The Fast & Furious Futaleufu

A week of pure adrenaline was just what I needed. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I travelled down to the sleepy town of Futaleufu in Northern Patagonia to join my Dad on his 60^th Birthday Adventure Trip. He planned for us 10 days of rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, and trekking alongside one of the top 5 commercial rafting rivers in the world! There are not many other rivers that can say they have nearly the same power, rapids, or beauty.

We were based at this beautiful campsite right along the banks of where Rio Azul feeds into the Futaleufu. To get to the campsite, one had to climb down from the road and have a staff member row you across to the camp. This barefoot friendly area had its own tranquil beach. My favourite place to be was in the hammock with the river rushing past me and with the mountain known as the Three Nuns looming overhead. After an intense day, my Dad loved to hit up the sauna to relax. I honestly was spoiled there. A couple, Gary & Divine, constantly fed us with some of the best comida I could have dreamed. Every meal was a large buffet but you had to go before the guides because otherwise there would be absolutely none left.

Those guides work hard and play hard. They are some of the best kayakers that I have ever met. They make class 5 rapids look easy.

While there we did one day of mountain biking and sea kayaking. It had been a while since I had last been on my bike but eventually I got use it. It was gorgeous ride; I never minded stopping just because every turn we made or every hill we climbed had a new sight for us to admire. We biked to a nice lake to have lunch; then we hopped into some boats and spent 2 hours out on the water. It was nice to use some other muscles and get off those seats. We took the same route back and shared Valentine’s Day gifts. I did not feel so far from home with my Dad and a card from my mom.

We also went on a little 2 day trek into the Valle Bonita (Pretty Valley). We hiked alongside a long lake with 4 glaciers on the other side. We had the great opportunity to stay in our local guide’s waterfront property in a little cabin. We used this time to talk and catch up about what had been happening in our lives since we last saw each other. We climbed the hill to house to have dinner and breakfast with him, his wife Marisel and his 2 very young children. It was extremely interesting just to spend one night with them and learn about how they lived. I know that my Dad really enjoyed. The trek would have been for longer but I think that we just missed the river way too much.

I absolutely LOVED rafting. Rapids mostly come in at Class 4 but there are many Class 5. The Futa is absolutely packed from top to bottom; the longest stretch of flat water is about 2 kilometers. The river break down into 3 parts: The Wild Mile, The Terminator Section and Bridge to Bridge. Every single day was different even though I had completed the whole river by the third day. Some highlights include flipping in Casa del Piedra (5+), breaking an oar while surfing in Mundaca`s Hole which is big enough to swallow a small bus, accidently running over our safety kayaker, and finally swimming through the Terminator section.

It was hard to leave this place that I felt a strong bond to. I fell in love with the river and would love to return. The crew was friendly and the camp was gorgeous. My Dad got to stay for another week to kayak. The time I got to spend with him was special. He still treats me at as a kid sometimes but I know that he views me as a friend as well. It was tough when I drove away without my Dad. But that is the story of travelling. You go to new places and meet interesting people, but at some point you need to leave. You would think it gets easier but it just gets more difficult as they accumulate over time.

I know that this time with my Dad will be one of the highlights of my entire year abroad.