" From the Andes to the Pacific Ocean " - Palena River (10 days)

Paddle and float across Chile from the Argentine border to the Pacific and experience the Andes as few tourists ever will.Our trip starts in the town of Palena, very close to Argentina border in the mountains of the XI region. We will navigate through it's calm waters (a paradise for fly fishing), until the Raúl Marín Balmaceda Port (in the Pacific), a town connected to the outside world only by a once a week supply boat

".....imagine to contemplate the beauty of nature, rowing by very calm waters, to see the rich flora and perhaps appreciate wild animals that live in the area also having the opportunity to share with the locals and their stories of 1900’s hardy settlers that first colonized this broad valley rowing upriver from the coast"

We assure a unique and unforgettable experience to you, cascades, the humid forest of the Patagonia, colorful creeks of fishermen, dolphins ,variety of birds, volcanos and hidden spas, 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 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 during this self supported raft trip and seakayak trip on the Palena River ...coming from a lake in Argentina the river breaks through the Andean rangeand along the approximate 220 kilometers from the Argentine boarder to the Chilean Pacific coast it only drops 250 meters in elevation..it is a long and marvellous float through unequaled natural beauty.


To promote safety, we will use doubles and singles kayaks imported from the USA and Germany, but what is most important is the practical discussion we offer about paddling and rescue techniques. 

The only way to access these areas is by water. We will be navigating in an area completely isolated,  where the weather plays a decisive role.

Itinerary

Day 1:
At 11:00 AM we will meet in Puerto Varas , a charming German-founded town at the southern end of the Chilean lake district. 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 meet the other members of the group and we will talk about the logistics of the next days . Lunch .

At 2 PM we will meet again for a safety-talk and practice some sea kayak paddling and rescue techniques in Llanquihue Lake.
Evening free. Lodging at Hotel in Puerto Varas. (lunch/dinner optional)


Day 2:
Breakfast at Hotel and begin the trip in our van. Ferry ride brings us from Puerto Montt to the coastal village of Chaitén where we board our van and continue travelling the "Carretera Austral,” the only road running north to south through the Chilean Patagonia, completed in 1983. We continue travelling 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:
Our adventure starts paddling the first section of the Palena River using whitewater rafts. Wonderful trip floating on a river with translucent waters , paddling at the beggining its canyons, always surrounded by several waterfalls and dense rainforest around us . We will try to camp with local colonos ranchers to learn more about the place and their particular way of living in this isolated places.

As someone said before ... " From the river one only occasionally caught glimpses of farms. These farms were more like one would have encountered in the early 1900's. Most had no electricity or any kind of automobile . Some are nestled in a valley that looked much like Yosemite with snow and big waterfalls "

We will spend one day for exploring the area hiking, fising (rainbow and brown trout), sharing with the locals. One day stay at Guesthouse in La Junta, the first village along the Palena  (B-L-D)




Day 6-7-8:
Continue our journey switching from whitewater rafts to sea kayaks paddling downstream Palena River until the Pacific Ocean. A night of camping in a white sand beach along the river's edge, next to the hot springs with a magnificent view of Melimovu Volcano  ... and the last days entering a narrow channel, overhung by dense vegetation, which leads us to the protected waters of the Pitipalena estuary. Exploration of interior fjords and bays and camp on the shores of this estuary surrounded by mountains rising straight up from the water’s edge. An easy paddle brings us out to the mouth of the estuary and the village of Raul Marín Balmaceda, accessible only by boat(B-L-D)

Day 9: After some days of enjoying the absolute peace and isolation we will start our return going up Palena river in a local motor boat taking a 1-hour boat ride, with sea kayaks on board, to where our van is waiting. Lodging at Hostel/Guesthouse in La Junta (ideally keep going and sleep in Chaitén town).
) (B-L-D)

Day 10: Return in our van from La Junta to Chaitén , then  navigate Ancud Gulf using a ferry boat to Puerto Montt  and finally ending our adventure in the Hotel in Puerto Varas (B-L). End of our services.

This Itinerary is an estimatation depending on the weather and group conditions.

Includes

• SMALL GROUPS, maximum of 7 (security and impact) 
• Authetic cultural experience with real colonos (pioneers). 
  
  
• Safety-Talk and practice of paddling and rescue sea kayak techniques (Day 1)
• Transportation in our van from Puerto Varas - Puerto Montt - (Ferry Boat) - Chaitén- Palena (border with Argentina) , traveling through part of the Northern Austral Highway and finally return from La Junta - Chaitén - (fery Boat) - Puerto Varas
• 2 night stay at Hostel in Puerto Varas , 2 nights at Guesthouse in La Junta (or Chaitén)
• Visit to Hot Springs during the sea kayak navigation 
• Navigation in Ferry Boat (Puerto Montt - Chaitén - Puerto Montt)
• Food during the journey in kayak, except food in restaurants  
  (B: breakfast / L: lunch ( Box-Lunch type, sometimes eating with colonos families and trail snacks for the trip) / D: dinner)
• Navigation Equipment: sea kayak imported from the USA and Germany, expedition models, with original rudder, spray skirt, paddles, high floatation life jackets, paddling jackets; rafting equipment and qualified guide
• Cooking equipment and Group Tarp.
• Safety Equipment: Satellite Telephone, Marine Band Radio, satellite photos.
• Bilingual Guide (English) during all the trip , certified vy the British Canoe Union as a BCU 4 STAR SEAKAYAK Award, with first aid course (Wilderness First Responder Course), NOLS sea kayak trainning and seakayak rescue knowledge
•  Limited insurance once the seakayak trip starts with Interamericana Insurance Company (chilean company) .

Requirements Swimming knowledge. Previous experience in kayaking and camping recommended , although we will have prior to the trip a safety talk and sea kayak practice (day 1) Physical state and health compatible with the activity to be performed.  You'll find your trip even more enjoyable if you remember to bring flexibility and a sense of humor with you. Team members should have the mindset that they are responsible for themselves and the other members of the team while on the water, in the backcountry and around camp Previous indication of any illness or health problem  Hospitals and Professional First Aid Care are very far from the place where we will be navigating. Participantes must be healthy and in good physical conditions

• Positive mental attitude in front of unexpected situations
• 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 can indicate some risk. 
• The program could be modified at any stage due to weather conditions or sudden incidents that could affect the security of the group 
• 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.

Note: We must state that the success of this type of trips is subject to unexpected weather and personal situations, so adventurous spirit and good disposition will be fundamental.

Do you wish to accommodate this trip to you needs?  Custom Trip