CASA LUDWIG
Puyuhuapi - Patagonia - Chile
Bed & Breakfast
HOW TO GET THERE
How to Reach Puyuhuapi from Puerto Montt and from Coyhaique
Update January 2011 – Chaiten Volcano
As you might know, volcano Chaitén, located 200 km from Puyuhuapi, erupted in May 2008. The volcano still shows some activity and nobody knows for how long that will be so. The town of Chaitén is back to normal and you should have no problems finding places to stay and places to eat.
The ferries are operating normally, all roads are open, as well as the air strip.
Buses: During tourist season, approximately December to March, there are buses going to and from Chaitén to our area. These are one-man businesses and the schedule varies greatly. Have a look at our bus list, try calling the companies, or ask us.
There is more than one route to Puyuhuapi, and a good alternative is to combine them by taking one to arrive and another when you leave.
To get to Puyuhuapi, you have three options:
- traveling by land through Argentina
- taking a ferry and then continuing by land
- taking a flight to Balmaceda (Coyhaique) and continuing by land
The Camino Longitudinal Austral, better known as the "Carretera" (or Highway), is a gravel road. It is possible to drive it by car, although some recommend a truck or sport utility vehicle. From Puerto Montt, you can take the interior route via Argentina: Puyehue Pass to Bariloche to Esquel to Trevelin to Futaleufú Pass, and continue to the south. In this case, we suggest that you take one of the ferries on your return trip so you don't miss the beauty of the Chilean fjords. Of course you may choose to come by sea and leave by land. For those arriving in their own boats, Puyuhuapi Marina offers slips or you can anchor in our sheltered waters.
You may fly to Coyhaique (airport in Balmaceda) and continue from there by bus or rental car. As a matter of fact, Puyuhuapi has a very nice airstrip, if you happen to have your own plane!
Several bus lines run along the Carretera Austral, stopping at various small towns.
For more information, ferries, bus tickets, and accommodations, ask our friend Nicholas Lapenna in Chaitén. He returned to the town in spite of the volcano's eruption. He operates the tourist agency "Chaitur," speaks English, and is very helpful.
Nicholas Lapenna www.chaitur.com
O'Higgins 67
Cell phones: 09-74685608 OR 09-98653241
nchaitur@hotmail.com
Airlines
LAN
www.lan.com
Tickets & Reservations 600 526 2000
Sky Airline
www.skyairline.cl
reservas@skyairline.cl
The ferries leave a lot to be desired when it comes to comfort and punctuality, but even this can be an adventure not to be missed. Nevertheless, they operate along the following routes.
- Castro - Chaitén (4-5 hours,
January-February only)
- Hornopirén - Caleta Gonzalo (5-6 hours, January-February only)
- Quellón
- Chaitén (5-6 hours)
- Puerto Montt - Chaitén (7-12 hours, depending upon the ship)
- Puerto Montt - Puerto Chacabuco (approx. 24 hours)
Reservations are recommended if you are traveling in the summer season (February) and plan to board your vehicle.
From Puerto Montt, Hornopirén, Castro, or Quellón, to Chaitén, Raúl Marín Balmaceda or Puerto Cisnes:
NAVIERA AUSTRAL with the ferries "Don Baldo" (no cars) "Alejandrina," "Mailén," and "Pincoya"
Timetable January - February 2011
PTO MONTT – CHAITEN: “Pincoya”: Tue-Thu-Fri; “Don Baldo”: Sun-Mon-Sat
CHAITEN – PTO MONTT: “Pincoya”: Mon-Wed-Fri; “Don Baldo”: Sat-Mon
CASTRO – CHAITEN: “Pincoya”: Sun
CHAITEN – CASTRO: “Pincoya”: Sat
QUELLON – CHAITEN: “Don Baldo”: Fri
CHAITEN – QUELLON: Tue
PTO CISNES – QUELLON: “Alejandrina”: Tue-Sat; “Don Baldo”: Thu
QUELLON – PTO CISNES: “Alejandrina”: Wed-Sat; “Don Baldo”: Tue
QUELLON – R.M.B.: “Alejandrina”: Sat; “Don Baldo”: Tue
R.M.B – QUELLON: “Alejandrina”: Tue; “Don Baldo”: Fri
HORNOPIRÉN – C. GONZALO: “Mailén”: Sun-Mon-Tue
C. GONZALO – HORNOPIRÉN: “Mailén”: Sun-Mon-Tue
Puerto Montt: Terminal de Transbordadores, Angelmó 2187, Phone 65-270424
Palena (replaces the agency in Chaitén): Phone 65-741326. Agent: Sandra Millapinda. Most helpful, speaks only Spanish. smillapinda@gmail.com
Quellón: Phone: 65-682207. Agent: Pedro Ojeda
Puerto Cisnes: Phone: 67-346426. Agent: Olivia Gómez (speaks English)
On the routes from Hornopirén and Castro to Chaitén, the summer schedules are usually fixed at the last minute, following the Patagonian motto "those who hurry lose their time." For more information and reservations, contact "Chaitur" (see above) or in Castro, "Turismo Pehuén" (www.turismopehuen.cl).
Bus Lines in Northern Aysén
Unless stated otherwise, buses stop in:
Coyhaique: Lautaro and Magallanes (Bus Terminal)
Puyuhuapi: O'Higgins 39 ("Chile Express"), 325130
Futaleufú: Balmaceda s/n ("Ruta Express") 65-721360
Chaitén: O'Higgins 67 (Chaitur") 09-74685608, 09-98653241
"Terraustral"
La Junta: Telephone: 31440
Puyuhuapi: Otto Uebel s/n ("Carretera Austral") 325119
Coyhaique: 254335
"Altamirano"
La Junta: 314143
Puyuhuapi
Coyhaique: 09-88291421
Futuleufú: Balmaceda s/nm ("Hotel Continental") 65-721543
Chaitén: Puerto
"RoQue" TransporteRoQue@chile.com
09-82545326, 09-78027528, 67-565614, 67-524543
La Junta
Puyuhuapi: Hamburgo 16 (325208)
Coyhaique: Terminal or picks you up
"Daniela" & "Don Oscar" busesyhospedajedaniela@hotmail.com
Coyhaique: Lautaro 104 (across from Bus Terminal) 231701
Puyuhuapi
La Junta
Futuleufú: Balmaceda s/n ("Ruta Express") 65-721360
"Queulat"
Coyhaique: General Parra 337, 242626
Puyuhuapi
La Junta
Chaitén
"Buses Becker"
Coyhaique: 232167
Puyuhuapi
La Junta
Villa Santa Lucía
Futuleufú
"Bronco"
Coyhaique: picks you up, 09-00520907
Puyuhuapi: Otto Uebel s/n ("Carretera Austral") 325119
La Junta
Lago Verde
"Entre Verdes"
La Junta
Puyuhuapi
Puerto Cisnes: Gabriela Mistral (Elementary School), 09-95103196
"Rio Palena"
Palena: 65-741319
Villa Santa Lucía
Chaitén
Heriberto Klein (ask at Oficina Munipal in La Junta: 314115)
Raúl Marín Balmaceda
La Junta
"Laguna"
Coyhaique: picks you up, 09-93728591
Puyuhuapi
We do our best to keep this information updated. If you have questions, please contact us.
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Map: Puyuhuapi from Puerto Montt
and from Coyhaique