Seakayak Exploration From the Andes to the Pacific Ocean  (14 days)

We invite you to particpate in this adventure-cultural expedition seakayaking totally across Chile from the Argentine border to the Pacific Ocean and experience Patagonia remoteness as few people ever will.

After meeting in Puerto Varas, very close to Puerto Montt airport, our trip adventure will start in the town of Palena, very close to the Argentina border in the mountains of the XI region. We will navigate through it's calm waters (a paradise for fly fishing), until the Pacific arriving at Raúl Marín Balmaceda Port, a fishing village connected to the outside world only by a once a week supply boat. Later continue south through fiords and  islands bordering  Isla Magdalena National Park until the Puyuhuapi Hot Springs.

We assure a unique and unforgettable experience to you, gigantic cascades, deep and narrow fiords covered by the humid forest of the Patagonia, colorful creeks of fishermen, dolphins and sealions, probailities of whales and orcas, variety of sea birds, volcanoes, contact with the people that inhabit these magical places, appreciate the dawn floating in ours kayaks and the possibility of accesing places seen by very few people.

We will navigate at night sometimes and on occasion, we must load our kayaks onto wagons in order to cross certain paths. We will be able to observe unforgettable sunrises on the sea, torrential rains that immediately give way to impressive sun sets, only seen by navigators at these distant latitudes. Enjoy hanging vegetation, enormous waterfalls which fall directly into the sea, gigantic walls that disappear into the water, imposing volcanoes (like  Melimoyu and it's natural hot springs) and much more...


The only way to access these areas is by water. We will be navigating in an area very isolated, only some pioneers living, where the weather plays a decisive role, in which the tides and winds are fundamental elements to consider.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

*About the area:
The area in Patagonia, specially once we reach the Pacific Ocean is really very variable and changes extremely fast. We suggest this is a trip for experienced paddlers and campers .

Weather in Patagonia is very variable . It rains,the sun appears, it's foggy and it's misty all in the same hour. We can expect many days of rain, sometimes we will be paddling in windy conditions and breaking waves , sometimes aprox.1.5mt , remote campsites , start the days very early, sometimes at night, in order to avoid the strong winds. Also consider that if any emergency the evacuation will be extremely- extremely slow or almost impossible , no hospitals in the area (please read the conditions section). About water tempetrature.. cold...it is very important that you come with very good gear for your legs and feet because we will have always to get out of the kayak and also get in the kayak in the water to protect the kayaks from the rocks of the shore.

*About the Trip:
Please consider that this is an " exploratory trip " that means that we know part of the route but there is also a section that we havent been before , although we open this route in 2000 for seakayak trips, in this ocasion we will try to explore a different route. Because of that we have study the area with satellite photos, charts , ask information. We use the word "expedition" due to the nature you will encounter and the fact that all of the participants will share and must be prepared to confront all of the personal challenges that the the trip presents us, especially the climate. 

To promote safety, we will use doubles and singles kayaks imported from the USA and Germany, and participate in a sea kayak practice of paddling and rescue techniques beforethe trip starts. We will be travelling with satelite telephone and marine waterproof VHF radio. We are not offering a race...and we will "try" to complete the program of this totally self-supported expedition (no boat with us, everything will go inside the kayaks) . Please consider that the trip can be modified in any step of the program, cancell, or just dont arrive to the end if the weather doesnt allow us to continue in a safe way considering the paddlers experience required or if the group is on risk and that means no refunds. The duration of the trip is aproximate....

*About the food:
Will be according to the nature of a self-supported trip in a variable area (breakfast, trailfood while paddling and a warm dinner)...plus the always good surprise of the food that the locals will offer us..

Itinerary

Day 1:
At 10:00 AM we will meet in a hostel in Puerto Varas. This is a small pleasant city 20 km north of Puerto Montt, situated along the shores of Llanquihue Lake, in front of Osorno volcano and 1000km south of Santiago. Here you will get to know the other members of the group and we will talk about the logistics and trip details. Lunch (not included). In the afternoon, we will have a complete safety-talk and practice some sea kayak paddling and rescue techniques in Llanquihue Lake. Evening free. Lodging at hostel in Puerto Varas.   




Day 2: Breakfast at the hostel and begin the trip in our van. Navigation in ferry from  Puerto Montt to Chaitén and continue traveling inland towards the Andes on the northern austral highway until the town of Palena, on the border with Argentina, (east side of the Andes).  Camping (B-L-D)

Day 3-5: Descend river from the town of Palena to the river that comes from Rosselot Lake National Reserve.

