FAQs & Forms

Each trip has published dates and times for a trip included arrival and departure airport transfer. Due to costs of human and vehicle resources we must charge $US140 for airport transfers outside of the published times. There is also an economical public transfer service we can teach guests how to use. Pucon bus station transfers are gratis. 

Trip Campers need to bring their own camping supplies, but have access to all retreat and trip amenities. Guests reserving bed accommodations are provided with linens, towels, and pillows. PKR does not stock toiletries such as toothpaste or shampoo, so unless you plan to stop at the local pharmacy or supermarket, it is better to plan to travel with your own.

Retreat meals include a mix of authentic Chilean cuisine and gourmet favorites. An asado – or traditional Chilean barbecue – is featured almost weekly during the peak summer season. With notice we can accommodate a diverse range of dietary needs such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten, allergies, and ingredient intolerances. 

Hosteria rooms, dorms, and river suites each have lockable (locks not included) spaces for personal items. Campers we recommend bringing locking devices for your gear. PKR provides kayak racks with chains and a secure gear locker for personal gear storage. We recommend you lock your kayak gear in one of our secure areas. 

The retreat is the heart of Chile’s volcano and lakes district with an impressive selection of adventures. Many of our guests opt for multi-adventures to take a day or session off from kayaking. Some favorites include wine tasting, hot springs, cliff jumping lagunas, volcano and national park hikes, exploring Pucón, and much more. Ask us about a multi-adventure plan. 

Trips departing on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday often come with a cheaper ticket price. So try various dates if your schedule is flexible but remember to double check the actual trip dates. Most flights into Chile depart your home country at night and arrive to Santiago early the next morning, meaning if your ticket leaves the U.S. on January 1st, you won’t land in Chile until January 2nd. The same concept applies to your return. If your trip ends on February 2nd, that is the day you arrive to your final destination back home – requiring you to depart from Chile on February 1st

No, but it sure is helpful. Chileans are well known in the Spanish-speaking community for having a very distinct dialect and using a large number of unique slang words and phrases. This can present some challenges for those even with some degree of Spanish fluency from another country. Luckily Chileans are usually muy tranquilo and have proven to be HIGHLY tolerant of foreign tourists and their attempts to learn Spanish. In Pucon and many other high-traffic tourist destinations throughout the country you will find a large number of the population is bilingual, so it’s usually pretty easy to find someone willing to translate should you need help communicating.

If you choose to camp for your trip you will need to bring your own camping supplies. Renting equipment is also an option when you register. All-inclusive trips will provide kitchen supplies to campers. 

Yes. PKR invested in construction with lots of outlets. We realize travelers love to geek out with videos, editing, and emails. You can purchase outlet adaptors at any hardware store for as little as $1 USD (see ‘Voltage’ for more info). We keep several outlet converters on supply to hand out to guests. 

Kind of. The fiber optic Internet line has yet to pass the retreat property. But there are options. Most cafes offer wifi access. As well, international phone plans are now receiving Internet at the retreat. 

Yes. The retreat has a commercial washer and dryer. We prefer guests save money/energy costs and dry their clothes on the line, but the choice is yours. 

The retreat has adapted payment schedule and policies during the Corona pandemic and travel restrictions. Chiefly, we have a created a no financial obligation registration process to allow guests to research travel and logistics without financial burden. Read our payment schedule and policy here. 

Chile kayak trips are designed to maximize weather and water conditions. Advanced and Expert Chile Kayak trips begin in November for high water flows and continue all season due to varying rivers and levels for expert runs. Intermediate and Beginner Chile Kayak Trips commence in January and continue through March. 

The retreat primarily employs kayak instructor positions to our U.S. partner, the Nantahala Outdoor Center. For decades NOC has been the industry standard for professional kayak instruction and NOC has stayed committed to their whitewater kayaking roots. We also employ hand select best of talent from our Guest Work Exchange Program. 

Staff are required to hold current certifications in AWFA or WFR, ACA Kayak Instructor, and Swiftwater Rescue Tech 3. Additionally, staff are trained and tested on the local rivers, skills assessment, canyon rescue, Spanish language, local cultural and historical knowledge, and Chilean flora y fauna.

