When Is The Best Time To Whitewater Kayak Chile Rivers and Waterfalls?

The best time to whitewater kayak Chile is a combination of geography, time of season, and your personal whitewater kayak skills: A) Chilean climate determines water levels for varying skills. Generally, early spring season provides a short season for northern rivers, and high flows for southern rivers. B) Chilean geography north (warmer/arid) to south (cooler/rainier) determines levels in conjunction with time of year. Chile being south of the equator the seasons are opposite to North Americans and Europeans.

Whitewater Kayak Chile Waterfalls, Creeks and Big Volume Rivers During October to December

You could distinguish Chile kayaking into three regions: northern Santiago to Nuble, Pucon Rivers and Lakes District, and south of Gulfo de Ancud/Chaiten where the world famous Rio Futaleufu is located.

Generally, as you travel north it is hotter and more arid. Meaning the northern whitewater rivers and waterfalls dry up typically prior to the holiday season. To the south is more water and the climate is colder. We tend to recommend northern rivers prior to Christmas and southern rivers post holidays. With the Pucon whitewater epicenter having options all year. The whitewater kayak Chile rivers guide page gives free Chile Rivers data including access, dangers, kayaker tips, and directions. 

General Rule Whitewater Kayak Chile Rivers 

Whitewater kayak Chile rivers from Pucon and north prior to the holidays. Kayak Chile rivers from Pucon and to the south after the holidays.

Whitewater Kayak Chile from Santiago to Rio Nuble Valley

This region is known for Chile’s Central vineyard wine producing arid district. The rivers here flow at optimal levels prior to Christmas. Most notably the Rio Claro aka Seven Teacups National Park is predictably dry or dangerously low by the end of November. Higher volume Rivers Nuble, Maipo, Tena, and Maule hold water for longer and they too are most optimal by the end of November. The weather can be sunny and shorts during the days, and cool at nights. Plan with rain gear and jacket in the case you catch a classic Chilean weather front.

Whitewater Kayaking Chile – Rio Claro Plus Nuble, III+ to IV+ (NOV)- Arguably, the world’s best waterfall wonderland the Seven Teacups National Park has over 75 clean waterfalls within five basalt canyons. Recently, the pros continue to open up new canyons more extreme than we are willing to mule into. This is as good as kayaking waterfalls gets.

Whitewater Kayak Chile Rivers Cerca Pucon Whitewater Mecca (NOV to MAR)

In short, Pucon Chile for decades has been touted as one of the world’s greatest whitewater kayak destinations. A variety of rivers and waterfalls are guaranteed year round. We recommend expert kayakers seeking waterfalls and first descents arrive November and earlier. Advanced kayakers will find enjoyable rivers and waterfalls from November to March. We recommend beginners and intermediates kayak the Pucon Chile rivers during January to Febraury to take advantage of sunny weather and managable river levels.

Whitewater Kayak Chile Rivers Resources

Best Advanced Chile Whitewater Kayak Trips

Pucon Creek Week, IV to V (NOV DATES) – For expert kayakers seeking to run more rivers, charge stouts and waterfalls, and kayak Chile canyons and creeks during Pucon optimal flows. Coming off of Chile’s rainy season the waterfalls and canyons are ready for kayakers. Bring your elbow pads and Go Pros.

Whitewater Kayak Chile Week of Rivers, All Skills (DEC DATES) – As the holiday season approaches so does sunny weather. Rivers to the north are dropping while Pucon’s whitewater mecca guarantees flows and waterfalls. The Kayak Chile Week of Rivers offers whitewater kayak trips for all skill levels from beginner to intermediate to advanced kayakers.

Popular – Best Whitewater Kayak Chile Trips

Generally, as the northern rivers lose volume and south of the gulf rivers are still dangerously high with rugged weather Chile’s whitewater kayak scene confluences in the Pucon whitewater mecca. An abundance of sunny weather and reliable river options keeps kayakers happy ranging from solar heated lakes and hot springs for beginners, easy to manage intermediate Chile rivers, and fun to run and challenge advanced Chile rivers and waterfalls.

Best Intermediate Chile Kayak Trips (DEC to FEB)

This period of time the northern Chile rivers are getting on the marginally low side. Whitewater kayakers follow the water to the Pucon and Futaleufu regions and surrounding drainages. Pucon has the most diverse variety of beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert kayaking in Chile. While, the Futaleufu is singularly argued by many as the world’s best whitewater river. Keep in mind the Futa is optimal from JAN to FEB, with shoulder months November and December often being gravely high.

About October to November Chile Kayaking. Kayaking Chile’s late spring season means sunny days meet great water levels.

December to March Chile Kayaking. These are the core summer months of the Chile kayak season offering everything including beginner, intermediate, and advanced kayaking adventures. The sun is shining, its warm with long days and the rivers are inviting kayakers. The northern rivers tend to dry up and kayakers migrate to Pucon for the many options and adventures. Pucon Kayak Retreat offers kayak trips based on skill levels.

• Chile Kayak Pucon Classics Intermediates, DEC – MAR. 

