2011 Price: From $3,300 per person
2011 Dates: Departs the every Friday from the US, between November and April. Trip returns 10 days later.
Alternating between granite cliffs, lush foliage, snow-capped peaks and towering spires, the world's premiere whitewater river, Futaleufu, pours dramatically through a breathtaking canyon of unimaginable beauty, boasting one Class 4 or 5 rapid after another. The quiet moments afford the chance to enjoy the river's gorgeous azure-turquoise water, stunning northern Patagonian scenery and some of the most exotic river camps imaginable.
Day 1 : Arrive Santiago, Chile
Take an evening flight from the United States to Santiago.
Day 2 : Santiago to Puerto Montt
Arrive in Santiago this morning and transfer to the flight south to Puerto Montt. Arriving in Puerto Montt we check into the old-world style Vienta Sur Hotel. The afternoon is free to explore the city. Puerto Montt is a coastal port beautifully situated on the inner end of 20-mile long Reloncovi Sound. In the evening we have a salmon dinner on the wharf.
Day 3 : Puerto Montt to Chaiten to Rio Futaleufu
Boarding a comfortable Mercedes Bus we drive an hour and a half to a trail head where we take a two hour hike to where a glacier meets a rain forest. After lunch we drive an hour and a half to the lower Futaleufu River where we begin training by doing a flip drill and then running a series of Class 4+ rapids. A short drive from the take out and a half mile hike takes us to the Terminador Camp, the first of Earth River's four stunning private camps complete with 2 miles of private river front, swimming holes, hand hewn wooden cliff dwellings, cliffside hot tub and a masseuse.
Day 4 : Rio Futaleufu and Earth River Cave Camp
This morning we drive to the put-in on the upper river and run the wild, sheer walled class 5 Inferno Canyon (class 4 participants ride horses or hike around on a beautiful trail). In the afternoon we raft down to the private 1,000 acre Earth River Cave Camp the most exotic and diverse river camp in the world. Cave Camp features a river carved stone hot tub, native stone shelters with fireplaces, crystal clear swimming/kayaking ponds, private beaches and dramatic wooden cliff dwellings all set around Zeta rapid, the most spectacular on the river.
Day 5 : Cave Camp to Tree House Camp via the Tyrolean Traverse
This morning we do a dramatic Tyrolean traverse (crossing by pulley on a rope) between sheer granite walls over Zeta Rapid and then hike 3 hours up to the tree house camp with its deep, 10 acre lake and old growth forest. In the afternoon there is an optional hike up to the tree house/canyon overlook where a group of condors may be seen soaring in the canyon thermals. We pend the night in hand crafted tree houses suspended 35 feet up in the old growth canopy with views of the lake and snow-capped Andes through the trees.
Day 6 : Challenge Cirque (zip line, cliff jump, tower climb and rappel
In the morning we hike down to the river where we take a 250 foot zip line back across the river (shooting down an angled rope on a pulley). After a soak in the stone hot tube and lunch on the smooth ledges above Zeta, we rock climb to 300' Tores de los Vientos (Tower of the Winds)and venture out on the Knife Edge for a stunning 360 degree view of the river and surrounding canyon. On the way down we do the two stage, 300' Grand Tower rappel of the sheer north wall (self-lowering by rope) to the bottom (There is an optional 100' rappel off the back side). The evening is at the Cave Camp in stone shelters or cave dwellings.
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. After lunch we 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. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax in the hot tub, kayak on the pond, hike to the lake and old growth forest, or ride the cable car across the river and hike up the granite gorge.
Day 8 : Rio Futaleufu
Today is one of the most impressive commercial rafting days in the world.* Here the rapids flow together making nearly a mile and a half of nonstop Class 5 action. Then there is a series of giant Class 4+ rapids, two Class 5 rapids, and another long stretch of Class 4+ rapids. After lunch, we run two of the most difficult Class 5 rapids on the river. 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 20 minutes back to the base camp where we have a farewell dinner (a traditional Chilean Asado) and spend the night.
Day 9 :Chaiten to Puerto Montt to Santiago
This morning is free to take kayak lessons, go on a hike to an old growth forest and two lakes or relax in the hot tub. In the afternoon we drive three hours to Chaiten where we take the short scenic flight back to Puerto Montt and board the plane for the Santiago and then on to the United States.
Day 10 : United States
Early this morning, arrive in the US
Included:
- All meals, transportation & lodging from Puerto Montt to Puerto Montt (8 days)
- Hotel and dinner in Chaiten
- R/t charter flight from Puerto Montt to Chaiten
- Comfortable 24 passenger Mercedes bus to the river
- 5 exclusive Earth River camps
- Option of rafting, hiking, horseback riding, or mountain biking down river from one camp to the next
- Chef prepared meals
- Hand hewn cliff dwellings (5 nights), tree houses (1 night) with spectacular views
- Outdoor cliffside dining areas overlooking the Futaleufu
- Covered dining areas in case of inclement weather
- Side streams with waterfalls and swimming pools, private lakes and spring-fed ponds with kayaks or canoes at every camp
- Wood heated stone and wooden hot tubs (every camp)
- Hot showers (6 of 7 river nights)
- Flush toilets (6 of 7 river nights)
- Comfortable sleeping pads, sleeping bags, flannel sleeping sacks, pillows and platform beds
- Renowned challenge cirque with cliff jump, tyrolean traverse, zip line, granite tower climb, and 350 foot rappel and other camp activities
- Custom designed rafts and safety catarafts, climbing gear, kayaks, horses, suspension mountain bikes, and inflatable kayaks.
Not Included:
- Roundtrip flights from U.S. to Puerto Montt, Chile
- Chile entrance tax ($100)
- Airport tax
- Guide gratuities
- Professionally shot trip DVD ($185)
NOTE: All amenities at our 5 private wilderness camps were carefully designed so as not take away from the wild nature of the river and trip. All structures were carefully hidden from the view of anyone floating down the river.
