Chile Route 7

Carretera Austral

"The road Pinochet built to claim Patagonia. Still unfinished. Ends at a glacier."

1,270 km
Total Distance
789 mi
Miles
<50%
Paved
3
Mandatory Ferries
⚓ Ferry Schedule Warning
Three mandatory ferry crossings create unpredictable delays. Schedules vary seasonally, and wait times can extend hours during peak season. Any speed record attempt must account for ferry schedules as a major limiting factor. The road literally ends at water.
Theoretical Completion Times (No Records Documented)
0h 10h 20h 30h 40h TIME (HOURS / DAYS) CAR/4x4 MOTORCYCLE CYCLING ~30h THEORETICAL ~28h THEORETICAL ~5 DAYS THEORETICAL NO SPEED RECORDS DOCUMENTED Theoretical estimate No verified record
🚗
Car / 4x4 OPEN CG Original
No documented speed record
Theoretical Limit
~30 hours
Typical Tourist Pace
5-7 days | Fast driving: 29-35 hours (excluding ferry waits)
🏍
Motorcycle OPEN CG Original
No documented speed record
Theoretical Limit
~28 hours
🚲
Cycling OPEN CG Original
No documented speed record
Theoretical Limit
~5 days
🌊
Mandatory Ferries
3 ferry crossings with variable schedules. Wait times can exceed several hours.
🛣
Unpaved Sections
Over 50% remains gravel/ripio. Conditions vary dramatically with weather.
🌧
Patagonian Weather
Rain, wind, and rapidly changing conditions year-round.
⛰
Remote Terrain
Limited fuel stations and services. Self-sufficiency required.
Verification Requirement
Photo documentation required at the "Fin del Camino" monument in Villa O'Higgins, marking the southern terminus where the road ends at the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The route begins at Puerto Montt in the north.