Kayak the Futaleufú
The Futaleufú stands out among the world's great rivers—electric blue water and endless waves set against a dramatic, green Patagonian backdrop. Whether you are looking to experience "big water" for the first time or are a seasoned paddler, the Futaleufú and its tributaries offer sections tailored to every comfort level.
We spend 5 days at our brand-new riverside base, soaking in the landscape and exploring the various sections accessible right from our doorstep. With a strict maximum of just 6 paddlers, we ensure you get plenty of personalized opportunities to improve your technique, learn to read big water, and build lasting confidence on the river. All lodging, meals, local transportation, and kayak equipment are included so you can fully focus on the river and the magic of Patagonia.
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Guiding and instruction from professional kayakers
Private transport throughout the trip (includes Chaitén airport pick-up and drop-off)
Accommodation
All meals and food during the trip
Kayak of guest’s choice (subject to availability)
Paddle
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Domestic and international airfare
Personal kayak gear (helmet, PFD, spray skirt, drysuit, dry top, shoes, etc)
Personal travel insurance (medical and cancellation)
Gratuities and tips
| Number of Days | 5 |
|---|---|
| Price per guest (USD) | $2,000 |
| Number of guests | 3–6 |
2027 Dates
January 18 - January 22, 2027
February 22 - February 26, 2027
Different dates in mind? We are happy to accommodate your schedule. Feel free to reach out via email.
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The Futaleufú valley features a diverse variety of sections ranging from Class II to Class V. As a baseline, we recommend that our guests have a solid roll in the whitewater they normally paddle. From there, we carefully curate groups that naturally align in experience and ambition—some trips serve as an introduction to big water, while others focus on harder sections and more playful lines.
In simple terms, this trip is for any kayaker with previous whitewater experience who wants an authentic Patagonian adventure without sacrificing comfort.
We take the time to understand the background of each guest to ensure this trip is the perfect fit for you.
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The exact sections we paddle depend entirely on the comfort levels of the group and the current river conditions. This sample itinerary represents a typical intermediate trip to give you a clear idea of how the week flows logistically.
Day 0: Arrival & Welcome to Patagonia
Morning: Arrive in Santiago (SCL) and catch your domestic flight to Puerto Montt (PMC).
Afternoon: Take the scenic air taxi over the fjords to Chaitén, where our team will meet you for the drive to Futaleufú.
Evening: Arrive at our base. We’ll settle in, kick off group introductions, and enjoy our first dinner together overlooking the river.
Day 1: Warm-Up & Big Water Introduction
Morning: Boat outfitting and a dialed-in warm-up run on the Lower Río Azul, continuing into the Dormido al Volante section of the Futaleufú.
Lunch: Fresh-cooked lunch back at our base.
Afternoon: A short lap on the Macal section of the Futaleufú, followed by a step up run from Mundaca to Puente; our first taste of the real Futaleufú big water.
Day 2: Classic Lines & Town Visit
Morning: Launch straight into the spectacular Mundaca to Puente section, dialing in lines before hopping on the classic Puente to Puente section.
Lunch: Riverside lunch at the scenic Playa Chucao.
Afternoon: We put right back on for more laps, looking to increase our comfort and try new lines . Afterward, we'll head into the vibrant town of Futaleufú to explore and soak in the local culture.
Day 3: Playful lines and laps
Morning: Enjoy a playful run down the short Milla Salvaje section.
Lunch: Relaxing lunch at our base.
Afternoon: Back down to the classic section, this time adding two more rapids, Más o Menos and Casa de Piedra, to link up the Puente to Macal section on the Futaleufú.
Day 4: Terminator
Full Day: A spectacular run from our base to Macal, adding the Terminator rapid then continuing down, hitting our favorite big-water lines.
Lunch: Riverside lunch at Playa Chucao.
Day 5: Grand Finale Todo Futa
Full Day: Today we tackle Todo Futa—paddling the whole stretch from the town of Futaleufú all the way down to Macal. We introduce the Inferno Canyon, Trono, and Terminator, some of the larger rapids on the Futaleufú.
Lunch: A well-deserved mid-day feast and rest at our base before finishing out the river miles.
Day 6: Journey Home
Morning: Say goodbye to the base, drive to Chaitén, and take the air taxi back to Puerto Montt.
Afternoon: Fly from Puerto Montt to Santiago.
Evening: Catch your international flight home from Santiago.
Experience the Río Futaleufú
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Why Choose Us?
