Futaleufu Multisport Trip

Amazon Adventures

Chile

Classic Chile / Santiago area / Patagonia / Lake District
Easter Island / Biking / Atacama Desert / Expedition Cruises
Fiord Cruises / Treks / Multisport / Sea Kayaking / Hacienda Life

Futaleufu Multi-Sport

An Inn and Cliff Dwelling/Cave Camp/Tree House Camp Adventure with Rafting, Hiking, and Much, Much More
Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? The Futaleufu River in the Patagonia region of southern Chile is the setting for non-stop fun. Set amid stone towers, snow-capped peaks and old-growth forests, the mighty “Fu” offers some of the best whitewater rafting found anywhere in the world. The options are endless: you can raft, kayak and canoe; hike and horseback ride; try your hand at a Tyrolean traverse and zip line; cliff jump and swim; rock climb, rappel, and canyoneer; and end each day with a relaxing soak in the hot tub! Our camps are equally fun—from cliff dwellings to caves to tree houses--all within a stone’s throw of the river.

Day 1. Departure from the U.S.
Guests take an evening flight from the United States to Santiago.
• Flight from the U.S. to Santiago (not included in tour price)

Day 2. Flights from Santiago to Puerto Montt to Chaiten, Termindaor Camp
Upon arriving in Santiago this morning and passing through customs, you transfer to the flight south to Puerto Montt. Arriving in Puerto Montt in the early afternoon we board an 18-passenger twin-engine plane for the half hour flight down the northern Patagonian coast over the fjords and mountains to the small fishing village of Chaiten. We then board a comfortable Mercedes bus and drive for three hours past snow-capped mountains, lakes and rivers to our first camp and a welcome dinner.

Note: Guests arriving in Puerto Montt early (before noon) have time to take a taxi (at their own cost) into Puerto Montt for lunch. Puerto Montt is a coastal port beautifully situated on the inner end of 20-mile long Reloncovi Sound. There is good shopping at the Angelmo Market where knitted and other handmade goods may be purchased.
• Flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt (not included in tour price)
• Flight from Puerto Montt to Chaiten (included in tour price)

Day 3. Rafting the Futaleufu, Terminador Camp
After a safety talk we begin our rafting training by doing a swim test and “flip” drill (the flip drill is optional for guests who plan to skip the Class 5 sections of the river). We then run a series of long, powerful Class 4+ rapids including Puente Colgante, Mundaca, and Alfombra Magica.
In the early afternoon we take out and drive 15 minutes to the Terminador Camp trailhead. A mile hike takes us into the camp’s interior (personal bags are transported by an ox cart). The first of four stunning private camps on the Futaleufu, Terminador Camp has a mile of private river front and sits on a dramatic bluff over the raging river. A beautiful trail winds through the trees for the entire length of the camp, offering stunning views of the mile long rapid which churns the water into every imaginable shade of azure, white and turquoise. Hidden in the trees are 12 private, two person, hand-hewn wooden cliff dwellings. Each has a bird’s eye view of dozens of waterfalls as the river surges over giant, sculpted, white granite boulders.
Located near the center of camp is an 18-person wooden hot tub and cypress deck with a view that rivals that of the Zeta cliffside hot tub at Cave Camp. The deck is scribed around trees and giant rocks and is tucked behind a truck-sized boulder that acts as both a screen from the river and a natural veranda. Sitting or standing, a person is above the top of the rock and sees an unimpeded view up and down the entire mile-long rapid and surrounding canyon.
A trail from the deck leads down to the water’s edge where there is a natural stone couch. This river-carved smooth granite boulder has natural seats with backrests for five or for a couple lying down.
Dinner is served at the bottom of the rapid on a peninsula of granite that juts out into the river and affords a view of the entire avalanche of rock and river as it races down the impressive staircase we descended only hours earlier.
The camp also has hot showers, flush toilets and a hand-hewn gazebo shelter and covered dining area in case of rain. A professional masseuse, chef and videographer accompany most expeditions.
• Shuttle to the lower Fataleufu River [3 hours]
• Rafting the Futaleufu River [Class 4, 3 hours]

