The best self-drive routes in Chile with Salfa Rent
There's a way to travel that doesn't allow for forced stops, tour groups, or bus schedules. One that puts you—literally—in the driver's seat of your own adventure: self-driving in Chile . And in a country as long and diverse as this, it's simply the smartest way to explore it.
The concept is as simple as it is powerful: you rent a car, you decide when to leave, where to stop, and for how long . No guides, no tour buses, no rush. The route on the map isn't a commitment; it's an invitation. If the road to the lake leads you to a craft fair that wasn't mentioned on any blog, you stop. If the sun rises perfectly over a volcano and you want to stay another hour, you stay.
The advantages are numerous. Self-drive allows access to destinations off the beaten path , reduces costs by eliminating transfers and group tours, and lets you tailor the experience to each traveler's pace. It's also the ideal option for couples, families, or small groups: the rental cost is split, and the adventure multiplies.
Discover Salfa Rent for self-drive in Chile
Salfa Rent is the leading car rental company in Chile, with a presence throughout the country. Part of the Salfa Group—one of the most important automotive conglomerates in the country—it operates with a modern fleet and a network of 21 branches distributed from Arica to Punta Arenas, covering every region of the country.
In addition to offering the possibility of delivering or picking up the vehicle in different cities, airports and branches, key for point-to-point travel, the cars can range from compact sedans to SUVs and 4×4 trucks for more demanding terrains.
Salfa Rent is ideal for any self-drive adventure in Chile. Their locations are:
- North: Arica · Iquique · Calama · Antofagasta · Copiapó · La Serena
- Central Zone: Santiago · Rancagua · Talca · Chillán · Concepción · Los Ángeles
- South: Temuco · Valdivia · Osorno · Puerto Varas · Puerto Montt · Castro
- Southern Zone: Coyhaique · Puerto Natales · Punta Arenas
Below are four routes designed to take you out of your routine and put you face to face with the best of Chile.
A getaway for two at Hotel AWA with self-drive (3 days / 2 nights)
A getaway for two at Hotel AWA
The plane lands in Puerto Montt . At the airport branch, Salfa Rent hands over the keys. From there, southern Chile unfolds like an Impressionist painting: snow-capped volcanoes reflected in still waters, villages of wooden houses, and a rhythm that seems to exist outside the calendar.
The AWA Hotel , in Puerto Varas—just 20 kilometers from Puerto Montt—is one of the most elegant and well-located accommodations in the Lake District . With direct views of Lake Llanquihue and the Osorno Volcano, it was designed for those seeking to disconnect without sacrificing comfort.
The self-drive option makes this trip unique: on the way to the hotel, you can detour to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park , stop at the lake viewpoints, or discover a craft brewery near Puerto Varas. No one waits. No one is in a hurry.
Express getaway in Pucón with Self-drive (4 days / 3 nights )
Self-drive in Chile: Express getaway in Pucón
From Temuco Airport , Pucón is just over 100 kilometers away. It's an hour's drive along Highway 5 South and then along roads that run alongside the Trancura River, with the Villarrica volcano gradually appearing on the horizon like a permanent sentinel.
Pucón is one of Chile's most popular adventure destinations, and with good reason: natural hot springs, rivers for rafting, trekking routes and the imposing active crater of Villarrica coexist within a few kilometers.
Self-drive completely transforms the experience: while tourist buses follow fixed schedules, the independent traveler can wake up at the Geometric Hot Springs , have lunch at a restaurant on the shores of the lake and arrive at the base of the volcano when the afternoon light is perfect for photography.
Torres del Paine at Remote Patagonia Lodge with self-drive (5 days / 4 nights)
Torres del Paine at Remote Patagonia Lodge
Few arrivals carry the emotional weight of landing at Teniente Julio Gallardo Airport in Puerto Natales . Outside, the Patagonian wind is already welcoming you. Renting a four-wheel-drive truck or SUV is ideal for this self-drive trip through Chile and its stunning Patagonia.
The Remota Patagonia Lodge , nestled between the Última Esperanza Sound and the southern steppes, is one of the world's most unique accommodations. Designed by architect Germán del Sol with architecture that harmonizes with the landscape, it's the perfect starting point for exploring Torres del Paine National Park .
Unlike conventional tourism, the self-drive from Puerto Natales allows you to stop at the Milodon Cave Natural Monument , photograph flamingos in the intermediate lagoons and arrive at the park when the sunrise paints the towers pink.
Elqui Valley getaway with self-drive in Pisco Elqui (4 days / 3 nights)
Self-drive in Chile: A getaway to the Elqui Valley
La Florida Airport in La Serena marks the beginning of a route that transforms the landscape in an almost cinematic fashion. From the northern coast, the road inland climbs gently towards the Andes , skirting the Elqui River amidst vineyards, pisco grape plantations, and adobe villages that seem frozen in time.
Pisco Elqui , about 115 kilometers from La Serena, is the heart of the valley: a town of barely 1,000 inhabitants that has become one of the most charming destinations in northern Chile. With a Salfa Rent car, the journey is part of the trip: the pisco distilleries along the route offer guided tours, the impromptu viewpoints overlooking the river invite you to stop, and the night sky—one of the clearest on the planet—demands a long stop to admire the stars .
A getaway that combines gastronomy, spirituality, and astronomy in a single valley. And, like all the best self-drive routes in Chile, it only reveals its secrets to those who dare to explore it at a leisurely pace.
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