We are proud to be the only Chilean-owned outfitter offering these types of trips. We believe the depth and quality of our trips directly reflect our connection to these rivers. We founded Chile Kayak Adventures to share our passion for this region, and our trips are uniquely designed to balance authentic local culture with comfort so you can appreciate these world-class rivers safely and completely.
Meet Your Guides
Josefa Sepúlveda Fernández: Hailing from Southern Chile, Josefa began her paddling journey in Pucón. She trained as a slalom kayaker, becoming Chile’s National Champion. After representing Chile internationally in Brazil and Paraguay, she transitioned to commercial guiding and instruction in Europe. Josefa has paddled renowned US white water (including the Little White Salmon, South Merced, and Toketee Falls) and is the first Latin-American woman to paddle Chile's massive Río Baker. In 2025, she became the first Latin American woman nominated as a finalist for Kayak Session Magazine’s Female Paddler of the Year. She loves mentoring paddlers and fostering a deeper appreciation for Chilean rivers.
Axel Hovorka: A lifelong paddler from Bend, Oregon, USA, Axel has paddled in 10 countries, securing notable descents on the Grand Canyon of the Stikine, the Río Baker, and the 115-foot (35-meter) Salto Puma on the Río Fuy. Fully bilingual in Spanish and English, Axel has extensive experience guiding and mentoring whitewater kayakers. When he isn't guiding in Chile, he is exploring new rivers around the world to expand his coaching skills.
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A typical day
Morning: We start with a fresh breakfast at our base to discuss our goals and river sections for the day. If we aren't launching straight from camp, it’s just a short drive to the put-in. On the water, we balance general group goals with individual, tailored feedback to help you learn the lines, try new moves, or hone specific skills.
Afternoon: Lunch is either enjoyed at a favorite scenic spot along the riverbank or back at our base. If we return to base, you'll have time for a short rest before hitting the water for an afternoon session.
Evening: We spend our evenings relaxing with mountain and river views, enjoying hearty dinners, reflecting on the day's highlights, and prepping for tomorrow's lines.
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Group Composition
To guarantee a safe, tight-knit, and personalized experience, our Futaleufú trips run with a minimum of 3 guests and a maximum of 6, always accompanied by two expert guides.
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Lodging
We stay at our brand-new riverside base, located along the Río Azul just before its confluence with the Futaleufú. Designed to blend the natural environment with modern comforts, the base features comfortable rooms for each guests, ample gear-drying space, a large living and dining area, and a panoramic patio. Because of its location, our base serves as the direct put-in or take-out for several river sections. The town of Futaleufú is just a 20-minute drive away. Learn more here.
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Food
We believe great paddling requires great fuel. All food and drinks are included in the trip price. Most meals are prepared in-house, customized entirely to our guests' preferences and dietary restrictions.
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Equipment
Guests enjoy full access to our fleet of kayaks and paddles. If you book early, you can reserve your favorite boat model for the season.
Kayaks: Popular models from Jackson, Pyranha, and Waka.
Paddles: A Werner lineup suitable for all paddler sizes.
To be most comfortable, we ask our guests to bring the rest of their personal paddling gear (view our packing list here).
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Arrival and Departure
While guests are responsible for booking their own international flights, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Fly into Santiago, Chile (SCL).
Take a domestic flight to Puerto Montt (PMC).
Take a short, spectacular air taxi over the fjords to Chaitén. (We arrange this flight for you; the cost of approximately 210,000 Chilean pesos round trip is simply added to your final balance).
We meet you at the Chaitén airport and drive two hours through Patagonia to our base.
The departure process is simply the reverse, and we will happily help you coordinate the right flight times.
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Reservation
If you are interested in paddling the Futaleufú, get in touch. We will help you determine which trip makes the most sense for you.
We require a $500 deposit to reserve your space on the trip. The rest of the balance is due 15 days prior to the trip start date. Please make sure you review our reservation and cancellation terms prior to booking.
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Safety
We make every decision with the well-being of our guests in mind, on and off the water, from the equipment we use to the rivers we paddle. We have training from formal bodies like British Canoeing and American Canoeing Association that complements our own experience and we always strive to be the most prepared we can. Learn more about how we prioritize the safety of our guests here.
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What our Guests Say
“Great experience again. Second year kayaking in Chile with Josefa and Axel. Both take good care of you if you want to join them, as well on the river and around.” — Roby H.
“All in all it was a very pleasant experience and I will most likely be booking another tour with Chile Kayak Adventures! - Highly recommended if you plan on doing a Chile Kayaking Trip.” —Pascal G.