Due to the recent landslide at Santa Lucia (two days ago - reported worldwide), the road is closed at Santa Lucia to the northern end of Ruta 7. This is around 50 miles south of Chaiten. Locals say it could be closed for weeks, but unsurprisingly no-one really seems to know for sure quite how long.
The road from Santa Lucia to Argentina is probably also closed, too.
We heard about this yesterday, when we had almost reached Chaiten, coming from the north.
The closure can be by-passed by getting a ferry from Chaiten to Quellon (on the adjacent isle of Chiloe) and then another ferry from Quellon to Puerto Cisnes which is a little to the south of Santa Lucia. However, these ferries are around twice a week and, as you may expect, are now getting very full. Or, as we've decided to do, get the ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales. Or maybe just use Ruta 40 in Argentina and go across to Ruta 7 south of Santa Lucia.
To anyone who may be in this part of the world - we're in a black XRV750 Africa Twin with Ural sidecar, so maybe see you on the road.
Regards, Mark

I really appreciate this information since I'm heading there following week. Thank you.
Further information will be welcome.

Hi
I'm going to ride through the Patagonia in a few weeks too. I have found local newspaper site it seems to be the most up to date right now
http://www.soychile.cl/puerto-montt/

We found out the same too, they wouldn't sell us ferry tickets on Monday because of the closure so we went up and over to ruta 40, then decided to head right to Ushuaia via ruta 3 (windy!) And will return up the Austral, spend 4-5 days, the go as far north as we can go (Fufulatu?) And back onto 40north. See ya on the road!

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Anyone figure out if there is a dirt road around?

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Hi folks,
First of all, happy new year!
I did the road from Chaiten to Santa Lucia 5 days ago and the road was closed 15 km before Santa Lucia so, at least at that moment, no possibility of turning to Fufulatu...

Thanks you for the update

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Alaska 2014: Hotel Budget ZeroXmas in Death Valley, New Year in Urique

There is a free ferry to get round the road closure. Heading north from Raul Marine ,west of Junta, to Chalten... takes about 7 hours. Think you need to book. I have.

I rode from Coyhaique to Futa on Jan 1, no problem.


They let you go on Rta 7 Carretera Austral right to the entrance of Sta Lucia, from there they have made a short bypass to connect to the road to Futa.


There is no official bypass to get to the Carretera Austral road north to Chaiten.


Though probably a moto could get through this is out of the question. the area is still a disaster/recovery area crawling with army and police and any trespassing would be dealt with quite severely I am sure.


The carabinero at the roadblock I talked to was very professional and friendly (as has been my experience in almost every case), gave me all the info about the Futa bypass and a very stern warning not to enter Sta Lucia on foot or vehicle.

I am in Hornopire and as of today there is still no reliable information. I met a pilot yesterday on BMW F800 who flies there every day...he says still closed. Today i met a german couple who had gotten in contact with a inhabitant of St. Lucia and they say it is open. Today at hornopiren harbour they still accepted reservations for the ferry bypass. I will actually try by land and see if i can pass....need to wait 3 days before i can board for the boat trip. Can just as well try my luck.

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You can find my blog at: www.shift.at
My current position is here: Realtime Position

According to the hostel owner at Chaiten Ruta 7 is still blocked at St. Lucia. As of today ferry is still the only option to get south. Two days waiting time for the ferry here in Chaiten. Make sure you get a reservation at the harbour office in Hornopiren when you buy your ticket.

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You can find my blog at: www.shift.at
My current position is here: Realtime Position

We are headed down in two weeks are there any updates?

Passed through 4 days ago. Road is still blocked and best info I heard suggested it will be for many more weeks. Free ferry running daily from Chaiten at 11pm needs to be booked. Currently if you have a vehicle there is a two to three day delay ( but just get your ticket and then if you take your motorcycle down to the loading ramp they will squeeze you on earlier - I think this also works with cars but maybe with less certainty). Ferry is good with plenty of room to sleep on sofas

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Martin

finally back on the road again


http://awayonmybike.blogspot.com/

Hello Martin! (Jf and Anna on the blue vstrom)

We took the ferry 4 days ago and heres how it went!


North to South:

When you arrive at Hornopiren, when you buy your tickets, you have to tell them you also need tickets from Chaiten to Puerto Marin Raul Balmaceda (free paid by Chilean govt). This is very important because there is no ticket office(we are told) in Chaiten(or it closes early)

They will give both sets of tickets there. HOWEVER! The ferry around the slide is overbooked so the tickets they will give you for Chaiten will be for a few days later(ours were for the 24th and today is 20th) Basically the ferry is overbooked but you can show up and they will try to fit you in on the next boat. We showed up at the last minute on our motorcycle and they crammed us in anyway.

Be prepared for a long day: we arrived in Hornopiren at 3pm, got on the last boat out. Hornopiren to Leptepu took 4hours. We then drove a short 10km of dusty roads to Rampa Fiordo Largo for another ferry. This ~30min ferry is free and you do not need tickets for it. This ferry brought us to Caleta Gonzalo. From Caleta Gonzalo we drove 56km (30 dirt, 26paved) to Chaiten. The last Ferry in Chaiten leaves at 11pm and takes 8 hours.

Then when you land in Puerto Marin Raul Balmaceda, you will drive 2km before hitting yet another ferry to cross the river. It's a very small ferry so since the big ferry unloads, we had to wait over an hour to get thru that Rio Palena.

So not a super pleasant experience but the total cost for a bike with two passengers was 14,000 pesos.


ALSO: be careful and secure your belongings on overnight ferries. Someone STOLE my girlfriend's boots while we were sleeping.


If I could do it again, I would simply skip this part of the carretera austral, cross into Argentina at Bariloche, then back in at Futaleufu.

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Alaska 2014: Hotel Budget ZeroXmas in Death Valley, New Year in Urique

Hello! New to this forum. Traveling from Puerto Montt on bike with my son. Any info on the road closing at St.Lucia? Last post on this site about this topic was 3 weeks ago.