Huge Experiences Best Trip
The Chilean culture is as inviting as the beautiful Andes Mountains.
With each passing year, the New River Academy quarter in Chile gets better. Staff and students research a new river, learn a new cultural activity, explore a new swimming hole, and our facilities grow and improve as returning students build lasting relationships with Chilean friends. This continual exploration of culture, rivers, and education within a safe environment keeps students excited.
After safety concerns regarding Mexico New River Academy opted to return to Chile, but this time to Southern Chile’s Patagonia.
Here is the layout of the second semester Patagonia north (Pucon) to south (Futaleafu) trip:
Pucon Area: Rios Palguin, Trancura, Liucura
Choshuenco Area: Rios San Pedro, Upper Fuy, Lower Fuy, Middle Fuy
Cochamo Valley and Hornopiren Area: Rios Petrohue, Negro, Blanco, Cochamo hike or horse trek
Futaleafu Valley: Futa Secitons Inferno Canyon, Casa de Piedra, Terminator, Bridge to Bridge
Read below to learn more about your Patagonia semester opportunity.
Pucon/Rio Trancura Base
Photo class stops for a group shot. Driving Patagonia is as exciting as paddling Patagonia.
You will stay at the Huge Experiences Rio Trancura base.
“When I was researching a Pucon base I wanted access to the river or a view, space for classes, and hopefully something with construction on it. What was found was better than expectations: a base with 4 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, 15 beds, a putin for one section and a takeout for another, a play hole in the front yard, a soccer field, and a view of the volcano. What more could a kayak school want? This year the students have the added luxuries of a full fleet of kayaks, an enclosed quincho for 36 people (Chilean cooking, fireplace, dining/hangout area), 3 covered wagon style river terraces, and a bathhouse for campers. ” -
David Hughes
For morning workouts you may play soccer or have a freestyle session in the front yard play hole.
About Pucon “the Aspen of Chile”
Pucon is not your typical Chilean town. Imagine a small Colorado ski town in the summer but replace the snow capped mountain with a snowcapped volcano and a puff of smoke. Replace the town stream with a giant lake, line the streets with people carousing restaurants, internet cafes, expedition companies, and crafts markets. Young Chileans hitch hike to Pucon from surrounding areas, and Santiago’s wealth annually return to Pucon to explore a multitude of adventures. A mime might direct traffic, students cruise for their favorite churro stand (Chilean version of funnel cake), staff hang out at one of two kayak shops for beta on levels, and photo/video students are eager to film everything. Pucon is the ultimate Chilean adventure hub.
Interesting Santiago Fact- Did you know each summer Santiago takes a month off from work during the peak of summer heat? The month takes up most of February and it is almost impossible to find a place to stay in Pucon.
2009 February Chile Blogs-
Your Rio Trancura base offers more than just a play hole. You will eat your meals in this 36 person quincho.
Lower Trancura (III)- You will put in at your riverside base play wave/hole. After practicing freestyle you have a warm-up prior to your first 100 yard rapid. The Lower Trancura is higher in volume than the Upper Trancura because of the added tributaries. It is also is cloudier (blue/grey) than other rivers in the region. The Lower Trancura is drop- pool and most of the rapids can be boat scouted. Expect big waves and features. You can also expect gorgeous views of the volcanoes. At the right level there is a great wave where we will setup a tow rope down stream.
Upper Trancura (III-IV, with two must-portage class V’s)- Your takeout will be at your own Rio Trancura base and play hole.
“It is awesome to run the Upper Trancura, play at the hole, and then walk up the bank to a warm fire at our base.”
The Upper Rio Trancura is a classic Class III-IV run with a mandatory portage at the Mariman waterfall. This section of river is rafted by a number of companies and is billed as the “expert” section. When not constricted the Upper Trancura is fairly wide with the river flowing over numerous basaltic ledge drops. There are five major drop-pool rapids on this upper section that should be scouted. The forth drop, Salto del Mariman, should be portaged on the left. If you know the lines, and don’t stop and play, the Upper Trancura can be run in about two hours.
Upper Palguin (III-IV) The Palguin River is a Pucon Classic and usually marks the highlight of any kayaker’s trip to the Pucon Valley. This famous creek snakes its way between two active volcanoes, Volcan Villarrica and Volcan Quetrupillan. To describe it best, the Palguin is a class III creek punctuated by numerous high waterfalls. The river is divided into three sections, Upper, Middle and Lower and is only a few kilometers long in total. Plan on spending the day (a few hours for each section) in the Palguin River Gorge your first time down. All of the drops are scoutable except one.
