The Coyhaique area has so much to offer.
You just need to veer off from the famous “Carretera Austral” or Ruta 7
I originally planned to be in the Coyhaique area of Chile just for abundance of rivers, and lakes, it has in such a small area. After 10 days in the area I have realized how great the riding is and Iv only just scratched the surface. The ride from Cochrane to here was great, standard Ruta 7, with great views and nice dirt. Only downside it the construction and the amount of traffic can find on it. The famous “Carretera Austral” is awesome, don’t get me wrong, but if you choose to branch off of it you will not be let down. I recently rode form Coyhaique to Villa Maniguales via Puerto Aysen. The route takes you on two different highways with the same but yet completely different scenery. As you leave Coyhaique in route to Puerto Aysen you ride along the number 240. I chose this because it follows the Simpson River, passes by/through the Simpson Reserve. I camped along the route. Not the best camp ever but it made for a great base to ride with just fishing gear up and down the highway fishing the Simpson River. The fishing sucked but the ride and road blew me away. Highway 240 through is a perfectly windy, flat for the most part, tree lined with a rainforest feel to it. The road bends and twist perfectly through a canyon lined with lush vegetation that almost has a south East Asian feel to it. It is smooth, the curves are not to much or to little, they are Goldie Locks, just right. There are a few little little markets along the way, cabanas and a few campgrounds. There is a section that goes over a narrow bridge, turns to dirt and wraps around a small hill, then reconnects later down the valley with another small bridge. I stumbled upon the side road just by chance and found myself on a single lane dirt road with nobody around except the grazing cows and beautiful views. There wasn’t anything super special about the road but where it was, how I was, and where we met just made me stop and listen to the sound of nothing. It gave me peace of mind and a quiet heart.
One of a few bridge crossings. This one is over Rio Maniguales.
As you follow the 240 to Puerto Aysen it hits an intersect with the X-50 which takes you the opposite direction, back east, towards Villa Maniguales. Aysen is about 10-15k from this junction but I never finished riding all the way there. I had no desire to head into a sizable city when I found myself there. I instead chose to take the X-50 back east to Maniguales. This valley is literally a half mile over from the 240 but is completely different. It is still amazing tarmac with wonderful bends and twists. the big difference is that the entire route, the 44k, is lined with beautiful flowers of purples, pinks, and whites, as well as large bushes with bright yellow buds. The smell the entire way was something else. At one point it felt like I was driving through a half tunnel made of flowers. I never stopped to take a single picture because I was in such shock and happiness. I was weaving along the smooth asphalt breathing in the wonderful olor of the flowers and fauna thinking, I am the luckiest guy I know.
They confluence of Rio Maniguales and Rio Simpson. Also the junction of the 240 and X-50
Both of these flowers are currently everywhere. They line roads and cover creek beds and river banks.