Day 4. Rafting Rio Futaleufu, Cave Camp
In the morning we hike for half an hour out to the dirt road and drive an hour to the put-in on the upper river. Soon we enter the wild, sheer-walled Class 5 Inferno Canyon. Racing between imposing walls hundred of feet high, the pulsing river boasts some of the most impressive commercially run rapids in the world including Infierno, Purgatorio, Danza de los Angeles (“Dance with the Angels”), and Escala de Jacoba (“Jacob’s Ladder”). Each rapid is separated by a swift pool which allows enough time for rescue and recovery if necessary. In the afternoon we raft down to Campo Casa de Piedra, the private 1000-acre Cave Camp.
Cave Camp is the most exotic and diverse river camp in the world. Not a cave in the true sense but a massive overhanging white granite slab that rests on two boulders, the main shelter is referred to by the locals as the House of Stone. There is a sand floor, two natural skylights and a giant fireplace in the rear wall that draws smoke through a crack. With an interior space of over 1,600 square feet, this natural wonder is tall enough to ride a horse inside and can keep the entire group warm and dry under any conditions.
In front of the main stone shelter is a beautiful spring-fed pond called Laguito Azul (Little Blue Lake). Set within a bowl of massive granite towers as high as 300 feet and surrounded by lush vegetation, Laguito Azul resembles a giant Japanese garden. Its brilliant blue water is so pure you can drink it and so clear you can see giant German brown trout and salmon up to 25 pounds swimming 30 feet below. Kayaks are available and gliding over the transparent water has an almost surreal feeling to it.
A few hundred feet below Laguito Azul rages the most spectacular rapid on the river, Zeta, a class 5-6, Z-shaped flume cut into solid granite. Just downstream of Zeta, carved into the granite by the river in higher flows, is a heart-shaped, three-foot deep water-filled pothole which we heat to 105 degrees. With smooth, 45-degree sloping walls to lean against and fresh water every day, this chemical-free stone tub comfortably fits 12 people. The smooth granite ledges around the tub are ideal for relaxing and slope gently into the calm aerated blue pool below Zeta making transition from hot to cold water extremely easy. Soaking at night with the brilliant stars of the southern hemisphere aglow is an unforgettable experience.
The most popular place to sleep at Cave Camp is in one of the 12 hand-hewn wooden dwellings perched on and between boulders and cliffs overlooking Zeta Rapid. The dwellings have walls and a door and have a bird’s-eye view from your pillow of the tumultuous turquoise water slicing through the rapid’s narrow granite slot.
In the vicinity of the cliff dwellings is a large cliffside dining area, 18-person wooden hot tub and a second spring-fed swimming pond. The cliff dwellings, hot tub and dining area are all well hidden from the Futaleufu, yet through the trees they command the camp’s most impressive river view.
A series of dramatic hand-hewn log sky bridges, 30 feet above the ground, link the Zeta dining/sleeping area to the main stone shelter so that in times of inclement weather the transition between the two areas is effortless. Downstream from Zeta is Lost Beach. This beautiful private beach is so tucked away that people float right by it on the main river without ever knowing it’s there. The camp also has flush toilets and showers.
• Rafting the Futaleufu River [Class 4/5, 5 hours]
• Sea kayaking on Laguito Azul (optional)

