Over two full days of rafting, we will start with the Class 3 Las Escalas section and move into the Class 4 Wild Mile section. The impressive Terminator rapid is optional, and we then move on to the action packed class 4, Bridge-to-Bridge section. The last two days of the trip are open for trekking, mountain biking, sea kayaking, or introductory whitewater kayaking options.
The Eco Campo Tres Monjas, or your accommodation during the trip, is located on a white sand beach at the confluence of the Rio Futaleufu and the Rio Azul. The RiverNest Cabins are hidden between the river bank and the riparian forest, and each cabin is accessed by a private sand trail and surrounded by exotic Patagonian trees. After dinner, you can enjoy a campfire on the beach as you watch the moon rise between the impressive spires of Tres Monjas peak. At camp we have a sauna, flush toilets, a drying room for your river clothes, a dining lodge, and a selection of hot showers - including an exotic outdoor shower masterfully hidden between natural boulders. On this week-long trip, you will be able to play hard during the day in the Patagonian wild and return to the comforts of sit-down dining, a cozy stove, a sauna, and a warm bed. Rafting in Chile does not get any more exciting, wild, and comfortable than this.
Day 1 Friday: Depart your hometown
Overnight flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Day 2 Saturday: Travel to Trevelin, Argentina in Patagonia
Welcome to the warmth of summer in the Southern Hemisphere with an early arrival in Buenos Aires. Change airports with a taxi or shuttle bus and catch another flight to Esquel, Argentina. Taxi 45 minutes to Trevelin, Argentina, a charming mountain village just 45 minutes from the border and from the Futaleufu River in Chile. If you prepay, ExChile can meet all of your transportation needs until we pick you up at the Argentine-Chilean border the following day. Check into the Casa de Piedra hotel and walk to one of several Argentine restaurants with the Chilean Andes in view. Relax, unwind, and get a good night’s sleep before the start of your trip the next morning.
Day 3 Sunday: Raft from the near the border to Campo Tres Monjas
After a relaxing night's sleep at a hotel in the quaint Welsh town of Trevelin, deep in Argentinian Patagonia, we begin this exciting trip with a taxi to the Chilean-Argentine border, where an ExChile representative meets you. We are now in the Futaleufu Valley. After clearing customs, you will meet your guides and change into our river gear. Your luggage will be whisked away and will magically show up at your RiverNest cabin at our river Eco-Camp. Our first day on the river will be on the introductory Las Escala section. After our guides introduce you to safety and paddling skills on the river, we will encounter a section of mild class II water flowing through the Las Escalas valley. A couple of hours later, the river shows its wild side and we encounter Zeta and Throne Room, two of the most challenging (Class V+) rapids on the Futaleufu. We will study and portage both rapids. After the portages, the action starts with the section called "The Wild Mile," which contains Tres Islas (III), Roller Coaster (III), Honorable Mention (IV minus), Wild Mile (IV minus), and the climatic “Thing.” The excitement continues until we get to the confluence of the Futaleufu and Azul Rivers. We take out on the unspoiled beach at our Campo Tres Monjas, where a stunning Patagonian peak stands guard. You will be given a tour of the trails leading to the sauna, showers, gear drying shed, bathrooms, and dining hall. This idyllic spot will serve as the take-out and put-in for your activities for the rest of the week's adventures. This setting is arguably one of the most stunning on the river. Relax in the sauna and prepare for a sit-down meal.
Day 4 Monday: Rafting: Terminator Section and the Hearth of the Futaleufu
Today has to be one of the most fun and action packed days of rafting anywhere on Earth. We take off from our sand beach at camp and head downstream to a couple of warm up rapids before the river takes on an extremely powerful nature with the longest rapid on the Futa, Terminator (Class V). Just below, we'll negotiate the hydraulic hole-filled Khyber Pass (Class IV+) and the Himalayas (Class IV), which has perhaps the biggest standing waves in the hemisphere. After lunch, we run another complete section - Bridge to Bridge - which is the heart of the Rio Futaleufu. This section, from the Zapata swinging bridge to the Puente Futaleufu, includes five miles of Class IV+ rafting action. Rapids such as Entrada, Pillow, Tiburon, and Mundaca - which has a must-see explosion hole - will keep you on your toes. The action is non-stop and the calm between the rapids is short. This is world class rafting at its best! Even our most experienced river runners tell us that they have never seen such continuous non-stop action. After the trip we return to our Campo and take advantage of our sauna and massage room to work out sore muscles you might have after a big day of paddling.
