| Cost From: | $3995 |
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| Length: | 9 days |
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| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Wildlife & Natural History |
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I was blown away by Patagonia and enjoyed the variety of activities and landscapes. There were so many highlights. Better yet, we met some fine folks on the trip.G. Fan—Pleasanton CA
Hike the spectacular emerald-green rice terraces of mountainous Banaue (the famed “stepping stones to the sky”), then don your snorkeling gear and slip into the warm waters of the Coral Triangle to swim amid a staggering abundance of vibrant reef life.
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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.
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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.
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.
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.
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
If you would like to extend your adventure, we offer the following options:
