|
|
|
10 Day
Alternating between granite cliffs,
lush
foliage, snow-capped peaks and towering spires, the world's premiere
whitewater river pours dramatically through a breathtaking canyon of
unimaginable beauty boasting one Class 4 or 5 rapid after another. The
calm
stretches afford the chance to enjoy the river's gorgeous
azure-turquoise
water and the canyon's stunning northern Patagonian scenery. Earth
River
Expeditions offers the option of hiking or riding horses on a beautiful
trail
around some of the more difficult stretches of the Futaleufu, which
opens up
this incredible trip to anyone in reasonably good shape with a spirit
of
adventure. This group gets back into the rafts to enjoy miles of
impressive
Class 4 whitewater, the private Earth River camps and one-of-a-kind
wilderness challenge course.
Dates: January - March, December Difficulty: Moderate |
|
| Day 1 | United States / Santiago You will take an evening flight to Santiago, Chile. |
| Day 2 | Santiago / Puerto Montt We arrive in Santiago early in the morning and transfer to the flight south to Puerto Montt. Arriving in Puerto Montt, we hire a taxi and transfer to the beautiful old world style Vienta Sur Hotel (a hotel room is reserved under your name). The afternoon is free to explore Puerto Montt. Puerto Montt is a coastal port beautifully situated at the inner end of twenty mile long Reloncovi Sound. There is good shopping at the Angelmo Market where knitted and other handmade goods may be purchased (ask the person in the hotel lobby how to find the market). In the evening we meet the Earth River Guide, Elizabeth Currie, in the hotel lobby (7:30) for a salmon dinner on the wharf. |
| Day 3 | Puerto Montt / Chaiten / Rio Futaleufu This morning we transfer to the airport. Boarding a 20 seater, we embark on a beautiful twenty-five minute flight down the northern Patagonian coast over fiords and mountains to the small fishing village of Chaiten. We drive an hour and a half to a trail head and take a magnificent 3 hour round trip hike through a rain forest, viewing impressive waterfalls, to the base of a spectacular glacier. We then drive an hour and a half to Campo Mapu Leufu, the private 75 acre Earth River base camp. Situated on a secluded bluff over the turquoise river with dramatic 360° views of glaciers and towering granite spires, it is one of the most impressive river camps found anywhere. Dramatically perched on a 100 foot cliff over the water is a hand-planed 16 person wooden hot tub with incredible river and mountain views (the water is changed daily so no chemicals are necessary). In case of inclement weather, there is a 5 sided gazebo-like shelter that sleeps 18 people and has a five foot fireplace in the center. Tents are also available. A crystal clear pond/lake offers swimming and kayaks for paddling. A professional Chilean masseuse accompanies the entire trip. These amenities have been added in such a way as to not take away from the wild nature of the river and expedition. There is also a beautiful lake and old growth forest an hour's hike from camp as well as a manual cable car crossing over the Futaleufu which affords the chance to hike up a spectacular white granite tributary on the other side of the river. |
| Day 4 | Rio Futaleufu/Training Day A short 1/2 hour drive this morning takes us to gorgeous 8 mile long Lago Espolon. Here we board exceptionally fast, custom-mad outrigger canoes. Paddling and gliding across the crystal clear azure lake, hemmed in by massive snow capped peaks, is a wonderful pressure free way to learn the proper paddle techniques necessary for running the river. Late in the morning we drive back to the river and put in on the lower Futaleufu. We begin by doing flip drills and a swim test. (These drills are optional for Class 4 participants). We then run a series of long, powerful Class 4+ rapids. In the early afternoon we take out and drive 20 minutes back to the base camp. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax in the hot tub, kayak on the pond (lessons available) or go on a beautiful hike to the lake and old growth forest or cross the river on the cable crossing and hike the tributary on the other side. |
| Day 5 | Rio Futaleufu In the morning we drive 1 hour to the put in on the upper river. Soon we enter the wild, sheer walled Class 5 Inferno Canyon* with Purgatorio, Danze de los Angeles, Escala De Jacoba and Infierno rapids. In the afternoon we raft down to Campo Casa de Piedra, the Earth River cave camp. This is the most exotic and diverse river camp in the world. A massive overhanging white granite slab forms a shelter large enough to ride a horse inside and comfortably sleep the entire group. The floor is sand and there is a natural sky light and large fireplace in the rear wall that breathes smoke through a crack. In the immediate vicinity is the masseuse cave and other smaller stone shelters for those wishing privacy (tents also available). In front of the main stone shelter is a beautiful spring-fed pond/lake called Laguito Azule (Little Blue Lake). Set within a bowl of massive granite towers as high as 300 feet and surrounded by lush vegetation, Laguito Azule resembles a giant Japanese garden. Its brilliant blue water is so pure you can drink it and so clear you can see giant trout swimming 30 feet down. Kayaks are available for those who wish to paddle. A few hundred feet beyond Laguito Azule rages the most spectacular rapid on the river, Zeta, a Class 5-6, Z-shaped flume cut into solid granite. Just downstream of Zeta, carved into the granite by the river in higher flows, is a heart-shaped, 3 foot deep water-filled pothole which we heat up to 105 degrees. With smooth, 45 degree sloping walls to lean against and fresh water every day, this chemical-free, stone hot tub comfortably fits nine people. The smooth granite ledges around the tub are ideal for relaxing and reading. They slope gently into the calm aerated blue pool below Zeta making the transition from hot to cold water extremely easy. Soaking at night with the brilliant stars of the southern hemisphere aglow is an unforgettable experience. *OPTION: Participants choosing not to run the Class 5 Infierno Canyon will have the option of either riding a horse or hiking the four miles around the canyon. The horse trail around (actually through) the canyon is spectacular with stunning views of the turbulent turquoise river below. This group will meet the group for lunch and spend the afternoon back on the river. |
| Day 6 | Cave Camp Layover/Challenge Cirquev Today is yours. You have the option of hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, world class trout fishing, relaxing or completing all or parts of the Earth River Challenge Cirque (see map on proceeding pages). This unique course has been designed to challenge people of all abilities and is one of the highlights of the trip. It begins with the boulder challenge, a beautiful climb up, around and through a myriad of boulders and smaller caves that surround Laguito Azule. Next there is a dramatic Tyrolean traverse where participants in climbing harnesses attached to pulleys pull themselves across a rope stretched over the heart of Zeta Rapid. Once on the other side participants use a zip line to cross back, sliding down an angled cable on a pulley. Then there is a cliff jump from 10 to 36 feet into the aerated blue pool below Zeta. In the afternoon we do a rock climb up the backside of the Torre de los Viento (Tower of the Wind). The views from the top of this granite tower of Zeta Rapid, Laguito Azule and the surrounding canyon are exquisite. The last station on the cirque is a rappel (lowering by rope) off the tower. Participants can combine any part of the challenge course with horseback riding or any number of other activities. |
| Day 7 | Rio Futaleufu The morning is spent running challenging rapids and viewing spectacular northern Patagonian scenery. Lunch is a traditional Chilean asado prepared by a local farmer. In the afternoon you will run some more rapids and arrive back at Campo Mapu Leufu, the Earth River base camp where the first two nights of the expedition were spent. |
| Day 8 | Rio Futaleufu/Chaiten Today is one the most impressive commercial rafting days in the world.* Within minutes of pushing off we enter the half mile long Class 5 Terminador (Terminator) Rapid, one of the most intense commercially run Class 5 rapids in the world. Immediately below we run the impressive Paso Las Cabras rapid and then the gigantic 15 foot waves of the Himalayas. All 3 rapids flow together making nearly a mile and a half of non-stop Class 5 action. Then there is a series of giant Class 4+ rapids (some nearly a mile long) and two giant Class 5 rapids: Cojin (the cushion) and Mundaca. After another long stretch of giant Class 4-4+ rapids we have lunch. In the afternoon we run two of the most difficult Class 5 rapids on the river: Masa Menus and Casa De Piedra . After the last rapid the canyon boasts some of its most spectacular scenery with grand vistas of towering mountains and glaciers. Late in the afternoon we take out and drive 1/2 hour back to the Mapu Leufu Base Camp where the afternoon is free to hike, take kayak lessons or relax. That evening we have a farewell dinner which will be a traditional Chilean asado prepared by a local farmer. *OPTION: Class 4 participants have the option of hiking on a trail around short sections of the bigger rapids. Often people who chose to walk around Inferno Canyon earlier in the trip feel more comfortable and run most of the rapids today. This decision, however, will always be left up to the guides. |
| Day 9 | Chaiten/Puerto Montt/ Santiago This morning we make the 3 hour drive back to Chaiten where we take the short scenic flight back to Puerto Montt and board the plane for Santiago and then the evening flight back to the U.S. |
| Day 10 | United States Early this morning you will arrive in the U.S. and transfer to connecting flights. |