Ventana Wilderness River Expedition (Patagonia, Chile)
The only week-long wilderness river journey in Patagonia, this translucent emerald-green jewel was first explored by Earth River in 2015 and is only accessible by a seven-mile hiking trail. The gear is transported to the starting point and then downriver by a team of pack horses led by our gaucho guides and their untiring dogs, making this a rare Patagonian cultural experience. Days will be spent running numerous class three and four rapids beneath stunning ice-capped Patagonian peaks. The expedition is replete with impressive natural features, including massive waterfalls and granite walls, superb fishing, and untouched native forests. On a trip of scenic highlights, perhaps the most remarkable is “La Ventana” (The Window). Cut through a granite mountain face 3,000 feet overhead, the key-hole-shaped geological enigma is large enough to fly a jet through and can be seen most days on the journey.
Trip Dates: Nov. 26 – Dec. 6, 2026 & Dec. 10 – Dec. 20, 2026.
$5,950
*(does not include $250 R/T flight from Puerto Montt tp Chaiten.
Rio Ventana Video
Trip Details
Trip Dates & Rates
2025-26 Trip Dates: November 26 – December 6, December 10 – 20
$5,950 USD/PERSON*
*Note: Does not include round-trip flight from Puerto Montt to Chaiten.
Why Earth River On The Ventana
- Pioneers with 35 years of expedition experience in Patagonia, including first descents, conservation initiatives, and the creation of sustainable adventure travel models.
- Family owned and operated, with Earth River guides leading every Ventana departure.
- The only lodge-to-lodge expedition in the Ventana region, staying in warm, welcoming, small scale lodges with private baths, heated rooms, chef prepared meals and Wi-Fi.
- Small group size for an immersive and low impact experience in a fragile, seldom visited landscape.
- World class guide team, averaging 15 years of Patagonia experience and trained in technical canyon travel, river safety and remote first aid.
- 35-year safety record, and innovators of many industry safety standards still used today.
- Long-term commitment to conservation and community partnerships throughout Patagonia, including reforestation, shoreline protection, trail building, and supporting sustainable development in small rural communities.
Brief Overview
Trip Type: Multi-day rafting and camping trip.
Trip Length: 9 days
Total Travel Days: 11 days
Group size: up to 14
Guide/client ratio: 1 – 3
Season:November, December, January
Meeting place:Puerto Montt/ Puerto Varas
Accommodations:6 nights camping. 3 nights Hotel
Suitable ages: 8-75
Activities: Rafting intermediate( class 3 &4), trekking, camping, world class fishing.
Private departures:Custom groups are welcome. Please contact the office for more information.
Trip Highlights
Highlights
- Journey through one of Patagonia’s most remote and rarely visited regions, beginning in the lakeside town of Puerto Varas beneath snow capped Volcano Osorno.
- Scenic regional flight along the rugged Pacific coastline, followed by a drive into the isolated village of Lago Verde, a timeless community where many residents still travel by horseback.
- A full day, 7-mile hike through a pristine valley to reach the put in on the Rio Ventana.
- 5 days rafting and inflatable kayaking.
- Riverside campsites in wild locations, with guides preparing meals and local gauchos transporting gear by pack horses.
- Opportunities for fly fishing, photography, and wildlife viewing in a rarely explored watershed.
- Authentic cultural connection through remote homesteads and interactions with gauchos and their dogs.
- Comfortable final night in La Junta before returning to civilization.
Who's It For
Ages and experience
Ideal for adventurous families, couples, friends, and solo travelers
Suitable for ages 7 to 80 on most activities. Younger participants (7-12) may join Class 3 and 4 sections on an extremely stable professionally guided safety cataraft.
Ability levels
- Class 3 and 4 rapids: accessible for most guests.
- No prior rafting or kayaking experience required.
Trip difficulty
- Moderate, depending on optional activities
- Daily itineraries blend paddle time with hiking, swimming, fishing, and relaxing at camps
- Guests should be comfortable being active outdoors for 5-6 hours each day
Safety and support
- Professional guides lead every activity adhering to the highest safety standards
- Guests receive clear instruction and practice before partaking in whitewater activities
- All gear is provided and maintained to the highest standards
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
Lodging Accommodations
Wynham Puerto Varas Pettra Hotel
Number of nights: 1 (night 2)
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
Lago Verde
Number of nights: 1 (night 3)
Brief description: A simple, but comfortable local family-run bed & breakfast lodge in one of Patagonia’s most isolated villages. This charming B&B offers warm hospitality, real beds, home cooked meals, and an authentic glimpse of old world Chile.
