DAY 1: UNITED STATES / SANTIAGO
We take an evening flight from the U.S. to Santiago.
(Airfare from the U.S. to Puerto Montt, Chile is not included).

DAY 2: SANTIAGO /PUERTO MONTT
We arrive in Santiago this morning and transfer to the flight south to Puerto Montt. Arriving in Puerto Montt where we check into the Club Presidente Hotel. The afternoon is free to explore the city. Puerto Montt is a coastal port beautifully situated on the inner end of 20-mile long Reloncovi Sound. There is good shopping at the Angelmo Market where knitted and other handmade goods may be purchased. In the evening we meet for a salmon dinner on the wharf.

DAY 3: SANTIAGO / PUERTO MONTT / FUTALEUFU RIVER VALLEY (hiking)
We board a 19 passenger charter plane this morning and embark on a beautiful twenty-five minute flight down the northern Patagonian coast over fiords and mountains to the small fishing village of Chaiten. We drive an hour and a half to a trail head and take a magnificent 2 hour round trip hike through a rain forest, viewing impressive waterfalls and a glacier. We drive for another hour to the Futaleufu River valley and spend the evening in a small, comfortable bed and breakfast..

DAY 4: LOWER EARTH RIVER CAVE CAMP (mountain biking, trekking)
This morning we drive to the river. We then cross the river by raft and ride mountain bikes on a gorgeous single track path along the turquoise river for 4 miles passing some of the impressive rapids we will be running later in the expedition. In the afternoon we hike for 2 hours on a trail which at times is cut out of cliffs, hundreds of feet above the river. In the late afternoon we arrive at the lower Earth River Cave Camp. Like its sister camp, the main Earth River Cave camp, half a mile upstream (described later where night 7 is spent) the lower cave camp also has a giant natural stone shelter with a fireplace and a series of smaller private shelters and dramatic river side cliff dwellings. A short distance from the main shelter, at river's edge, is a massive, house size boulder. A series or wooden walkways and ladders lead to the boulder's nearly flat top which serves as a wonderful dining/campfire area. With the river's powerful turquoise flow 30 feet below, the views from the top of this unique dining area are splendid. This camp also boasts the river's most beautiful and secluded beach. This magical spit of sand, is framed between massive, sculpted boulders, a deep turquoise/azure pool of a side creek and the slightly different turquoise/ azure shade of the Futaleufu.

DAY 5: LOWER CAVE CAMP / EARTH RIVER TREE HOUSE/LAKE CAMP (tyrolean traverse, trekking)
This morning we set up a dramatic tyrolean traverse across the river. Wearing a climbing harness attached to a pulley, participants pull themselves across a rope stretched between sheer granite walls over the heart of Zeta Rapid. Although not particularly strenuous, hanging and then crossing over the class 6 rapid is extremely exhilarating. Upon reaching the other side we begin climbing out of the inner canyon, the views of the turquoise river, tower of the winds, Laguito Azule and surrounding mountains are breath taking. Cresting the top of the inner canyon, we enter a wonderful old growth hardwood forest. Tucked away in the center of this enchanted, moss draped land of giants is a 10 acre lake. Surrounded by native old growth forest on three sides, with dramatic mountain views on the fourth, this intimate body of water offers wonderful opportunities for swimming and canoeing (there are two canoes) A natural wood deck and a hand made 16 person hot tub sit on the edge of the 35 foot deep lake. Hidden back in the trees is a hand hewn log Gazebo structure with a fireplace in case of inclement weather. Just beyond the gazebo, 35 feet up in a majestic closely knit stand of old growth giants are 8 wonderful, hexagon shaped, 2 person, tree houses, connected like the spokes of a wheel from one central tree and circular staircase. These amazing architectural gems are all unique and were hand crafted by a Chilean master carpenter. Each tree house was designed to be self supported and not a single nail was placed in the trees. We spend the evening, suspended above the lower canopy with stunning views of the lake, surrounding forest and mountains.

