Chile: White-water rafting on the Futaleufu River:
Located in remote northern Patagonia near the border of Argentina, the Futaleufu River boasts some of the best waters in the world for white-water rafting. Its Class III, IV and V rapids provide a wild ride for rafters as they wind through temperate rainforest and glacier-capped mountains. While the Futaleufu draws many experienced rafters, adventurous beginners can also enjoy a rafting trip. But, as Mitch Sasser, co-founder and expedition leader of H2O Patagonia notes, "Futaleufu is not a river for the faint of heart. You need to have a 'go get it' attitude."
"[The Futaleufu is] a large-volume river with Grand Canyon-size waves and obstacles, but pitched into a much smaller and steeper river canyon," says Sasser. "The water of the Futaleufu is a translucent turquoise blue that will blow you away ... Expect to be pounded with enormous amounts of whitewater, paddle blind into the next wave and come out loving it (hopefully inside the raft)." Most trips hit the Bridge-to-Bridge section of the river for Class III and Class IV-plus rapids.
Seven-night trips with H2O Patagonia start at $3,800 per person.
By Jessica Labrencis, SmarterTravel.com
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