Coyhaique is a city in Aysén. It is the main and largest city in the Northern Chilean Patagonia with a population of 55,000. A handsome city surrounded by dramatic mountains, it is the jumping-off point for visitors who want to travel through some of Chilean Patagonia's most beautiful and unspoiled landscapes, on the Carretera Austral.
Get in
By plane
The nearest larger airport is Balmaceda 55 km away. JetSmart serves Balmaceda from Conception. LATAM and Sky Airlines serve Balmaceda with at least a few daily flights from Santiago, sometimes stopping en route in Puerto Montt.
- Transportation from the airport to Coyhaique. There are minivans for CLP$5,000. The companies running this service have booths at the baggage claim. The return service can be booked at their offices in Coyhaique.
By bus
Numerous buses run along the Carretera Austral and stop in Coyhaique during high season. From the north, 2 buses/week from Chaitén (CLP$24,000, 12 hr), 1/day from La Junta, 1/day from Puerto Cisnes. Going north to Puerto Montt 3 buses/week at 15:00 (CLP$70,000) or to Chaitén (direct only M and Tu at 07:00 CLP$24,000) otherwise they go to Futaleufu and connection will be the following day to Chaitén for CLP$2,200. Hitchhiking from Villa Santa Lucía is an option skip the stay in Futaleufu.
By ferry
Navimag and Naviera Austral offer ferries to Puerto Chacabuco, the nearest port. Check their websites for current schedules and pricing. From Puerto Chacabuco, regular buses will drop you in Coyhaique.
Get around
Coyhaique is small; walking is the best way of getting around. The Plaza de Armas is pentagon-shaped in honor of the carabineros, but otherwise the city is laid out in a grid-like pattern. The plaza is in the northwest portion of the city; Coyhaique becomes more residential the farther away you get from the Plaza de Armas.
See
Do
- [dead link]Coyhaique National Reserve (From Coyhaique drive north along Ruta 7, turn right after a few kilometers). A small national reserve with several well kept paths for day hikes with varied flora and great views over Coyhaique. CLP$3,000.
- Salvaje Corazon. A small custom provider of unique travel experiences to Chilean and Argentine Patagonia. Go to spectacular locations that are little known and as yet uncrowded.
Buy
Eat
- Casino de Bomberos, Gen Parra 365. Good value Chilean food in the fire station.
- Café Confluencia, 21 de Mayo 544. Lively café with live music. Serves Mexican and other food.
- Restaurant Historico Ricer, Horn 40 (just off the Plaza de Armas), ☏ 56 67 21 6709. Good selection of standard Chilean fare and pizza. CLP$6,000.
Drink
- Tropera Cerveceria (Head west on Simpson, turning down Camino Piedra del Indio across the river, then a few hundred meters up the hill.). Great little microbrewery with burgers and sandwiches. Their beer's for sale in downtown restaurants but only two or three of the flavours at a time - go to the source and you can sample all six or seven.
Sleep
- Hotelera San Rafael, Moraleda 343, ☏ 56 67 233733. Nice clean accommodation close to the centre. Cabins are good value.
- Patagonia House Bed and Breakfast, Quinta 18 de Julio, Coyhaique, XI Región, Chile, ☏ 56 67 52 89 15, ✉[email protected]. Check-in: flexible, check-out: flexible. Bed & Breakfast range.
- Hostal Español, Sargento Aldea 343, ☏ 56 67 242 580. Fine hotel with private bath, Wi-Fi, parking and not too far away from the center.
- Hospedaje El Gaucho, Lautaro 432B (Opposite FullFresh supermarket), ☏ 56 88455291. Family run hostel, have kitchen, Wi-Fi. CLP$8,000.
Connect
Coyhaique's pentagonal Plaza de Armas has a free Wi-Fi hotspot.