Lago General Carrera — Puerto Guadal Lakeshore Dispersed Camp

Lago General Carrera is one of those places that stops you in your tracks — the water is an impossible glacial turquoise and the scale of the thing is hard to process. South of Puerto Guadal along the Carretera Austral, the road hugs the southern shoreline and there are several documented pull-outs and flattened areas where overlanders have camped directly on the rocky lakeshore. No facilities, no signage. Just the lake, the wind, and the Andes reflected in the water. Exposure to Patagonian wind can be severe — brace your camp accordingly.

The Carretera Austral is paved in some sections here and gravel in others; access to specific lakeshore spots typically involves a short drive down a rough track off the main road. 4WD helps but isn’t strictly necessary in dry conditions. Best season is November through March. The lake sits at roughly 720 m elevation. Nearest services are in Chile Chico or Cochrane depending on your direction of travel.

Camp on the turquoise shore of Carrera.