Andes Campers Rental company category:Standard
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Andes Campers CoyhaiqueCoyhaiqueView map
4x4 camper vans and motorhomes in the heart of the Carretera Austral, in Chilean Patagonia
Compare the 4 campervan and motorhome rental companies in Coyhaique to find the best price, and book at the price shown, mandatory fees included.
Hiring a campervan in Coyhaique, sometimes spelt Coihaique, means starting halfway along the Carretera Austral, in the capital of the Aysén region. To the south, the road leads to the Cerro Castillo massif, then to General Carrera Lake and its Marble Caves; to the north, to the rainforests of Queulat National Park; to the west, to the fjords of Puerto Aysén. Four partner companies offer camper vans and motorhomes here, including several 4x4 models suited to ripio gravel roads: Andes Campers, Camper Travel, Holiday Rent RV and Kawascars Camper Rentals.
Overlooked by Cerro Mackay, the town spreads out where the Coyhaique and Simpson rivers meet, between steppe and forest.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
| Vehicle | Winter July | Spring October | Summer January | Autumn April |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campervan | from €127/day median €171/day | from €133/day median €192/day | from €152/day median €197/day | from €129/day median €174/day |
Daily prices observed on October 20, 2026 for a 15-day rental: CoolDrive selling price, mandatory fees included, 2 rental companies compared. 17% of offers with unlimited mileage. Median excess: €2,000.
Heading south, the Carretera Austral crosses the pass above Villa Cerro Castillo and its rock spires, then reaches Puerto Río Tranquilo, where boats leave for the Marble Caves, marble grottoes veined with blue. From Puerto Guadal, a cliff-hugging track follows the lake's southern shore to Chile Chico; a ferry then takes you back to Puerto Ingeniero Ibáñez, on the northern shore, without retracing your route.
Heading up Route 7, Villa Mañihuales and Villa Amengual lead to Queulat National Park: the Enchanted Forest trail (Bosque Encantado) winds through moss-covered woodland, and another viewpoint faces the Hanging Glacier (Ventisquero Colgante), whose waterfall pours down a rock face. Puyuhuapi, a village founded by German settlers at the head of a fjord, is known for its hot springs. You return by the same road.
A short, paved trip west: the road follows the Simpson River through the national reserve of the same name, between waterfalls and wooded cliffs, to Puerto Aysén and its suspension bridge. At Puerto Chacabuco, the port on the Aysén fjord, boat trips leave for the San Rafael Lagoon glacier. A good warm-up before heading onto the gravel.
The best season to leave from Coyhaique: about 11 hours of sunshine a day, the lowest rainfall of the year, barely 70 mm in February, and highs close to 18 °C. It is also peak season, with the Chilean holidays: the General Carrera Lake ferries and the Marble Caves boats are often fully booked.
Wetter transition seasons, with around 120 to 130 mm of rain a month, but 6 to 10 hours of sunshine a day and an almost empty region. In April, the lenga forests of Cerro Castillo turn red; in November, the days quickly grow longer. Some campsites and services in the south only open in December.
From May to September, nights hover around or drop below freezing, with lows of -1 °C in June and July, and rainfall exceeds 160 mm in some months. Snow and ice affect the Carretera Austral, especially on the passes. The nearby El Fraile ski resort then draws more visitors than the long roads south.
Most pleasant months: January to February.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18 °C | 8 °C | 80 mm | 11 h/day |
| Feb | 19 °C | 8 °C | 70 mm | 11 h/day |
| Mar | 16 °C | 6 °C | 128 mm | 8 h/day |
| Apr | 13 °C | 4 °C | 126 mm | 6 h/day |
| May | 9 °C | 2 °C | 132 mm | 5 h/day |
| Jun | 6 °C | -1 °C | 171 mm | 4 h/day |
| Jul | 6 °C | -1 °C | 164 mm | 4 h/day |
| Aug | 8 °C | 0 °C | 143 mm | 6 h/day |
| Sep | 10 °C | 1 °C | 126 mm | 7 h/day |
| Oct | 13 °C | 3 °C | 120 mm | 9 h/day |
| Nov | 15 °C | 5 °C | 126 mm | 10 h/day |
| Dec | 17 °C | 7 °C | 98 mm | 11 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Kawascars Camper Rentals welcomes customers on Camino Campo Alegre, while Camper Travel arranges the pick-up and return location case by case, by agreement with each traveller. Andes Campers and Holiday Rent RV each have a depot in Coyhaique: the address and meeting time are given in the booking confirmation.
