Aysén · Ruta 7
Carretera Austral Sur, one-way
ChileSelf-guided by e-Bike · one-way
- Duration
- 10–16 daysdepending on your pace
- Distance
- 553 kmfrom Balmaceda to Villa O'Higgins, in the direction you choose
- Price
- fromCLP $650,000+ VAT · tailored to your days and your group
- Effort
- Higheven with the motor
We'll confirm availability by WhatsApp or email.
In both directions.
Same road, two different trips. Heading south, you fly into Balmaceda and finish where the Carretera Austral ends; if you like, you carry on to El Chaltén via the crossing. Heading north, you start at our base, at the end of the road, and ride as far as your days allow.
At a glance
Carretera Austral Sur, one-way is a self-guided e-Bike tour along the 553 km from Balmaceda to Villa O'Higgins, where the road ends, or the other way round. You pick up the e-Bike at one end and leave it at the other, or at any of the four points in the network. We plan it at your pace, with stages of 70 km at most, and you sleep in family homes along the road, SURí micro-refuges, hostels and campsites. It runs from November to April.
Updated October 2026 · ridingSURí, Villa O'Higgins
- Heading south
- You start in Balmaceda, next to Aysén's airport
- Heading north
- You start in Villa O'Higgins, our base
- Format
- Self-guided: we plan the route, coordinate the people who host you and we're on the phone
- You sleep
- In SURí micro-refuges, farmhouses, hostels and campsites
- The e-Bike
- You pick it up in Villa O'Higgins, Balmaceda or Cerro Castillo. You leave it in Villa O'Higgins, Cochrane, Cerro Castillo or Balmaceda; at the border marker, if you cross
- Season
- November to April. You choose the dates
- Age
- From 16, with their parents
- And after that?
- From Villa O'Higgins, the crossing to El Chaltén: two lakes, a forest and a border. See the crossing →
The trip
Three stretches, from the steppe to the end of the road.
This is how we did it on a real trip, in September 2026, heading south. We adjust yours to your pace and your direction: more days, fewer km or a rest day wherever you like.
Stretch 1From the steppe to Lago General CarreraBalmaceda → Puerto Río Tranquilo 188 km · +2,670 m
You leave the steppe and drop down the Cuesta del Diablo into the Ibáñez valley. The Camino de las Ardillas puts you right in front of Cerro Castillo; then come the Portezuelo del Jofre and Bahía Murta. You reach Puerto Río Tranquilo by boat, through the Marble Caves, with the bikes on board.
- E-Bike
- Boat to Río Tranquilo
You sleep: Farmhouses, a campsite and the SURí micro-refuges in Bahía Murta.
From cyclist to cyclistIf you land after midday, don't race the light: ride down the Cuesta del Diablo in daylight.
Stretch 2Where the Baker beginsPuerto Río Tranquilo → Cochrane 119 km · +1,690 m
You ride along Lago General Carrera to Lago Bertrand, where the Río Baker begins. You follow it to its confluence with the Nef and reach Cochrane. A day off the bike is a good idea there: Parque Patagonia is right next door.
- E-Bike
You sleep: Puerto Bertrand and the SURí micro-refuges by the Río Cochrane.
From cyclist to cyclistThere are more ups and downs than the map suggests. Save battery for the afternoon.
Stretch 3The most remote stretchCochrane → Villa O'Higgins 272 km · +2,910 m
South of Cochrane, the road gets wilder and the towns fewer. Tortel is explored on foot, along boardwalks. A ferry barge crosses Mitchell Fjord, and then come the last kilometers to Villa O'Higgins, where the Carretera Austral ends.
- E-Bike
- Mitchell Fjord ferry barge
You sleep: A farmhouse on Lago Vargas, a hostel in Tortel, a family in Río Bravo and the SURí micro-refuges in Villa O'Higgins.
From cyclist to cyclistSouth of Cochrane, set off with food, water and a long day ahead. There's almost nowhere to buy anything.
Where you sleep
A cozy place and someone waiting for you.
It's not a hotel trip. You sleep where the people of the road live, and every night you charge the battery right there. We tell you where in your proposal, day by day.
SURí micro-refuges
Small, in a family's backyard: Bahía Murta, Río Cochrane, Villa O'Higgins and other points in the network. LED light and USB charging; shower, bathroom and kitchen in the house.
Charging: in the main house; the refuge doesn't have 220 V.
Farmhouses
Villages and valleys where there's nothing but a house with its door open. You eat whatever's cooked that day.
Charging: in the house
Hostels
In the bigger towns along the road, like Tortel or Puerto Río Tranquilo.
Charging: at the hostel
Campsites
Where there's nothing else, or where the place calls for it. With a bathroom and, sometimes, a barbecue shelter.
Charging: in the campsite's house
Your e-Bike
The same one we ride.
Before you set off we fit it to you, explain the assist and you try it out in the village. You'll get one of our SURí bikes, depending on your size and availability.
- Brands
- Kona, Orbea, Giant and Trek
- Motor
- Bosch or Yamaha
- Sizes
- S, M and L. Tell us everyone's height when you request a date
- Range
- 40 to 70 km per charge, no spare battery
- Charger
- It goes with you: you plug it in every night where you sleep
- Gear
- Helmet, gloves, glasses, pads, repair kit and first-aid kit
Look after it: there's no e-Bike service along the Carretera Austral; the only one is in Coyhaique, and it's basic. Meet our e-Bikes →
The battery
How far the battery goes.
Between 40 and 70 km per charge. It's an estimate: wind, cold, climbs, gravel, weight and how you use the assist all change it. We don't carry spare batteries, so the stages fit within that range and you charge every night where you sleep.
