Rio Futaleufu rafting holiday in Chile
Description of Rio Futaleufu rafting holiday in Chile
The Rio Futaleufu runs from Argentina's Los Alerces National Park west through Chile to the atmospheric coastal fishing town of Chaiten. Its clear untamed waters race through a pristine wildnerness of snow capped volcanoes, deep canyons and rich rain forest.
Begin your journey into Patagonia in the beautiful town of Puerto Varas, a distinctive place of wooden houses built by German immigrants by the shores of Lago Llanquihue, Chile’s second-largest lake. From here, transfer by small plane over stunning landscapes to Chaiten to drive to your base camp, taking in the multiple hanging glaciers, jagged glaciated peaks and temperate rainforests that ring Lago Yelcho.
Your white water adventures on the Futaleufu offer variety and unforgettable experiences each day. Adrenaline peaks include the stomping continuous maelstrom known as Mas o Menos (More or Less) and the class V rapid Casa de Piedra (House of Rock), while hardcore rafters can pit themselves against the intense white waters of the Inferno canyon – think aggressive class V paddling. Here too are Class V+ rapids like Zeta and the Throne Room best viewed from riverside!
A day on the Rio Azul uses inflatable kayaks to carve through one of the region's most scenic canyons with a mix of class II and III rapids plus the Class IV ‘Cheese Grater’. The final day's rafting offers stunning views of Las Tres Monjas peaks, as well as two of the trip's toughest rapids - The Terminator plus the haystack wave train known as The Himalayas. Alongside the white water battles, there are hours spent drifting down calm river stretches too.
There are brilliant activities from the base camp too. Take a two-hour horseback ride to a beautiful beach on the Rio Azul for an authentic Patagonian barbecue picnic lunch or a short hike to the 300ft Cascada waterfall. Other options include fly-fishing, mountain biking, yoga, sauna, massage and hiking - or just soak in the hot tub beneath vast Patagonian skies. The hardy can even go for a bracing dip in the river! Each night there are candle-lit al fresco dinners using local produce, plus music and dancing - if your tired limbs are up to it!
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Check dates
2027: 7 Jan, 6 Feb, 26 Feb, 8 Mar
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Responsible Travel
Planet
During our trips, we remove all rubbish from campsites and dispose of it at the end of the trip, with the aim of leaving campsites and other locations as they were found.Where possible, we use locally sourced products and locally run accommodation and food services during trips. Our Chilean camp is staffed by local people, apart from some guides, and uses solar and wind power to provide electricity for lighting. The camp also uses composting toilets.
In our office, we recycle cardboard, paper, milk cartons and other accepted materials. We also use energy-saving light bulbs and purchase fair-trade tea and coffee.
People
To support the local communities, we buy our produce from them along the way, sleep and eat in locally-run establishments where possible, and interact sensitively with people on the riverbanks as we believe in positive cultural exchanges so as not to change their lives.Our camp in Chile uses only local people to run it (apart from some of the guides.
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