From San Fabián to Punta Arenas — Chile & Argentina

A 4-week Patagonia road trip through volcanoes, lakes, forests, glaciers and some of the wildest landscapes in South America.

Imagine starting your journey in the Andes of central Chile, crossing into Argentina, driving through the legendary landscapes of Patagonia, returning to Chile to follow the Carretera Austral, crossing back into Argentina to discover El Chaltén and Perito Moreno, and finally returning to Chile for the grand finale: Torres del Paine.

This is not just a road trip.

This is Patagonia by campervan.

And at Vanlife Chile, we believe there is one very important thing you should know before you start planning:

Four weeks is possible.

Five weeks is better.

Patagonia is enormous. The weather can change quickly, roads can take longer than expected, ferry crossings can affect your schedule and sometimes you simply discover a place where you want to stay another day.

A campervan gives you the freedom to do exactly that.

Approximately 4,000–4,500 km

The exact distance depends on the border crossings, excursions, ferry routes and detours you choose.

Allow at least 4 weeks. Ideally, take 5.

WEEK 1

From the Andes to Argentine Patagonia

Day 1 — San Fabián de Alico

Your adventure starts at Vanlife Chile, in San Fabián de Alico.

Located in the Andes of the Ñuble Region, San Fabián is a very different place to begin a Patagonia road trip than Santiago or one of the big tourist cities.

Here you can take your time.

Get familiar with your campervan, organize your equipment, buy any last supplies and start your journey surrounded by mountains.

Don't rush the first day.

The road will still be there tomorrow.

Overnight: San Fabián

Day 2 — San Fabián → Conguillío

Head south towards Conguillío National Park.

The landscape changes dramatically as you travel through southern Chile: volcanoes, lakes, ancient forests and Araucaria trees.

Conguillío is one of the most beautiful introductions to the wild landscapes that await you further south.

Highlight: Llaima Volcano and ancient Araucaria forests.

Overnight: Conguillío

Day 3 — Conguillío National Park

Take a full day to explore.

Walk through the ancient forests, discover the volcanic landscape and enjoy the lakes and viewpoints.

This is also your first opportunity to experience the real advantage of travelling by campervan:

you don't have to hurry.

Day 4 — Conguillío → Pucón

Continue to Pucón, on the shores of Lake Villarrica.

Volcanoes, lakes, rivers and hot springs make this one of Chile's classic outdoor destinations.

If you have time, spend two nights here.

If the weather isn't cooperating, keep moving.

That's the beauty of a flexible Patagonia itinerary.

Day 5 — Pucón

Enjoy a free day.

Depending on the season and weather, you can hike, visit hot springs, explore Lake Villarrica or simply relax.

If you are travelling with children, Pucón is also an excellent place to slow down before crossing into Argentina.

Day 6 — Pucón → San Martín de los Andes

Today you cross the Andes into Argentina.

The destination is San Martín de los Andes, one of the most beautiful towns in Argentine Patagonia.

The crossing itself is part of the adventure.

Forests, mountain passes and enormous lakes accompany you along the way.

Important: make sure your campervan rental, insurance and border documentation allow the international route you are planning.

Day 7 — San Martín de los Andes & Ruta de los Siete Lagos

Take the scenic Seven Lakes Route.

This is one of those roads where the journey is the destination.

Stop often.

Take photographs.

Have lunch beside a lake.

And don't worry about how many kilometres you have left.

Overnight: San Martín de los Andes

WEEK 2

Bariloche → El Bolsón → Futaleufú → Pumalín

Day 8 — San Martín de los Andes → Bariloche

Continue south to Bariloche.

Lake Nahuel Huapi, mountains and forests create one of the most iconic landscapes in Argentine Patagonia.

Spend at least one night here.

Two is even better.

Day 9 — Bariloche

Explore the area around the lake.

Hike, drive the viewpoints, enjoy the town or simply find a beautiful place to spend the day.