Day 5. Tyrolean Traverse and Hiking, Tree House Camp
This morning we set up a dramatic Tyrolean traverse across the river. Wearing a climbing harness attached to a pulley, participants pull themselves across a rope stretched between sheer granite walls over the heart of Zeta Rapid. Although not risky nor particularly strenuous, hanging and then crossing over the class 6 rapid is extremely exhilarating. Upon reaching the other side, we begin climbing out of the inner canyon. The moderately strenuous 1,500 vertical foot hike takes us past a beautiful 100-foot tributary waterfall and breathtaking views of Cave Camp below on the river and dramatic peaks rising above it.
After two hours we crest the top of the inner canyon and enter a wonderful old growth hardwood forest. Tucked away in the center of this enchanted, moss-draped land of giants is 10-acre, 50-foot deep Lake of the Frogs. Cut out by the glacier, the lake drops straight off the edge like a giant, bottomless swimming pool. Surrounded by native old-growth forest on three sides, with dramatic mountain views on the fourth, this intimate body of water offers wonderful opportunities for swimming and canoeing (two canoes are available). A natural wood deck and a hand-made 16-person hot tub sit on the edge of the lake. Hidden back in the trees is a hand-hewn log gazebo structure with a fireplace in case of inclement weather.
Just beyond the gazebo, 35-feet up in a majestic closely-knit stand of old growth giants are eight, wonderful, hexagon-shaped tree houses. They are connected like the spokes of a wheel from one central tree and a circular staircase. These amazing archictectural gems are each unique and were hand crafted by a Chilean master carpenter. Each tree house For Reservations and Information call 800-488-8483 or Reserve 24 hours a day at www.TheWorldOutdoors.com
Renowned for Extraordinary Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures since 1988
Address: 2840 Wilderness Place, Suite D Boulder, CO 80301 Fax: 303-413-0926 Email: fun@TheWorldOutdoors.com
was designed to be self-supported and not a single nail was placed into the trees.
In the afternoon there is the option of swimming and relaxing in the hot tub or taking a short hike to the breathtaking Tree House Camp Canyon Overlook. Engulfed by snow-capped mountains on all sides, this wonderful spot affords us 360-degree views of two gorgeous lakes and seven miles of the turquoise Futaleufu River canyon stretching as far as the eye can see.
We spend the evening suspended above the lower canopy with stunning views of the lake, surrounding forest and mountains.
• Tyrolean traverse across Zeta Rapid [optional]
• Hike from Cave Camp to Tree House Camp [3 miles, 2 hours]
• Canoeing on Lake of the Frogs (optional)
• Hike to Tree House Camp Canyon Overlook [optional, 1.5 miles round trip, 1-1/2 hours]

Day 6. Hiking and Challenge Cirque (Zip Line, Cliff Jump, Tower Climb & Rappel), Cave Camp
This morning we hike an hour-and-a-half back down the river. From the trail we can see aerial views of the river, surrounding canyon and the majestic Tower of the Winds which we will be climbing and rappelling down later in the day. The trail ends at a 250-foot zip line. Holding a loop handle attached to a pulley over our heads we leap off a 25-foot cliff, shooting 250 feet down an angled rope, letting go into the pool below Zeta Rapid. A soak in the nearby 105-degree natural stone hot tub is the perfect transition from the 60-degree river. On the cliff just above the hot tub there is a 10- to 42-foot- high cliff jump into the aerated blue pool below Zeta Rapid. The aerated water cushions the impact significantly.
Lunch today is served near the stone hot tub on the smooth ledges at Zeta. After lunch we receive a climbing safety briefing and put on our harnesses for the Tower climb. For those people not wishing to make the climb, there are options for hiking, kayaking on the pond, excellent trout fishing or relaxing in the stone hot tub.
The Tower climb involves a dynamic three-part rock climb up the backside of the 300-foot granite Torre de los Vientos (Tower of the Winds). No previous climbing experience is necessary, and people from 5 to 78 years old have made the climb. Once on top, we venture out on the dramatic Knife’s Edge. Crossing its narrow natural bridge with sheer 300-foot dropoffs on either side is exhilarating. The views of Zeta Rapid, Laguito Azul, and the surrounding canyon from the Knife’s Edge are exquisite and the most impressive found anywhere along the river.
To descend, we do a dramatic, 320-foot, two stage rappel (self-lowering by rope) off the Tower’s sheer south wall. For most guests, switching ropes at the mid-station is as exhilarating as any of the river’s class 5 rapids. An optional, less demanding 100-foot rappel off the back side is also available.
After a very full day we spend the night at Cave Camp.
• Hike from Tree House Camp to Cave Camp of the Winds (1-1/2 hours)
• Zip line and cliff jumping [optional]
• Climbing and rappelling on Tower of the Winds [optional]

