Day
1 Monday: Futaleufu
Arrival & Introductions
Arrive in Futaleufu via Esquel,
Argentina the gateway to Patagonia or Bariloche,
Argentina. If you choose to begin your adventure
in Chile, you can travel to Chaiten via Puerto
Montt. Connect with our company representative
and travel to the remote riverside village
of Futaleufu, surrounded by majestic mountains.
You will find your accommodations at our comfortable
lodge, and unwind from your trip with a hearty
welcome dinner at the Futaleufu Adventure
Center.
Day
2 Tuesday: Rafting the
Heart of the Futaleufu to Puerto Ramirez
Today
we will raft Chile's most action packed section
of whitewater - a virtual whitewater power
storm! This section, from the Zapata Swinging
Bridge to the Puente Futaleufu, includes five
miles of Class IV+ rafting action. Rapids
such as "Entrada",
"Pillow",
"Tiburon",
and "Mundaca"
with its must-see explosion hole, will keep
you on your toes. In a calmer section below
the rapids, we will do some swim training
in preparation for the more intense rapids
coming up. At
the end of the "Corazón"
section we will raft past the stone bridge
take-out to where the river picks up energy
as the canyon walls turn into vertical cliffs
and huge glacier crowned peaks rise above.
Here, we find "Más
o Menos" (Class V-) and our first
optional and authentic Class V rapid of this
Patagonia rafting trip, "Casa
de Piedra". Rafting in Chile does
not get better than this! After this exhilarating
section of whitewater, we’ll run some
more Class III rapids before floating to Puerto
Ramirez and enjoying the scenery that you
may have missed along the upper sections.
Day
3 Wednesday: Become
Immersed with a Trek Back in Time
Today we take a break from
whitewater rafting, and allow you to experience
the cultural side of life in Patagonia. This
activity has been a favorite among Expediciones
Chile clients. Beginning in town, you head
out towards Las Escalas valley along the mighty
Rio Futaleufu. The walk leads us to a 136-acre
working ranch set deep in the forest, overlooking
the river valley below. Apart from the spectacular
views, this self sustainable ranch, without
road access or electricity is a marvel in
its own right. There, you will be greeted
by our host at a rustic wood crafted ranch
that functions completely off the grid. You
will be surprised at how tempting this simpler
existence appears. You will get the full tour
around the ranch, before sitting down to a
feast of traditional Chilean cuisine. After
lunch you can watch the owner spin his own
wool and browse through his hand made products,
before heading back to town where dinner and
pisco sours await.
Day
4 Thursday: Raft
Chile's Upper Futaleufu
This
is the most demanding, committing, and dangerous
section of the Futaleufu River. The highlight
of our Chile rafting program! To raft this
section safely, the river levels must
be right, you must have previously
rafted the "Heart" section with
us and met all of our safety requirements.
We put in at the bridge on the Río
Espolon and soon arrive at the confluence
with the Futaleufu River. At the "Gates
of Infierno", we enter the "Infierno
Canyon" with several serious and continuous
Class V drops. After an exciting morning of
chile rafting in the canyon, the river widens
with spectacular views of the Las Escalas
Valley. After a section of gentle water, the
Futaleufu river returns to its wild side and
we encounter "Zeta"
and "Throne
Room", two of the most ferocious
rapids on the Futa. We will portage both.
After the portages, we get into the action
section called "The Wild Mile Home",
which contains continuous Class III and IV
rapids. We arrive at the Río Azul under
the sentinel of the Tres Monjas peak. This
is the take out for the "Inferno Canyon"
section. After a snack and beers on the beach,
we hike up a short trail and drive back to
the lodge and all of its comforts. Patagonia
rafting at its best!

Day 5 Friday: Rafting
the Terminator & The Heart
More
of this incredible whitewater is in store
for us today offering another challenging
day of rafting in Patagonia. You must have
previously rafted the "Heart" section
with us and met all of our safety requirements.
After a morning trek, we put in at the confluence
of the Futa and the Río Azul, and enjoy
a warm up on a beautiful stretch of river
that winds around the Tres Monjas peaks. Then,
the Futaleufu river takes on an extremely
powerful nature, with the longest and largest
rapid on the Futa, the "Terminator"
(Class V). Rafting in Chile does not get better
than this! Just below, we'll have to negotiate
the hole filled "Kyber
Pass"
(Class IV+) and the "Himalayas"
(Class IV), with perhaps the biggest standing
waves in the hemisphere. If this wasn’t
enough, one final pass down the Heart of the
Futaleufu will be sure to leave you with a
day of rafting that you won’t soon forget.
We return to the lodge for a farewell festival.
Day
6 Saturday: Futaleufu
Valley Departure
Today we wake up for an early
breakfast for the departure to Bariloche,
Argentina or Chaiten, Chile. If you are flying
out of Esquel, Argentina you can relax for
a couple of hours and take our shuttle. As
you catch a final view of the Futaleufu Valley;
surrounded by hanging glaciers and snow capped
mountains, take a moment to reflect upon all
of the amazing sights and experiences of this
past week. After all these years we are still
stunned that views like these exist. Many
of our clients spend two weeks with us as
there is always more to do. If you think you'll
be itching for another adventure, a very popular
alternative way to experience the entire country
is to travel across Chile by water! We offer
a 6-day guided sea kayaking trip that takes
you from the end of the whitewater all the
way down to Chaiten via the Lower Futaleufu,
Lago Yelcho, Río Yelcho, and the Pacific
Ocean. Two rivers, one large lake, and the
enormous ocean, all surrounded by pristine
Wilderness and unlimited postcard views.
PRICE: $1995.00 USD
Included:
All
meals, lodging, transportation, rafts, guides
and river gear while rafting in Chile with
us. Round trip transportation between Futaleufu
and Chaiten or Esquel. See the Chile Rafting
packing list for specific details. The actual
program for your individual Futaleufu Rafting
trip will vary according to the desires and
skill level of your group, weather, or other
factors.
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| Experience Needed: None |
| Physical Challenge: Medium |
| Cultural Experience: High |
| Lodging: Lodge |
| Comfort Rating: High |
| Days away from home: 8 |
| Days with us: 6 |
| Max Trip Size: 16 |
| Price: $1995.00 USD |
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| Region: Futaleufu River Valley, Patagonia Chile |
| Lakes, Rivers, Sites Visited: Chaiten, Futaleufu Village, Rio Futaleufu, Rio Azul, Las Escalas Valley |
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