The Original Futaleufu Rafting Company

Earth River’s unique multi-lodge Futaleufu river trip is an action-packed adventure through a Northern Patagonian valley of incomparable beauty. The trip combines three intimate boutique lodges; all of these have internet, private rooms, and chef-prepared meals. The days are filled with world-class rafting, inflatable kayaking, canyoning, mountain biking, and hiking. From the picturesque town of Puerto Varas to the majestic Futaleufu, this multi-sport journey is suitable for anyone with a spirit for adventure.

Watch the brochure video below to get answers to all your questions and gain valuable insights to the one of a kind adventure that awaits you on the Futaleufu River with Earth River Expeditions.

Trip Dates:December 26-January 5 24/25, January 9-19 2025, January 30-February 9 2025, February 6-16 2025, February 20- March 2 2025, March 13-23 2025. (2026 dates available on the calendar page)

$5750 – $5950/PERSON

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View the Futaleufu Video Brochure Below

Trip Details

  • The original Futaleufu rafting company having completed the first raft descent and introducing commercial rafting in 1991.
  • We are a small, family owned business. We run our own trips with family members guiding them.
  • We offer the only lodge to lodge, multi-sport river trip. The small, boutique lodges have heated rooms, private baths, chef prepared meals and internet.
  • Small intimate group size.
  • A world class guide team that averages 15 years of guiding experience (10 years on the Futaleufu).
  • Impeccable thirty-five year safety record and was responsible for a number of the safety innovations including the invention of the “safety cataraft and foot cups to keep guests in the rafts.
  • Thirty-five year commitment to conserving the Futaleufu Valley including; protecting 8 kilometers of dramatic shore line, founding the Futaleufu River Keeper and currently creating, designing and financing the construction of “The Sendero Futaleufu”; a spectacular twelve kilometer linear trail through the largest protected intact old growth forest on the river.

Cost: $5,950 (6,150 for Christmas and New Years trips)

*Note: The round trip flight from Puerto Montt to Chaiten will be reserved by Earth River and charged to clients individually ($250)

Total Travel Days: 11, days with Earth River 9

Group size: 12-16

Guide/client ratio: 1 – 3

Season: December – March

Meeting place: Puerto Varas, Chile (Wyndham Puerto Varas PettraHotel)

Trip Type: Multi-day rafting and camping trip.

Trip Length: 11 days (9 days in Chile)

Accommodations: Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra Hotel (night 1)
Lonconao Lodge (nights 2, 3 & 4)
Peuma Lodge (nights 5, 6 & 7)
Yelcho Lodge (night 8)

Percent rafting compared to multi-sport activities:50/50 (percentage varies depending upon individual client preference)

Multi-sport activities : Rafting class 4 (class 5 optional), class 3 whitewater inflatable kayaking (Espolon and Azul Rivers), mountain biking, hiking, canyoneering, standup Paddle boarding and fishing.

Private departures: If your group is interested in a custom trip then please call or email the office

*Note : Depending upon the individual, trip emphasis can be on rafting, hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, kayaking or any combination

 Highlights:

  • 7 nights at 3 small, boutique lodges in the Futaleufu Valley
  • A night at lake front Hotel in Puerto Varas
  • Rafting the entire Futaleufu River (Class 5 optional)
  • Multi-sport activities including rafting, inflatable kayaking (class 2-3), mountain biking, hiking and canyoneering
  • Intimate group sizes
  • Wood fired hot tub, sauna, masseuse
  • Chef prepared meals
  • Hike to Lago Obsession (stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking)
  • Canyoneering Rio Blanco slot Canyon

What’s included

  • 7 nights at lodges (Peuma, Lonconao, Yelcho)
  • All meals
  • Transportation within the Futaleufu Valley
  • Industry standard equipment and gear
  • Custom made rafts for the Futaleufu
  • Rafting, mountain biking, fishing, canyoneering, lake kayaking, hiking, horseback riding and stand up paddle boarding
  • Private bathrooms in rooms
  • Wood fired Hot tubs, sauna
  • Chef cooked meals (Chilean wine and beer)
  • 3 – 1 client to guide ratio
  • Inflatable kayaking gear and instruction (Espolon and Azul rivers)

Not Included

  • Airfare from U.S. to Puerto Montt
  • Round trip flight from Puerto Montt to Chaiten ($250 will charged separately)
  • Arrival transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra Hotel in Puerto Varas (approximately $25)
  • Professional masseuse (Peuma and Wyndham )
  • Gratuity (average 10% of trip cost)
  • Fly fishing gear
  • Catch up fees for late arrivals including; additional hotel, taxi, charter flights, meals, etc.

