The Coihaique word is divided in "aique" that means toldería, camping; and "hammock" that is of uncertain origin. Mapuche is attributed to him to origin, with meaning of firewood, wood, tree. Camping where there is firewood, trees. The climate is cold marine rainy of XI the Region, one of most southern of the country, is in favor conditional of the polar front, factor that the type of existing vegetation and fauna in the same one determines. In Coihaique the climate presents/displays a totally diverse appearance: it is of cold estepárico type diminishing the precipitations until about 700 millimeters and with great temperature differences between the day and the night; and between the winter and the summer, until sometimes several degrees below cero in contrast of the 15 or more degrees during January. The hardness of the climate discouraged the poblamiento of this territory during the colonial period. The geographic isolation that presents/displays the region makes difficult the economic development, that is oriented towards primary activities of little diversification; nevertheless, their high potentiality in cattle, tourist, marine resources hydroelectric and also in forestry supports, in a next future, an appreciable regional development.

Strolls from Coihaique
Balmaceda were the first city founded on these places, in 1917. One is next to the border with Argentina and counts on the greater airport of the region and pays duty on. It is to 57 km of Coihaique. Here the landscape is marked by the desolation of the great fires that changed the appearance of the zone. These places it is known them like Pampas. The Austral Highway leaves Balmaceda and after 57 km it appears the deflection to Ibáñez Port located in the borders of the General Lake Carrera, greatest of Chile. Ibáñez port was the most important town of the lake in the past; today that seat of honor occupies Small Chile. From Ibáñez it leaves a ferry that crosses vehicles, animals and all type from load to Small Chile. In this route it is possible to be seen the amplitude of the lake and its peculiar surroundings, where they emphasize great stones surrounded by erosion glacier and where almost there is no vegetation. Small Chile account with a specially benign climate for the zone that allows to the culture of vegetable and fruit trees. Account with a good supply of lodgings, restaurants and circuits of tourism ventures. Who choose to visit Small Chile crossing the lake in ferry will be able to cross the South shore, visiting the localities of Jarpa Bay, Pto. Fachinal, Great Mallín, Guadal Port and Bertrand Port next to the Brake river and to 70 km of Cochrane.In this way it emphasizes the Passage of the Keys, are 30 km of way that go on an alive rock cornice next to the lake; the way arrives until a point from which a panoramic one of the lake is had. The zones next to the lake have zones of pícnic and the villagers offer basic services. Who have decided to continue the trip by earth, they will have to return to the austral highway, in which to approx 90 km of Coihaique appear the deflection to visit the Lakes Green Alto and Laparent. Soon the highway runs next to the lake by several km Murta Port is one of the localities that are in an arm of the General Lake Carrera and by where crosses the austral highway; there the main activity is the carpenter, the one that is commercialized with Argentina through the lake. More ahead it is Calm Port that has modest lodgings, good fishing and zone of cámping. From they go excursions here to the Cathedral Marble, a marble peninsula drilled by the lake with a series of caves that can be crossed in boat. Another place of great beauty that is in the neighborhoods is the Calm Lake that counts on zone of cámping. The Leones river with its created volume to ventisqueros that they can be observed from the bridge that cross a river in km 175 between Coihaique and Cochrane. In Bertrand Port, last town before arriving at Cochrane slopes in raft by the expresses of the Baker river are organized. Also boats are rented to go to the good places of fishing that there is in the neighborhoods. The town offers the basic services. Cochrane: This is the last city of importance of the austral highway and their origins go back to the time at which it comprised of the Exploratory Society of Baker one of the most important dedicated companies to the colonization of these earth, dedicated to the cattle ranch. Around the city there are ample reforested zones.Today it continues being a city that gives services; to the tourist it offers lodging, benzine, hospital, among other basic services. Of Cochrane to the south the last section of the Austral Highway extends, inaugurated only in 1995. To 6 km of Cochrane it is the Lagoon Emerald of an intense blue color that contrasts with the semiestepárica vegetation and the rushes that grow in the borders. After crossing bridges Twin Twin 1 and 2 on the Saltos river there are beautiful waterfalls of both arms of the river. More ahead and from the way one sees the Chacabuco Lake and the magnificent ventisquero that part of its landscape forms. Perhaps but the ventisqueros most spectacular of the zone are those of Field of North Ice and Monte San Valentin. The last town of the austral highway is Yungay Port that is in formation and is meeting point with the highway and the town of Villa ÓHiggins the one that will be united to the rest of the localities of the zone when this section of the highway concludes.

Access
Crossing the Austral Longitudinal Highway, from Montt Port, through natural parks and beautiful places, you will arrive at Coyhaique. In Airplane: Paradise of the tourism ventures and the fishing, can by air be arrived at Coyhaique from Santiago or Montt Port (LAN Chile - Sky), for which the airport of Balmaceda is used, distant 55 km of the city. Steps FronterizosPaso de Coyhaique: You will be able to cross the Andean mountain range by the Passage of distant Coyhaique 46 km of the city by debris way arriving at Baleiro Village of the Argentine side. Huemules Step: Also you will be able to cross by the Huemules Step, arriving at this happening through Balmaceda to where you will have paved route, and when crossing you will have about 150 km until Rio May. Triana Step: Very next to single the Coyhaique Step to 20 km of Beleiro Village and to 37 km of Coyhaique, one is east step that a 670 has height of msnm and one average temperature of summer of 20° C and winter of -7° C. By complementary Route 240 to 37 kms of Coyhaique you will find the Step that separates of Rio May to you by 153 km of Complementary Route 55.