Villa O'Higgins, the village where the Carretera Austral ends, wants its airfield to receive international flights in summer so it can connect directly with El Calafate, in Argentine Patagonia. The initiative is being pushed by the presidential delegate for the province of Capitán Prat, Roberto Recabal, and its first step is a technical visit to the airfield this Tuesday, joined by the regional director of Customs, Raúl Pizarro, El Divisadero reported on 8 November.
The idea gained traction after former minister and former senator Pablo Longueira raised it in a letter to El Mercurio, asking the government to run the airfield as an international one from November to March, according to Publimicro. In a column in Nuevo Poder, Longueira credits the idea to Recabal, the municipality's former mayor. For now there is no date, airline or decision from the aviation authority.
- 7 Nov 2026Letter in El MercurioFormer minister Pablo Longueira asks for the airfield to be international from November to March.
- 8 Nov 2026Capitán Prat delegate backs itRoberto Recabal announces a technical visit with Customs.
- 10 Nov 2026Technical visit to the airfieldWith regional Customs director Raúl Pizarro.
- Nov-MarProposed seasonFlights to El Calafate in summer only; no date or airline.
What is proposed for the Villa O'Higgins airfield
| Item | What is known as of 9 November | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | International flights in the summer season, with a direct connection to El Calafate | El Divisadero |
| Proposed season | November to March | Publimicro |
| First step | Technical visit by the delegate and Customs on Tuesday 10 November | El Divisadero |
| What it would require | Border and customs control at the airfield, technical and safety conditions, and an agreement with Argentina | Publimicro |
| Airline and fares | No information | — |
"We want it to start being recognized as the gateway to Patagonia," Recabal told El Divisadero. The aim is to capture some of the tourists who already tour El Calafate and El Chaltén and bring them to the province of Capitán Prat, home to Caleta Tortel, Cochrane and Patagonia National Park.
How to get to Villa O'Higgins today
There are three ways to get there today: by the Carretera Austral (Route 7), which from Cochrane requires crossing on the Puerto Yungay ferry; by light aircraft from Coyhaique; or from Argentina, crossing on foot or by bike the pass that links El Chaltén with Villa O'Higgins, with boat sections across Lago del Desierto and O'Higgins lake. According to the Villa O'Higgins tourism website, that pass operates from 1 November to 30 April.
Before planning, check our Carretera Austral road trip guide, the Carretera Austral roadworks and planning platform for 2026-2027 and how to get to Caleta Tortel.
Where tourists enter Aysén
The Aysén region receives most of its foreign tourists overland from Argentina. In 2025, the Río Jeinimeni pass, in Chile Chico, recorded 71,196 arrivals; Huemules, 28,896; and Coyhaique, 27,146. The Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur spreadsheet records no arrivals through Villa O'Higgins: the crossing from El Chaltén does not appear as a pass in those statistics.
| Aysén pass | 2019 | 2024 | 2025 | Jan-Aug 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Río Jeinimeni (Chile Chico) | 73,282 | 60,139 | 71,196 | 41,996 |
| Huemules | 12,487 | 31,930 | 28,896 | 4,492 |
| Coyhaique | 7,627 | 16,541 | 27,146 | 9,765 |
| Pampa Alta | 81 | 80 | 268 | 16 |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, "CONSULTA_DESAGREGADA" sheet (preliminary figures since 2020). The national ranking is in our piece on the border crossings with the most tourists.
View the data as a table
| Río Jeinimeni | Huemules | Coyhaique | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 97,862 | 26,139 | 18,283 |
| 2017 | 99,668 | 26,810 | 19,760 |
| 2018 | 107,573 | 16,853 | 13,139 |
| 2019 | 73,282 | 12,487 | 7,627 |
| 2020 | 27,261 | 3,320 | 2,267 |
| 2021 | 49 | 107 | No data |
| 2022 | 23,373 | 9,441 | No data |
| 2023 | 55,933 | 11,867 | 4,391 |
| 2024 | 60,139 | 31,930 | 16,541 |
| 2025 | 71,196 | 28,896 | 27,146 |
Aysén is the region with the smallest share of Chile's tourism GDP (0.94%), although tourism accounts for 4.5% of its economy, according to the Undersecretariat of Tourism. That difference, a small economy where tourism matters a lot, explains the interest in adding an air gateway at the region's southern end. In Magallanes, by contrast, 75% of visitors to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field enter through Argentina, as we reported in our piece on the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
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See advertising optionsFrequently asked questions
Are there flights from Villa O'Higgins to El Calafate?
No. As of 9 November 2026 it is a proposal: on Tuesday 10 there is a technical visit with Customs to assess the airfield. There is no airline or date.
Can you cross from El Chaltén to Villa O'Higgins?
Yes, on foot or by bike, combining trails and boats across Lago del Desierto and O'Higgins lake, between 1 November and 30 April, according to the local tourism website. It is best to confirm boat schedules before you go.
How do you get to Villa O'Higgins overland?
By the Carretera Austral from Cochrane, with the ferry crossing between Puerto Yungay and Río Bravo.
