Paso Dos Lagunas · Chile → Argentina

Crossing: Villa O'Higgins – El Chaltén

Chile and ArgentinaMixed · e-Bike, on foot and boat

Duration: 1–2 daysdepending on the lake and your pace
Distance: 123 kmfrom Villa O'Higgins to El Chaltén
Price: We put it together for youdepending on your days, your group and what you add
Effort: Medium-high

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Circular map of the crossing from Villa O'Higgins to El Chaltén — Villa O'Higgins → El Chaltén

The wake of the launch on the turquoise water of Lake O'Higgins, with snowy peaks in the background — Heading for Candelario Mancilla, across Lake O'Higgins

An e-Bike leaning on the dock at Candelario Mancilla, over the turquoise water of Lake O'Higgins — The dock at Candelario Mancilla, on the Chilean side

An e-Bike with panniers leaning at the foot of the iron border marker that reads Chile — At the border marker: this is where you leave the e-Bike

Fitz Roy beyond Lago del Desierto, with red lenga beeches — Fitz Roy from Lago del Desierto

What comes next isn't the Carretera Austral anymore.

It's a lake, a family who welcomes you in Candelario Mancilla, an e-Bike climb to the border, a forest on foot and another lake. And at the end, Fitz Roy.

Fitz Roy glowing orange at sunrise, at the end of a gravel road — And at the end, Fitz Roy. You arrive by bike, on the other side of the Andes.

At a glance

The crossing from Villa O'Higgins to El Chaltén is the binational crossing between Chile and Argentina via Paso Dos Lagunas: 123 km, one or two days. You ride an e-Bike on the Chilean side to the border marker, cross the forest on foot and sail Lake O'Higgins and Lago del Desierto, until you're facing Fitz Roy. It runs from November to March, and if the lake won't let the boat out, there's a plan.

Updated October 2026 · ridingSURí, Villa O'Higgins

You start: In Villa O'Higgins, the end of the Carretera Austral
You finish: In El Chaltén, Argentina. Buses leave from there to El Calafate, which has an airport
Season: November to March
Boats: Lake O'Higgins: Mondays and Thursdays in November, December and March; Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays in January and February. Departs at 7:30. Confirmed by Ruedas de la Patagonia
If you have to wait: You wait in Villa O'Higgins and leave on the next sailing. That night is planned into your proposal. That's why we recommend 2 to 3 days of margin before your flight
Stop by stop: The full crossing, at suripatagonia.com ↗
Coming from El Chaltén?: In Villa O'Higgins an e-Bike is waiting for you to keep heading north on the Carretera Austral. Carretera Austral Sur, one-way →

The trip

Two lakes and a border.

On the Chilean side you ride an e-Bike. At the border marker you leave it, cross the forest on foot and Lago del Desierto by boat, to the south end, facing Fitz Roy.

Stretch 1Lake O'HigginsVilla O'Higgins → Candelario Mancilla 7.9 km + boat

View from the handlebars of a SURí e-Bike: the gravel runs along the lake below a rock wall — Along the lakeshore, heading for Puerto Bahamondes

E-Bikes with panniers strapped to the deck of a launch, on Lake O'Higgins — The e-Bikes cross Lake O'Higgins

You ride 7.9 km from Villa O'Higgins to Puerto Bahamondes and board there, with the e-Bikes on deck. About 1 h 45 min on the water with Ruedas de la Patagonia to Candelario Mancilla, where the family who lives there welcomes you.

E-Bike · 7.9 km
Boat · Lake O'Higgins, about 1 h 45 min

You sleep: In Candelario Mancilla: the family's house, a campsite or a micro-refuge. If the times line up, you can also carry on the same day.

Stretch 2To the borderCandelario Mancilla → Paso Dos Lagunas border marker +307 m

You set off early by e-Bike toward the border marker. It climbs 307 m, with a maximum gradient of 19.8%. At the border marker you leave the e-Bike: we collect it.

E-Bike · to the border marker

Stretch 3The forest, the lake and Fitz RoyBorder marker → El Chaltén ~5 km on foot + 37 km

You cross the forest on foot: about 5 km of trail, roots and mud to Lago del Desierto. The boat takes about 45 minutes to the south end, facing Fitz Roy. The last 37 km, from the south end to El Chaltén, we arrange with you.