This is another place where having an extra week in your itinerary makes a huge difference.

Day 10 — Bariloche → El Bolsón

Continue south to El Bolsón.

Smaller, greener and more relaxed than Bariloche, El Bolsón is surrounded by mountains, forests and rivers.

It's an ideal place to slow down.

Overnight: El Bolsón

Day 11 — El Bolsón → Futaleufú

Cross back into Chile.

Your destination is Futaleufú.

This is where the road trip starts feeling increasingly remote.

The Futaleufú River, surrounded by mountains and forests, is one of the great natural highlights of northern Patagonia.

Overnight: Futaleufú

Day 12 — Futaleufú

Don't rush.

Spend a full day here.

Hike, explore the river, enjoy the mountains or simply relax beside the campervan.

Futaleufú is exactly the kind of place where a five-week itinerary starts to make sense.

Day 13 — Futaleufú → Pumalín

Return to the Carretera Austral and continue towards Pumalín National Park.

The Carretera Austral stretches for more than 1,200 km and includes forests, glaciers, rivers, fjords, gravel sections and ferry crossings.

This is no longer simply a road trip.

You are entering the wild heart of Patagonia.

Day 14 — Pumalín National Park

Spend the day exploring.

Ancient temperate rainforest, waterfalls, mountains and fjords make Pumalín one of the great highlights of the northern Carretera Austral.

Choose a hike and enjoy it without looking at the clock.

WEEK 3

The Carretera Austral

Day 15 — Pumalín → Queulat

Continue south.

The road becomes increasingly spectacular, with forests and mountains surrounding the route.

Expect gravel sections and changing road conditions.

This is one of the reasons we recommend allowing extra time.

Overnight: Queulat / Puyuhuapi

Day 16 — Queulat National Park

Today you meet one of the icons of the Carretera Austral:

The Hanging Glacier

The Ventisquero Colgante hangs dramatically above a turquoise lagoon, with waterfalls cascading down from the glacier. Chile Travel describes it as one of the great natural landmarks of the Carretera Austral.

Take your time here.

And bring waterproof clothing.

This is Patagonia.

Day 17 — Queulat → Coyhaique

Continue towards Coyhaique.

This is an important resupply stop.

Fill the tank.

Buy groceries.

Check the campervan.

Do laundry.

Charge your electronics.

And enjoy a proper meal.

The next section takes you deeper into Patagonia.

Day 18 — Coyhaique → Cerro Castillo

Continue south towards Villa Cerro Castillo.

The enormous Cerro Castillo massif dominates the landscape.

The area is one of the great trekking destinations of the Carretera Austral, with trails through lenga and ñirre forests towards the lagoon and glacier.

Overnight: Cerro Castillo

Day 19 — Cerro Castillo → Marble Caves

Continue towards Lake General Carrera.

The landscape becomes extraordinary.

Turquoise water.

Huge mountains.

Glaciers.

And eventually the famous Marble Caves — Capillas de Mármol.

If conditions allow, take a boat or kayak excursion to experience the caves from the water.

Overnight: Puerto Río Tranquilo

Day 20 — Marble Caves → Exploradores Glacier

Continue towards the Exploradores Valley.

This is another landscape of enormous proportions, dominated by mountains, ice and the Northern Patagonian Ice Field.

Depending on weather and available excursions, you can explore the glacier area or simply enjoy the spectacular valley.

Keep this day flexible.

Day 21 — Exploradores → Parque Patagonia

Continue towards Parque Nacional Patagonia.

The landscape changes again.

The dense forests give way to wide valleys, mountains and Patagonian steppe.

This is one of the places where you may encounter guanacos, condors and other wildlife.

Slow down.

You are now very far from the cities.

WEEK 4

Chile Chico → El Chaltén → Perito Moreno → Torres del Paine

Day 22 — Parque Patagonia

Spend another day exploring.

If the weather is perfect, hike.

If it rains or the wind is strong, wait.

One of the greatest advantages of a campervan is that you can adapt your itinerary.

