The verdant island of Chiloe

Photo: Roberto Bahamonde Andrade Fechas

While tourism booms further south, central Patagonia is a wild wonderland only just beginning to be explored as the Carretera Austral (southern highway) forges into the wilderness of dense, untamed rainforest shot through with racing rivers, waterfalls and lakes.

The region is dotted with once inaccessible communities full of character and harbouring the inspiring tales of hardy settlers.

Trails are there for the blazing in this exciting frontier of adventure tourism, with hiking, fishing and mountain biking already taking off.

Other attractions include the verdant island of Chiloé with its strong cultural heritage, and scenic boat trips to see the glacier at Laguna San Rafael or to Puerto Natales to continue your exploration further south.