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Greatest
Whitewater Class III/V & Adventure Week on Earth
Nestled deep in the Andes of southern Chile, in a remote sector of
Patagonia, lies the little village of Futaleufu and the Futaleufu
river, one of the most secluded regions on our planet. Is an international
destination for outdoor adventure sports.
From Puerto Montt and after fourty minute flight you get in Chaiten,
a small coastal village. A spectacular three and a half hour drive,
accented by turquoise lakes and rivers, glacier crowned mountains,
lush plant life, and small villages, brings you to the small town
of Futaleufú, a walking village with a spectacular view of
snow-capped peaks, nestled deep in an emerald green valley with unusual
looking vegetation.
After a hard day of play, you're invited to relax and enjoy the
comforts of the Adventure Center Lodge, where tired adventurers
together enjoy a family-style Chilean meal, fine Chilean wines,
and an evening of leisure and camaraderie around the bar and fireplace.
The Adventure Lodge is an example of humble yet warm Patagonian
construction. A masseuse is available to soothe your muscles. Besides
there is also a beautiful inn located in the village. We often use
the inn for our smaller groups. And finally, for those guests desiring
a unique cultural experience we offer a cozy Hospedaje run by one
of the families in the village.
As a whitewater rafting river it is short, but very intense and
concentrated. From top to bottom it is only 44 kilometers, or 27
miles long. It starts at the border of Argentina, in Los Alerces
National Park and ends in Chile, serving as the headwaters of Lago
Yelcho. The Futaleufu has four defined sections of difficulty. The
most challenging runs are on the upper part of the river and the
introductory sections are at the lower stretch. We always start
on the easiest sections to build your skills and your team's skills
for the more difficult sections. For this reason we start at the
lower sections and then move towards the top. You and your team
will decide to continue on to more difficult water, or to paddle
the easier stretches. And, if you think you've had enough, there
are numerous other activities waiting for you in this spectacular
region of our Patagonia. The sections available to run also depend
on the level of the Futaleufu.
The Río Futaleufú is world renowned for its brilliant
turquoise to emerald colored water, majestic alpine beauty, dramatic
cliff faces, and adrenaline charged rapids, ultimate explosion waves,
sunshine, and warm weather. The Futaleufú is gaining a reputation
as having the "Greatest Whitewater on Earth". The rapids
range from Class 3, 4 and 5.
The following is a suggested itinerary. Use it as a model and choose
how to best get your heart pumping in The Heart of Patagonia, Chile.
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| Day 1
Sat PUERTO MONTT - CHAITEN - FUTALEUFU (arrival and introductions) |
| In Puerto
Montt you board your 40-minute flight to Chaitén, a flight
back in time. We will meet you at the airport where we start our drive
across the Andes: volcanoes, fjord-like lakes, hanging glaciers and
the turquoise rapids of the Futaleufu river. We arrive to our Adventure
Center Lodge in Futaleufu, surrounded by majestic mountains. You'll
unwind from your trip with a hearty welcome dinner, an open fireplace
and a cozy room. |
| Day 2
Sun INSTRUCTION TO PADDLING |
| We'll have
a great start with a beautiful average mountain bike ride alongside
the pristine waters of the upper Río Espolón. Then over
the river on a footbridge and up to Devil's Throat, a breathtaking
and still un-run class 6 cascade at the watershed of the Espolón
River. Below the falls, we'll enjoy lunch and then trade our mountain
bikes for sit-on-top kayaks and paddling gear. In double or single
crafts, we will tour the Espolón and enjoy its transparent
waters, ideal swimming areas, and easy rapids - the perfect introductory
run. The trip is one big loop that brings us to our take-out, minutes
from the lodge, where pisco sours and dinner await us. |
| Day 3
Mon HIKING & RAFTING THE CORAZÓN OF THE FUTALEUFU |
| In the
morning we will run one of the most action packed sections of whitewater
you will find anywhere - a virtual whitewater power storm! This section,
from the Zapata swinging bridge to the Puente Futaleufu, includes
five miles of class 4+ action. Rapids such as Entrada, Pillow, Tiburon,
and Mundaca with its must-see explosion hole, will keep you on your
toes. In a calmer section below the rapids, we will do some swim training
in preparation for the more intense rapids of the coming days. |
| Day 4
Tue RAFTING CORAZÓN AND CASA DE PIEDRA TO EL MACAL |
| This morning
we head back to the river. This run begins with a repeat of the adrenaline
charged Corazón section. At the end of the Corazón section,
however, we'll continue past the previous day's take out to where
the river picks up energy as the canyon walls turn into vertical cliffs
and huge glacier crowned peaks rise above. Here, we find Más
o Menos (class 4+) and our first authentic class 5 rapid of the trip,
Casa de Piedra. |
| Day 5
Wed WE ENTER THE WORLD OF HORSEBACK RIDING & CANYONING |
| These two
activities are the highest rated in our programs. Go back in time
and horseback ride through the 'trails of neighbors'. It is a network
of narrow roads that locals travel on foot, oxcart or horse that lead
to the valleys and isolated villages. A full day out in the 'Last
Frontier' in Patagonia. Or rappel, hike and swim your way through
a unique microenvironment of Canyon Gelves and Canyon Palenque. Few
eyes have ever seen this paradise. |
| Day 6
Thu RAFTING THE INFIERNO CANYON |
| This is
the most demanding, committing, and dangerous section of the Futaleufu.