Day 7. Rafting the Futaleufu and Canyoneering in Rio Blanco Canyon, Campo Mapu Leufu
A short float this morning takes us to unrunnable Throne Room Rapid where the boats are pushed through empty (ghost boated). The next couple of hours are spent running long, exciting class 4+ rapids down to the top of Terminador Rapid, the most demanding on the river. After scouting, we push off and enter this long, technical Class 5+ rapid. Immediately below we run the impressive 15-foot waves of the Himalayas. Here the rapids flow together for nearly a mile-and-a-half of nonstop Class 5 action (Class 4 guests can hike around the most exposed sections on a beautiful trail and run the rest).
While lunch is being served at the bottom of the Himalayas, the rafts are loaded on to an oxcart and taken back up river above Terminador, which allows us to run this incredible stretch of whitewater again the following day. After lunch we hike 1.5 miles on a beautiful trail overlooking Terminador and the surrounding snow-capped mountain to the mouth of the Rio Blanco Canyon. The next adventure is canyoneering down through this spectacular, 400-foot deep slot canyon. Wearing wetsuits and river shoes, we hike, climb and swim through this incredible natural labyrinth of white boulders, clear azure pools and waterfalls. For many people this canyoneering experience is one of the highlights of the trip.
We take a manual cable car across the river to our last camp, Mapu Leufu. Situated on a secluded bluff over the river with dramatic 360-degree views, this wondrous 300-acre private camp has more than two miles of riverfront. Hand-hewn wooden cliff dwellings offer breathtaking views of granite towers rising from the turquoise river in one direction and glacier-capped, Alps-like peaks in the other. Dramatically perched on the cliff is an 18-person wooden hot tub. Meals are served outside at the cliff side dining area with stunning views of granite spires rising from the turquoise river in one direction and glacier-capped, Alps-like peaks in the other (or a covered area if it rains). The camp also has flush toilets, hot showers and a hand-hewn gazebo-like shelter. There is also a 30-foot deep pond for kayaking (lessons provided) and wonderful swimming at a beach on the main river or in a tributary stream with waterfalls and deep pools.
For those opting not to canyoneer, choices this afternoon include kayak lessons on the pond, hiking up to two lakes and an old growth forest, or simply relaxing in the hot tub.
• Rafting the Futaleufu River [Class 4/5, 2 hours]
• Canyoneering, kayaking, hiking, or relaxing in the hot tub [optional]
• Horseback riding (for experts only), kayaking, trout fishing, or soaking in the hot tub [optional]

Day 8. Rafting Rio Futaleufu, Campo Mapu Leufu
Today is one of the most impressive commercial rafting days in the world. [Note that Class 4 participants have the option of hiking on a trail around short sections of the bigger rapids. Often people who chose to walk around Inferno Canyon earlier in the trip feel more comfortable and run many of the large rapids today. This decision, however, is always left up to the guides.]
Within minutes of pushing off we again enter Class 5+ Terminador Rapid and the mile oof non-stop whitewater below. This is our second opportunity to run the giant waves of the Himalayas right down the middle. Then there is a series of giant Class 4+ rapids (some nearly a mile long) and two Class 5 rapids: Cojin (the Cushion) and Mundaca. After another long stretch of Class 4+ rapids, we have lunch.
In the afternoon we run two of the most difficult Class 5 rapids on the river, Mas o Menos (More or Less) and Casa de Piedra (House of Rock). After the last rapid the canyon boasts some of its most spectacular scenery with grand vistas of towering mountains and glaciers. In the early afternoon we take out and drive 30 minutes to the Campo Mapu Leufu trailhead. A one mile hike takes us back to camp. This evening we have a farewell dinner celebration in the form of a traditional Chilean Asado (roasted lamb over a fire).
• Rafting the Futaleufu River [Class 4/5, 6 hours]

Day 9. Shuttle and Flights from Chaiten to Puerto Montt to Santiago
This morning we hike 20 minutes out to the dirt road and our waiting bus which will return us to Chaiten where we board the charter plane for the short flight back to Puerto Montt. Upon arriving in Puerto Montt, we board the plane for Santiago and connect to flights to the U.S.
• Shuttle from the lower Fataleufu River to Chaiten [2-1/2 hours total]
• Flight from Chaiten to Puerto Montt
• Flight from Puerto Montt to Santiago
• Flight from Santiago to the U.S.

