Kesha’s father Don Thompson introduced her to whitewater on the banks of the Nantahala at the early age of five. From there she was hooked and would later become a kayak instructor for NOC and go onto win the coveted Green Race Champion title. It’s no surprise Kesha loves padling steep creeks as much as rivers.
After hearing so many friends rave about Chilean rivers Kesha signed up for the Claro PLUS, Pucon Creek Week, and to the Guest Work Exchange Program (GWEP). With Kesha’s Western North Carolina creeking experience she’s a natural within Chile’s basalt canyons and waterfalls. Kesha’s volunteer work with the retreat soon earned her a job offer to explore her winters kayaking in Chile and join the team.
Kesha’s northern hemisphere time is invested helping folks as an ER and ICU nurse in Grand Junction, Colorado. There Kesha paddles, paraglides, and mountain bikes most days when she’s not helpingthe sickly recover.
Above: Javi lands a rainbow before breakfast at the retreat quincho.
Scheduled
Chile Kayak Trips
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Our Scheduled Chile Kayak Trips
Pucon Multi-Sport Adventures
AVAILABLE DATES
Pucon’s best multi-sport adventures travelers choose from raft, horse, hot springs, wine tasting, volcanos and glaciers while living riverside.
Chile Kayak y Multi-Adventure Trips Calendar
Calendar details best white water kayak Chile and multi-sport adventure trips by month and skill. Links to trip data make reserving your trip easy.
Kathy Zerkle and Friends Chile Birthday Party
Happy birthday Kathy. Over the years nurse/ranger/psychotherapist Kathy Zerkle has mended more broken river bodies and minds than all of us put together. It is with great pleasure that Pucon Kayak Retreat offers Kathy & friends a birthday week of retreat Chilean river style amongst her besties.
Pucon Classics Intermediate Chile Kayak Trip
Multiple Dates Available
15 INTERMEDIATE sections to learn self-scouting, piercing eddies, boofing, edge control, and explore Chile’s beautiful rivers. Bring a friend or bond with new ones during your daily challenges.
Week of Rivers Chile Kayaking Trip
Multiple Dates. FOR Beginner-Intermediate-Advanced Kayakers
For clubs & groups with a range of skills: beginner – intermediate – advanced kayakers. Beginners and intermediates can safely learn while advanced kayakers can challenge their skills with separate rivers and instructors. Celebrate nightly around the fire.
Pucon Creek Week (IV to V)
Multiple Dates Available
Mark Taylor/Joe Gudger/David Hughes/Staff
POPULAR… combo with Claro Plus
Kayak Chile’s best whitewater in basalt canyons, volcano drainages, slides, big water rapids, and stick your waterfall lines. A week of epic kayaking and celebrating Chile’s best whitewater region during optimal flows.