This is a wonderful trip floating on a river with translucent waters. This river in the upper section is narrow and almost totally flat with a few small rapids (class I, II) and then long sections of flat water always surrounded by several waterfalls and dense rainforest . As we are descending other small rapids can appear (class II) so we will scout them and then decide if we run or portage. We will always try to camp with local colonos (ranchers) to learn more about the place and their particular way of living in this isolated places. We will try to spend as musch as we can some time exploring the area hiking or fishing (rainbow and brown trout).
(B-L-D)


Day 6-9: Begin our sea kayaking journey through Palena River until the Pacific coast arriving at Raúl Marín Balmaceda Port. One of the nights will be camping along the river's edge, next to the Puerto Bonito hot springs with a magnificent view of Melimovu Volcano just in front of us . The next days as the river widens till Raul Marín Balmaceda , a small fiord fishermen village were we will camp and hike on the sand dunes and beaches. (B-L-D)

Day 10: At this point Palena river meets the Pacific Ocean and is totally open and exposed to the winds (this is the most exposed stretch of the expedition) so we will use a local boat if it is necessary to navigate this part. We will continue paddling throuh channels until we reach the village of Melimoyu. We will cross the Peninsula of Melimoyu using a cart pulled by oxen or any alternative and camping at the other side next to the fiords. 
(B-L-D).

Day 12-15: The trip continue paddling the next days close to Isla Magdalena National Park, stop for a while at Puyuhuapi hot springs and continue paddling ...till we meet our van and drive to the town of  Chaitén (Hostel). (B-L-D)

Day 16 (aprox): Ferry boat to Puerto Montt finally ending our adventure in our Hostel in Puerto Varas.

NOTE: This Itinerary is an estimatation depending on the climate and group conditions.

Includes

• SMALL GROUPS, maximum of 6 (security and impact) 
• INTENSE INTERRELATION with locals, their history and traditions.  
  
  
• Safety-talk and practice of sea kayak rescue techniques prior to the big trip (Day 1).
  
  
• Transportation in our van from Puerto Varas till Puerto Montt , the navigate by ferry boat till Chaitén- by minibus to Palena town - finally returning from Puyuhuapi town to Chaitén - Ferry boat till Puerto Montt and by private vehicle to Puerto Varas.
• 2 nights stay at Hostal in Puerto Varas , 1 night guesthouse in Chaitén town.
• Visit 2 hotsprings: Puerto Bonito and Puyuhuapi hot springs
• Navigation in Ferry Puerto Montt - Chaitén - Puerto Montt
• Food during the journey in kayak, except food in restaurants  
  (B: breakfast / L: lunch (trail food, sometimes provided by local families) / D: cooked warm dinner)
• Navigation Equipment: sea Kayaks imported from the USA and Germany, expedition models, with original rudder, spray skirt, paddles, life jackets, paddling jackets.
• Cooking equipment + group tarp.
• Safety Equipment: Satellite Telephone, Marine VHF Radio, tide tables, nautical charts and satellite photos. 
• Bilingual Guide (English) classified by the British Canoe Union as a BCU 4 Star Sea Award with first aid course (Wilderness First Responder Course) , sea kayak rescue knowledge and NOLS sea kayak trainning.
• Limited insurance once the seakayak trip starts with Interamericana Insurance Company (chilean company)
  

Requirements Swimming knowledge. Physical state and health compatible with the activity to be performed.  Previous indication of any illness or health problem  Read carefully the program of the trip and if any doubt contact us. Positive mental attitude in front of unexpected situations.You'll find your trip even more enjoyable if you remember to bring flexibility and a sense of humor with you. Understand that this is team activity in the outdoors and the participation of each person at each stage is fundamental.   Understand that all activities performed in nature may involve risk.  The program could be modified at any stage due to weather conditions or sudden incidents that could affect the security of the group  . Understand that evacuation from this area is extremely slow or almost impossible. Before trip you must send signed the Release of Liability. form To have read and have a clear understanding of the Terms and Conditions section. Send complete the RESERVATION Form and MEDICAL Form that appears after you press the RESERVATION button at the end of this program. About the participants: -BE MEDICALLY 100% . -Everyone has to be a real active participant in every step of the trip. -Feel confortable paddling class II rivers and deal with currents (curves, difference of water speed, eddy) -Feel confortable paddling in winds of 15 - 20 knots in 1.5 m breaking an surfing waves. -Be confident with bracing strokes and very advisible to have ideally a wilderness first aid course. - Know how to roll a seakayak. * Everyone must be ready to demonstrate before the trips starts different alternatives of self-rescue and assited rescue. and we highly recommend to Also *We will have to deal a lot with expedition behaviour and solve situations as a group requiring a lot of teambuilding and positive attitude. *Understand that this is an area where rains aprox 4 meters per year so will rain and rain almost every day so we will be wet...but also amazing sunny days (sometimes). This is is a self-supported trip so we will have to travel with the minimum equipment so we can have space inside the kayaks for everything considering the lenght of the trip.