ROAD TO FUTA TRIPS

Anyone who has ever dreamt to whitewater kayaking Chile Rio Futaleufu will enjoy the Road to Futa road trip of a life time. The road to Futaleufu not only embraces the challenge of just getting to Patagonia’s world famous Futaleufu River we highlight every kayaker’s mission to get to the remote Futa Valley. PKH arranges logistics via Chile’s famous Carretera Austral, Southern Highway, taking kayakers along a series of ferries, fjords, volcanoes, glaciers, and Patagonia magnificent en route to the Futa. Once there kayakers fall in love with one of the world’s most magical rivers. Ultimately, kayaking the Futaleufu is every kayaker’s dream come true.

• Best Time – With rugged Patagonia weather we recommend late January to mid March for best levels and sunny days. Pre-season the Futa is often dangerously high and flushed out and kayakers are smattered by heavy weather.
• For Whom? Most kayakers think the Futa is only for experts. And the river certainly keeps the best kayakers in the world happy. But it also has remarkable sections for beginners and intermediates.
• Tips – Bring your camera, good coffee, and winning attitude. Ask about adding a Pucon leg.

Know Chilean Geography 

As you travel north to south you go from the warmer arid regions to the cooler temperate rainforest regions. Keeping these facts in mind, the ideal kayak adventure can be planned allowing you to hit rivers at their optimum flows with optimum weather conditions. And in Chile, water levels make all the difference. Basically, you’ll be moving from north to south OR from south to north — depending on what time of year you plan to travel (more on that in a second).

Central Valley

Santiago lies at the northern end of Chile’s central valley and wine district. There is notable whitewater to the west of Santiago, in the Maipo Valley, but 99% of Chile’s whitewater remains to the south. The Andes spine has annual snowmelt flowing west to the Pacific. Traveling south from Santiago looking east to the Andes it’s hard not to imagine what rapids lie hidden upstream.  As you travel south, the weather cools and moisture increases, meaning the snow pack lasts longer into the season. Pucón has one of the longest whitewater seasons in Chile, with quality rivers running year-round.

Chile Kayaker Tip: Pre-December you’ll find the rivers in Pucón and anywhere to the north offer warmer climates and plenty of water in smaller creeks and classic, larger volume rivers. River flow becomes less and less reliable throughout December, with many tributaries running dry by new year. Guides from the Futaleufu and surrounding area travel north to Pucón, and even the central valley, during this time of year. We recommend the Maipo, Seven Teacups National Park, Nuble, and Achibueno Valleys.

Chile’s Whitewater Kayak Epicenter – Pucon

Geographically, Pucón is the epicenter of Chile whitewater kayaking. It lies to the south of Santiago and just north of the famous Rio Futaleufu. The summer vacation destination was originally established as a military trading route to Argentina, making it extremely accessible. Pucón is close to the Pan American highway (Ruta 5) and near a major Argentinian border. During early development the town — surrounded by lakes, rivers, and volcanoes — developed as an elite head-of-state fishermen’s destination. The perfect location with breathtaking beauty makes Pucón one of Chile’s top summer vacation destinations – for locals and foreigners.

Pucon Chile’s Whitewater Kayaking Heaven on Earth

For kayaker’s, Pucón is Heaven on Earth. Tourism, infrastructure,  highways, and roads to river put-ins and take-outs provide something many other countries simply cannot deliver — access. The high annual precipitation and gradient between the Andes and the Pacific make this region one of the most congested whitewater locations on the planet. Now, imagine the Andes slopes speckled with volcanoes, each with their own glacial drainage. Chile’s volcanoes were formed separate from the mountain range, during different geological events — and they exponentially multiply the number of waterfalls and runnable rivers.

Pucón has one of the longest kayak seasons in Chile. October and November are rainier periods great for notching lots of class IV+ and big drops. Everything is running. December may be the most popular month due to the holidays. The peak months of summer, from January thru March, see many of Chile’s rivers dry up, but Pucón continues to hold flows and attract kayakers. The sun is shining and the rivers are running. Rios Turbio, Palguin, Truful Truful, and Llancahue are all volcano drainages.

Weather is King!

North is hotter. South is cooler. The weather gets almost unbearable near Santiago from January to March. Chile even takes a month-long national summer break to beat the heat. Chileans flock south to the cooler weather and any sources of water in forms of creeks, rivers, lakes, and lagunas. This is one reason why you see so many tourists in the south of Chile during February. As the weather gets hotter the rivers get lower.

The opposite is true of the south. Even Futaleufu guides avoid the Futa during October to December months due to dangerous high flows and extreme cold weather. But as the rivers of the north get low during summer months the Futaleufu Valley offers the perfect summer climate and an unlimited number of river cooling spots. During these months the river is at perfect flow, attracting kayakers from around the globe.

Chile Kayaking Tip – Go with the flow of Chile’s river levels and enjoy the Patagonia summer weather. Plan your Futa trip for the months of January to March. Since many rivers are dry by this time, many kayakers arrive to Pucón seeking to get on reliable runs like the Palguin, Liucura’s play wave, Trancura, San Pedro or Truful Truful.

You are warmly invited to white water kayak with Pucon Kayak Retreat. Email [email protected] to learn more.

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