For images of the lodges watch the Brochure/Video

Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra Hotel

Number of nights: 1 (first night)

Brief description: The hotel is ideally situated just a few minutes’ walk from downtown Puerto Varas. It was designed so that all the rooms offer dramatic views of Lago Llanquihue and the snow-crowned Osorno Volcano, which towers 8,600 vertical feet above the lake’s eastern shore. The hotel was handcrafted from local wood and stone and has a surprisingly intimate feeling for a medium-sized hotel.

Amenities: Spa, pool, gym, bar, (short walk to the city.)

Image Gallery

Lonconao Lodge

Number of nights: 3 (nights 2, 3 & 4)

Brief Description: Handcrafted, heated cottages on a remote lake. The cottages are nestled on the shore of Lago Lonconao. Each cottage features two bedrooms and a central living room that includes a small kitchen. Views of the lake and the snow-capped peaks rising from it can be seen from every room and the deck. A spectacular Great Room offers dining with a large fireplace and full-wall picture windows. Swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, sea kayaking, mountain biking, fishing, and hiking are all available.

Amenities: Bathrooms in rooms, large outdoor porches, wifi, wood stoves.

Peuma Lodge

Number of nights: 3 (nights 5, 6 & 7)

Brief Description: Located on 800 wild acres and surrounded by old-growth hardwood trees, the handcrafted Peuma Eco Lodge features nine heated hexagon cabins with private baths. The main living and dining area includes a fireplace and a deck with a hot tub that offers dramatic views of towering snow-capped mountains in every direction. Access to the Lago Obsession trailhead is a five-minute walk away. (Stand-up paddleboards and inflatable kayaks are available on Lago Obsession.)

Amenities: Bathrooms in rooms, wifi, 2 hot tubs, sauna, small bar, and masseuse.

Yelcho Patagonia Lodge

Number of nights: 1 (night 9)

Brief Description: The Yelcho Lodge is located on the shore of the gorgeous Lago Yelcho, with views of soaring glacier-capped mountains rising from its shores. Sea kayaking is available, and there is a nearby glacier hike.

Amenities: lakeside wood fired hot tub, small bar.

The unique journey takes you from one spectacular lodge to the next while passing through one of the most gorgeous river landscapes in the world. This one of a kind adventure is suited for anyone regardless of their experience level.

DAY 1: U.S.

Evening flight from the U.S. to Santiago, Chile.

DAY 2: SANTIAGO / PUERTO VARAS

Arrive in Santiago this morning and transfer to the flight to Puerto Montt. Arriving in Puerto Montt, transfer to the Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra Hotel. Located on the shores of Lago Llanquihue with Mount Fuji-like snow-capped, Volcano Osorno rising directly out of the water, Puerto Varas is one of the most picturesque cities in South America. The afternoon is free. We meet the Earth River guide, Maria, in the evening for a welcome dinner.

DAY 3: CHAITEN / RIO FUTALEUFU / LONCONAO COTTAGES

After breakfast, Maria escorts us to the short flight to Chaiten. Upon arriving, we are met by the trip leader, board a comfortable bus, and drive 2 hours past roaring rivers, hanging glaciers, and deep blue lakes to our starting point on the Futaleufu, where we run a series of class 4 rapids. We spend the first three evenings in Patagonia in elegant cottages on the shore of Lago Lonconao. Each cottage has internet, two large bedrooms with private bathrooms, a spacious “central living room,” and a deck with chairs overlooking the lake and the mountains beyond. Additional activities for those with the energy include kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, swimming, and fishing. Meals are cooked by the guides and served in a spacious central dining hall with full wall windows that look out at snow-capped peaks rising precipitously from the clear blue lake. This “great room” is not just a place to eat but a wonderful space to relax and unwind after the day’s activities. A full-wall stone fireplace and roaring fire warm the chilly Patagonia evening.

DAY 4: ESPOLON RIVER / LONCONAO COTTAGES

This morning, we board mountain bikes for a beautiful ride to our inflatable kayak put in on the class 2-3 Rio Espolon, a clear teal tributary of the Futaleufu. After an introductory lesson, we kayak the rapids*—night at Lonconao cottages.

*Note: guests who prefer not to kayak can paddle in a small, guided raft.

DAY 5: RIO FUTALEUFU / LONCONAO COTTAGES

We spend the day running wonderful class 4 rapids through the remote upper Futaleufu Canyon.* Lunch is at Zeta Rapid, where there is an optional 20-foot cliff jump into the aerated blue pool below the “Z” shaped flume. Evening at the Lonconao Cottages.

*Note: Depending upon water level, class 5 guests who pass a swim test will run class 5 Inferno Canyon.