Day 10. Arrival in the U.S.
This morning we arrive in the United States and connect with flights home as necessary.
• Arrival in the United States

Trip Length: 10 days/9 nights (including travel days)
2008 Departure Dates: April 4-13, April 11-20, November 28-December 7, December 5-14, December 12-21, December 19-28, December 26-January 4, 2009
2009 Departure Dates: January 2-11, January 9-18, January 16-25, January 23-February 1, January 30-February 8, February 6-15, February 13-22, February 20-March 1, February 27-March 8, March 6-15, March 13-22, March 20-29, March 27-April 5, April 3-12, April 10-19, November 27-December 6, December 4-13, December 11-20, December 18-27, December 25-January 3, 2010

Price: $3,100 for all departures through April 2008; $3,200 for all departures beginning November 2008
Single Supplement: Not available--no single accommodations are available in the camps; two people share each dwelling
Group Size: Minimum 1 / maximum 24
Trip Rating: Moderately Easy to Challenging options
Activities: Whitewater rafting (4 days) and hiking (two ½ days) with options to hike, kayak, canoe, horseback ride, Tyrolean traverse, zip line, cliff jump, swim, rock climb, rappel, canyoneer and hot tub
Gateway City: Santiago
Meeting Time & Place: Approximately noon at the airport in Puerto Montt in order to take the 1:00 charter flight to Chaiten; a company representative will be there holding an Earth River sign and will assist you with the transfer.
Trip Conclusion: Puerto Montt airport on Day 9. We arrive at the Puerto Montt airport at about 5:00 p.m. We suggest you book flights no earlier than 6:00 p.m. for your flight from Puerto Montt to connect to the overnight international flight home from Santiago.
Trip Fees Include: Meals (dinner Day 2-lunch Day 9), accommodations (hotel and four camps), activities as described in the itinerary, tent, sleeping bags, pad and liner, wetsuits, all necessary equipment and instruction, bus transfers, round trip charter flight from Puerto Montt to Chaiten and professional American and Chilean bilingual guides.
Trip Fees Exclude: International airfare to and from Chile, roundtrip flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt, airport reciprocity ($131) tax, personal expenses, alcoholic beverages, optional masseuse services ($20 per half hour or 40 per hour), optional trip DVD ($185), and guide gratuities.

General Information, Questions & Answers
What weather conditions can I expect? Daytimes highs from December through March are likely to be in the mid-60s to mid-80s with nighttime lows in the low 50s but on occasion as low as the high 30s. This is generally the driest time of the year in Chile but periods of rain are certainly possible.

How difficult is this trip...Really? No experience is required for any activity including rafting, but this is an activity-oriented trip. We will spend several hours a day of moderately easy to challenging exercise.

Passport & Visa Requirements: A valid passport is required for entry into Chile. Most foreign visitors, including those from the United States, do not need a visa. If in doubt, check with your local Chilean consulate. Visitors of all nationalities are issued a tourist entry card on arrival in Chile and you will need it at the airport for departure. Check-in for international flights to and from Chile is usually two hours before departure. Valuable items such as camera equipment or binoculars and essentials such as prescription medications should always be hand carried on all flights to avoid loss or damage. Important note: U.S. citizens have to pay a $100 fee (cash only in U.S. dollars; no credit cards or travelers checks accepted) upon entry into Chile. Citizens of other nations should check the current fee requirements. Also, an international airport tax of $26 has to be paid directly upon departure if not included in your ticket; please check with your ticket provider.

Medical Information: On the whole, Chile is a fairly risk-free country to travel in as far as health problems are concerned. No inoculations are currently required for Chile. But it is always a good idea to have been vaccinated for polio and within the past ten years for tetanus and diphtheria. We recommend that you talk to your doctor about malaria, hepatitis A and B, and typhoid. A web site with further information is the National Center for Infectious Diseases site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm. In an emergency, a hospital is accessible by helicopter in two hours.

Water: Tap water almost everywhere is clean and safe, but can occasionally cause diarrhea in unfamiliar stomachs. The camps use boiled spring water.