Coyhaique to Villa O'Higgins

The second half of the Carretera Austral began with a 100 km ride through to Villa Cerro Castillo. The impressive craggy peaks of Cerro Castillo watch over the town. From there, Ruta 7 deteriorates to a rough gravel "ripio" road through
the mountains to emerge again on the shores of Lago General Carrera. This is the second-largest lake in South America behind Lake Titicaca and feels like an inland sea. The contrast of its blue waters against the barren brown hills of the surrounding countryside is stunning. 

After a night in Puerto Rio Tranquilo on the shore of Lago General Carrera, I continued south on the ripio to Cochrane, the last proper town until Villa O'Higgins around 220 km away. The summer festival was in town so it was a good chance to encounter people from the Aysen Region and learn about some of their customs. 

Loaded with food for 4 days, I set off for Villa O'Higgins. After 2 days, I reached the tiny village of Caleta Yungay and was back at sea-level. I arrived in the middle of a storm with a malfunctioning rear derailleuer, so things were not looking great at that point, but after a good sleep I could resolve the problem the next morning.  From Caleta Yungay it was necessary to catch a ferry across the fiord to Rio Bravo in order to continue the journey on Ruta 7. The weather, which had been rainy and cold, cleared up as I rode south and when I finally reached the remote little village of Villa O'Higgins, I saw it at its best.

Happy to have completed the Carretera Austral, my mind turned to the challenging route south to El Chalten in Argentina. 

The craggy peaks of Cerro Castillo. 

Rounding the shore of Lago General Carrera. 

Lago General Carrera. 

Heading south on the ripio to Cochrane.  

At the meeting point of the azure blue Rio Baker & grey Rio Chacabuco (top left). 

Rugged country near Cochrane. 

Still following the Rio Baker. 

Arrival in Cochrane. The end of the Carretera is finally within reach. 

Faces at the summer festival in Cochrane. 

Plenty of food and fun. 

My cycling buddies planning the next leg of the journey in the army barracks at Yungay. 

With the weather clearing, I took the ferry across the fiord to Rio Bravo. 

The Carretera is nothing for softies...

The final few km's to Villa O'Higgins. 

Ane the bike's still going strong. 

Some impressions from a great day-hike near Villa O'Higgins.