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Media FAQs & Facts



Here journalists and media professionals will find some quick facts and frequently asked questions about Expediciones Chile. If you have other questions, not found here, please contact our office.


Q: When was Expediciones Chile founded?

A: The Company was founded in 1985.

Q: How is Expediciones Chile and Futaleufu pronounced?

A: The pronounciation is: "Ex-ped-ish-she-oh-nays" Chile and "Foo-tah-lay-oo-foo"
.

Q: Who was the founder of the company?

A: Chris Spelius accidentally discovered the river after hearing about it from friends who had done the first kayak descent. He knew almost immediately that the Futaleufu would one day become a world-class adventure destination and made the decision that year to start Expediciones Chile.

Q: Where is the company based?

A: During the Patagonia Summer (Dec. to April) Expediciones Chile is based in Futaleufu, Chile. During the winter months the company operates out of Sun Valley, Idaho. The US office is open year round.

Q: When does the season start and end?

A: Expediciones Chile commences operation on December 1st and shuts down on April 15th. During the winter months (July and August) we run alpine ski trips in the Andes. The seasons of the Southern Hemisphere are opposite those of the Northern Hemisphere.

Q: How many guests does Expediciones Chile serve?

A: Approximately 500 a year.

Q: What countries do your clients come from?

A: Primarily the United States and Europe. We also get many clients from Chile and Argentina.

Q: How do your guests get to Futaleufu?

A: From Puerto Montt, Chile they can charter in directly to Futaleufu; they can come in by charter aircraft via Chaiten or come in through Bariloche or Esquel, Argentina.

Q: Where exactly is Futaleufu?

A: Futaleufu lies on the border of Chile and Argentina about six hundred miles (1000km) south of Santiago, Chile. We are about two hours southwest of Esquel, Argentina.

Q: What is the total travel time from the United States?

A: Most guests arrive in Futaleufu after about 20 hours of travel. Over night flight to Santiago, Chile. Morning flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt, Chile. Noon flight from Puerto Montt to Chaiten, Chile and afternoon drive from Chaiten to Futaleufu.


Q: What rivers and bodies of water do you normally operate on?

A: We operate on the: Rio Futaleufu, Rio Azul, Rio Espolon, Rio Palena, Rio Fuy, Rio Manzo, Rio San Pedro, Rio Michamuida, Rio Tigre. Lago Espolon, Lago Lonconao, Lago Yecho.

Q: What is the climate like in Futaleufu?

A: Futaleufu lies in the rain shadow of the Andes Mountains. This means it is significantly drier than points west, along the Chilean coast, but significantly wetter than the Argentina, steppe and Pampas. The weather in Futaleufu is often better and more predictable than in Torres del Paine making it a more attractive destination in this respect. Daytime temperatures are range between 70 to 90F. Nighttime temperatures range between 40 to 60F. The Latitude of Futaleufu is approximately that of British Columbia in the Northern Hemisphere and our climate tends to resemble that.

Q: What is the altitude of Futaleufu?

A: Although we are deep in the Andes Mountains, we are located in a river valley that is only about 1000ft high. However, the surrounding mountain peaks are upwards of 9000 feet and glaciers ring the valley.

Q: What kind of trips do you offer?

A: Primarily weeklong and multiple week trips. But occasionally we do shorter duration trips and day trips if requested.

Q: What lodging options do you have?

Q: We have a native wood lodge in the town of Futaleufu and a ranch and ecocamp located in the Futaleufu valley.

A: What are price ranges?

Q: Our multiday trips range from $600 to $4100. Daily rates are occasionally available on select trips and can range from $100 to $700 depending on the activity.

Q: What percentage of solo travelers participate on your trips?

A: About forty percent.

Q: How many guides and staff does Expediciones Chile have?

A: Usually between 20 and 30 depending on the time of season.

Q: What are the qualifications of your guides and staff?