To run this section safely, the water levels must be right, you must
have previously run the Corazón section with us and met all
of our safety requirements. We put in at the bridge on the Río
Espolón and soon arrive at the confluence with the Río
Futaleufu. At the Gates of Infierno, we enter the Infierno Canyon
with several serious and continuous class 5 drops. After an exciting
morning in the canyon, the river widens with spectacular views of
the Las Escalas Valley. After a section of gentle water, the river
returns to its wild side and we encounter Zeta and Throne Room, two
of the most ferocious rapids on the Futa. We will portage both. After
the portages, we get into the action section called The Wild Mile
Home, which contains continuous class 3 and 4 rapids. We arrive at
the Río Azul under the sentinel of the Tres Monjas peak. This
is the take out for the Inferno Canyon section. After a snack and
beers on the beach, we hike up a short trail and drive back to the
lodge and all of its comforts. |
| Day 7
Fri RAFTING THE TERMINATOR |
| More of
this fantastic white water. You must have previously run the Corazón
section with us and met all of our safety requirements. After a morning
hike, we put in at the confluence of the Futa and the Río Azul
and enjoy a warm up on a beautiful stretch of river that winds around
the Tres Monjas peaks. Then, the river takes on an extremely powerful
nature, with the longest and largest rapid on the Futa, the 'Terminator'
(class 5). Just below, we'll have to negotiate the hole filled Kyber
Pass (class 4+) and the Himalayas (class 4), with perhaps the biggest
standing waves in the hemisphere. We take out and return to our accommodations
at the lodge or camp, for our going-away dinner 'fiesta', live local
music, and a video review of our week. |
| Day 8
Sat FUTALEUFU - CHAITEN - PUERTO MONTT |
| An early
breakfast before we depart for a scenic drive to Chaiten, where you
catch your flight back to Puerto Montt. |
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December 2004
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4*, 11, 19** & 28**
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January
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4, 8, 15, 22 & 29
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February
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5, 12, 19 & 26
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March
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5, 12, 19 & 26
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December 2005
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3, 10, 17, 24** & 31
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January
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7, 14, 21 & 28
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February
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4, 11, 18 & 25
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March
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4, 11, 18 & 25
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*
US$1000 off if sign-up before June 30th, 2004!
** Special departures on Sundays |
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Club Futa
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Adventure Center Lodge
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US$ 2.200
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US$ 2.500
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INCLUDED :
- All ground transportation, shuttles
- Local air tickets Puerto Montt-Chaiten-Puerto Montt
- All night accommodations in Hostería Río Grande
based on double occupancy
- All meals, wine with dinner
- Experts bilingual guides
- Instruction and use of a kayak, or raft
- Sporting equipment needed for your described trip
- Kayakers need to bring paddle, personal paddling gear and camping
gear.
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NOT INCLUDED :
- Any type of insurance
- Gratuities and personal extras as communications costs, laundry,
meals or drinks or transportation out of the program and other
personal items
- Medical expenses in case of illness or injury.
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| DEGREE
OF DIFFICULTY AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONING: |
| You should
be in good health for these wilderness trips. The minimum age for
the trip is 18 years. There is no upper age limit, but older guests
should be aware of the rigors of a whitewater expedition. Previous
experience is suggested. Oar-rigged (center and stern frame) rafts
will be rowed by our staff. You have the option of walking around
any of the rapids. Experienced safety kayakers will help to cover
all the safety aspects while we are in the river. |
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Insurance
& Medical: we hardly suggest having your own personal travel
insurance. This must include: evacuation from remote sites, emergency
repatriation and medical & hospital expenses. Also it should cover
cancellation & curtailment and personal effects.
Chile requires no vaccinations for entry from any country. There is
no malaria or yellow fever, the tap water in most cities is chlorinated
and the general standard of hygiene is one of the highest in South
America. |
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