Carretera Austral (route 7) Advice

it looks very hurried, you can have contigencies due road works, rains, and so but reviewing
day 1 Bariloche Futaleufu approx 350 km min. 5 hours with a fair customs clearance
rafting (midday? noon?)
day 2 Futaleufu- Puyuhuapi 190 km 3,5 hours partly pavel , rest gravel
termas are in a island, (morning?) trek to Hanging Glacier at Queulat, max . 2,5 hours noon?) to Coyhaique about 190 km mainly paved
warning roadblocks due rock blasts from 13,00-17,00 between Puyuhuapi and Queulat, ask in Puyuhuapi for more details

day 3 Coyhaique Tranquilo 217 km mainly gravel 3,5 hours tour to Marble (not Ice) Caves
again warning roadblocks due rock blasts from 13,00-17,00 south of Cerro Castillo, ask in Coyhaique for more details
, same day run to Perito Moreno, here 238 km all dirt road with curves at Chilean side , in total min 5 hours , beware customs close at 21.00

I have less knowledge of the legs Perito- Esquel and Esquel Bariloche but seems doable, it is not a very attractive landscape, unless the leg Bolson Bariloche

The weather is not a issue, at most some scattered rains

In short it is feasible but hurried , you will miss Cerro Castillo a nice town for trekking

in my humble opinion other alternative can be invest those 6 days in Futaleufu- Chaiten-Pumalin Park- Puyuhuapi- Queulat and return by Futaleufu to Arg.

Hello there, firstly, thank you very much for your detailed response. it has been incredibly insightful. I feel I have really managed to streamline my plan helping me get the most of out the area and time I have.

Instead I will start in Puerto Rio Tranquilo (I will have got here from El Chalten on the expert moreno service provided by Chalten travel). I will then travel by public transport to Coyhaique where I will rent the car/suv/camper. From here I will drive to Puyuhuapi for the National park and maybe Termas. Onwards from here I will drive to Futaleufu. (this is as far as my research has got me but following on from your advice I will probably make my drop off location for the car Chaiten via Pumalin Park).

After dropping off the car I will take public transport from Chaiten to Bariloche!

How does that sound! still not sure of the time frame, but will allow myself to drive at a slow stop and start pace to be able to pull over and enjoy the moment. I think its a much more clear and direct plan.

thanks again for your humble wisdom

Hey Bill,

I just drove with my wife three weeks the Carretera Austral from Puerto Montt via Puerto Varas, also a stop at Petrohue .. al the way to Tortel ..

I only can say it was the best thing I have done for many years and I have been really around half of the countries of our world ..
The car rental company west in Puerto Montt was very fair and good experience and much cheaper ..
I strongly recommend a 4X4 .. as it is aprrox 70 only paved ..
cheers

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