Jacob Scherr, Dir. of Global Strategy, NRDC
Outside Magazine
Mathew Mukash, Grand Chief of the Cree
National Geographic Magazine
Robert Kennedy Jr.
ESPN Television
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Lost Beach (photo © Carr Clifton)
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stone hot tub (photo © Diane Terry)
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native stone shelter (photo © Carr Clifton)
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from cliff dwelling (photo © Neil Rabinowitz)
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Lost Beach (photo © Neil Rabinowitz)
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sky bridges (photo © Carr Clifton)
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native stone shelter (photo © Carr Clifton)
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Tyrolean river crossing (photo © Carr Clifton)
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view from cliffside dining area (photo © Carr Clifton)
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cliff jump (photo © Carr Clifton)
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from Tower of the Winds (photo © Hardie Trusdale)
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Knife's Edge (photo © Neil Rabinowitz)
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300 foot, two-stage, Grand Rappel (photo © Gonzalo Fuenzalida)
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Laguito Azul (photo © Neil Rabinowitz)
Cave Camp
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Camp Stats:
Nights (2): (Mon. & Wed.)
Type: Wilderness/Remote centered around Zeta Rapid VIEW
Arrival time: Mon. - 3:00 PM & Wed. - 10:00 AM
Access: River (rafting) and hiking/horse/bike trail
Area: 1 mile private river front in upper canyon
Brief Description: Located at the Futaleufu’s most spectacular rapid, Zeta, this magical, wild landscape is the most diverse and wondrous river camp in the world. A myriad of gorgeous trails and aerial wooden sky bridges connect a rugged landscape of striking natural features like native stone shelters, river carved hot tubs and granite towers with the camps amenities and nearly a dozen, diverse adventure activities. Because an afternoon and night are not enough to take in all the camp has to offer, we stay there an additional day and night. The view of the camp from the Tree House Camp trail looks like a scene from Avatar. VIEW
"The Cave Camp is a natural, adult-size playground. Like a grown-up version of a tree fort, it's the type of never-never land that would make Peter Pan and Lost Boys jealous. Aside from the novelty of a hot tub naturally carved into the granit ledge around Zeta Rapid, the camp also boasts miles of trails, stone shelters, hand-hewn wooden cliff dwellings and beautiful crystalline pools. Not to mention a 300 foot granite tower climb, two-stage rappel and a giant stone shelter" VIEW
- American Way (American Airlines Magazine)
Features:
Zeta Rapid: Scenic heart of camp where entire river slices through narrow, z shaped granite mini canyon. VIEW
Stone tub: River carved, heart shaped, 10 person hot tub along side Zeta Rapid. VIEW
Casa Piedra (House of Stone): 1,600 sq. foot native stone shelter with natural sky lights that is used for dining in inclement weather. VIEW The fireplace drafts ther smoke through a natural chimney in a fifty foot crack in the roof. VIEW
Tower of the Winds: 300 foot granite climbing/rappelling tower, requiring a three part technical rock climb. The view from the top of this gigantic natural tri-pod is one of the grandest on the river. VIEW
Knife’s Edge: Narrow granite ridge jutting out from Tower of the Winds, offering the river's most spectacular view. VIEW Participants clipp in to a cable in order to safely venture out on the sheer 300 foot granit flake. VIEW
Laguito Azule: Deep, translucent azure/teal colored, Japanese garden like pond/lake set within sheer walls with kayaks, multiple cliff jumps. VIEW A Huck Finn raft crossing across Laguito Azul connects the Tower of the Winds with the sleeping and dining areas. VIEW
Lost Beach: Beautiful, secluded beach on a calm, deep inlet within a bowl of giant white boulders. VIEW VIEW
Cliffside dining area: Giant, natural stone terrace with tables, benches and stunning views of Tower of the winds and Zeta Rapid. VIEW
Sky bridges: Hand hewn aerial bridges that connect camp amenities, activities and natural features. VIEW
Cliffside hot tub: 16 person hand-hewn hot tub and deck, with breath taking view of Zeta Rapid. VIEW
Cliff dwellings: 14 hand-hewn, wooden dwellings with stunning views of Zeta Rapid. VIEW Each dwelling looks at the river's most spectacular rapid from it's own unique angle. VIEW
"I couldn’t believe all the things there are to do at Cave Camp! Someone asked me which activity I liked the best. I enjoyed the tyrolean and zip line but climbing the tower and seeing the panoramic view from on top was the highlight."
- Anne Ehlers, Futaeufu guest 2002
Activities:
Rock climbing: 3 stage, 300 foot, technical rock climb on rope up Tower of the Winds.
(beginner to expert)
Rappelling: Two stage (with mid station ledge), 300 foot rappel off sheer 300 foot north wall of the Tower of the Winds. VIEW A guide (wearing red in next photo) waits on a ledge to swich participants to a second rope. VIEW
Cliff jumping: 10 to 45 foot cliff jump into the deep, aerated (soft) pool below Zeta Rapid. There is also a 20 foot jump into the translucent blue water of Laguito Azul. VIEW
Tyrollean River Crossing: Rope river crossing over class 6 Zeta Rapid (first part of hike to Tree House Camp)
Zip Line: The final leg of the return from Tree House Camp, is a downhill, high-wire glide over the river and a plunge into the Turquoise pool below Zeta rapid. VIEW
Hiking: Miles of remote hiking trails, linked by hand-hewn wooden sky bridges and signs VIEW to Lost Beach, Tower of the Winds, Laguito Azul and the camp's other unique features. VIEW
Kayaking: Flat water paddling beneath the sheer 300 north wall of Tower of the Winds on Laguito Azul.
Fishing: Marvellous fishing at Lost beach and the rarely casted area between class 6 Zeta and Throne Room Rapids.
Swimming: In Laguito Azul (Blue Lake) and at Lost Beach.
Forbes Magazine & Yahoo recently co-wrote a story on the world's ten most beautiful rivers. The Futaleufu was one of two whitewater rivers included. Both photographs selected for the Futaleufu were the heart of the Earth River Cave Camp, Zeta Rapid, where our guests spend two days and two nights. VIEW
