- The first part of Carretera Austral and the trip to Marble Caves
Start your Chilean Patagonia exploration to amazing Marble Caves at Balmaceda airport in southern Patagonia. Get ready to start the ride on Carretera Austral, the famous Patagonia route in Chile.
Travel for about 110 miles, crossing your first scenic route of the day. After discovering lakes, stunning rock formations, and Cerro Castillo viewpoint on the “Devil’s Hill” (Cuesta del Diablo), reach Cerro Castillo Village. By then, mountains are all you’ll see around.
The paved road ends here, but the trip is about to begin! We’ll drive you on a 30-minute ride to Puerto Río Tranquilo from where the Marble Caves trip departs. Marble Caves are beautiful marble shapes carved by the Ocean and the wind.
The 2 main marble islands are called “capillas” (chapels) and “catedral” (cathedrals), and only rowing boats can slide through the thin, white, and blue columns. The incredible blue of the pristine waters reflects on its 15,000-year-old walls.
Upon returning, enjoy lunch before heading to your night accommodation in Valle Exploradores.