Coyhaique has most of the region's supermarkets, hardware stores and petrol stations. South of Villa Cerro Castillo, fuel pumps can be counted on one hand and may run dry in peak season: leave with a full tank, a jerrycan if the rental company allows it, cooking gas and food for several days.
The gusts sweeping the steppe east of Coyhaique easily push a tall vehicle sideways, especially when lightly loaded. The hairpin bends down to Villa Cerro Castillo should be taken slowly, in a low gear. Further south, the gravel requires slow driving and a clear slowdown whenever you pass another vehicle, to protect the windscreen from stones.
Coyhaique's centre is laid out around a pentagonal main square, from which streets radiate like a star: the junctions are confusing with a long vehicle. Park in the grid streets a little further out and walk to the shops, tour agencies and the craft market.
Four partner companies are present: Andes Campers, Holiday Rent RV and Kawascars Camper Rentals each have a depot in Coyhaique, and Camper Travel arranges pick-up and return by individual agreement with the traveller. Most customers fly into Balmaceda: tell the rental company your arrival time to set the meeting.
The price depends mainly on the season, with very high demand in January and February, on choosing a 4x4 model and on any one-way trip to another city in southern Chile. Run a search with your dates to compare the available offers: prices are shown per day, mandatory fees included, and can be booked straight away.
Our partners also rent from Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, Valdivia and Pucón to the north, and from Puerto Natales to the south. Northwards, the Carretera Austral and its ferries lead straight to Puerto Montt; for Puerto Natales, the road goes through Argentina. When the company accepts it, the one-way fee is included in the displayed price as soon as you enter the return city.
Yes, with the rental company's consent. A hired vehicle can only leave Chile with a notarised authorisation prepared in advance, usually for a fee, and insurance valid in Argentina. The Coyhaique Alto pass to the east and the Huemules pass near Balmaceda are the closest. On your return, the Chilean agricultural service confiscates fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products.
They have always responded quickly to all my requests and their website is very functional!
Fast service
The booking process is very smooth. I had very good communication with the Cooldrive team. As for the follow-up, it will be seen on site during the vehicle pickup.
A national driving licence is enough for the camper vans and motorhomes on offer, provided it comes with an international driving permit, which rental companies and the Carabineros police may require. Traffic drives on the right. The minimum age and years of driving required vary between companies: they are shown in the conditions of each offer.
For Puerto Aysén or Villa Cerro Castillo, on paved roads, a standard vehicle is enough. Beyond that, on the gravel around General Carrera Lake, towards Cochrane or into side valleys such as Exploradores, four-wheel drive is reassuring, especially in the rain. Part of the offers observed are 4x4: Calafate Camper, Pucon Camper, Chiloé Camper and Ushuaia Camper.
Most models observed in Coyhaique, such as the Adventure Campervan or the San Pedro Camper, only offer two seats and two berths. The Chiloé Camper 4x4 is the only one that sleeps four. The Ushuaia Camper 4x4 carries four passengers but only has two berths: you then need to plan nights in a campsite or a cabaña.
The regional airport is in Balmaceda, about an hour's drive south-east of Coyhaique, near the Argentine border. Transfer minibuses meet the flights and drop travellers off in town; a taxi is possible but more expensive. Give your flight number to the rental company, which can adjust the vehicle handover time.
Around the town and along the Carretera Austral, small family-run campsites offer a pitch, often a hot shower and sometimes a shelter for cooking. In the Cerro Castillo or Río Simpson reserves, sleep only at designated sites. Elsewhere, wild camping is practised discreetly, away from fenced properties and without fires in strong wind.
Coyhaique, the main town of the Aysén region, lies halfway along the Carretera Austral: starting here avoids the long drive up from Puerto Montt and puts travellers right next to the most spectacular landscapes of the road. The Cerro Castillo massif, General Carrera Lake, the Aysén fjords and the Queulat forests are all one or two days' drive away.
Four partner companies offer camper vans and motorhomes here, including several 4x4 models designed for Patagonian gravel roads. Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, Valdivia, Pucón and Puerto Natales, other departure cities of our partners, open the way to one-way trips across the whole of southern Chile. For the longest days and the driest weather, aim for January and February.