Whitewater Rafting in Chile:

Futaleufu Rafting : Futaleufu Multisport Chile Rafting Week

Acclaimed as one of the most demanding rafting runs in the world, the Futaleufu River provides rafters the ultimate whitewater challenge. The river's name is derived from a local Mapuche Indian word meaning “big, big river” and it lives up to its billing in every respect. Since the early 1990s rafting in Chile has become synonymous with this river and it has beckoned an elite group of international rafters daring enough to tempt the Class V power of Futaleufu. The first time you connect to the intriguing power of this river you will know it is unlike any river you have rafted before. It has earned its reputation as The Greatest Whitewater on Earth!!!

Chile rafting is not the only thing you will find in this spectacular river valley. From our spectacularly located Eco-Camp, you will get to experience a multi-sport vacation like none other. From here we will venture out on horseback, mountain bikes, sit-on top kayaks and on foot to explore this magical paradise. Our diverse selection of activities draws you to the most fascinating ecosystems in this Patagonia valley. Trekking, fly fishing, sea kayaking, canyoning, our whitewater kayak school, and guided whitewater kayak trips are all possibilities with our Chile rafting program. Rafting in Patagonia has never been more comfortable or more customizable with the spectacular and strategic location of Expediciones Chile’s eco camp.

Day by Day:

Day 1 Friday: Depart your home town:
Fly to Miami and connect on an over night flight to Buenos Aires Argentina. Welcome to the warmth of the southern Hemisphere in summer.

Day 2 Saturday: Travel to Trevelin, Patagonia Argentina
Early morning arrival in Buenos Aires. Change airports and catch another flight to Bariloche, or Esquel Argentina. From Bariloche, a luxury bus will take you on a beautiful drive along the Patagonian lakes and mountains to Esquel. IF you fly direct to Esquel you can arrive in Trevelin with some time to enjoy the area. Trevelin, Argentina is a charming mountain village gateway just 45 minutes from Futaleufu River in Chile. Trevelin is serviced by ground transport (Bus or private taxi) from the Jet ports in Bariloche (4 hrs) or Esquel (40 min). Check into a hotel in this charming village and walk to one of several superb restaurants. Unwind, relax, and get a good nights sleep before the start of you trip 9:00 am the next morning.

Day 3 Sunday: Your trip starts. Raft from the near the Border to Campo Tres Monjas
After a relaxing night's sleep at a hotel in the quaint Welch town of Trevelin deep in Patagnia Argentina, we begin this exciting trip with a quick shuttle across the Chilean/Argentinean border and into the Futaleufu Valley. We go direct to the Futaleufu put in where we will meet your guides and rafts. After changing into our river gear, your luggage will be whisked away and magically show up at your tent or cabin at our river eco-camp before you arrive. After the introduction of whitewater and paddling skills we encounter a section of mild class II water flowing through the Las Escalas valley. A couple of hours later the river shows its wild side and we encounter "Zeta" and "Throne Room", two of the most challenging (Class V+) rapids on the Futaleufu. We will portage both. After the portages, we get into our first action packed section called "The Wild Mile" which contains Tres Islas (IV), Roller Coaster (III), Honorable Mention (IV), Wild Mile (IV minus) and the climatic Thing. The excitement doesn't stop until we get to the confluence of the Futaleufu and Azul rivers as we take out on the unspoiled beach at our Camp Tres Monjas with the stunning peak of the same name standing guard. Our secluded camp, complete with sauna, showers and dining hall, will serve as the base for the rest of the week's adventures. This setting is arguably one of the most stunning on the river. Relax in the sauna and ready yourself for an elegant meal on the beach.

Day 4 Monday: Mountain Bike/Sea kayaking Lonconao
Today we explore the Rio Azul Valley on Mountain Bikes riding upstream along the river. Soft pastures juxtaposed with towering glaciers will, surely, remind you of scenes from the Sound of Music or Heidi. We will cross the turqoise Rio Azul on a swinging bridge on our way to a meadow with an overlook on the river and to the glaciers towering above. Luckily, we will continue biking down the Azul Valley back to camp ensuring you've had all your eyes can handle of this amazing, idyllic natural beauty. For the afternoon there is an option for a longer ride, or head back to calm water for a half day introduction to the world of sea kayaking on the hidden lake, Lonconao.

Day 5 Tuesday: Morning Hike/ Rafting to the heart of the Futaleufu
We cross the Futaleufu in our double canoes. Join the trail heading downstream for several hours to our put in just below the rapid Himalays. We jump in the rafts for an outrageous whitewater experience on the heart of the Futaleufu river! This is the 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. This Class 4/5 section prepares us for the sections we have yet to do. As if this highly charged river trips wasn't enough, we'll take out in one of the most gorgeous sections of the Futaleufu, the Macal section, after we have ample time to soak in the beauty of snow capped mountains, glaciers and pristine forests on the lower section. After the trip we return to our Camp and take advantage of our sauna and massuse and work out any sore muscles you might have after a big day of paddling.