Morning coffee or matte is accompanied by breakfast. Most mornings offer classroom kayak theory or instructional that applies to the day’s river sections.Kayak Theory is everything kayaking, including waterfall techniques, boof strokes, blade placement, edging, new school and old school, safety, where to run a rapid, geography, humor, video review. For many its their first real kayak development instruction since they were beginners. Soon thereafter you will gear up for your day’s activity. Many days are divided in two – with shuttles in the morning and late-afternoon to different local sections of river. Tuesdays and Thursdays are often designated as travel days for longer river sections or road trips. Almost every day ends with a delicious hot meal and an endless supply of stories, laughter, and games in our quincho.

Trip Price Includes 3 meals/day, double occupancy lodging, airport transfer, daily transportation, and kayak rental. The trip price does NOT include: airfare, alcohol, and meals out (average 2-3 per trip).

Guests on regular trips may arrive early or stay longer only if they trip extend. It is important to the community ambiance that each guest eats at the same table and participates in activities. Email to learn more. 

The retreat attracts an international base seeking to explore Chile via kayak primarily from the US, UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Canada. Other countries we’ve seen visit include Russia, Japan, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Australia, Austria and more. It is common to share stories around the fire with kayakers from half a dozen countries.

A custom trip design is often the solution for misaligning trip dates. Email to learn more. 

To Chile’s east is the spine of the Andes Mountains. Snow and rain draining from the eastern slope flows west towards the Pacific Ocean. Practically every drainage offers remarkable runs as the volume of water moved is significant over a short distance. Pucón is the epicenter of whitewater based on geography. A landmark destination since the early 1900’s, Pucon was originally a military trading route to Argentina. This means in addition to having the right combination of water and gradient for kayakers, it also has infrastructure, meaning roads you can use to access those rivers. The Rivers & Lakes District, where Pucon is located, is in a highly active tectonic region. This has lead to the formation of many volcanoes and hot springs – and provides a spectacularly beautiful backdrop to nearly any outdoor activity. These factors have combined to make Pucón a vacation destination for South America’s elite for generations. Now kayakers of all ability levels can enjoy the concentration of water in one of the most beautiful landscapes on the planet.

The Chilean healthcare system is ranked higher than the U.S. healthcare system by the World Health Organization (WHO). PKH has helped many groups deal with a variety of accidents, illnesses, and injuries over the years. Chilean hospitals are modern with quality basic equipment such as x-radiography, dental, and general medical assessment and prescription. A typical emergency room visit will cost about $30 USD and most kayakers pay out of pocket for their visit and any subsequent prescriptions that are needed. We recommend you consult with your health insurance provider to know your coverage – some U.S. healthcare providers require you to have a travel amendment to your existing policy. You may also want to consider researching a short-term international insurance provider.

Chile is a considered a safe destination with an extremely low violent crime rate. Chile is the most stable and economically prosperous of all South American countries. The culture is generally very friendly and welcoming of tourists. However, petty theft is common, especially in major cities, bus terminals, and metro areas – but a combination of common sense and awareness is typically all you need to stay safe and out of trouble. We recommend every guest carry a lockable bike cable combo to lock personal gear at all times, on any trip to any destination in the country.

Chile uses the Chilean Peso (CLP). You can find conversion rates for your currency here.

Electric voltage in Chile (and most of South America) is 220 volts, 50 cycles (220v, 50Hz). The use of appliances or electric devices designed for 110 volts need a transformer to operate. Most travel appliances, like laptops, have an auto-volt (110v – 240v) transformer built in that will adapt to Chilean electricity – all you need is an adapter for your plug so it fits into the standard wall sockets found throughout the country. Universal adaptor kits are easy to find and inexpensive. The hostel often has some for sale in reception, so don’t stress if you aren’t able to get one in advance – we will help you charge your electronics, don’t fret.

You do not need a Visa to visit Chile so long as you do not plan to stay in the country for longer than 90-days. Your ‘tourist visa’ will be automatically granted to you upon your arrival as part of the customs process. If you have a passport from a country outside the U.S. or Canada — or if you will be traveling in Chile for longer than 90-days, please email [email protected] for assistance.