DAY 6: RIO AZUL / PEUMA LODGE

This morning, we board mountain bikes and ride down a narrow dirt road past remote farms and dense forests to our inflatable kayak put in on the turquoise, class 3 Rio Azul, one of the world’s most beautiful beginner inflatable kayak runs.* The views along the way of the snow-capped peaks rising from the turquoise water are stunning. We spend the next three nights at the Peuma Lodge, a unique blend of solitude and comfort deep in the Patagonian forest. Nestled in an intimate valley, with Teton-like spires rising 6,000 feet above the valley floor, the view from the dining room and expansive hot tub deck is what one imagines when they think of Patagonia. Unwind with a hot shower after the day’s adventure. Hors d’oeuvres and Chilean wine are followed by a chef prepared dinner. Afterward, relax in a sauna or one of three wood-fired hot tubs under the stars. We retire in the evening to our heated cabins with private bathrooms.

*Note: a small, guided raft is available for those not wanting to kayak.

DAY 7: FUTALEUFU RIVER / RIO BLANCO SLOT CANYON / PEUMA LODGE

After running a series of class 3-4 rapids, we arrive at the confluence with the Rio Blanco, where we embark on a remarkable journey through this gorgeous cleft in the Patagonia Andes. Hiking, climbing, and swimming are the only ways to traverse this incredible natural labyrinth of white boulders, clear azure pools, and stunning waterfalls. After lunch, we run some more class 4 rapids with one optional class 5.

DAY 8: LAGO OBSESSION / PEUMA LODGE

This morning, we hike out of the valley through an enchanted forest of ancient hardwood trees and past impressive waterfalls to Lago Obsession. With a dramatic 2,000 vertical foot ice-enshrouded granite tooth that rises from the northern end, this miniature, hanging blue lake is a masterwork of nature’s artistry and a rarely visited scenic highlight of Patagonia. The views in every direction, from kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, are astounding. It is not uncommon to see condors circling in the thermals above.

*Note: Optional day’s activity: There is a less arduous walk up into the old-growth forest for those not wishing to make the strenuous hike. There is also the option of staying at the lodge, enjoying the sauna, hot tubs, and a massage.

DAY 9: RIO FUTALEUFU / YELCHO LODGE

Class 4 rapids come in quick succession today as we run the lower Futaleufu.* After the final rapid, the canyon boasts grand vistas of towering mountains and glaciers rising from the teal-colored water. In the afternoon, we transfer to the Yelcho Lodge on the shore of Lago Yelcho, the 17-mile body of water fed by the Futaleufu. Framed among no-named snow-capped peaks, the hand-built wooden lodge is our final respite from a week that sped by but was filled with a year’s worth of memories. If time allows, there is a nearby glacier hike. We spend the night in comfortable cabins. That night, we have a farewell dinner with the trip leader.

*Note: The final two rapids are class 5 and optional.

DAY 10: CHAITEN / PUERTO MONTT / SANTIAGO

A short flight this morning takes us to Puerto Montt. Upon landing, we are met by the Earth River guide, Maria, who transfers the group to their domestic flights to Santiago.

DAY 11: United States

This morning, we arrive back in the U.S. (or our home country).

THROUGH CHILE

First evening: U.S. / SANTIAGO

Evening flight from the United States to Santiago, Chile.

Day 2: SANTIAGO- PUERTO MONTT / PUERTO VARAS

Flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt and then take a taxi to the spectacular Hotel Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra in the quaint Chilean town of Puerto Varas. With panoramic views of Lago Llanquilhue and snowcapped Volcano Osorno rising from the eastern shore, Puerto Varas is one of the most picturesque towns in all of South America. The Hotel has sweeping views of the lake and volcano from it’s expansive lawns and is a welcome reprieve from the long trip down. That evening we meet our guide, Maria, in the Hotel lobby for a trip orientation and welcome dinner out on the town.

*Important Note: For those people who can not commit to taking off the extra day and are only able to leave Friday evening, there is the option of arriving a day later, skipping the Puerto Varas day/hotel and meeting us directly at the Paloma Airport in Puerto Montt at 11:00 AM. Saturday morning. There are a number of international flight that arrive early enough into Santiago to make this itinerary possible.

Day 3: 50 minute flight from Puerto Varas to Chaiten. Then a two and a half hour bus ride to the Futaleufu.

*Note: Arriving through Argentina or adding an extension to the trip is possible, please contact the office for more information.

HOW LONG HAS EARTH RIVER BEEN IN BUSINESS AND WHAT IS YOUR SAFETY RECORD?

Since our founding in 1989, Earth River has safely guided trips on the Futaleufú for 36 years—with a flawless safety record.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO IN TERMS OF WEATHER AND WATER LEVELS?