Day 6 Wednesday: Mountain Biking up the Azul Valley
We ride toward the backside of Lago Lonconao through the spectacular glacier ringed Rio Azul Valley, arguably the climax of beauty in the valley. Here we will ride down along the Rio Azul towards the backside of Lago Loncanao. This ride is spectacular; beautiful vistas, all but no inhabitants...everything you imagine when picturing Patagonia! Chile rafting at its best!

Day 7 Thursday: Rafting Infierno to Campo
This is the most demanding, committing, and hazardous section of the Futaleufu. The highlight of our Patagonia rafting program! To raft this section safely, the river levels must be correct, you must have rafted the "Heart" section with us and met all of our safety requirements. We put in at the Río Espolon bridge and raft to the the confluence with the Futaleufu River. At the "Gates of Infierno", we enter the "Infierno Canyon" with several consequential and continuous Class V drops. After an exciting morning of rafting in the Inferno canyon, the river widens with spectacular views of Las Escalas Valley. After a section of mild class II water, the river returns to its wild side and we encounter "Zeta" and "Throne Room", two of the most challenging (Class V+) rapids on the Futaleufu. We will portage both. After the portages, we get into an action packed section called "The Wild Mile", which contains a continuous stretch of Class III and IV rapids. Futaleufu river rafting does not get any better than the whitewater we have just experienced! After the Wild Mile we arrive at the Río Azul under the sentinel of the Tres Monjas peaks. Tonight, we are pulling out all the stops with a huge asado or open spit gill. We'll enjoy a fantastic last night at the camp with drinks, Patagonian lamb and outstanding company.

Day 8 Friday: Rafting Terminator Section/cross border to Trevelin, Argentina
For our last day of rafting on the river we've managed to somehow save the best for last. We are taking off from camp as the rest of the luggage is loaded into our vehicles. We are headed to a section of the river called the Terminator section. You must have previously rafted the "Heart" section with us and met all of our safety requirements because 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 "Khyber 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. After we finish this section, we will have rafted the entire length of the Futaleufu! Our vehicles will be waiting at the take out as we make our way toward the border on our way to Trevelin after changing into dry clothes. Check into your hotel, take a shower and change clothes before enjoying your last night in Patagonia. There are a handful of outstanding and reasonably priced restaurants in Trevelin that we can recommend. Relax, recover and look back on the exciting week of rafting before heading back the following morning.

Day 9 Saturday: Return to Capital City
Depending on your connections you are now are in Argentina ready for an early departure in a cab from you hotel to the bus station in Esquel for the trip to Bariloche and your flight back to Beunos Aires. A private transfer can be arranged direct from your hotel to the airport in Bariloche. If you have a flight from Esquel you have the morning to enjoy and buy gifts in Trevelin before your 2 pm flight to Buenos Aires and the connection back to your home country.

Day 10 Sunday: Return Home

Accomodations:

Eco Camp Campo Tres Monjas/tent $2695.00 per person

Eco Camp Campo Tres Monjas/cabin $2995.00 per person

Condornest private group 2 to 8 $3195.00 meals at Eco Camp

Price per Person: $2695.00 USD to $3195.00 USD

Special Flexibilities: Exchile will be flexible to make your Chile rafting trip a total success. The actual program for your custom trip will vary according to the desires and skill level of your group, weather, or other factors. Patagonia has constantly changing weather patterns that might affect what day is best for a certain activity. If a certain part of your trip is not possible due to danger risks and weather extremes, our experienced guide staff will work with you to figure out the best possible option to substitute for the weather complications. If you have any concerns, please feel free to ask us more about the situations and what is guaranteed on the trip.

Included: Your described trip, guiding, instruction, activity equipment, local transportation, shuttles, all meals, wine with dinner, acomodations at our eco-camps, cabins, ranches or lodges, while on your trip. We offer a free pick up on Sunday mornings at 9 am in Trevelin at your hotel, and drop off to your hotel in Trevelin, Argentina on Fridays at 9 pm. See the packing list of your activity, for the specific clothing that is required.

Not Included: Transportation to and from your home town, and your accommodations and meals in Trevelin, Argentina or alternate trip pick up point. You can reserve and prepay on the web for your transport from your final air destination, to and from your pick up/drop off point before and after your trip, or you can direct us to charge your visa card and do it for you. We higly recommended having exchile make hotel reserves in Trevelin. (room capacity in this small village is limited). Expediciones Chile is not financially responsible for your travel complications getting to your trip pick up point and from the drop off point, HOWEVER, we will be relentless allies in offering our services to help solve any issues that you may encounter.