Day 5 Tuesday: Sea Kayak Lago Espolon
You will put in on an emerald green lake surrounded by glacier-crowned peaks. We will cross these pristine waters to visit a waterfall dropping into the lake. Later, we will stop at a beach for lunch and then paddle back to the opposite end of the lake. Alternative multi-sport options include trekking and mountain biking.
Day 6 Wednesday: Inflatable Duckies down the Espolón River
In this whitewater kayaking 101 course, we teach you safety techniques and maneuvering strokes before we head down the crystal clear Espolon River. We will learn to eddy turn and ferry before we descend two rapids named Three Rocks and Rosi’s Wall. We will then take out in the village of Futaleufu. Alternative multi-sport options include trekking and mountain biking. After these activities, we will have a little bit of time to change clothes and to take a small tour of Futaleufu. We will then make our way toward the border, where your taxi awaits to take you to your hotel in Trevelin. Check into your hotel, take a shower, and change clothes before enjoying your last night in Patagonia. There are a handful of outstanding and reasonably priced restaurants in Trevelin that we can recommend. Relax, recover, and look back on the exciting week of rafting before heading home the following morning.
Day 7 Thursday: Return to Capital City
Depending on your connections, you are ready for an early departure from your hotel to the Esquel airport in a cab, and for your Thursday afternoon flight back to Buenos Aires.
Day 8 Friday: Continue your adventure in Argentina or return home from Buenos Aires
Campo Tres Monjas
Interactive Map of Campo Tres Monjas
Condor Nest Ranch
Price and Departure Dates |
Full Active Days: Four
Price per Person: Single Occupancy 2,595 USD (if available)
Price per Person: Double Occupancy 2,195 USD
Scheduled Departure Dates: Activity Calendar
Your described itinerary, guiding, instruction, specialized equipment, and all transportation from your trip pick-up point to your trip drop-off point, all accommodation (RiverNest Cabins are double occupancy), all meals, and wine with dinner. (To see the gear that we provide, please check the packing list of your activity.)
Multisport Choices: If you have a scheduled multisport activity or if the river is too high to run, the group can decide to participate in the following activities: Beginning Kayaking / Inflatable Kayaking (Class II-III) / Trekking / Sea Kayaking / Mountain Biking.
All pre and post-trip enroute transportation, food, and hotel(s).
Once you are on an ExChile trip, you should incur no extra expenses unless you’d like laundry services, massages, gifts, or alcohol beyond what is included. If you would like to add multisport activities that are not listed as options on your itinerary, we are happy to cater to your wishes, though these activities may be subject to an additional charge. These additional activities include fly fishing, horseback riding, and canyoning.
Weather and River Flow: ExChile will work to make your trip a total success, though your trip itinerary may vary based on unforeseen circumstances related to weather, river levels, or to other unpredictable variables. Given that the weather in Patagonia and the water level of the Rio Futaleufu can change, some runs may be dangerous at certain points in time. However, our experienced guide staff will work closely with you to determine the optimal substitute option, if relevant. If you have any concerns, please feel free to reach out to ask us more about potential risks and options.
Transportation: If extreme weather diverts your direct charter flight between Puerto Montt and Futaleufu to the all weather airport of Chaiten, ExChile will provide ground transport between Chaiten and Futaleufu. This course of action will allow you to maintain the planned itinerary. ExChile and G & G Travel and Tours are not financially responsible for travel complications associated with your scheduled carriers beyond the charter flight. However, we will be your relentless ally 24/7 in offering our influence to help solve any issues that you may encounter en route. Our clients provide significant business for the transportation services that we recommended, and they know that we aggressively represent our guests in finding solutions while they are en route to ExChile trips. We also recommend purchasing travel insurance.