Glacier above Lake Yelcho, Futaleufu, Chile

Glacier-draped peaks surround the mighty Futaleufu River. We head out on the trail for wonderful day hikes with overnights in spectacular private campsites that include treehouses and natural stone hot tubs.

Photo by Leon Werdinger

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In wild northern Patagonia, a pristine torrent of aquamarine water thunders its way between towering granite spires and snowy alpine peaks. The river is the great Futaleufu, one of the epic whitewater rivers of the planet. We’ve created a spectacular adventure to match this extraordinary place, with hikes along the Futaleufu Canyon and up to cobalt-blue glacier lakes. Our nights are in riverside camps as stunning as the scenery, some with wood-fired hot tubs at the river’s edge, a great place to relax after a day’s hike in a mountain wilderness that has few equals in the world. Optional adventures include a short, roped ascent of the Tower of the Winds and a thrilling Tyrolean traverse across the mighty Fu. This is a unique mountain adventure in a truly magnificent setting.

Highlights

  • Spectacular mountain hikes, options for rafting, rock scrambling, and an exhilarating Tyrolean traverse
  • The Futaleufu, one of South America’s world-class whitewater rivers
  • Amazing private camps including tree houses, cliff shelters, and cave camps with stone hot tubs

Details

  • 9-day trip begins and ends in Puerto Montt
  • 1 night in hotel, 7 nights in exclusive private camps
  • All meals included
  • Moderate to steep trails, 2-7 hours a day
Please contact us for future departure dates

Suggested Reading

Reading list, click here.

Itinerary at a Glance
Futaleufu Adventure route-map

Days 1-2
Puerto Montt / Chaitén / Pumalin / Lago Yelcho

From the outpost of Chaitén, we head out through the Patagonian Andes for a warm-up hike in Parque Pumalin, an enormous private park that preserves ancient alerces (Fitzroya cupressoides), the majestic conifer of the Southern Hemisphere. Overnight on Day 2 is in cabins on Lago Yelcho, with its backdrop of glacier-draped peaks.

Days 3-4
Futaleufu Camp / The Towers Camp

A hike through temperate rainforest brings us to the base of the magnificent Yelcho Glacier, and we overnight at spectacular Futaleufu Camp with amazing views of the roaring Terminator Rapid on the Futaleufu. Our next hike is right along the banks of the Fu, with river views below the granite towers. Overnight is in The Towers Camp in log cabins nestled between huge mountains.

Days 5-6
Cave Camp / Treehouse Camp

Hiking along the river to Cave Camp, we savor eye-popping views of the roiling turquoise river and the backdrop of Alps-like snow-capped peaks. Cave Camp perches above the wild Zeta Rapid, where the entire Futaleufu squeezes through a granite flume. At camp is a natural granite pool we heat with a wood fire for a hot tub. The next day, we cross the river by Tyrolean traverse (or by raft, if preferred) and hike to our spectacular Treehouse Camp, with its two-person treehouses in a majestic grove of old-growth giants.

Days 7-9
Mapu Leufu Camp / Chaitén

Raft or hike (your choice!) to Campo Mapu Leufu, with its wood-fired hot tub above the turquoise river and 360-degree views of glaciers and granite spires. On Day 9, we fly from Chaitén and depart via Puerto Montt.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Optional Extensions

If you would like to extend your adventure, we offer the following options: