The Pucón to Río Puelo road trip blends some of Southern Chile’s most famous sections with some lesser known gems. The trip starts in Púcon, Southern Chile’s de facto kayaking capitol, and gradually works its way farther off the beaten path into Patagonia. The Río Puelo is rugged drainage originating in Argentina. It has been accessible by road only for the last two decades and is relatively underpaddled when accounting for the beauty of the region and the river. Josefa Sepúlveda Fernández and Axel Hovorka will guide and mentor each guest through the sights, sounds, tastes, and feelings of Southern Chile. The trip is designed to account for all our guest’s needs on and off the water as soon as they arrive in Chile.

This trip is for paddlers who want to deeply experience Southern Chile, on and off the water, and paddle in a comfortable and supportive environment. Paddlers looking to paddle class III rivers will enjoy all this trip has to offer. Because of the mentorship, flexibility, and character of the rivers present on the trip, guests will have the opportunity to progress their paddling if they desire. We firmly believe that guests have their best experiences when their own goals are supported and the nature of this trip accommodates that.

Although it is possible to run all the rivers on this trip year-around, we offer this trip from January to March. During the middle to end of the Chilean summer the water levels are friendlier but still plentiful for a Class III trip.

This trip is designed for kayakers who feel comfortable paddling and rolling in Class III whitewater. 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. Guests with expirence beyond Class III will enjoy the great whitewater and be able to paddle more difficult sections.

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. 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.

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. We meet our guests in Temuco and start the trip in Pucón. The last destination on the trip is Río Puelo. On the last day of the trip, we will travel to Puerto Montt where guests will take a domestic flight to Santiago de Chile then return home via an international flight. We help our guests book their international and domestic flights to ensure the most seamless arrival and departure.

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. After we meet and decide on a plan, we will send you the pertinent payment details.

Because of the logistical complexity of the trip, we cannot typically able to 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.