PATAGONIA ADVENTURE TRAVEL DETAILS

8:00 Am departure for half-hour drive to Aerodromo Marcel Merchant in Puerto Montt for a 45-minute scenic flight to Chaiten. We drive through the temperate rainforest, passing countless waterfalls and hanging glaciers surrounded by jagged mountain peaks! We will pause for a leg stretch hike along a beautiful glacial stream and a picnic lunch in Pumalin National Park. Arrive early afternoon at camp; camp orientation, swim, hot tub, and welcome happy hour. Dinner will be served at 8:30 pm.

Start your day of adventure travel in Patagonia with a Yoga class or catch up on some sleep. Today’s introduction and “warm up” includes a safety briefing and paddle training on the famous Bridge to Bridge section. In the afternoon, you may choose from mountain biking, or guided hiking treks in Patagonia, or a fly-fishing class, or our popular intro to Hard Shell, a river kayaking clinic in Chile’s stunning Futaleufu River. You might also relax, enjoy the hot tub or sauna, or get a massage!

Step up the rafting today! Raft from camp through Bridge to Bridge again and add on class V, Mas o Menos, and Casa de Piedra rapids.  After the tough rapids, we switch gears and opt for the Kayak Clinic part II, fish, or just a ”booze cruise“ as we drift into lunch, served off the grill on a remote island. Delicious “Barros Lucos” will be on the menu. The authentic Chilean Churrasco sandwich! After lunch, resume kayaking and take a most scenic mellow float for 5 km to Puerto Ramirez takeout. We ride back in our caravan of vehicles back to camp for hot tubbing, massage, relaxing, and dinner!

A short drive up the Rio Azul side valley for an exciting class 3 descent in inflatable kayaks! (doubles  and singles!) The Rio Azul is a low-volume technical river. We will run a 7 km section!

We drive to the stables on the other side of the river for a glorious horseback ride deep into the pristine wilderness of Northern Patagonia. Our ride takes us to the Refugio “La Idulgencia,” built by our neighbor and friend Tomas. We will have the lunch we packed and enjoy some of the most dramatic views of the Futaleufu Valley. The ride to the saddle under the Tres Monjas peaks is a 2500-foot elevation gain!

Drive to the Pueblo of Futaleufú. Raft the class V Inferno Canyon, a three-mile canyon of class V whitewater: Entrance, Wall Shot, Dynamite, Flight of Angels, and Exit rapids!! Then, we float down to Zeta and Throne Room rapids, which we walk around, only to resume paddling the exciting “Wild Mile “—four miles of class IV fun rapids. There is the option to raft the rapids below Inferno Canyon, thereby avoiding the Class V section and only running the Class III and IV sections.

Summit day! Raft through the Terminator, Kyburz, and Himalayas rapids. Lunch at camp. Raft from camp again to below Casa De Piedra in our “Blue Angel” formation. Optional hiking, mountain biking, or fly-fishing activities are available as well. Last night in camp: lamb roast/Chilean “asado feast” and wine tasting!

Early morning drive back to Chaiten and 45-minute flight back to Puerto Montt (PMC). Transfer to the larger domestic airport, “Tephual,” for flights home or to your next destination!