Raft or Kayak Futaleufú River, Chile

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Whitewater rafting enthusiasts count an adventure on the glacier fed Futaleufu River in the Patagonian region of Chile among their favorite trips. Futaleufu, translated as “Big River” in the local dialect, is a rafter’s dream with aqua blue water in an alpine setting. Large waves, ever present boulders and Class III to Class V rapids provide all the challenge any rafter could want. The area is chocked full of mountain streams, lakes and soaring peaks but is not a heavily visited tourist destination which is reflected in its pristine environment. The raftable section of the Futaleufu is approximately 65 kilometers with named rapids including Canon del Infierno, Terminator, the Throne Room and Casa de Piedra. The Futaleufu River gets its start in Argentina before it flows through an extremely remote valley in Chile before reaching its destination in the Pacific Ocean. Most trips begin and end in Chile. Access to the Futaleufu River may be accomplished from Buenos Aires, Argentina by driving through the area of Patagonia made famous in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, all the while marveling at lush verdant valleys and dense forests between expansive open plains. Other tour providers meet in Puerto Montt, Chile after first arriving in Chile through the capital city of Santiago. This route provides for somewhat less travel time. However the Chilean border is crossed the base camps of the tour operators, carved into the rainforest, are then accessed. Rafts are captained by highly trained guides and opportunities exist for alternative adventures along the way, such as fly fishing or kayaking in inflatable kayaks during lulls between rapids while on the river. Trips on the Futaleufu River can be as long as a 9 or 10 day experience taking in all the Futaleufu has to offer. The experienced tour operators are expert at provisioning and some support crews even include their own masseuse to help rafters unwind after a grueling day in the raft. Add a trip to the Futaleufu River to your list if you have dreamed about conquering the world class rapids of a river that many white water enthusiasts consider the ultimate rafting experience in the world. Test your skill and mettle while absorbing the unspoiled scenery and environment of Patagonia.

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