Alternative to Kayaking Activities: Parque Huerquehue, Tres Saltos Canyoneering, Hike Volcan Villiarrica, plan a community service project to the orphanage, paintball, shopping, jet skiing, winter skiing, horse back riding, rafting, trekking… Practically, every adventure is offered.
Liucura Wave (II-III)- The Liucura wave will be your bread and butter park and play feature. You will drive will host views of two volcanos and you will drive through a sheep farm to arrive at the Liucura’s banks. The hole offers loops, godzillas, back looks, mcnasties, blunts, cartwheels, and blunts. It s a jewel that we have such a great play feature.
The Kuchen Lady- Kuchen is a fruit based pastry of delight. The bread is similar to a cobbler and typically adorned with berries, apples, or peaches. Each day after playing in the Liucura Wave the farmer’s wife and her two children walk down to the riverside with two trays of Kuchen. The students line up with their 300 pesos (about 60 cents) to buy a piece. “Only one until everyone gets a piece,” announces a teacher.
Choshuenco and the Rio Fuy
For years we only spent one day paddling the Upper Fuy as we did not realize the many options of the area. After years of missing out, we discovered Middle and Lower Fuy sections offering excellent play and river running. Now our base is in the lakeside town of Choshuenco.
Choshuenco is a true Chilean town nestled between Lago Panguipulli and Volcan Mocho-Choshuenco. Try to envision two dirt roads that both dead-end with a grand view of Lago Panguipulli (one of the seven major lakes in the Lakes District). Even in summer the air is comfortably cool. Each morning the towering mountains shrug-off the morning steam as the sun beams its presence. The buildings are older offering photo students pastel paint and a way of life that is inviting. It is common to hear students day dream about living in Choshuenco. Meals are cooked on a wood stove and students have classes around a fireplace.
For morning workouts the group runs two blocks to the beach to play ultimate. Teachers also take advantage of the lakeside tables for classes. Your hotel is a family owned Chilean restaurant and hotel where Chopper is the family bulldog.
A 20-minute drive away is Lago Neltume which leads to Argentina. The Neltume overflows into the Fuy riverbed. And the Huilo Huilo waterfalls make for a remarkable national park and our favorite lagoona swimming hole.
Alternative to Kayaking Activities: teach local high school students how to kayak for 4th year, Huilo Huilo lagoona swimming hole, hike the volcano, play ultimate at nearby soccer field, world class fishing, take a day to explore Panguipulli, and explore Hotel Baobab.
About the Fuy The Fuy experience is like no other. You will drive from your Choshuenco base on the Lagos Panguipulli to Neltume. These are two of the major seven lakes in the region, and they turn out to be two of the last of the lakes system drainage. Lagos Panguipulli to Neltume last of the series of lakes position means warm water boating. The mountain road insists we stop for views of a nearby ski peak and marvel at the Hotel Baobab eco-lodge. The road ends at the Lago Neltume ferry that goes direct to Argentina. You will put on where Lago Neltume drains into the Rio Fuy. This is an incredible river to experience as it is a warm blue clear water and you can uniquely view a towering snow capped mountain. The feel is simply amazing and the drops are perfect.
Upper Fuy (III-IV) The Upper Fuy is a steep creeker’s Class IV paradise. Imagine clear blue warm water, towered over by a snow capped mountain, and a series of clean waterfalls ranging from 3’ to 28’. This run is a perfect run for beginner creekers to learn boofs and waterfall entries and great for the advanced to hone their skills. Playboaters often choose a play boat at certain levels as the run also offers excellent play in between some of the clean drops.
Middle Fuy (III-IV, below the 50 footer V+ section) Huge Experiences paddled the Upper Fuy for 8 years before Fergus Coffey illustrated a safe put-in on the Middle Fuy section. This section is busier than the upper but does not boast the clean waterfalls. One section has a super fun series of slides. At higher flows the Middle is a tougher section than the Upper. At lower flows the Upper is the tougher section.
Lower Fuy (III) The Lower Fuy is renowned for its beauty. Huge Experiences students were pleased to discover a great play wave while based in nearby Choshuenco in ’06. Your takeout will have you paddling across Lago Panguipulli to the beach of Choshuenco. Here you will walk three blocks to your Chilean mountain home.
Rio San Pedro (III) This may be your last opportunity to paddle the San Pedro as it is currently being dammed. As a matter of point we do not know if we will get to paddle the San Pedro this year.
