What vehicle is best for driving in Chile's Lake District?

Hi, I’m really surprised by the wide range of prices charged by car rental companies in Chile, so I’d like to know which type of vehicle is best suited for the roads in the Lake District: Puerto Montt and Ensenada, between Ensenada and Pucón, and between Pucón and Currarrehue, for example. I have the choice between 4x4s (expensive!), 4x2s (I don’t know what that is), SUVs (also expensive), and more classic vehicles. Thanks in advance! JJC

Hi there,

For the route you're taking, a regular vehicle is fine—the roads are in good condition. It's only if you head toward Patagonia (Chaitén, Coyhaique, and further south), where roads are unpaved half the time, that a 4x2 vehicle is recommended.

4x2: 2-wheel drive (front-wheel drive for traction or rear-wheel drive for propulsion) 4x4: 4-wheel drive. A 4x2 is a raised vehicle (like a Qashqai or Tiguan, mimicking a 4x4) with only 2-wheel drive.

Frédéric

Hi there, Thanks again for all the details. I’m realizing it’s better to go through people who really know the area rather than relying on rental companies that only have one thing in mind: dazzling you and emptying your wallet... Have a great day, JC

Hi there,

I completely agree with Fred @4ecofuel’s recommendations.

That said, I’d add that in some other parts of the Lake District, you might need one—or even two—good spare tires if you venture off the beaten path.

On Chiloé Island, for example, which is in the Lake District, around Lake Tagua Tagua or near Cochamó, flat tires are pretty common since the roads are quite rocky.

Good luck! !

Thanks Thierry6789 for this extra info. I usually take the bus to Castro on Chiloé Island. Any good hikes you’d recommend on the island? Have a great day! JC

Do you have any interesting hikes to recommend on the island?

Personally, I really like Chiloé National Park.

Otherwise, you can also take a quick look at Wikiloc or Wikexplora for some trekking ideas in the area.

Happy trekking!

Thierry

trusting rental companies that only have one thing in mind: dazzling you and emptying your wallet

Watch out for the rental conditions, which are quite specific in Chile.

Some vehicles aren’t insured for certain areas or roads. Or the excess can become astronomical.

So if something happens while you’re using the vehicle in a restricted way, you’ll be left holding the bag.

Hello,

I completely agree with the advice you’ve been given.

As for me, I was very poorly advised by my agency when choosing the vehicle (a standard sedan), which turned out to be ill-suited for many gravel or dirt roads. This was especially true for the access roads to national parks, where we would have greatly appreciated a vehicle with higher ground clearance (the undercarriage scraped the ground several times). In fact, we hardly saw any sedans in those areas. We were lucky because the weather was sunny and dry. However, if it had rained, we wouldn’t have been able to get through some spots.

A 4x2-type vehicle is more suitable if you venture off the main roads.

PS: Chiloé is an archipelago—don’t overlook the small islands in the Gulf of Ancud.

I invite you to check out my travel journals: for the Lake District and Araucanía region, it’s HERE and for Chiloé, it’s THERE