The Futaleufú Valley lies within a temperate microclimate and, during the summer, does not experience the intense wind and rain often associated with Patagonia. It does, however, rain—hence the valley’s lush, verdant landscape. The weather remains relatively stable during the three months we run our trips (although December is notoriously the wettest), with daytime temperatures ranging from 50 to 85°F and nighttime temperatures between 30 and 50°F. Average rainfall is about 3 inches per month, roughly the same as in the northeastern United States. The river is glacier-fed, which keeps it flowing consistently throughout the season. Rain, which can occur at any time, may raise water levels, occasionally making it necessary to walk around some of the larger rapids. The water temperature remains a constant 58 to 60°F all season long.

CAN THE TRIPS BE SHORTENED BY A DAY, WITHOUT MISSING ANY OF THE RIVER PORTION, SO I ONLY HAVE TO TAKE OFF ONE WEEK FROM WORK?

Yes, it is possible to arrive in Puerto Montt on Saturday morning. This would shorten the trip to one work week and two weekends. Please contact our office for details on how to arrange this.

WHAT IS THE TYPICAL GROUP SIZE?

Typical group size is around 12-16 guests.

WHAT ARE THE LODGE ACCOMMODATIONS LIKE?

You will spend your evenings in beautiful, remote lodges. Each lodge is small and features expansive decks with stunning views. A wood-fired hot tub is available on three of the nights. The rooms include private bathrooms with showers. Meals are prepared by professional chefs each night, except at the Lonanoa Cabins, where they are cooked by the guides.

HOW DO YOU ACCOMMODATE GUESTS OF VARYING EXPERIENCE LEVELS AND ABILITIES?

Guests ranging in age from 6 to 80—and of all abilities and experience levels—have enjoyed our Futaleufú trip. Whether you’re a rafter, hiker, or angler, you can customize your experience with any combination of these activities, without affecting other members of the expedition. All multi-sport activities, including rafting, are optional. Participants can choose to paddle in the rafts or ride in extremely stable safety catarafts (mandatory for young children). A scenic hiking trail follows the river, making any or all of the rapids optional. You can raft, hike, fish, or combine these activities as you journey down the river. The trip can be tailored to each individual without impacting anyone else’s experience.

WHAT KIND OF PHYSICAL CONDITION DO I NEED TO BE IN?

We accommodate people of all fitness levels. A modest workout three times a week can enhance your experience. Because there are so many activity options, guests can push themselves as much—or as little—as they wish, without affecting anyone else’s experience. By far the most strenuous day is the hike up to Lago Obsession. For those who prefer not to make the challenging hike, there is a beautiful horseback ride up the Río Azul Valley.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH MY EXCESS BAGS AND VALUABLES WHEN I’M ON THE RIVER TRIP?

Your extra bags will be stored with the Earth River guide and meet you at the airport at the end of the trip.

ARE ELECTRICITY AND INTERNET AVAILABLE ON THE TRIP ?

Electricity and internet are available at all the lodges.

IN CASE OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, WHAT ARE THE EVACUATION PROCEDURES?

Evacuation by four-wheel-drive vehicle or helicopter is possible on any day of the trip. An injured or ill person can be transported to a modern hospital in Esquel, Argentina, (2.5 hours away). In more remote locations along the river or at Lago Obsession, it may be necessary to call in a helicopter (approximately 1.5 hours away). All guides are certified Wilderness First Responders

ARE CHILDREN WELCOME?

Families with children usually join us during the December holiday departures. This is the Harry Potter of adventure trips—parents and children enjoy it equally. That said, the dramatic natural features that make this such an incredible experience—cliffs, rapids, deep lakes, and ponds—can also pose hazards to children who do not follow instructions. We have guided numerous families on this trip, including those with children as young as seven.

IS THERE A SINGLE SUPPLEMENT FOR SOLO TRAVELERS?

If you request a single room for the duration of the trip (8 hotel/lodge nights), you will be charged an additional $2,000 USD. If you are willing to share a room with a guest of the same sex, there is a subsidized rate of $1,200. If a single traveler pays this amount before a roommate is available, and we later find one, Earth River will refund the $800 difference.
Note: It is also possible to share a room with someone of the opposite sex if both parties agree. Individuals have done this in the past without issue to avoid paying the single supplement fee.

DO YOU HAVE SPECIAL GROUP RATES?

Depending on the size of the group, private charters may be eligible for a group discount. Please contact our office for information about the group size required to qualify.

HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS DO I NEED FOR A PRIVATE CHARTER DEPARTURE AND ARE CUSTOMIZED TRIPS AVAILABLE?

Private groups must have at least 12 participants. Groups with fewer than 12 can reserve a private departure but will need to pay 50% of the per-person rate for the remaining spots up to 12. We’ve hosted family reunions, weddings, and corporate retreats. Private departures can be customized in terms of itinerary, activities, food, and wine.

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