On foot · ~5 km
Boat · Lago del Desierto, about 45 minutes

From cyclist to cyclistPassport, warm clothes, water and food always stay with you. Your luggage travels separately.

What's included

The full crossing includes

Includes

The e-Bike from Villa O'Higgins to the border marker, fitted to you before you set off
The boat across Lake O'Higgins, with Ruedas de la Patagonia
The night in Candelario Mancilla: the family's home, campsite or micro-refuge
Luggage carried by horse between Candelario Mancilla and Lago del Desierto, with the Levicán family
The boat across Lago del Desierto
Parking in Villa O'Higgins, if you arrive by vehicle
The night of waiting if the boat doesn't sail
Coordination from end to end

Not included

Anything not specified in your final proposal.

Border formalities and your travel and health insurance aren't included either.

How you want to do it

One crossing, two ways.

We do it all with you, or we just set you up with the e-Bike for the Chilean stretch. The crossing is the same wherever you book it.

With everything sorted

The full crossing

The e-Bike to the border marker, both boat crossings, the night in Candelario Mancilla, luggage carried by horse and the trek
And the plan for when the lake says no

Get a quote here

Just the bike

The e-Bike for the Chilean stretch

From Villa O'Higgins to the Paso Dos Lagunas border marker, in either direction
You arrange the boats, lodging and the rest of the way yourself
CLP $100,000 per e-Bike (preliminary price): includes carrying it on the boat and collecting it at the border

Get a quote here

Price

What it costs.

We put it together for you

It depends on how many of you there are, whether you do the full crossing or just the e-Bike for the Chilean stretch, and what you add. Tell us your dates and we'll send you a proposal with the details.

Request a date Ask on WhatsApp

Goes up or down withHow many of you there are, the full crossing or just the e-Bike, and what you add

In your proposalThe fixed price, how payment works and what happens if you cancel

DatesNovember to March, with the Lake O'Higgins boats: Mondays and Thursdays; in January and February, Saturdays too

Questions

What people ask us before crossing.

Question not here? Message us on WhatsApp: we answer ourselves, from Villa O'Higgins.

Is the whole crossing by e-Bike?

No. The e-Bike covers the Chilean side, from Villa O'Higgins to the border marker. Then you walk about 5 km through the forest and cross Lago del Desierto by boat. The last 37 km, from the south end to El Chaltén, we arrange with you.

How long does it take?

One or two days, depending on your pace, the weather and whether you sleep in Candelario Mancilla. The boat across Lake O'Higgins takes about 1 h 45 min, and the one across Lago del Desierto about 45 minutes.

What if the boat doesn't sail?

It happens sometimes: the lake decides. If it can't be crossed, you wait in Villa O'Higgins or Candelario Mancilla and leave on the next sailing. With the full crossing, that night is already accounted for.

Can you do it the other way, from El Chaltén to Villa O'Higgins?

Yes. The e-Bike waits for you at the border marker and, if you like, you carry on north along the Carretera Austral.

Carretera Austral Sur, one-way →

How much does it cost?

What documents do I need?

A passport or ID to leave Chile at Candelario Mancilla and enter Argentina with Gendarmería. And your travel and health insurance.

What do I carry with me?

Passport, warm clothes, water and food always stay with you. The rest of your luggage travels separately.

Do I need cycling experience?

Yes, on a mountain bike. The climb to the border marker has a maximum gradient of 19.8%.

The people who make it possible

It's not the easiest way to El Chaltén.

Ruedas de la PatagoniaOur partner on the lake: two friendly companies, one crossing. They've been sailing Lake O'Higgins since 2016. Together we designed the crossing, and we sell it and run it together.
The family at Candelario MancillaThey welcome you on the other side of the lake, with their home, their campsite and our refuges.
On the Argentine sidePartners who run the boats on Lago del Desierto.

It's probably the one you'll remember most. Tell us your dates and how many of you are going.

We'll plan it with you on WhatsApp

Looking for another way to ride it?

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

A valley with a braided river between forests and snowy peaks — La Ruta del SURí