Patagonia Packrafting Expedition

You don’t need whitewater experience. Just be physically fit and have a taste for adventure (a taste for red wine won’t do you wrong either).

Your guides are experienced, knowledgeable, welcoming, and great teachers. You’ll learn how to:

You’ll start and end in Bariloche. We don’t need to tell you about the Argentine flare for ‘the good things in life’, but on this trip, you’ll get a taste of both worlds, with true adventure as well.

DAY 1: Welcome to Patagonia!
Arrive in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina. You’ll likely be coming from a stopover* in Buenos Aires.

*Note: the transfer time between airports in Buenos Aires could take 5 hours, so keep this in mind with connecting flights or consider planning a layover to explore the city.

One of your guides will greet you at the Bariloche airport. We’ll drive you to the hotel, Las Marianas Hosteria, right in the centre of town.

You’re on your own today to explore town and go out for dinner—we’ll point you in the direction of some amazing restaurants (or chocolate shops!)

DAY 2: Packraft and whitewater training
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll meet up for introductions and go over the plan.
Next, we’ll load up the vehicles and depart for El Bolsón (120 km drive) and the Azul River. We’ll be welcomed by our host, Tito, on who’s beautiful riverside property we’ll be camping. When we get to the river, training begins. This day is about getting comfortable in moving water: in and out of your boat.

At this point, you’ll be introduced to the full guide team. They love the water and enjoy teaching people of all skill levels. They’ll be looking forward to helping you get confident in your boat.

We’ll paddle a fun and beautiful section of class II (on a scale of 1 to 6) whitewater on the Azul. You’ll learn how to:

Back at Tito’s, we’ll have all the gear laid out and help you pack up for tomorrow’s departure. This evening you’ll pack up for the river:

Tonight we enjoy an amazing meal prepared by Tito and his family—the expedition begins tomorrow

DAY 3: Hike or Paddle into National Park Lago Puelo
After breakfast this morning we pack up camp and drive approximately 2hrs to where the Epuyen River meets Lake Puelo.  Today our plan will depend on weather conditions. If possible our first choice will be to paddle across the clear waters of Lake Puelo to reach the small dock of the Lake Puelo National Park outpost.  If conditions on the lake are not conducive to paddling we skirt the lake via a low-trodden hiking trail.  Both options will take approximately 4-5 hours.  Tonight we set up camp in the National Park campground.

DAY 4: Hike to Calderon Family Homestead
This morning the real mission begins!  After about 5km hiking we will be outside of the National Park border and entering into the Turbio River Valley.  This remote valley is unique in that there is no road access and the outposts of the local settlers can only be reached by horseback (or one old tractor that helps get the local kids to school!) The most upper part of the valley is also sought out by climbers for it’s world-class granite walls.

There are actually 4 Turbio Rivers that are not so uniquely named, the Turbio 1, Turbio 2, Turbio 3 and Turbio 4! The word turbio translates as “cloudy” or “murky” and each of these milky turquoise rivers come from their own glaciar, uniting at the point where we will begin our descent on day 6!

Today’s hike takes us through native Andean forest for about 4 hours before reaching the homestead of the Calderon family.  This young family has chosen to raise their children and live a self-sufficient lifestyle in this remote area during the Patagonian summers.  Tonight we rest here and set up camp on their land.

DAY 5: Hike from Calderon to Refugio Don Lalo
Today is our last big hike as we push further into the valley.  This hike continues through the Andean forest but today we will see evidence of forest fires that burned a large part of the valley around 10 years ago.  This hike takes us to an outpost owned by another local family.  The location is basically a layover point for when the locals need to herd their cattle upstream in the summer looking for greener pastures and downstream again in the winter.  Tonight we set up camp on our own and rest up for our grand finale tomorrow!

DAY 6: Pack Raft from Don Lalo to Homestead Vigueras
Today is the day we are rewarded for all the effort we did to get here! Today we begin our pack raft descent downriver.  We will experience the valley from a new perspective as we flow with the current and the twists and turns of the river. Our paddle will take us approximately 5 hours until we reach the homestead of the Vigueras, another turbio river family. The patriarch of the family is Juan Vigueras, a traditional “gaucho” in his late 70’s.  He is likely to greet us upon arrival but would otherwise be found performing farm tasks always at pace with his much younger contemporaries.   Although their main activity is not tourism, this family generously provides us with a hot meal during our last night in the valley.

DAY 7: Pack Raft to Lancha. Overnight in El Bolsón.
After a hearty breakfast we resume our descent of the river arriving again to the National Park outpost on Lake Puelo.  As long as the weather is on our side we will be whisked back across the lake on a motorized “lancha”.  Tonight is a night for hot showers and a celebratory dinner at a local restaurant in El Bolsón.

DAY 8: Return to Bariloche for flights
Today your guides or a private shuttle will take you to the Bariloche airport (120km) in time for your return flight.  The timing of this shuttle will depend on your flight but alternatively you may chose to add an additional night in El Bolsón or Bariloche.