Carretera Austral

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Map of the Carretera Austral. Click in the image to view more details and legend.

The Carretera Austral (in English, Southern Highway), is the name given to Chile's Route 7. The highway runs about 1,240 kilometers (770 miles) from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins through rural sections of southern Chile.

Construction was begun on the highway in 1976 by then president Augusto Pinochet in order to connect a number of the remote communities in the Los Lagos and Aysen regions of Chile. The highway opened to traffic in 1988, and by 1996 was completed to Puerto Yungay. The last 100 kilometers (62 miles) to Villa O'Higgins were opened in 2000.

The highway began as almost entirely unpaved, but more sections are becoming paved each year. Traveling the entire route requires the use of three ferries. The first is a 30 minute crossing about 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of the start of the highway in Puerto Montt. The second, about 110 kilometers (68 miles) south of Puerto Montt, is a five hour crossing from Hornopiren to Caleta Gonzalo. The third and last ferry runs takes 50 minutes to go from Puerto Yungay to Rio Bravo, connecting the final 100 kilmeters (62 miles) of the highway.

The ferry from Hornopiren to Caleta Gonzalo only runs during January and February. Thus, for ten months of the year it is not possible to travel straight down the Carretera Austral. Cities south of Hornopiren must be accessed via one of several roads that now cross from Argentina over to the Carretera Austral. In October 5, 2006, was announced the construction of the road between Hornopirén and Chaitén, crossing Pumalín. The project will have a cost of 100 million dollars.

South of the start in Puerto Montt, Coyhaique is the largest city along this highway.