The Northern Carretera Austral

From Coyhaique [1], the paved Carretera Austral is briefly contiguous with Ruta 240 to Puerto Aisén and Puerto Chacabuco [2], but after nine kilometers it becomes a gravel road veering northeast to Villa Ortega.

Ruta 240 continues west and, passing through the Túnel Farellón above the Río Simpson, it reaches the Viviana junction after 39 kilometers. Here, a smooth paved highway turns northeast up the Río Mañihuales valley and intersects the Carretera Austral about 13 kilometers southeast of Villa Mañihuales [3].

Heavy rains can and do cut the highway north to Chaitén [4], sometimes for several days.