Sample Itinerary: The water levels and big water paddling in our area vary significantly over our paddling school season and we will adapt our kayak instruction itineraries to try and take advantage of the best the Futaleufu River Valley and Chile has to offer. In some cases we will repeat sections of the Futaleufu, but will focus on different kayak skills.
Day 1: Arrival and Introductions
Arrive at either of our entry points in Puerto Montt, Chile or Esquel, Argentina, the gateways to Patagonia. Connect with our kayak school representative and travel to the remote riverside town of Futaleufu, surrounded by majestic mountains. Here you will find your accommodations at our Tres Monjas, Patagonia Eco-Camp. A hearty meal, hot sauna, and wonderful views welcome you to Chile.
Day
2: Rio Espolon into the
Futaleufu
After a delightful breakfast we take a short
drive to the put-in of the spectacular Class
II/III turquoise blue Rio Espolon. We warm up
on the crystal-clear water, review your kayak
techniques and continue to the confluence of
the Rio Espolon with the Rio Futaleufu. This
will be our first taste of big whitewater and
the incredible power of the Futaleufu. We will
begin our big water kayak instruction by modifying and
adapting your kayaking techniques for big water
paddling. We will take out just above the spectacular
Class IV+ “Infierno Canyon”. Our
vehicle is waiting to return you to the comforts
of our kayak school camp and our native wood sauna.
Day
3: El Macal Section
The entirety of this kayak instruction day will be spent "double
running" the lower stretch of the Futaleufu known
as the “El Macal” section. The “El
Macal” section starts below the spectacular
Class V “Casa de Piedra” section,
which we will stop and see on our way to the
put-in. The water here will be big and fast,
providing the perfect introduction and classroom
for big water paddling. Here we will learn the
counterintuitive techniques of big water kayaking,
such as learning to delay our eddy turns rather
than accelerating them, dealing with large boils
and whirlpools, crossing elevated and depressed
eddy lines, and how to roll effectively in aerated
water. After a tough day of big water kayak lessons, we return
with sore muscles to the waiting hands of our
camp masseuse.
Day
4: Rio Azul into the Rio
Futaleufu
Today we are off to paddle the Class III+ Rio
Azul and follow it to the confluence of the
Futaleufu and beyond. The Rio Azul is a spectacular
tributary of the Futaleufu that is not to be
missed, being one of the most scenic and breathtaking
rivers in the valley. We will continue our big
water kayak instruction by noting the differences
in technique that big water paddling requires.
We will also get the opportunity to do some
play paddling on the Azul. The last part of
the day will be spent paddling the Class III
“Schoolhouse” rapid on the Futaleufu
in front of the Tres Monjas Eco-Camp. Here we
will begin to put all of our big water techniques
together. The eddy lines and boils of “Schoolhouse”
rapid are serious stuff. We will learn about
using the river to "pilot our kayaks"
and about the “plate tectonics”
and “sheer forces” that occur as
currents of big water come together. This is
the perfect introduction to the upcoming two
days of big water kayak instruction.
Day
5: Terminator Section
On this paddling school day we will put in at Campo Tres Monjas
and paddle through the “Schoolhouse”
rapid to experience “Asleep at the Wheel”,
the “Kyber Pass” and the awe-inspiring
“Himalayas”. This will be our first
day of really big Class III/IV whitewater. We
will learn about boat piloting, using the river
and not our paddles to get us where we want
to be on the river. On this day we will introduce
“river reading”, like learning to
tell the difference between explosion waves
and hydraulics. The highlights of the day will
be walking around the spectacular Class V+ “Terminator”
Rapid and running the “Himalayas”,
which contain some of the biggest standing waves
in the hemisphere.
Day
6: Bridge to Bridge Section
This will be a day that combines guided kayaking
and teaching. The Bridge to Bridge section contains
one of the biggest and most continuous stretches
of Class III-IV whitewater in the world. Today
it will be our paddling instruction classroom. Before each drop you
will discuss with your guides/instructors the
best lines and strategies to run the rapid.
It will be necessary to rely on boat piloting
to get us from place to place on the river.
After each drop the group will discuss what
went right and wrong in each person's run. We'll
run rapids like “Entrada”, “Pillow”,
“Mundaca”, “Last Wave is a
Rock” and “El Tiburon”; this
will be a day to remember! Afterward we'll head
back to the lodge and celebrate this day's run
over Pisco Sours at happy hour.
Day 7: Graduation Day
on the Upper Futaleufu
Today serves as our big water kayak school graduation
day. We will put in below the Class V Infierno
Canyon and paddle down to the Class V+ “Zeta”
and “Throne Room” rapids. We'll
discuss the big water strategies involved in
running these monster chutes, but we use the
well worn portage trail around each of them.
If we are lucky we may even see some kayakers
run these awe-inspiring rapids. Below the “Throne
Room” lays another continuous section
of whitewater known as the “Wild Mile”;
it will be the last challenge we face before
taking out on the white sand beach of Campo
Tres Monjas. Our celebration dinner will be
prepared at our kayak school eco-camp while you relax in our camp sauna or
enjoy the spray of colors in the sky while the
sun settles over the Tres Monjas peak.
Day
8: Departure
Wake up for an early breakfast and drive back
to Chaiten, Chile and your flight to Puerto
Montt, or relax for a couple of hours and take
our shuttle to Esquel, Argentina. As you catch
a final view of the Río Futaleufu; surrounded
by hanging glaciers and snow capped mountains,
take a moment to reflect upon all of the amazing
sights and experiences of this past week. After
all these years we are still stunned that views
like these exist.
PRICE:
$1995.00 USD
Included:
All meals, lodging, transportation, guides
and kayak, kayak lessons while paddling
with us. Round trip transportation
between Futaleufu and Chaiten or Esquel.
See the packing list for specific details.
The
actual Kayak Instruction program for your individual
trip will vary according to the desires
and
skill level of your group, the water levels,
weather, or other factors.
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| Experience Needed: Class
III+/IV- Kayak |
| Physical
Challenge: High |
| Cultural Experience: Medium |
| Lodging: Camp |
| Comfort Rating: Medium |
| Days away from home: 10 |
| Days with us: 8 |
| Max Trip Size: 14 |
| Price: $1995.00
USD |
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| Region: Futaleufu
River Valley, Patagonia Chile |
| Lakes,
Rivers, Sites Visited:
Chaiten, Rio Espolon, Rio Azul,
Rio Futaleufu,
Futaleufu Village |
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Also
offered at the Patagonia
South Kayak School: Beginning Kayak
Instruction, Intermediate Paddling
Instruction, Advanced Paddling
School Courses. How
to Roll a Kayak clinics and private paddling instruction.
Downloadable
pdf: Kayak
Instruction Program
