Carretera Austral

It seems difficult to book public transport so am wondering on the feasibility of my plan. I arrive Puerto Mott Dec. 9 and fly out of Punta Arenas Dec. 30. Ultimate goal is to hike from Villa Ohiggins to El Chaletn and if possible get time in TDP. It seems doable to get to Hornopiren and walk on ferry to Caleta Gonzalo then Chaiten where I may be able to book a bus to Coyhaique. Then hop skip and jump to Cochrane, Caleta Tortel, Villa O'higgins, hoping to get a boat on the 19th or 21st give or take a sailing. My concern is the season, planes are reserved for locals and am not too sure how busy buses will be. So can anyone suggest if this is possible by public transport to ensure I arrive in Punta Arenas by the 30th? Cheers

Between December 9 and 21 it is not high season on Carretera Austral. You can hitchhike as well , if you want to stop on the way line inside Parque Pumalin and in NP Queulat you are obliged to.

public transport in Carretera Austral is complex in high season , but no in the period you are planning
Answering some specific questions:
It seems doable to get to Hornopiren and walk on ferry to Caleta Gonzalo then Chaiten
yes you canm but as there is a direct bus Puerto Montt Hornopiren (Kemel bus.daily http://www.recorreaysen.cl/ruta-bimodal/) why not go direct to Chaiten and spend there some days around the trails of Parque Pumalin

where I may be able to book a bus to Coyhaique.

yes, there is a direct bus to Coyhaique, but you will miss Puyuhuapi-Queulat, other scenic area, better take the bus Chaiten Coyhaique ( 2 per week, http://www.busesbecker.com/ ) and only take the leg to Puyuhuapi, and later complete the leg Puyuhuapi-Coyhaique
Then hop skip and jump to Cochrane
bad thing as you miss Marble Chapels or Exploradores Valley at Rio Tranquilo (three bus lines daily)
, Caleta Tortel, (4 buses per week)Villa O'higgins (2 buses per week)
(http://www.provinciadelosglaciares.cl/index.php/en/)

yes, there are buses, only from Tortel must backtrack to Cochrane for the bus to Villa Ohiggins
, hoping to get a boat on the 19th or 21st give
or take a sailing
sorry, only the boat

. My concern is the season,
you are moving in a low season

Thanks for breaking down your answer fernando46.

My young son and I will be looking to go a semi similar route- Puerto Montt to Puerto Guadal. My question was, how realistic/long would it be to take a ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Aisen, then bus to Coyhaique then bus to Puerto Guadal? We're not looking to detour much or take a long time on the way down, but perhaps on the return trip north to Puerto Montt stay more on land. Is it possible to coordinate schedules to do it in a few days?
Thanks in advance!

Thanks for the tips! Rio Tranquilo seems like a place to stop for sure. Buses to Chaiten from Puerto Montt leave too early as I arrive late night in PM so need to get some shopping done....I thought making it to Hornopiren would break the leg up alternately I may head to Ancud for a day, visit the penguins and take the early bus as it seems I don't have to stress too much about time!

questions
how realistic/long would it be to take a ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Aisen
yes, several combinations of ferries, a direct PM-Chacabuco (this is the port, not Puerto Aysen, very near) www.navimag.cl or a ferry doing stops in colorful fishers towns along channels and fjords, longer but interesting www.navieraaustral.cl , Ruta Cordillera, departs from Quellon , Chiloe
, then bus to Coyhaique
yes, very frequent
then bus to Puerto Guadal?
two alternatives
- a minibus, may be twice a week, direct to Guadal
http://www.destino-noturistico.com/donde_info2_eng.html - or some of the daily buses Coyhaique-Cochrane, get off in El Maiten crossroad , 10 km before P. Guadal and there hitchhike or ask to other passengers descending there to take you to Guadal (vans are waiting for them) , or your hosteller can wait for you there, the people is cooperative
In Guadal someone can help you for some musts at your return as Tranquilo and Marble Caves

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