Futaleufu itinerary

 

 MULTI-LODGE DAY BY DAY

The Earth River Multi-lodge trip on the Futaleufu is the "The World's Wildest, Most Comfortable" river trip.  The unique journey takes you from one spectacular lodge to the next while passing through one of the most gorgeous river landscapes in the world.  With a group size limited to 12, 3-1 client to guide ratio. chef prepared meals and 4 star lodges, this one of a kind adventure is suited for anyone with a spirit for adventure regardless of experience level. 

DAY 1: U.S.

Participants take an evening flight (On their own) from the U.S. to Santiago, Chile.

DAY 2: SANTIAGO / PUERTO MONTT / PUERTO VARAS

Arriving in Santiago this morning, we pass through customs and transfer upstairs (in the same airport) to our hour and a half flight south to Puerto Montt. We arrive in Puerto Montt in the late morning, walk outside and take a taxi to the Cumbres Puerto Varas Hotel in the gorgeous Chilean town of Puerto Varas on the shores of Lago Llanquihue, where a room will be waiting in your name. With Mount Fuji-like, snow-capped, Vulcano Osorno, rising directly out of the deep blue water, Puerto Varas is one of the most beautiful towns in all of South America. The afternoon is free to explore the town. In the early evening we meet the Earth River guide, Maria, in the hotel lobby and go out for a welcome dinner.

DAY 3: PUERTO VARAS / RIO FUTALEUFU / LONCONAO COTTAGES

After breakfast Maria escorts us to the commuter flight to Chaiten. The 45 minute flight is spectacular as we follow a rugged coastline of lush deep fiords that connect to wild rivers framed within a verdant rain forest to the snow line of the jagged Patagonia Andes. Just before landing we get a bird's eye of the still smoldering Chaiten Volcanoe which erupted in 2008 burying much of the town of Chaiten in cement-like ash. We board the van and drive 3 hours past roaring turquoise rivers, hanging glaciers and deep blue lakes to our starting point on the Futaleufu. After a safety talk and flip drill we run a series of marvelous class 4 rapids including Mundoca, Wina and Tiburon. Two safety catarafts escort us down the river. In the afternoon, we take out and drive 15 minutes to gorgeous, Lago Lonconao and the 4/5 star cottages we will spend the evening at. Designed by a renowned Argentine architect, these stunning cottages are ideally located between the upper and lower Futaleufu Canyons. Each cottage has two large bedrooms, a spacious “great room” (living room & dining room) and a large deck with chairs overlooking the wild, clear lake and snow-capped peaks rising out of it. In the immediate vicinity of the cottages are half a dozen, adventure activities including; sea kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, mountain biking, swimming, fishing and hiking trails to other lakes.
NOTE: Meals at the Lonconao Cottages are prepared by the guides.


DAY 4: LONCONAO COTTAGES /  INFLATABLE KAYAKING CLASS II/III ESPOLON RIVER / LONCONAO COTTAGES

Leaving the cottages this morning we board mountain bikes for a beautiful 5 mile, relatively flat mountain ride along the clear, teal colored Rio Espolon takes us to our inflatable kayak put in just below a class 6 cataract called “Dragon’s Throat”. We spend the next three hours running wonderful class 2-3 rapids. (Note: Clients who prefer not to go in individual kayaks have the option of paddling in a small, guided raft). A ten minute drive takes us back to the Lonconao cottages for the evening. In the afternoon, there is an optional 3 hour r/t hike to a beautiful wilderness lake surrounded by old an growth forest. Those guests not wishing to do the hike can relax, swim and kayak right on the Lonconao Lake property.

DAY 5: LONCONAO COTTAGES / FUTALEUFU RAFTING / LONCONAO COTTAGES

Today, we run the class 5 *Infierno Canyon, with five major Rapids; Infierno, Purgatorio, Danza De Los Angels, Dynamite and Escala De Jacoba. We then spend the next hour running some class 3+ rapids down to spectacular class 5 -6 Zeta Rapid. Here the river flows through a narrow Z-shaped flume cut into solid granite. On the cliff just below the Zeta is a 10 to 42 foot high cliff jump into the aerated blue pool below the rapid. The aerated water cushions the impact by nearly half. Lunch is served on smooth ledges at Zeta. In the afternoon we raft a series of wonderful class 4 rapids including; Isla, Caos, Wild Mile and Casa Salvage (Wild Thing). For our final dinner at the Lonconao Cottages, we have a traditional Chilean Asado (roasted sheep over a fire).

*The Infierno Canyon is only safe at medium and low flows. If the water’s too high, we will drive around inferno Canyon and put in below. 

Note: The decision, to allow or not allow someone to run Infierno is always left up to the guides

Note: Class 4 participants have the option of hiking on a trail around short sections of the bigger rapids.

 

DAY 7: LONCONAO COTTAGES / RIO AZUL INFLATABLE KAYAKING /  PEUMA LODGE

This morning we board mountain bikes and ride for an hour down to our put in on the turquoise, class 3, Rio Azul. The narrow dirt road winds its way past beautiful small farms and through dense forests while gradually dropping 350 feet down to the river. We are now well trained in kayaks and spend the next 4 hours negotiating wonderful class 3 rapids on the Azul down to the confluence with the Futaleufu. The views along the way of the snow-capped peaks rising from the brilliant turquoise water are stunning. This is one of the most beautiful class three beginner inflatable kayak runs in the world. (a small, guided raft is available for those not wanting to kayak). Upon reaching the confluence, we board the van for the 15 minute drive to the Peuma Eco-Lodge for the evening. Situated in its own private valley, on a small Futaleufu tributary the lodge’s mile long driveway takes us into a hidden valley ringed with mountains on all sides. Each of the Peuma's beautifully appointed cabins are linked to the main great room and dining facility by boardwalks. The view from the dining room, deck and wooden hot tub of  Teton-like spires rising 6,000 feet above the forest floor is the type of view that people imagine when they think of Patagonia.

