National Geograpic Adventure-Nov
2004
Selected Expediciones Chile as the top
trip in South America
and one of the few in the world that win you
lifelong Bragging Rights. They rated our trips
as more exciting than running with the bulls
in Spain!!! We do not know if we agree but
we are thinking of booking a trip to Pamplona,
Spain for our next staff training.
El
Mercurio Domingo-Jan 2005
Chose Expediciones Chile as the most experienced
company to descend the Futaleufu. They showered
us with so many positive comments it is almost
embarrrassing!! They claimed our owner was
an Olympic Medalist when in reality he was
a World Championship medalist, though he was
on the US Olympic team in 1984. The article
gave us an ego trip for sure as El Mercurio
is considered the New York Times of Chile.
Blue
Adventure Guide- July 2001.
Named Expediciones Chile trips as their "Quintessential
Destination."
Discovery
Magazine - Ultimate Destinations
Spring 1996
"DISCOVER THE PERFECT RIDE ON CHILE'S
FUTALEUFU. CHRIS SPELIUS SEARCHED THE WORLD
FOR THE PERFECT RIVER. SHARE HIS DREAM IN
A REMOTE CHILEAN VALLEY, COMPLETE WITH MOUNTAIN
GRANDEUR AND FRIENDLY CAMPESINOS" - David
Quammen
Outside
Magazine- Jan 2000
Featured
our FutaFantasy trip as one of the world’s
top 100 far-flung expeditions.
According
to their January 2000 Trip Finder Issue, "An
Expediciones Chile Adventure vacation is guaranteed
to change or at least improve your life."
Paddler
Magazine
Named Chris Spelius as one of the Legends of
Paddling.
Paddler
Magazine- Paddlers of the Century
Issue
Honored Chris Spelius as a Paddler of the Century.
Discovery
Magazine - Destinations December
1995
"Some knowledgeable people will tell you
that the Futaleufu is the greatest whitewater
river in the world. That's what they've told
me, and that's why I'm here. God help the middle-aged
journalist who thinks he can handle a kayak."
-David
Quammen
Outside
Magazine- March 1994
"Spelius Rides the Wave," by David
Quammen
Feature article on our company founder about
his competitive Whitewater Rodeo days.
Canoe Focus -August 1994
"When you think you have seen it all you
arrive at Campo Tres Monjas and thedefinition
of a beautiful setting has to be re-written."
- Paul Oz
American
Whitewater - December 1995
"No wonder this river is gaining a reputation
as the continent's finest boating destination.
All you need is to visit a place called Campo
Tres Monjas, now one of the finest facilities
of its kind anywhere." - Howard
Davidson
Television
Productions
Extremists
- Cable USA "Chris Spelius and the
Futaleufú"
Outdoor Life - Cable USA "The
Futaleufu"
In the Land we Live In - TVN
Chile - Save the Futaleufú
HBO Ole - Cable Latin America
Chris Spelius - Extremist
"Life of the River - the Futaleufu"
- Liz McGregor production
Plight of the Futaleufu - Public
Television USA - Terry Shiels Production
Canadian
Public Television - releasing a production
2003 summer
Ruta
Chile- TVN
Chile- ''La Ruta del Turismo'' releasing february
2005.
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Rafting
& multisport
---Original Message-----
From: KEFS27@
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 10:07 AM
To: spe@exchile.com
Subject: Testimonial - long!
Dear
Chris,
I am so sorry that it has taken over 2 weeks
to formulate some sort of commentary on our
Futaleufu adventure vacation. Our trip to your
corner of paradise allowed me to realize and/or
learn many things. One of the realizations is
that it is FAR easier to describe a trip to
a 5 Star hotel that surrounds one with luxury
and feeds ones' soul with nothing more than
a chocolate on a pillow than to describe a trip
to a lodge such as yours which overfeeds the
soul with experiences and beauty! One might
return from the luxury-filled world of the 5
Star hotel feeling pampered and relaxed, and
quickly return to the life back home well rested.
Returning to life as usual is easy in that scenario.
I can say with confidence that returning to
life as usual was not easy for any of the participants
of our trip! I think that is because we are
all still trying to digest the experiences that
we had while under your care - our souls were
truly overfed!
The
beauty that surrounds Futaleufu is remarkable!
