The Patagonia Tour is our most comprehensive offering beginning in Pucón and ending at the Futaleufú. Josefa Sepúlveda Fernández and Axel Hovorka guide guests through a mix of Chile’s classic rivers and lesser known sections, focusing on safety, authenticity, confidence, and progression. The rivers in Pucón are lower volume and steeper, with some ledge-style drops and waterfalls. As we travel farther south, the rivers gradually grow in volume. After we paddle the rivers of the Araucanía and Los Ríos regions, we will enter Patagonia. The first Patagonian river is the Río Puelo, located in a very remote part of Chile offers a true, untainted taste of Patagonian life. After the Puelo, we will travel by sea and land to reach Futaleufú where we will spend the rest of the trip between mountains and big waves, enjoying big water, and relaxing on a rustic riverside ranch complete with wood-burning hot tubs. Josefa and Axel know all regions included in this trip well and will fine tune the specifics, on and off the river, according to the guest's energy level and preferences.

We design the Patagonia Tour specifically for paddlers with Class IV experience looking to enjoy the variety of Southern Chile. We will connect unique rivers across different regions of Chile. At times, the rivers can be intense but we embrace a flexible style and allow the experience and reflection to shine through. This is a trip for paddlers looking for a supportive, relaxed, paddle focused, and immersive trip.

To maximize the experience and accessibility of the more difficult rivers on this trip, we offer our Patagonia Tour from January to March, after the runoff has peaked and the rivers are holding at consistent levels. January brings slightly more water and more variety in the Pucón area while February combines lower water levels with warm weather. March is when the seasons begin to change in Southern Chile and the summer season ends. Temperatures are cooler and the tourist season is largely over, water levels, though lower, are still plentiful. For paddlers looking to trade big water and warm temperatures for tranquility and consistent levels, March is a great time to check out the Patagonia Tour.

This trip is designed for kayakers who feel comfortable paddling in Class IV whitewater. This means some level of experience on runs that are mostly Class IV and whose Class IV rating is relevant to kayakers and not just rafts. 

As we go farther south, the volume of water in the rivers will gradually increase. Josefa and Axel mentor each guest to make sure they are comfortable and confident on the river. Each river on the trip has multiple sections ranging in difficulty and the trip is set up to accommodate varying levels of comfort and ambition on the river.

If you are not sure if this is the difficulty you are looking for, reach out to us. You can also check out our Pucón to Futaleufú or Pucón to Río Puelo trips which both offer a similar journey but less intense whitewater.

The trip covers a large swath of Chilean rivers ranging from waterfalls to high volume big water. Both Axel and Josefa have extensive expertise in both domains. Their first priority is ensuring the guests have a safe and enjoyable experience every single day on the water. Aside from paddling the new rivers and experiencing Southern Chile, a major goal of the trip is for guests to leave feeling more confident and skilled on the river. Prior to the trip, Axel and Josefa will meet one-on-one with each guest to understand their paddling experience and goals. From there, they will modify the itinerary and scope of their guiding specifically to each guest. Some days, the focus on the river will be getting to know the rapids while others will center around building confidence, reading the water, and improving technique.

Southern Chile is known for its raw natural beauty and generosity. As we travel between rivers guests will see and learn about Chile’s history, culture, and breathtaking landscape.

We travel together in our own vehicle during the trip. The specific vehicle varies according to the trip dates, size, and itinerary but we select is based on comfort, reliability, and practicality.

Accommodations will vary; in Pucon we stay in a house with European flair on the side of the volcano Villarrica, while we travel we will stay in locally operated rustic cabañas, and in Río Puelo we work with a local partner. At the Futaleufú, we stay at a rustic, Patagonian ranch complete with river-side hot tubs, mountains, and a nice beach right in the middle of the best Class IV section.

All meals and snacks are provided during the trip. We strive to combine local cuisine with guest’s preferences. Most meals will be prepared in-house but we will have the opportunity to go out and experience what is offered locally.

The road trip is a custom offering meaning that the itinerary is variable. For most guests the most streamlined arrival is booking an international flight to Santiago de Chile then a domestic flight to Temuco. The trip ends in Futaleufú in the Chilean Patagonia, guests can book a flight from Esquel, Argentina to Buenos Aires then return home from Buenos Aires.

A deposit of $2000 secures the booking for the trip. The full payment of the trip is due six weeks prior to the first day of the trip. If the trip is booked less than six weeks before the first day of the trip, the full amount is due upon booking. 

Because of the logistical complexity of the trip, we cannot typically issue refunds. We evaluate each case on an individual basis and can sometimes offer substitutions or rescheduling. For this reason, we ask guests to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy that protects your investment in the flight and the trip.