Stand Up Paddle Board First Descent of Chile’s Claro River

Tips & Stories

Standup Paddle SUP Board First Descent of Chile’s Seven Teacups – Rio Claro, Chile

Link to – Pucon Chile SUP Boards for Rent and Trips 

The SUP board would be stuck for an hour long rescue next to a challenging to reach wall. Luckily, the river gladiator saw the danger with his keen eyes and jumped to safety. First Descent SUP - David Hughes.
The SUP board would be stuck for an hour long rescue next to a challenging to reach wall. Luckily, the river gladiator saw the danger with his keen eyes and jumped to safety. First Descent SUP – David Hughes.

Christmas eve and paddlers at Chile’s Pucon Kayak Hostel are stuffing kayaks and gear bags into a trailer instead of candy canes in stockings. A group of 8 paddlers are setting out on their dream kayak adventure to the Rio Claro’s waterfall wonderland. As a Dodge Durango and trailer pull out of the parking lot PKH owner David Hughes stops the SUV,

“Let’s grab a SUP board. I’ve been wanting to SUP the Teacups.” A kayaker asked, “Can you do that?” David, “Sure. You can swim them if you want. I’m pretty sure on SUP this would be a first descent.”

Above David dives too early off the sixth of the Seven Teacups and loses his legs. Standup Paddle Board First Descent Rio Claro, Chile.
Above David dives too early off the sixth of the Seven Teacups and loses his legs. Standup Paddle Board First Descent Rio Claro, Chile.

The group had three days on the Claro’s more than 80 clean cascades over the Christmas holidays. The water was low but runnable. David describes, “It’s the lowest I’d ran the Diablo (Throat of the Devil) section. I got tossed into the right wall and took a pretty good hit on my ribs, head and my neck is sore. The Twenty Two Saltos was the best section at the low levels. And the lower flow was idea for an easy SUP board paddle to lip and jump, dive, or flip style of SUP boarding. It’s rare to find such perfectly clean cascades where you can paddle a SUP board off and not have to worry about your landing.”

David Hughes goes for a flip when his Standup Paddle SUP Board drags a rock at the lip of the final and tallest of Chile's Seven Teacups. First Descent SUP.
David Hughes goes for a flip when his Standup Paddle SUP Board drags a rock at the lip of the final and tallest of Chile’s Seven Teacups. First Descent SUP.

That group of eight paddlers would enjoy paddling over 80 clean cascades for their Christmas holiday.

Pucon Chile SUP boarding may be the Standup Paddle Boarding’s best kept secret when it comes to spectacular destinations. The Pucon area is known as one of the world’s most scenic regions for rivers and lakes surrounded by the towering Andes and sprinkled with volcanos. Want to organize a SUP Pucon Chile trip? Or how about just renting SUP boards for the day. Email [email protected] to learn more.

David Hughes is the owner of Pucon Kayak Hostel, director of Patagonia Study Abroad and founder of PSA’s predecessor New River Academy.

Photos Credits Jesse Metzger, Patagonia Study Abraod Tour de Stouts.

Pucon Kayak Hostel kayakers scout the "Throat of the Devil" just a kilometer upstream of the more famous Seven Teacups. Rio Claro, Chile.
Pucon Kayak Hostel kayakers scout the “Throat of the Devil” just a kilometer upstream of the more famous Seven Teacups. Rio Claro, Chile.
“First descenting the Teacups just goes to show how easy SUP boarding is. I don’t SUP much but have to say that was super fun. I even got a bit nervous before the first drop. But it went smoother than I expected. So, it was just fun after that.” First Descent SUP, David Hughes.
“First descenting the Teacups just goes to show how easy SUP boarding is. I don’t SUP much but have to say that was super fun. I even got a bit nervous before the first drop. But it went smoother than I expected. So, it was just fun after that.” First Descent SUP, David Hughes.