Conquering the scenic Y290 road in the Chilean Patagonia

Carretera Y290 is a very scenic road running along the boundary of Torres de Paine and Última Esperanza provinces in the Chilean region of Magallanes and Antártica Chilena, near the Argentinian border.

Y290 Road

How long is Y290 road in the Chilean Patagonia?

Tucked away on the southern part of the country, the road is totally unpaved but navigable by all passenger vehicles in dry weather. The road is 70.3 km (43.68 miles) long, running from the paved Route CH-9 to the unpaved Y-150.

How long does it take to drive the Y290 road in the Chilean Patagonia?

To drive the road (also called Camino Milodon Porteño and Carretera Cueva del Milodon) without stopping will take most people between 1.5 and 2 hours. This trail passes through remote areas, so you need to be prepared. The drive offers stunning views.

Is the Y290 road in the Chilean Patagonia open?

The road has extremely steep sections, and tops out at 255m (836ft) above the sea level by Mirador Grey. In the winter using tire chains is recommended due to unstable climatic conditions. The best time to drive this road is between December and February, the southern summer months. In winters, the weather becomes too extreme to be on this zone.