Chile Whitewater Rafting & Patagonia Hiking
Chilean Patagonia is a romantic and rugged land filled with outdoor adventure at every turn. Far beneath the spires and snow-packed crown of the Andes, the Futaleufú River (aka “The Fu”) is one of the Earth’s premier whitewater destinations. Further south, Torres del Paine National Park is home to some of the most impressive sights and hiking in the Southern Hemisphere.
In this geographically diverse part of Chile, glacial forces have sculpted the terrain over the past 800,000 years, creating majestic peaks, lakes and roaring rivers. Here, soaring condors are common, and puma, wamule (endangered elk), ibis, salmon, and native trout call this stunning landscape home.
FUTALEUFU RIVER
The Rio Futaleufú begins in Argentina’s Andes. After flowing through several lakes in the Parque National Los Alerces, these beautifully turquoise waters emerge as the powerful flows of the Futaleufú. Alternating between vistas of granite cliffs, lush foliage, snow-capped peaks and towering spires, the Fu cascades dramatically through a canyon of breathtaking beauty. Slot canyons, waterfalls, and glacial lakes provide added highlights.
The Fu boasts intense stretches of Class IV-V rapids and turquoise blue water unlike any other river in the world. Rafters have the option of hiking on a beautiful Chilean trail around some of the more difficult and intense sections, but even the Class IV rapids of the Fu will get your adrenaline pumping!
Experience an exclusive riverside camp with hot tubs, sauna and sunset bar on our Futaleufú Rafting Multi-Sport. Enjoy daily yoga classes, massage or wine tasting before a candlelight dinner featuring fresh local ingredients. Raft the incomparable Futaleufú, inflatable kayak, hike, mountain bike, and horseback ride among some of the best multi-sport adventure terrain on the planet.
TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK
Located at the southernmost part of Chilean Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park is one of the world’s most dramatic and remote national parks. Yet this end-of-the-world paradise, with its granite peaks and towers that soar from seal level to more than 9,000 feet, attract thousands of visitors each year.
The granite pillars of the park’s namesake Torres and iconic Cuernos dominate this magnificent landscape, but at 598,338 acres there are endless natural sights to be discovered. Named a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1978, Torres del Paine is a land of gorgeously transparent lakes, vibrant emerald forest, raging rivers and foreboding mountain peaks. It’s a place where condors sore overhead and other rare wildlife like the guanaco take refuge.
To best experience this otherworldly landscape, adventurous travelers come to Torres del Paine for its extensive hiking infrastructure. Among the most rewarding is the park’s challenging W Trek, a 7-day adventure that takes hikers from the granite spires that give this park its name to the shorelines of Nordenskjold and deep into French Valley. Each day’s miles are rewarded with warm and comfortable lodging in refugios along the route where hearty meals and good stories are shared. Patagonia’s W Trek is most certainly a bucket list adventure.
Why choose OARS for a Patagonia Hiking or Rafting Adventure in Chile?
Traveling to an unfamiliar country doesn’t have to be challenging. With more than 150 years of combined experience in the adventure travel industry, our staff of knowledgeable adventurers has taken out the guesswork and added our guarantee. A trip to Chile with OARS is a true adventure. The country offers a unique mix of adventure, natural phenomenon, and is famous for its food, wine and hospitality. As you journey through Chile, you can be confident you’re traveling with one of the most trusted and experienced adventure travel companies in the world.
For more than 45 years, OARS has led travelers of all ages and abilities to some of the most stunning locations on the planet. We thrive on creating adventures that take you off the beaten path and away from the crowds to magical landscapes, rivers and coastlines. National Geographic, Outside, Men’s Journal and Sunset magazines along with NBC, CNBC, Forbes Traveler and SmarterTravel.com have all recognized OARS for serving up some of the “Best Trips on the Planet.”
We also provide the best guide-to-guest ratio in the adventure travel business so you can feel at ease from the moment you step off the plane, to every new experience that awaits you on your Chile adventure. Going above and beyond at any chance, our friendly local guides will ensure your questions are answered and your concerns are given the personal attention you deserve, all while sharing their extensive knowledge of the area.
We believe it is a fundamental part of ecotourism is to work with local guides while at the same time bringing our wealth of experience to the table. Our partners in Chile were some of the first to introduce Futaleufú rafting and kayaking trips, as well as hiking tours in Patagonia. In conjunction with North American guides, we offer unparalleled service and expertise in the region. Together with OARS, our like-minded partners in Chile take environmental responsibility seriously and we contribute to the long-term preservation of the Rio Futaleufú and Torres del Paine National Park.