Day 23 — Parque Patagonia → Chile Chico

Continue towards Chile Chico, on the southern shore of Lake General Carrera.

The landscape becomes drier and more open as you move towards the Patagonian steppe.

Overnight: Chile Chico

Day 24 — Chile Chico → El Chaltén

Cross into Argentina again and continue towards El Chaltén.

And then the landscape changes once more.

The silhouette of Fitz Roy appears.

You have arrived in one of the great trekking destinations of Patagonia.

Overnight: El Chaltén

Day 25 — El Chaltén

Take a full day.

Or two.

Or three.

If you enjoy hiking, this is one of the places where we strongly recommend using your extra week.

Patagonia rewards patience.

Day 26 — El Chaltén → Perito Moreno Glacier

Continue towards El Calafate and the spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier.

Walk the viewpoints, watch the ice and, if you wish, take a boat excursion.

This is one of the unforgettable moments of the entire journey.

Day 27 — Argentina → Torres del Paine

Cross back into Chile.

Your destination:

Torres del Paine.

After weeks of travelling through Patagonia, arriving at the Paine Massif feels like the perfect finale.

The park combines granite towers, turquoise lakes, forests, steppe and glaciers, and is home to some of Patagonia's most famous landscapes.

Day 28 — Torres del Paine

Your final full day.

Depending on your interests and the weather, you can explore the park by campervan, visit Lago Pehoé, Grey Glacier or take one of the park's famous hikes.

If you want to do Base Torres, remember that this is a demanding full-day hike.

And check the weather before committing to it.

The official tourism information specifically recommends checking weather conditions because storms can affect movement within the park.

Day 29 — Torres del Paine → Punta Arenas

Continue towards Punta Arenas.

And suddenly, after thousands of kilometres, two countries and an incredible succession of landscapes...

Your Patagonia adventure comes to an end.

The distance

This is not a short road trip.

Depending on the exact border crossings, ferry routes, excursions and detours, we recommend planning for approximately:

4,000–4,500 km

Don't use this number as a race target.

In Patagonia, time matters more than distance.

A 150 km section can take much longer than expected because of gravel, weather, road conditions, ferries or simply because you keep stopping to take photographs.

Suggested distance between the main stops

Important

These are approximate planning distances, not guaranteed road distances.

The route through Argentina can vary significantly depending on the border crossing and road chosen. The same applies to the approaches to Torres del Paine.

For the website, we would label the map:

4 weeks or 5 weeks?

Our honest recommendation:

Take 5 weeks.

Four weeks gives you an incredible adventure.

Five weeks gives you freedom.

That extra week can become:

+1 day Pucón

+1 day Bariloche

+1 day Futaleufú

+1 day Cerro Castillo / Lake General Carrera

+1–2 days El Chaltén

+1–2 days Torres del Paine

Or simply a few days you can use when Patagonia decides that your original plan needs to change.

Because it will.

And that's part of the experience.

Why travel Patagonia by campervan?

Because Patagonia isn't a place you should experience through a window.

You should be able to stop.

Stay.

Explore.

Cook.

Hike.

Wait for the clouds to disappear.

Wake up beside a lake.

And change your plans when you discover somewhere you don't want to leave.

A campervan gives you that freedom.

Start your journey in San Fabián

Instead of picking up your campervan in a busy city, your adventure starts with us in San Fabián de Alico.

You can spend some time here, get comfortable with the campervan and start your journey directly from the Andes.

At Vanlife Chile, we've been helping travellers explore Chile by campervan since 2017.

We don't want you simply to rent a vehicle.

We want you to have a great trip.

That's why we're happy to talk with you about your route, the season, the roads and the places you want to discover before you leave.

Patagonia is waiting.

One campervan.

Two countries.

Thousands of kilometres.

And one unforgettable adventure.

Start planning your Patagonia road trip with Vanlife Chile.

Your road. Your pace. Your Patagonia.