Ventana Wilderness River Expedition (Patagonia, Chile)
Patagonia's Ultimate Wilderness River Adventure
Experience Patagonia's only week-long wilderness river trip—a truly unparalleled adventure down a pristine, emerald-colored river flowing through ancient forests and past numerous glaciers. This landscape remains largely untouched by time and human hands. Earth River first explored this river for rafting in 2015, and as of now, only about 75 people have had the privilege to witness firsthand the grandour that is the Rio Ventana. In terms of scenery and cultural richness, this river trip stands alone.
On this extraordinary journey, all gear is transported to the river's starting point and down the river by a team of pack horses, guided by local gauchos (Patagonian cowboys) and their loyal dogs. This aspect of the trip offers a rare opportunity to experience and become part of a rich cultural tradition, that connect you to Patagonia’s rugged frontier.
After a day of hiking or horseback riding into the put-in point, we reach the Ventana River. From there, we venture downstream on small guided rafts, navigating numerous Class III and IV rapids—each one a thrilling ride beneath the towering, snow-capped peaks of the Andes. These dramatic, jagged mountains, form a breathtaking backdrop as you explore one of the most pristine landscapes on Earth. Along the way, you'll paddle past half a dozen glaciers that feed into large waterfalls cascading from the alpine, tumbling down thousands of feet to the valley floor below.
Among the many scenic highlights of this expedition is the iconic Window (La Ventana), a unique geological feature that towers 3,000 feet above the river. This natural, keyhole-shaped arch is carved into the granite face offers a awe-inspiring vista from below. Visible on most days of your journey.
The river teems with trout and salmon, and there are abundant places to fish each day for those who wish to cast their rods into waters that few have ever fished before
This is more than just a river trip, it’s an immersion into a part of Patagonia that very few will ever have the privilege to experience. The adventure is a perfect blend of thrilling rapids, breathtaking natural beauty, world-class camping, and rich cultural encounters with the gauchos who call this wild region home.
Trip Dates:
2025: November 14- November 24
November 28- December 8, 2025
2026: January 1- January 11, 2026
$5,500/Person
Rio Ventana Video
Trip Details
Brief Overview
Cost: $5,500 USD
Trip Type: Multi-day rafting and camping trip.
Trip Length: 7 days
Total Travel Days: 11 days
Group size: up to 10
Guide/client ratio: 1 - 3
Season: November, December, January
Meeting place: Puerto Montt/ Puerto Varas
Accommodations: 6 nights camping. 3 nights Hotel
Suitable ages: 14-70
Activities: Rafting intermediate( class 3 &4), trekking, camping, world class fishing.
Private departures: Custom groups are welcome. Please contact the office for more information.
What's Included/Not
What's included
- 3 nights at Hotels/Lodges
- All food during the trip
- 6 days of guided actives (5 days rafting, 1 day hiking)
- Horses pack gear to put in
- Stunning relatively level 7 mile hike to the start of the river
- Guides will set up tents and camp, you may help as much or little as you desire on a daily basis
- World class fishing for salmon and trout
- Top of the line gear
- Transportation to and and from the river
- 3 - 1 client to guide ratio
Not Included
- Round trip airfare from U.S. to Puerto Varas
- Round trip tickets airfare Puerto Montt to Chaiten ($250)
- Taxi from Puerto Montt airport to the hotel.
- Guide tips (typically 10% of trip cost)
- Fly fishing gear
- Catch up fees for late arrivals including; add. hotel, taxi, charter flights and add. meals.
- Travel before of after trip
Day By Day Itenerary
DAY 1: U.S.
Evening flight from the U.S. to Santiago, Chile. (Airfare not included)
DAY 2: SANTIAGO / PUERTO MONTT / PUERTO VARAS
You arrive in Puerto Montt and transfer to the Cumbres Hotel, in the town of Puerto Varas. Located on the shores of Lago Llanquihue, with Mount Fuji-like, snow-capped, Volcano Osorno, rising directly out of the deep blue water, Puerto Varas is one of the most beautiful towns in South America. The afternoon is free to explore the town. In the early evening, we meet the Earth River guide, Maria, in the hotel lobby and go out for a welcome dinner.
Note: When you arrive at the Puerto Montt Airport, you transfer (on your own) by taxi to the Cumbres Hotel in Puerto Varas where a room is waiting in your name.
DAY 3: PUERTO VARAS / CHAITEN / LAGO VERDE
After breakfast, Maria escorts us to the Chaiten flight. The short flight is spectacular as we follow a rugged, mountainous coastline. We board the bus and drive past roaring turquoise rivers, hanging glaciers, and deep blue lakes to the quaint town of Lago Verde where we spend our first night. Cut off from the rest of Patagonia and rarely visited by tourists, Lago Verde is old-world Chile. Many of the residents still ride horses for transportation. We spend the night in a primitive, comfortable bed and breakfast. That evening we meet the river guides.
DAY 4: LAGO VERDE / RIO VENTANA
Today we drive 2 hours in 4-wheel drive trucks to the trail head. We spend the day hiking seven miles through a beautiful remote valley to our starting point on the Rio Ventana where we camp.
DAYS: 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9: RIO VENTANA
For the next five days we journey through a stunning Patagonia landscape of old-growth forests and massive tributary waterfalls, framed beneath ice-capped spires and peaks that rival the Italian Dolomites. Patagonia’s (and Chile’s) only multi-day river trip offers wonderful class 3 and 4 rapids, stunning riverside campsites, and a chance to experience a Patagonia landscape that only a few Earth River groups have ever experienced. The river is teaming with German brown trout and Atlantic salmon that can be seen twenty feet down in the translucent turquoise water. A handful of rural homesteads dot the remote, hidden valley where the inhabitants live off the land. The guides will prepare the meals and our gear will be transported downriver by a team of pack horses led by local gauchos and their trusted dogs.
DAY 9: RIO VENTANA / LA JUNTA
This afternoon we take out in the town of la Junta where we spend the night in cabins at a comfortable bed and breakfast.
DAY 10: CHAITEN /PUERTO MONTT / SANTIAGO
This morning we drive to the Chaiten airport. We board the plane for the flight back to Puerto Montt. Maria transfers you to Puerto Varas for lunch where people are now on their own for lunch and shopping. Later in the afternoon, individuals transfer (on their own) to the airport to catch our domestic flight to Santiago and then our international flight back home.
DAY 11: United States
This morning we arrive back in the United States.
Getting There
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 Cumbres 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. Earth River picks you up from the airport and then there is a two and a half hour bus ride south to the town of La Junta.