the world's smallest deer at 30–40 cm tall

  • Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park, ancient alerce forests and volcanic landscapes protected through the Tompkins' conservation legacy

  • World-class whitewater on the Futaleufú River, considered one of the best rafting rivers on Earth for its clarity and rapids

  • Laguna Pinilla, a mountain lagoon trail framed by native forest and the Andes

  • Hornopirén National Park, temperate rainforest and volcanoes far outside the region's mass-tourism routes

Itinerary

Day 1

Private transfer from the airport to your hotel, followed by a guided tour of Puerto Montt, gateway to Chilean Patagonia. Stops include the Angelmó Market, known for seafood and local crafts, with views over the Reloncaví Sound and surrounding volcanoes.

Day 2

Ferry crossing to Chiloé Island, followed by a visit to Puñihuil Penguin Colony, one of the only sites where Humboldt and Magellanic penguins nest in the same place. The route continues through the fishing villages of Quemchi and Dalcahue, known for their colorful palafitos and wooden churches, ending in Castro for the night.

Day 3

Full day exploring Chiloé's cultural towns, starting in Castro and continuing to Chonchi, one of the island's oldest settlements. The route passes several of Chiloé's UNESCO-listed wooden churches along the way.

Day 4

Morning visit to Tepuhueico Park, a private reserve where sightings of the endangered pudu — the world's smallest deer species, standing 30-40 cm tall — are possible alongside foxes and native birdlife. In the afternoon, Chiloé National Park's trails cover temperate rainforest, dunes, and coastline.

Day 5

Overland transfer to Quellón, followed by a ferry navigation through fjords and channels to Chaitén, with onward transfer to El Amarillo, at the entrance to Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park.

Day 6

3.6 km round trip | 254m elevation gain | ~2 hours | Easy-Moderate

Full day trekking inside Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park, centered on the Cascadas Escondidas trail, which winds through dense temperate rainforest to two waterfalls. The park was created through the conservation work of Douglas and Kristine Tompkins and protects one of the largest remaining stretches of temperate rainforest on Earth.perate rainforest on Earth.

Day 7

10 km round trip | 930m elevation gain | ~6 hours | Moderate-Challenging

Transfer to Futaleufú, a region known internationally for its turquoise river and whitewater. On arrival, a hike to Laguna Pinilla, a mountain lagoon reached through native forest with views over the surrounding Andes.

Day 8

Full day of whitewater rafting on the Futaleufú River, considered one of the world's premier rafting rivers for its clear water and canyon scenery. Return transfer to Chaitén in the afternoon.

Day 9

Drive north along the Carretera Austral toward Hornopirén, crossing two ferries through the Patagonian fjords along the way. Free time on arrival in this small mountain town surrounded by volcanoes.

Day 10

Trekking day inside Hornopirén National Park, with trails through native rainforest beneath the Yates and Hornopirén volcanoes. Return transfer to Puerto Montt for the final night.

Day 11

Private transfer to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) for the departure flight.

Southwind Experience

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  • Transportation throughout the trip

  • Accommodation

  • Expert local guides

  • Full support from your Travel Agent before, during, and after the trip

  • International or domestic flights

  • Personal expenses and optional activities

To start this journey, travelers will need to fly into Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC), located just outside Puero Montt City. This airport receives domestic flights from and international connections via Santiago de Chile (SCL).

  • Arrival Flight: Traveler flies from origin city to Santiago de Chile (SCL), then connects with a domestic flight to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC)

  • Departure Flight: At the end of the itinerary, travelers will take a domestic flight from Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) back to Santiago de Chile (SCL)  for onward international connections.

What our travelers say

S

Simon Phillips

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Southwind from the planning stages to delivery of the trip in Patagonia were faultless and I really love the little reminders sent for each separate stage and really appreciated the added bits around passport checking and border crossing paperwork. The whole team was super friendly, and for our trip with Fernando he was great company and knew where to stop for refreshments and a view! We would strongly recommend southwind, they go the extra mile on service and have a permanent smile. Thank you guys you were faultless.

S

Sameer Phanse

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I had a great experience with Southwind. They organized a tour for us to visit Monte Leon from El Calafate. Fernando & Laura organized the logistics and were very helpful. Martin accompanied us on the tour and doubled up as driver and tour guide, which was beyond our expectations. We saw a lot of wildlife en route, as well as in the park with Martin’s help. I highly recommend Southwind for your Patagonia experience.

F

Franco Peverelli

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The agency proved to be extremely professional. During the long transfer, in an impeccably clean and perfectly maintained vehicle, Mr. Fernando was very attentive to ensure that everything went smoothly. I highly recommend this agency for organizing your trips to South America. Only 5 stars because I can't give more!

J

Joanna Green

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Maria and her team looked after us so well. I would recommend them in a flash. It was 20 years since I had been to El Calafate so I didn't know what to expect. It had changed so much! Maria was helpful, honest, well priced and a pleasure to work with. You could not ask for more. We had the best time thanks to Maria and her organisation. Fernando was our driver to a tour and a delight. Punctual, knowledgeable and all round wonderful. Gracias!!

R

Rosa Puech

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A fabulous company to travel with: the sequencing of the trip, the guides proposed, the suggestions for the area. We highly recommend this travel agency for Patagonia. Fernando is top+top.

M

Martin Bride

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★

Gerardo drove us on a bespoke 8- day trip from Salta up into the wilderness where the 🦩 come to get pink. We had a great time in this spectacular region.

E

Esteban Riminucci

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Exelente asesoramiento de Maria Laura , muy buen servicio y cordialidad de los coordinadores , muy recomendables !!

P

Paulo Fanti

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Muy buena la atención tanto por WhatsApp como en las excursiones. Puntuales en las búsquedas en el hotel... De las excursiones que llevo hechas (todas excelentes) la atención, la coordinación y el conocimiento de los guías es muy bueno. Un excelente servicio, lo recomiendo!

A

Ana Zugarramurdi

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Amazing company and experience. We did the Todo Glaciares boat tour in the Premium Lounge and it was beyond expectations! Great staff, great cruise and food! Highly recommended!

Google

Average rating

4.9 ★

How to Customize This Itinerary

This itinerary is a foundation, not a fixed template — we shape it around what draws you to Northern Patagonia in the first place.

  • Add Puerto Varas for lake views, volcano landscapes, and a stop at Petrohué Falls and Lake Todos los Santos.

  • Visit Frutillar, the region's German-influenced lakeside village, for an easy half-day or overnight addition.

  • Extend deeper along the Carretera Austral for travelers who want more days on this road rather than fewer.

  • Add kayaking, fly fishing, or horseback riding alongside the existing trekking days.

  • Build in extra nights in Futaleufú for additional rafting and river days.

  • Continue south to Torres del Paine or connect into Argentine Patagonia for a longer cross-border circuit.

Every adjustment is shaped around what the trip means to you, then re-engineered with the same private logistics as the original route.

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