- What one battery gives you: 40 to 70 km
- Km each day
- Over 70 km: by e-Bike it's split in two
Kilometers and elevation gain per day from a real trip we put together in September 2026, on a regular bike, without the rest days. They're a reference: every trip is planned around the group, the weather and the season.
Is it for me?
What the trip asks of you.
The e-Bike helps you on the climbs. The rest is up to you.
High, even with the motor. Several days in a row of 40 to 70 km, with climbs and wind.
- You ride a mountain bike.
- You can ride several days in a row, in wind and rain.
- You're 16 or older; minors with their parents.
- Your size is S, M or L.
Let's talk, cyclist to cyclist.
We know what you want to know before a trip like this: how many km a day, how much total climbing, where you charge the battery and where you can rest. We help you design your itinerary around those numbers, at your pace.
What's your pace?
Pick one and we'll tell you how many days it takes.
Or write to us at hola@suripatagonia.com. We're at the end of the road: if we're slow to reply, it's the signal, not a lack of interest.
How your trip comes together
- You write to usOn WhatsApp, by email or with "Request a date".
- We get to know each otherOn a video call: the trip you're dreaming of, how you ride, how many km a day you like and who you're traveling with.
- We propose your tripA day-by-day itinerary, put together for you.
- We adjust it togetherWe go back and forth as many times as it takes: dates, days, budget, where you sleep and the availability of boats and refuges.
- You confirmWith a deposit. Then you fill in your traveler form and send us your insurance.
- You travelWe send you our good-practice guide. And we'll be waiting for you here.
Every trip is different: we fine-tune it with you, back and forth, until it's the trip you dreamed of.
How payment works and what happens if you cancel is in the FAQ.
What's included
We sort it out before you arrive.
Includes
- The trip designed with you, day by day, and coordination with the people who host you at every stop
- Your e-Bike with charger, helmet, gloves, glasses, pads, repair kit and first-aid kit
- E-Bike drop-off and pickup
- The accommodation and meals listed in your proposal
- Phone support for the whole trip
Not included
Anything not specified in your final proposal.
Quoted on request: accessories, camping gear, experiences, transfers and special logistics.
Self-guided doesn't mean you'll be on your own.
You ride at your own pace, without a guide beside you, with us on the phone. If you want more support on the road, you add it.
Supported
- Your luggage moved between stages, quoted by volume and dates
- Transfers and connections for the trip
Accompanied
- Everything in Supported
- Someone from SURí with you on the road
- For groups with different paces, or for anyone who wants to take it easier
Price
What it costs.
From
CLP $650,000
Plus VAT. It's the starting point: we put the final price together to fit your group.
It depends on you: how many days you want to ride, who's coming, where you like to sleep and whether you want meals included or not. We tailor it to your group and send you the final price in your proposal, with the day-by-day itinerary.
Questions
What people ask us before they come.
Question not here? Message us on WhatsApp: we answer ourselves, from Villa O'Higgins.
Can you ride the Carretera Austral on an e-Bike?
Yes. The Carretera Austral Sur, from Balmaceda to Villa O'Higgins, is 553 km. On an e-Bike we plan it in stages of 70 km at most, because a battery lasts between 40 and 70 km and gets charged every night.
Which direction is better?
Both work. Heading south, you finish where the road ends, and you can go on to El Chaltén. Heading north, you start at our base and leave the bike wherever you finish. We'll talk it through based on your flights and your days.
Where do I pick up and drop off the e-Bike?
You pick it up in Villa O'Higgins, our base, in Balmaceda or in Cerro Castillo. You leave it at any of the four points: Villa O'Higgins, Cochrane, Cerro Castillo or Balmaceda. We collect it afterwards.
How many days do I need?
It depends on your pace. At an easy pace, 35 to 45 km a day, it's about 13 to 16 days of riding; if you do some stretches with vehicle support, it's fewer. Use the selector above to see yours. Add as many days off the bike as you like.
Where do I charge the battery?
Every night, in the main house of wherever you're sleeping. The micro-refuges don't have 220 V; the house does.
Do you carry my luggage?
Heading north, yes. The cost depends on the volume and the dates: we quote it with you.
Do I need cycling experience?
Yes, on a mountain bike. The e-Bike helps you on the climbs, but the gravel, the descents and the wind are still on you.
What if I get hurt on the road?
You activate your travel and health insurance. We give you the information and phone support to contact health services.
What if the bike breaks?
You take it to a workshop for a basic repair. There's no e-Bike service along the Carretera Austral: the only one is in Coyhaique, and it's basic. That's why we ask you to look after it.
Do I need insurance?
Yes: travel and health insurance. You don't need it to request a date; we ask for it after confirming, along with your traveler form.
Is there phone signal on the route?
Not on long stretches. We're at the end of the road: if we're slow to reply, it's not lack of interest, it's Patagonia.
How do I pay and what if I cancel?
To confirm, we ask for a 35% deposit, and the rest 30 days before you set off. If you cancel more than 30 days in advance, we refund everything. Between 30 and 15 days before, we keep the deposit and refund the rest of what you paid. With less than 15 days' notice, there's no refund. If extreme weather or force majeure stops the trip from going ahead, we reschedule subject to availability.
How much does it cost?
From CLP $650,000 + VAT. It depends on how many days you ride, who's coming, where you like to sleep and whether you want meals included. We tailor it to you and send it with the day-by-day itinerary.
Choose your pace.
We'll take care of the rest: the route, the nights, the bike and where you leave it.
Request a dateWhatsApp
La Ruta del SURí
A route designed especially for you, to leave the Austral behind and discover a Patagonia that will surprise you even more.
Discover La Ruta del SURí