We start our adventure, which can be regarded as one of THE most stunning road trips in the world, from Puerto Varas! The drive south sees us going past steep granite peaks, we take ferry’s across lakes to get further into the wilds, before kayaking emerald blue rivers with pristine water! Patagonia is unlike any place in the world. Spending time in such a remote and harsh environment is something out of the ordinary. The locals have a distinct culture and are more than willing to share their tales of living in such a beautiful but wild region, where time just goes with the flow of the river!
It is an incredible adventure and one that you will cherish with fond memories of fantastic whitewater, incredible scenery, amazing food, world class wine and a warm welcome from the locals, who will treat you like a long lost cousin. This is a kayak trip like no other, this is our Patagonia Kayak Road Trip Class 3-4.
Tour Overview
After picking you up at El Tepual Airport next to Puerto Varas our journey takes us slightly north to Ensenada. We stay at our friends Fredy’s place right by the side of the lake. In the afternoon we fit out our kayaks and then relax. The following morning we kayak the Lower Petrohue. The waves are big, the rapids are fun with chances to surf a wave with constant views of the Osorno and Calbuco Volcanoes. Later in the afternoon we find ourselves back at the lake, with the waves lapping onto the beach and the towering Osorno Volcano over us, it is a spectacular setting to watch the sun go down and a great start to the trip.
As we go through the gateway to Patagonia, we start one of the most stunning trips in this part of Chile, the seldom visited Rio Puelo. From the harbour it is a short ferry ride to get into the valley and from now on we are using gravels tracks, with no wifi and very intermitten phone coverage! Our quest is the Lower Puelo and its amazing canyon with its emerald blue water and unbelievable scenery. The sense of being in the wilderness is pure and the friendliness of the locals in this remote area is second to none. They are happy to see foreigners coming and especially kayakers. We spend our time off the river talking to the owners of the wooden cabins where we stay, sharing stories over a local “mate” tea or a glass of wine - this is Patagonia! We kayak the Lower Puelo again the following morning and after our return trip on the ferry, we continue south to Horno Piren, a quiet fishing town with an end of the world feel to it! The Rio Blanco is a little gem! With steeper technical pool drop rapids at the top, then longer rapids further down, it is a joy to paddle. The azul coloured water is a stunning edition to the glacier covered peaks further up the valley.
To get to Chaiten from Horno Piren involves taking two ferries. The scenery is outstanding as we flow past impenetrable forest, hanging glaciers and crystal clear rivers while hugging the coastline. It takes a day to reach the Futaleufu, but the journey itself is so spectacular. Even if the weather is bad and it can be, remember Patagonia does have a reputation. However, with even the smallest amount of breaks in the clouds and glimpses of sunlight it creates an ambience quite like no other!
Once we reach our next destination it is 5 days of kayaking heaven on one of the top 10 rivers in the world - the Futaleufu! It is not just the emerald colour and the abundance of whitewater that makes the Futaleufu so beloved, with different sections to kayak such as the Classic Bridge to Bridge, Terminator and El Macal. The river is also a true life source to the local inhabitants and wildlife. Spending time in Patagonia is something rather out of the ordinary. The locals have a distinct culture and are more than willing to share their tales of living in such a beautiful but wild region, where time just goes with the flow of the river!
Practicalities
Why us?
David, Steve and Mati form a fantastic partnership that not only gives you the opportunity to kayak amazing rivers in Chile but you will also get a distinct flavour of the region, its people and customs. David and Mati’s knowledge of Chile’s rivers is second to none! Both work for the prestigious University of Pucon, teaching the whitewater part of their outdoor education degree. With our experience in leading and running kayaking adventures you will not find a better team to give you an introduction to the Kayaking Mecca that is Pucon! Want to know more about Steve, David and Mati then please check out Our Team page.
Experience Required
You should have plenty of experience of kayaking Class 3 and Class 4 whitewater such as the Sanna, Landeck Gorge and the Lower Oetz in Austria at good levels. Your roll should be very good. Chile’s river classifications tend to be solid so if the majority of rivers you are kayaking are Class 3(4) then we suggest you check out our No Stress Pucon Kayaking Class 3 Trip. We will be kayaking for around 4-5 hours a day so though you do not need to be an Olympic athlete, you should have a certain amount of paddle fitness and stamina.
Chile Kayaking Season
Since we are in the Southern Hemisphere, everything is the opposite. Spring in Chile is October/November, Summer is December/January/February and Autumn is March/April.
Group Composition
Our ratios are extremely low, be it in the Kayak School, India, Peru or Chile! The ratio of the group is no more than 1 guide to 3 clients! We will also not take more than 6 clients on this trip! This gives you plenty of whitewater action with the opportunity to become a much more all rounded confident kayaker! This is why we like to keep our group sizes small!
Accomodation
We spend our nights in wooden cabins. They are the perfect place to relax, get a good nights sleep and of course when it is raining or the wind is howling, there is plenty of space for everyone to chill out before enjoying their meal, with a wine, beer or tea! We light the log fire to make the cabin nice and toasty and it’s also ideal to dry out our thermals ready for the following days kayaking! It is so nice putting on dry, toasty thermals before heading out in the Patagonia weather!!
Food & Drink
Food can be a real highlight in Chile, markets are full of vegetables and fruits of the season. Throughout the Road Trip we eat extremely well with a mixture of cuisines from Europe, South America and also India. Our curries are renowned and though not spicy they contain amazing flavours and are a real highlight. Also let’s not forget the Chilean asado - a grill laden with various meat, sausages and we even have some great vegetarian alternatives as well! Our water is from Patagonia springs and is so pure! David will have a cold beer waiting for you at the take-out and our fresh coffee is roasted in Pucon!
Extensions
If you would like to extend your trip we offer a weeks worth of kayaking in Pucon based from our brand new lodge that will be ready in 2020.
Dates & Prices
Tour Dates
We have tours planned on the following dates:
20-27 January 2024 (8 Days)
No dates to suit your plans? Just let us know through the contact form, we are pretty flexible here at the Kayak School trying to give you more of a chance to make that dream trip to Chile.
Tour price
For an itinerary, price and more information about this Adventure Trip, please send us a message through the contact form and we'll get back to you soon.