Junta-Puyuhuapi-Amengual-Mañihuales-Coyhaique


After a bit more than 900km in total, I finally reached Coyhaique on Silvestre Eve. Tired but happy.

After I have done the first part of my journey more or less by myself, I was happy to meet some other cyclists in Junta. Sonia, Carlos und Diego). However, we did not really drive together because everybody has its own speed at cycling and some are sometimes a bit slower till they have all their stuff together in the morning, like me :-).

Junta – Ventisquero Colgante
On Monday, we were more or less lucky with the weather and reached Puyuhuapi and later the campsite near the Ventisquero (glaciar) Colgante – a big hanging glaciar – in dry conditions. However, as soon as we were there, it started to rain again and couldn’t really see the glaciar therefor. However, already the noises from the falling down and crashing ice was pretty impressive. And yes, in case you need Internet access, you can get that for free at the community center in Puyuhuapi ;-).

Ventisquero Colgante – Villa Amengual
At the next morning, the rain stopped shortly and we got a glimps of the glaciar. However, it started again to rain and we had to force ourself a bit that we at least started to cycle towards a nearby lodge (around 12km). When we arrived there, the rain had stopped and we therefore decided to move on.
The area we were driving through at this day was pretty nice. However, the road was gravel with some bigger stones in it. And we had to climb a hill of more than 500m altitude. This doesn’t sound like a lot. Howerver, with a bad and step road and a heavy bike, it’s pretty tiring. At least I was pretty dead when I finally arrived in Villa Amengual after around 70km. But at the same time I was happy to find Sonia and Carlos there again. And yes, on the way I met (Peter, Monika and Thorsten). They started in Ushuaia around 2 months ago and are doing the same in opposite direction.Diego took a PickUp to Coyhaique on the way because of knee issues. I hope he is doing better again soon. The knees are definitely used here…

Villa Amengual – Villa Mañihuales
On Wednesday, we drove to Villa Mañihuales. The road was good to drive except 19km in the middle which were heavy gravel. But the weather was good and we even had some tailwind on the last 20km. After 60km we reached Villa Mañihuales, put up the tent in their National Forest and head a great BBQ. What do you need more? 🙂

Villa Mañihuales – Coyhaique
And there was Silvester. We were actually planning on only driving around 50km. Therefore, it wasn’t a big issue when I reached after around 40km the crossroad towards Puerto Aysen where it started to rain heavily. I should say it shouldn’t have been a problem. But it actually was one because all the hospedajes and campgrounds till Coyhaique were either closed or full. However, full doesn’t have to mean fully booked. It could also mean that “we don’t want to or can work today but we can’t tell it to you straight away”. The result was anyway the same and we had to drive the whole way to Coyhaique. And this included another hill of 400+m. After more than 90km I arrived happy but very tired the city. In the mean time, I have lost again Sonia and Carlos. And because I was so tired, I spend New Years Eve in front of the TV with Batman and the firework in Santiago. Not my prefered thing but there are much worse things on this planet, I would say 😉

All the best and a Happy New Year from Coyhaique,

Stefan


About Stefan

I'm a telecommunication engineer by profession and like to discover the world by bike. I think, that it is the perfect speed to move but still be in touch with the world and the people which live there. And I'm very happy, that my wife Susanna is joining me now on those adventures. If you are interested in other journeys we did so far, please also check my website www.biketravel.net. Stefan, Switzerland

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4 thoughts on “Junta-Puyuhuapi-Amengual-Mañihuales-Coyhaique

  • Bernhard Tremp

    Salut Steff

    Ein gutes neues Jahr wünsch ich Dir. Apropos Schrauben ; Kleben heisst das Zauberwort. Wirklich nett immer Deine Geschichten. Hoffentlich geht Dir die Lust am Schreiben nicht aus.

    Es grüsst aus der Schweiz

    Bernhard