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All prices converted at about CLP 1,107 per euro, late September 2026.
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Cars for the Carretera Austral come from two hubs, and they're different fleets, not the same lot with a different price tag.
Puerto Montt, the road's northern start, has by far the deeper inventory — everything from compact economy cars (Nissan March, Hyundai Grand i10) up through crossovers and mid-size SUVs (Hyundai Creta, Nissan Kicks, Toyota Corolla Cross). Prices start around CLP 20,000/day (≈€18) for the smallest economy class.
Balmaceda (Coyhaique's airport, the southern-loop hub) has a thinner but still real lineup — Peugeot 208 and Hyundai i20 at the economy end, up through Mazda CX-5, Toyota Corolla Cross and the Suzuki Jimny 4-door, a proper small 4x4 that's popular here for the rougher side roads. Prices start around CLP 560,000/week (≈€506), several times Puerto Montt's rate, climbing past US$80/day (≈€72) for the larger 4x4 and pickup classes.
Campervans are a third, separate booking — and Puerto Montt is effectively the only one of the two hubs where they show up in the standard search, at around CLP 483,000/week (≈€436) for a basic model with a bed and kitchenette. They're not offered at Balmaceda the same way, so a camper trip effectively has to start — and, per the drop-fee point below, ideally end — at Puerto Montt.
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Supply on this route is thin. A specific model or class that isn't showing at one hub is worth checking at the other, and worth re-checking with your pickup date shifted by even a day or two. Compare both locations before you commit, not just the one your flight happens to land at.
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A different way to do it: motorcycles from Coyhaique
The Carretera Austral is also a recognised adventure-motorcycling route, and the actual rental base for it is Coyhaique, not Puerto Montt — operators there rent BMW GS, Triumph Tiger and Kawasaki/Yamaha adventure bikes built for gravel, generally with unlimited mileage and third-party insurance included. Daily rates run roughly US$140–260 (≈€125–235) depending on the bike.
Gravel driving pushes consumption above a vehicle's rated tarmac figure, and it varies enough by class that a single blended estimate hides the real spread. These are typical class-level estimates, not model-specific figures — treat them as a planning range:
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Fuel also runs pricier the further south you go, so add a margin past Coyhaique on top of these.
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Driving the whole road from Puerto Montt takes three ferries: about €41–73 in total for a car and driver, depending on the season. The ferries page has the detail.