Rio Ventana Campsite
Number of nights: 5 (night 4-8)
Brief description: 5 nights of wilderness expedition style camping in stunning river valleys. Earth River guides prepare meals each day, and all gear is transported by pack horses led by local gauchos. Camps are set along turquoise water, ancient forests, and dramatic mountain backdrops.
La Junta Cabins
Number of nights: 1 (night 9)
Brief description: After 5 days on the river camping, you will enjoy private cabins at a B&B with hot showers, cozy bedding and a warm welcome from your local hosts.
Day By Day Itinerary
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 Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra 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 Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra 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 trailhead. 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. OR CANADA / SANTIAGO
Evening flight from the U.S. or Canada to Santiago, Chile from major hubs like New York, Atlanta, Miami and Toronto. (Airfare not included)
Domestic Flights and Transfers
SANTIAGO / PUERTO MONTT / PUERTO VARAS
Flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt and then take a taxi to the spectacular Hotel Wyndham 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.
The afternoon is free to explore the town. That evening we meet our guide, Maria, in the Hotel lobby for a trip orientation and welcome dinner out on the town.
*Important Note: When you arrive at Puerto Montt, you transfer on your own by taxi to the Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra Hotel.
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.
PUERTO VARAS / CHAITEN / LA JUNTA
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.
Trip Extension Ideas
Puerto Varas is the perfect hub for pre or post trip travel. Popular add ons include:
- Chiloé Island for wildlife, wooden churches and fishing culture
- Puerto Montt and the Coastal Route
- Dalcahue for artisan markets and island cuisine
THROUGH ARGENTINA
Another excellent route is via Buenos Aires, then connect to Bariloche. This scenic mountain town makes a fantastic add on with hiking, chocolate shops, craft breweries and lakefront views.
From Bariloche, it is an approximately 4.5 hour drive over the Andes into Chile.
Border Crossings
Crossing the border between Argentina and Chile at Paso Cardenal Samoré or Futaleufú crossing points is straightforward. Travelers need a valid passport, and U.S./Canadian citizens do not require a visa for stays under 90 days in either country. Customs is generally efficient and private transfers or bus options are available.
Many of our travelers combine Buenos Aires + Bariloche + Ventana for a well-rounded Patagonia experience.
Note: Contact Earth River to help coordinate your logistics and extension plans.
FAQs
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.
DO I NEED PRIOR RAFTING OR KAYAKING EXPERIENCE?
No experience is required. The Rio Ventana is a Class 3–4 wilderness river suitable for active travelers in good physical condition. Your Earth River guide team will teach paddling techniques, safety practices and how to navigate moving water.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO IN TERMS OF WEATHER AND WATER LEVELS?
The Ventana Expedition operates during the Patagonian summer, typically December through March, when conditions are most stable.
Weather: Expect daytime temperatures in the mid 50s to low 70s Fahrenheit, with cool evenings. Patagonia is known for fast changing weather, so sunshine, clouds, light rain and wind are all possible in a single day.
Water levels: Early season (December and early January) usually brings higher, faster moving water due to spring runoff. Mid and late season (January through March) tend to have clearer water and more moderate flows, ideal for scenery, photography and inflatable kayaking.
No matter when you travel, the Rio Ventana remains a Class 3–4 wilderness river with exceptional clarity and beautiful pool drop sections.
WHAT ARE THE LODGE ACCOMMODATIONS LIKE ON THE VENTANA TRIP?
- Puerto Varas: A modern lakeside hotel with private rooms, Wi Fi and beautiful views of Volcano Osorno.
- Lago Verde: A simple but welcoming bed and breakfast in one of Patagonia’s most remote villages. Expect clean, comfortable rooms, home cooked meals and warm local hospitality.
- La Junta: Cozy cabins with hot showers and comfortable beds, perfect after five days on the river.
During the river section, you will camp for five nights at beautiful riverside sites. Earth River provides all group camping gear, and our guides cook hearty meals each day.
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, with 3:1 guest-to-guide ratio
HOW DO YOU ACCOMMODATE GUESTS OF VARYING EXPERIENCE LEVELS AND ABILITIES?
Guests ranging in age from 14 to 70—and of all abilities and experience levels—have enjoyed our Ventana 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). 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 7-mile hike to get to the Rio Ventana campsite.
WHAT IS THE CAMPING LIKE ON THE RIO VENTANA?
Camping on the Ventana expedition is true wilderness camping in a remote river corridor. Camps are set along turquoise pools, forested banks and dramatic mountain backdrops.
Earth River provides tents, kitchen gear and all communal equipment.
Guides will set up tents and camp, and you may help as much or little as you desire on a daily basis. They will also prepare meals each day, and gear is transported by pack horses led by local gauchos.
Ventana Story