 

DAY 7: PEUMA LODGE / FUTALEUFU RAFTING / RIO BLANCO CANYONING / FUTALEUFU RAFTING / PEUMA LODGE

This morning we board the rafts and spend the next hour rafting some fun class 3+ - 4 rapids down to the confluence with the Rio Blanco slot canyon. After a safety briefing, we begin a remarkable journey through this hidden cleft in the Patagonia Andes. Hiking, climbing and swimming is the only way to traverse this incredible natural labyrinth of white boulders, clear azure pools and stunning waterfalls. Lunch will be at the base of one of the falls. When we exit the canyon, we board the rafts and run some of the most exhilarating rapids on the trip including; Terminador and Himalayas (with the biggest waves on the river). We spend the evening at the Pauma Lodge.

 

DAY 8: PEUMA LODGE / LAGO OBSESSION  HIKE / STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING / PEUMA ECO-LODGE

Hiking from the lodge this morning, the strenuous hike takes us past impressive waterfalls as we climb steeply out of the Futaleufu Valley through an enchanted forest of ancient hardwood trees.  After three hours we crest the ridge and arrive at stunning Lago Obsession. With its dramatic landscape of sculptured stone, snow and ice, this miniature, hanging blue lake is a masterwork of nature’s artistry and a rarely visited scenic highlight of Patagonia. Rarely does one find so much dramatic scenery in such a relatively small area. Shrouded in a vast expanse of old growth Lenga trees and clinging to the canyon’s northern wall, the views in every direction from the stand up paddle board are astounding. Cut by the glacier, the intimate 10 acre body of water is like a giant bottomless swimming pool. There’s a surreal feeling from the deck of a stand up paddle board as the water suddenly goes from a few feet to an over one hundred deep blue abyss. The lake is ringed by native old growth Lenga trees. A dramatic 2,500 vertical foot partially ice-enshrouded granite tooth is on the fourth. Cut by the glacier, in a wind free bowl, the glass-smooth water often reflects a perfect mirror image of the other worldly landscape. Condors can often be seen soaring in the updrafts. Later in the afternoon, we hike back down to the Peuma Lodge for the evening.

NOTE: Optional day’s activity: For those people not wishing to make the strenuous hike up to Obsession Lake there will be analternate less strenuus hike up the beautiful Rio Azul Valley to a waterfall. 

DAY 9: PEUMA LODGE / RIO FUTALEUFU RAFTING / YELCHO LODGE 

After breakfast we take a short, 10 minute, downhill mountain bike trip to the rafts. We then run a dozen major rapids including; Puente Colgante, Alfombra Majica, El Cojin, Toro, Mundoca, Wina and Tiburon, among others. We end the day with two big class 5 rapids (optional) Mas O Menus and Casa Piedra. After the last rapid the canyon boasts some of its most impressive scenery with grand vistas of towering mountains and glaciers. In the early afternoon we board the van for a beautiful one hour trip to the Yelcho Lodge.  Framed with a bowl of giant mountains, the hand-built wooden lodge rests within thousands of private acres on the edge of Yelcho lake which is the body of water the Futalefu flows into. The lodge has a mile of wild lake front property and numerous hiking trails. If time allows there is a hike to where a glacier vent of deep blue ice, meets the rain forest. We spend the night at the lodge or in comfortable cabins. That night we have a farewell dinner.

 

DAY 10: YELCHO LODGE / CHAITEN / PUERTO MONTT / SANTIAGO

After breakfast we board the van for the 1 hour drive to the Chaiten airport. We board the plane for the flight back to Puerto Montt. Upon landing there is usually enough time to transfer to Puerto Varas for lunch or shopping (on one's own). In the afternoon, individuals transfer (on their own) to the airport to catch our domestic flight to Santiago and then our international flight back home to the U.S..
NOTE: When you arrive back in Puerto Montt, the Earth Rver guide, Maria, will meet you with the extra bags you left at the start of the trip and help coordinate your travel into Puerto Varas for lunch or where ever else you would like to go. Maria will also hold your bags for you until you leave so that you are not burdened with your bags while at lunch or walking around Puerto Varas.


DAY 11: UNITED STATES

This morning we arrive in the United States and transfer to our connecting flights.

“Earth River made an expeditionary first descent of the Futaleufu in 1991 and figured out how to safely navigate it."
"Earth River is the premier river runner in the world. Their staff includes the finest guides to be found."
“Earth River is more than a great whitewater outfitter. Their contributions have made a real difference in our efforts to preserve some of the world's most beautiful rivers in Chile and Canada."
"I want to personally thank Earth River for helping us stop the hydro-electric projects on our land preventing the destruction of one of North America's last great wildernesses.
“I’ve rafted with Eric Hertz down some tough rivers—the Futaleufu in Chile, the Colca in Peru. He's one of the best in the business—obsessed with safety."