DAY 6: TREE HOUSE CAMP / FUTALEUFU HAMLET (trekking, outrigger canoeing, mountain biking, river kayaking (class 2)
A wonderful 2 hour hike this morning which takes us to the shore of beautiful 4 mile long Lago Lonconao. After lunch we board custom made Hawaiian "outrigger" canoes. We have removed the omma (small floating stabilizer) from the side of a two person outrigger and replaced it with a second canoe creating an exceptionally fast, stable four person craft we have dubbed the " catarigger." A leisurely 1 hour paddle across the gorgeous clear, 4 mile long blue lake affords stunning vistas of the surrounding snow capped mountains. Halfway across the lake we stop at a traditional Chilean homestead for lunch. After lunch we finish crossing the lake where we meet the mountain bikes and
ride for an hour to our put in on the crystal clear, emerald colored Espolon river. After receiving a river safety talk and introductory paddling lesson, we board the kayaks and spend the next two hours paddling the class 2 water of this perfect beginners stream. In the early afternoon we reach some small comfortable cabins on the side of the river where we spend the night. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the quaint little mountain hamlet of Futaleufu which is a five minute walk.
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DAY 7: FUTALEUFU / CAMPO CASA PIEDRA (EARTH RIVER CAVE CAMP) (mountain biking, horseback riding, rafting)
We begin this morning mountain biking through the town and then another hour to a upper Futaleufu river. Here we exchange the mountain bikes for horses and spend the next two hours riding through sheer walled Infierno canyon. At times the trail, merely an ox cart wide, is carved right out of the canyon walls. Hundreds of feet below the angry Futaleufu pulses trough a series of impressive class rapids. After lunch and a river safety talk, we board the rafts and spend the rest running the river while training for the more difficult stretches downstream. In the late afternoon we arrive at the Campo Casa de Piedra(Upper Earth River Cave Camp). This is the most exotic and diverse river camp in the world. Not a cave in the true sense, the main shelter, refered to by locals as the house of stone, was formed by a massive overhanging white granite slab that rests on two boulders. There is a sand floor, natural sky light and giant fireplace in the rear wall that breathes smoke through a crack. This natural wonder is large enough to ride a horse inside and keep an entire group warm and dry under any conditions. In front of the main stone shelter is a beautiful spring-fed pond/lake called Laguito Azule (Little Blue Lake). Set within a bowl of massive granite towers as high as 300 feet and surrounded by lush vegetation, Laguito Azule resembles a giant Japanese garden. Its brilliant blue water is so pure you can drink it and so clear you can see giant German Brown trout swimming 30 feet down. Kayaks are available for those who wish to paddle. A few hundred feet beyond Laguito Azule rages the most spectacular rapid on the river, Zeta, a Class 5-6, Z-shaped flume cut into solid granite. Just downstream of Zeta, carved into the granite by the river in higher flows, is a heart-shaped, 3 foot deep water-filled pothole which we heat to 105°. With smooth, 45° sloping walls to lean against and fresh water every day, this chemical-free, stone hot tub comfortably fits 9 people. The smooth granite ledges around the tub are ideal for relaxing and reading. They slope gently into the calm aerated blue pool below Zeta making the transition from hot to cold water extremely easy. Soaking at night with the brilliant stars of the southern hemisphere aglow is an unforgettable experience. In the immediate vicinity of Zeta are smaller stone sleeping shelters. The most popular places to sleep, however, are in one of 18 covered cliff platforms. Perched in the massive boulders and cliffs above Zeta, with a bird's eye view of the tumultuous water, these private wooden stuctures have to be one of the most stunning places on earth to wake up to.

DAY 8: CAMPO CASA PIEDRA (CAVE CAMP) / CAMPO MAPU LEUFU (climbing, rappelling, rafting)
This morning we hike a short distance to the base of Torre de los Viento (Tower of the Wind). This 300' foot high granite tower rock climb is suitable for anyone regardless of strength or experience and is a wonderful unexposed way to be introduced to rock climbing. It will take about an hour for participants in climbing harnesses and attached to a safety rope to complete the climb. Upon reaching the top we will clip in to a cable attached to the ground and venture out to the end of the Knife's Edge. The views from the Knife's Edge of Zeta Rapid, Laguito Azule and the surrounding canyon are exquisite and well worth the effort. On the way down there is a rappel (lowering by rope). In the morning, we board the rafts and spend the morning training and then running incredible class 4 rapids and viewing the spectacular northern Patagonian scenery of snow capped mountains and granite spires. In the afternoon we run some more wonderful rapids and arrive at Campo Mapu Leufu. Campo Mapu Leufu, the first of our three private camps (personal bags are transported by an ox cart). Situated on a secluded bluff over the turquoise river, with dramatic 360° views of glaciers and towering granite spires, this wondrous 300 acre site is one of the most impressive river camps found anywhere. Dramatically perched on a 100 foot cliff over the water is a *Today is the most impressive day of rafting on the expedition and one of the most impressive rafting days found anywhere. We will run over a dozen impressive class 4+ rapids, some nearly a mile long with waves reaching upwards of 15 feet. The scenery along this stretch is world class with sweeping snow capped vistas around every bend. In the early afternoon we meet the bus and drive three hours to Chaiten where we have a farewell dinner and spend the night at a hotel.*Note: depending upon the group and the guides discretion it may be possible to run a number of the class 5 rapids found in this stretch.).

DAY 9: CHAITEN / PUERTO MONTT / SANTIAGO
This morning we board the 19 passenger plane for the 1/2 hour flight to Puerto Montt where we transfer to the flight to Santiago and then the evening flight back to the U.S.

DAY 10: UNITED STATES
Early this morning we arrive in the U.S. and transfer to connecting flights.

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