In Pucón, rivers are always within reached. Well established as the epicenter of Chilean whitewater, Púcon is situated between a volcano and a lake, both called Villarrica.

We will use Pucón as our home base and explore the rivers of the Araucanía and the neighboring region of Los Ríos. The concentration and diversity of the rivers mean that we can completly adapt this trip to you, whether it is focusing on dialing in skills on Class III, throwing tricks, or the dark art of running waterfalls. As with all of our trips, we meet all our guests exactly where they are in terms of attitude, ambition, desire, and expirence and strive to create an envornment that feels like a friendly kayaking expedition with the personal support of professionals and free of any worries.

Guests of any skill level can enjoy Pucón. Because we are based in one place during the trip, we have maximum flexibility. If you are already confident in your roll in the whitewater you paddle, that is really helpful for your confidence and greatly expands what we can paddle. If you have lots of experience, Pucón is a great place to see lots of new river and grow as a paddler, not in a regimented way but rather organically.

Our season begins at the beginning of November, during the spring. The weather can be nice, but by no means consistent. The rivers are full and at ideal flows for paddlers who prefer lots of water or looking to paddle harder whitewater.

December is a mix between the residual flows from spring and summer weather, often best for paddlers wanting to experience the best of both seasons.

January 15 - February 15 is considered to be the high season for tourism in Pucón. It will be significantly more crowded. Flows are lower and friendlier for paddlers looking for a more mellow experience in the sunshine.

After February 15 and into March, the tourism drops off and the river levels are very low but still runnable.

Whitewater in Pucón ranges from Class II to Class V. As a rule of thumb, it gets easier the later in the season you come but this is not absolute. Class II-III paddlers will enjoy the excellent variety. Class III or Class IV paddlers will feel right at home with lots of opportunites to try new sections. The Upper Río Palguín is often a favorite.

We will plan the trip relative to your ability and ambition be it Class II, III, IV, or V.

There are dozens of rivers in the region to paddle during the trip. 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.

As we travel between rivers guests will see and learn about Chile’s history, culture, and breathtaking landscape.

Accommodations will vary; in Pucon we stay in a house with European flair on the side of the volcano Villarrica, we occasionally travel to other areas in the region and stay at locally operated, rustic, private cabañas.

We travel together in our own vehicle during the trip, from the river to our accommodation and wherever else we may visit.

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 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 (SCL) then a domestic flight to. Aeropuerto de la Araucanía (ZCO) in Temuco. We will meet you at the airport when you arrive then drop you off there when the trip concludes.

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.