The raw and virgin landscape, completely unlittered
by technology and development, is breathtaking.
The serene silence that we woke to each morning
is unforgettable and was only broken as we approached
the wild waters of the surrounding rivers. Riding,
paddling and rafting through your wilderness
each day presented us with challenges which
may have hampered us had it not been for the
majestic surroundings as well as the unbridled
enthusiasm of you and your guides. Reflecting
on our second day of rafting, I don't remember
a drop of rain falling on us and yet I know
it was pouring! All I remember is walls of wild
water surging above us in the raft, and the
level of the Futaleufu rising with the help
of seemingly spontaneous waterfalls all around
us. The thundering sounds of the water, as it
fought to crash around the rocks and boundaries
that create the rapids, were matched in volume
by our laughter and cheers of victory as we
survived the unforgiving Futaleufu! At the end
of that day and every other day we were tired,
aching, cold and completely invigorated - ready
to face a night of well deserved celebration!
Not a minute of our fun or excitement would
have been the same without the care of your
"family." It would be completely inappropriate
to call them your staff! I can only imagine
your first impressions of us as we dragged ourselves
through your front door on night 1! We were
like drowned rats - each craving certain comforts
of home after the long hours of travel! Nonetheless,
you guys kicked the trip into high gear the
moment we arrived and somehow managed to keep
up a high level of positive energy and enthusiasm
for 6 days and nights. How did you do it? The
good karma that lives among all of you was highly
contagious and was an energy that we all needed,
used and did our best to bring home. Thank you!
No, your lodge is not a 5 Star hotel and I pray
that it never becomes one. I will forever choose
an experience which feeds my soul over one that
merely offers a chocolate on the pillow. Our
adventure travel vacation with Expediciones
Chile will live with me forever, and I look
forward to a return trip sooner than later!
Enjoy your last few weeks in paradise!
Kimberly
Chris
-
We made it back to Seattle, Washington after
10 weeks of exploring Argentina and Chile. Our
weekend in Futaleufu was the most memorable
of all our time in Chile. We spent our first
day with our friend John learning to kayak on
a beautiful lake in the a.m. Our guide was able
to take us beginner kayakers to the next level
within a couple of hours - kayaking Rio Espolon
after a wonderful lunch.
Day
2 was spent white water rafting level 4 and
5 rapids. We were a little "hung over"
from our wild night spent in the lodge restaurant
and bar, but once we got to the river we were
pumped up immediately.
Day
3 we canyoned down some amazing waterfalls.
This was another first for us, and the photos
we took were amazing.
We
would recommend your guides, lodging, staff,
and restaurant. We could have stayed longer
and already are looking forward to our trip
next year.
What
a great experience for all levels of adventure
travelers.
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Fly
Fishing uncut
We
got RAVE critiques from the Hillenbrand party:
"Nicolas provided a marvelous introduction
to Chile on the road trip from Chaiten."
"Excellent & very imaginative vegetarian
meals."
"Chris Spelius & his staff provided
an exciting adventure that will live on in our
memories."
"Hotel at Futaleufu... Spartan but good...
great staff... people the best anywhere."
Highlights: "The people at Futaleufu, guides
& guests."
"It was great.... a rural throw back experience
in time where people live a simple life ....
happy, fulfilled & content. Chris the host
& owner was the best, most sincere and genuine
host I have encountered in 50 years of diverse
adventure travel vacations. A real 1st class
person."
SO, U & your people hit another home run....
congratulations & thanks for being all that
U R.
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Complaints
Uncut
From:
CarmenBSTK
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 23:42:56 EST
Subject: Flight to Chile
To: pdlt@
Hello
Paula,
We had a wonderful experience in Chile! I am
writing to point out some travel problems that
we encountered so that hopefully they can be
avoided for future clients. Our booking allowed
us less than 2 hours to arrive at LAX from Phoenix,
get to the international airport, and board
the bus which leads to the Lan Chile plane.
The last bus leaves approximately one hour prior
to the sceduled departure. Lan Chile also had
moved our flight up by 30 minutes and we werent
notified. We were needless to say disappointed
when we were denied boarding to Santiago until
the following day. Chris and Expediciones Chile
saved the day by picking us up the following
day and driving straight to the river! I hope
this info helps to prevent similar problems
in the future! Thanks for everything,
Carmen
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