Chile: The Carretera Austral

This is the first guidebook focussed entirely on the magnificent and historic road uniting northern and southern Patagonia. The few hardy travellers that embark on this journey struggle to find even basic information about the region. The book provides visitors to the often-visited Bariloche and Chilean Lake District with a spectacular alternative means to reach the southern extremes of Patagonia. The road passes through world-class national parks. It stretches from the high Andes to the remote Pacific coast, fed by five great rivers, countless fjords and the largest ice fields outside of Antarctica and Greenland. Trekking options abound, including to and from neighbouring Argentina through pristine wilderness. The region is home to a sub-tropical rainforest, secluded villages without vehicles, picturesque lakes, dramatic and often active volcanoes, and sufficient activities to satisfy even the most adventurous visitors. In addition to practical advice, the book explores the mythical history of a region cut-off from the outside world, and the social and economic impact of the relatively recent connectivity to both mainland Chile and Argentina. Travelling in one of the last unknown regions of South America is challenging, and this book facilitates such travel for those wishing to escape the "gringo trail".