Lago General Carrera on Chile’s Carretera Austral, by Hortense Soulier

Located on the Carretera Austral, a 1,1000km stretch of breathtaking and ever changing scenery in Chile, Lago General Carrera and its northern and western sides are considered to be among the most attractive in these beautiful lands. Straddling the border with Argentina, this lake is the second largest in South America after Lake Titicaca, and believed to be the deepest in the world, reaching 590m at its deepest point. This gorgeous azure blue lake is surrounded by Alpine landscapes on the Chilean side and dry pampa on the Argentinean side providing for diverse breathtaking vistas.

The main towns on the Chilean side of the lake are Puerto Ibañez on the northern shore and Chile Chico on the southern shore, both accessible with a ferry, El Pilchero. There are overland routes to Chile Chico but they are much more time consuming, passing either through Argentina or along the Carretera Austral.

At the southwestern tip of Lago General Carrera lies the quaint town of El Maiten, from where you can reach Chile Chico, 10km away. Chile Chico is a small and quiet town dating from 1909, founded by settlers who crossed the Argentinean border to establish themselves on the southern shores of the lake. This land is particularly fertile and enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year, making it a perfect spot for fruit cultivation. Chile Chico is now at the center of this fruit growing region, and even holds an annual festival at the end of January.

Chile Chico boasts some interesting sites that are worth a visit during your stay on Lago Carrera. Nearby lies the beautiful Lago Jeinimeni National Reserve, covering 160,000ha and including two lakes, Lago Jeinimeni and Lago Verde. Apart from the spectacular wildlife, cliffs, waterfalls and glaciers, the park boasts a few noteworthy sights. Among these are the Piedra Enclavada, a gigantic cylindrical stone which owes its shapes to erosion from the wind; the Laguna de los Flamencos, a small lake where large numbers of flamingoes can be seen; and the Cueva de los Manos, a cave full of Tehuelche paintings, the most famous of which are the manos azules (blue hands).

This guide to visiting the Lago General Carrera region was written by an Chile travel expert at Chile For Less available to help you custom design your exciting Chile tours.