Routing suggestions from Puerto Montt ==> Chaiten (Chile)
 

Hi folks:

I'm in Osorno now and about ready to head south. Looks like I've got three options to get to Chalten:

1) Book a ferry directly from Puerto Montt
2) Ride through Chioloe to Quellon and then find a ferry to Chalten from there.
3) Ride overland which includes:

1.a 30 min crossing 28 miles south of the start of the HWY in Puerto Montt
2.a 5 hour crossing from Homopiren 68 miles to Caleta Gonzalo. It runs just during Jan and Feb
3.a 50 min crossing from Puerto Yungay to Rio Bravo conecting to the final 62 miles of the route

Any suggestions on which is more awesome and scenic?
Also, can you tell me where I can find a place to mount a tire in Puerto Montt?
Finally, any detail on the road conditions or where I can find ferry schedules for these routes?

Best!
David

Step 3 that you listed is a long ways south from Chaitén, as it is the last ferry before you get to Villa O'Higgins, so don't include that in your comparison here (and it's free anyways). If you decide to ride overland (and water), find schedule and price info here:

Ferry 1: La Arena-Puelche
www.ayacara.cl/Transbordador%20Estuario%20del%20Reloncavi-Caleta%20La%20Arena-Puelche.htm

Ferry 2: Hornopiren-Caleta Gonzalo
www.ayacara.cl/Barcos%20Hornopiren-Caleta%20Gonzalo.htm

Ferry company:
www.navierapuelche.cl

General info with options:
www.parquepumalin.cl/content/eng/comollegar.htm

Take the three ferry's it's a fantastic route and the best way to start/finish the coast road. It's cheap and you will then ride past an active volcano on the way into Chaiten. I rode north with two Brazilians about four weeks ago.

The three ferry route is the best for scenic vistas. You have the ferries mixed up though. Here is the actual route:
1) La Arena-Puelche
2) Hornopiren - Caleta Porcelana
3) Pillan - Caleta Gonzalo

I think that ferries 2 & 3 are a combined ticket though.

The bad thing about this route is that you will be following a pack of 40 cars as you race from ferry to ferry, in the process eating massive amount of dust. The road condition is terrible, full of potholes when combined with the dust makes for a dangerous situation.

We rode up that way a month ago, got the Ferry from Chaiten to Puerto Mont because we'd had enough of the rough stuff, Started on the carterra at Chilechico and had the best scenery I've ever seen all the way (the ripio is hard going at times though)