Report from October 5, 2023

Yesterday, we left Esquel, Argentina about 9am and drove south and west into Chile.

Almost as soon as we left Esquel, we saw flamingos!

The border crossing was full of fluffy cats and uneventful.

We made it to Futaleufu, Chile at 10:30am and geared up at Rio Futaleufu Rafting Co.

Day #2 Details:

Miles Driven: 171
Total Miles Driven: 385
Hours of Driving: 4.5
Latitude: 42.9ºS to 44.3ºS
Good Food Eaten: None… We ate in Puyuhuapi at a hippy restaurant and it was OK…

We’d signed our lives away and headed down to the river.

The Futaleufu River is a legendary river and is always ranked in the top 5 for best rapids.

The river was high.

“Very few people get to experience this river at this high a water level,” Mauricio told us

We got in and survived the first few rapids.

At one point in a fit of passion, I said, “We’re just too good at this!”

“Don’t get cocky,” Mauricio replied.

It was the very next rapid that took us down.

Mundaka.

We were positioned well but as he hit the biggest wave, it crested and folded over on us pitching our raft sideway.

Erica and I were in the front.

I tried to hold my position but almost instantly careened down into Erica as the boat flipped on top of me.

I flipped underwater and came up for air.

I was under the boat and pretty freaked out but quickly remembered the training Mauricio had given us.

“If you end up under the boat, there’s air under there. Grab a breath or 2 then swim outside the boat and grab the rope.” – Mauricio during orientation

I did just that and stayed calm.

The rescue boat was right there and yelled at us to get in and we did so.

I grabbed an oar and helped usher us to safety in a small eddy on the side of the river.

Dogger friend and sunshine. image: snowbrains

Erica had grabbed the nose of the rescue kayak and was doing “The Koala” on the bow.

We were all stoked.

Such a thrill.

We all conglomerated on the shore and got back in the raft.

There were a few more exciting rapids but it all felt mellow after our spill at Mundaka.

The stoke was high.

We ended the day doing flips off a cliff into the river and with snacks and tea.

When the sun came out the river was turquoise.

We all hung out and shared stories and photos and laughed a lot.

Eventually, we got back on the road and ripped down to the coast at Puyuhuapi.

The drive from Futaleufu to Puyuhuapi was stunning.

It looks like coastal Alaska here.

Like the inside passage.

We checked into our rustic bungalow in Puyuhuapi and walked around in the rain looking for open restaurants.

This town was founded in 1935 by 4 young German men.

The town’s history began when entrepreneur Robert Uebel financed a migration project, sending 4 young Germans (Otto Uebel, Karl Ludwig, Walter Hopperdietzel, and Ernesto Ludwig) to Chile. They founded Puyuhuapi in 1935. Their families joined them in 1947, having been delayed by World War II.