This run is renowned for its clear blue water, tributary cascades, and some speckled play boating. Most of the run is slow moving and gorgeous. In the middle of the run are three big water rapids that pack some excitement. This is a must experience run based on its Patagonia beauty.
Cochamo Valley and Hornopiren Region- This is a new destination that David Hughes and student leader Stephen Forster have been researching. Final logistics of river scouting, lodging, and transportation will happen this Christmas break. The Cochamo and Rio Negro region was first introduced as a “must-destination” by Dave Fusili. Dave showed the group magnificent photos and videos of the clean waterfalls and 3,000 foot vertical peaks that resemble a less inhabited Yosemite.
Cochamo Waterslide Video
“The Yosemite of Chile”- Cochamo is a climbers’ paradise. And recently kayakers discovered the perfect granite riverbeds in the heart of Patagonia en route to the Futaleafu. Your Cochamo visit will be a layover en route to the Futaleafu via the ferry port town of Puerto Montt. The scout team will be looking for a clean class III-IV sections. The area is known for turquoise swimming pools, rock climbing, hiking, sea kayaking, and waterfalls. While, the Cochamo is described by pros as a class V stretch we have information stating there is a class III-IV stretch suitable for school purposes. We are excited to say the least.
Hornopiren (oven of snow) and the Rios Negro and Blanco
“A drainage, two lakes, and handful of 3,000’ vertical walls south are the Rios Negros and Blancos.”- David Hughes
“We all agreed the river (Negro) is one of the best in Chile. It is like a combination of the Palguin, Desague and LLancahue all rolled into one.”- RiversofChile.com
This portion of your trip will feel expedition like. Imagine a loaded trailer, shopping for a weeks worth of supplies prior to taking a short ferry past towering glaciers en route to a remote village surrounded by lakes, rivers, glaciers, and volcanos. Your food and petro supplies better be on the mark.
Now, that you are at the Rio Negro your phone and internet are replaced with a fireplace and card games. Spanish classes are awesome as you interview your hosts and drivers. Video and photo students are also excited. This is Patagonia.
South to the Futaleafu
You will stay near the famous Pistola Wave. At Pistola you will have the option to paddle a river section or freestyle train. Inferno Canyon, Terminator Section, Casa De Piedra Section, the Bridge to base camp, and base camp to Lower Bridge offer you six paddling options, each with challenging rapids and freestyle kayaking. Bring your playboat for the Futa!
Austral Highway, “One of the most beautiful drives in Patagonia.”
This year you will travel the Austral Highway from Puerto Montt to the Petrohue. After kayaking the Petrohue you will continue south to the Cochamo Valley. Your next stop will be the Hornopiren region. After a short stay in Hornopiren you will take a ferry through the salt water Gulfo Ancud where you may see dolphins and glaciers. The final leg of the Austral Highway will be a 100 km drive around the edge of Gulfo Ancud to the port town of Chaiten.
The Futa Valley- While at the Futa you have a sense that you have gone back in time to a more peaceful place where you are in touch with the environment. The sense of rush is diminished as life’s simple pleasures begin to prevail. A cup of tea, a salted peace of meat, watching the dogs, firing up the shower, warming next to the group fire, and playing card games are all part of your Futa experience.
Oh yea! Don’t forget about school. Morning classes are next to the fire. The Futa for some reason is one of those places that most would rather camp than be in a cabin. Maybe it is the comradery that happens around the fire and under the southern hemisphere stars.
Inferno Canyon is toughest section with Inferno, Zeta, and Throne Room being signature rapids. Each has easy access portages past the fire formed river bed.
Terminator is the next section named for the signature rapid, “Terminator.” Terminator is a class V rapid with a class III sneak. Terminator Wave is a must spot for lunch and the “Himalayas Waves” will provide plenty of excitement.
Bridge to Bridge- Your base is actually in the middle of the Bridge to Bridge section at a camp called Cara del Indio (face of the Indian is a rock profile in the cliff above the camp). Cara del Indio provides the convenience of easy shuttles from the top bridge to camp or camp to the bottom bridge. Each section is full of play including Pistola which is at our base.
Casa de Piedra- is the last section of the Futa named after the rapid “Casa de Piedra.” This section also provides play features and the river begins to open near its end. The last couple of miles prior to the takeout you can look down the valley and have a magnificent view of snow covered mountains. A final bonus is the “Apple Empanda Lady.” At the takeout lives a lady who bakes apple empanadas. Students line up to buy the typical Chilean treat.
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