A: All of our guides are experienced river professionals with swiftwater rescue certification, CPR and First Aid. Certification. Our head chef is an international professor of culinary arts and all other cooking staff are professionally trained.

Q: What kind of rafts do you use on your trips?

A: We have a collection of Moravia's, Hysides and Aires. These include: Catarafts, Paddle/Row Combo Rigs and Self-Bailing Paddle Rafts.

Q: What kinds of trips do you offer?

A: In the Futaleufu area we do: Whitewater Rafting, Whitewater Kayaking, Sea Kayaking, Kayak School, Trekking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Fly Fishing, Canyoning, Skiing, Swiftwater Rescue, Guide Training, Photography Classes, and Learn to Speak Spanish Classes. We also do Kayaking, Rafting, Trekking, Skiing, Mountain Biking and Horseback Riding safaris throughout Chilean Patagonia and Argentina.

Q: How can reservations be made for your trips?

A: The Expediciones Reservation office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. MST at (888) 488-9082. Guests can also book and reserve trips directly online using our "real time" reservation system.


Expediciones Chile Contact

Adventure Travel in Chile, Rafting
Patagonia Adventure Travel in Chile. Rafting in Chile & Argentina Rafting .
Torres del Paine and FitzRoy trekking.

Traveling in Chile & Patagonia
Information on traveling in Patagonia Chile. Secrets of Patagonia Tour on our website.

Rafting in Chile
Whitewater rafting in Chile. Rafting from our weatherproof Futaleufu lodge and our whitewater eco camp.
Weather in Patagonia
Information about the weather in Patagonia Climate in Chile & Argentina. Weather forecasts.
Sea Kayaking in Chile
Go Sea Kayaking in Chile from the Andes to the Ocean on Lago Yelcho. Fjords, hotsprings, extinct volcanos, temperate rainforest.

Raft Guide School Thinking about a rafting guide job on the Futaleufu? Check out our whitewater guide school & swiftwater rescue training course.

Fly Fishing in Chile
Go fly fishing in Chile from our ranch or lodge in Chilean Patagonia. Fly fishing trips on Lago Yelcho.
EcoTours in Chile
Custom ecotours in Chile of the Futaleufu valley that include bird watching and nature treks.

Kayak School
Learn the eskimo kayak roll at our kayak school. Receive world class kayak instruction from our paddling school.

University of Futaleufu
Checkout our large group, instructional and corporate team building programs offered every tear..
Futaleufu Information
Information About the Futaleufu River in Patagonia Chile. Futaleufu guidebook of river sections.
Ex Chile Travel Agent Info
Information on traveling in Chile. Travel agent discounts and commisssions.

Patagonia Horseback Riding
Patagonia horseback riding vacations and holidays with with genuine Huasos & Corralero Horses.

Honeymoon Cabin
Our CondorNest Ranchito is the perfect honeymoon cabin located beneath the Tres Monjas towers.
Snow Skiing in Chile Snow skiing in Chile in the spectacular Andes Mountains during the summer months. Office Internship Jobs  
Office internships and employment opportunities in rafting, kayaking and fly fishing & adventure travel offfice.
Canyoning Vacations
Chile canyoning and rappelling vacations.
Chilean Culture Immersion
Experience genuine Chilean Cultural Immersion on our adventure travel horseback riding and trekking vacations.
Kayak Chile Whitewater
Kayak in the spectacular Patagonia
Andes. Kayak Chile whitewater from our spectacular kayak eco camp.
Patagonia Mountain Biking
Experience a genuine Chile Mountain Biking tour through Chilean Patagonia and Argentina.
Rafting en el Río Futaleufú
con las mejores aguas blancas de clase mundial (5,4,3,). Kayak de mar, mountain biking, cabalgatas, sit-on-top kayaking cayoning, caminatas, pesca con mosca y mucho más aventuras podrás encontrar en el corazón de la patagonia Chilena, y desde el comfort de nuestro nativo y caluroso Hotel. Rafting en lel Río Futaleufú en Español.

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