Possibly, South America’s most run waterfall section the Upper Palguin Canyon is like a waterfall park idea for experts keen to master advanced skills in a safe setting, and first time creekers excited to learn creeking and waterfalls techniques. Hiks a short distance to the base of the pro-only Salto Palguin (boof to 85 footer) for a one-of-a-kind seal launch adjacent to a river land bridge. Double Drop is the first and most difficult rapid with a ladder complimentary of PKR boaters construction offering multi-lapping of this gem. A 4 footer followed by a 9 footer offers lots of speed and plenty of entertainment. Other notable drops include Squeaky Door, the 12 footer, 20 footer, and Pescador.
Whitewater Kayak Skills Require
Confidence to learn and try the following in a remote basalt canyon.
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solid combat roll
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river running experience
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river communication
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creek eddy catching
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low volume ferrying
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boof skills
Access Put in/Takeout
20 minutes from retreat base need a vehicle or driver.
Put In: Roadside access at Salto Palguin pulloff, or private access with permissions. Roadside has experienced breakins.
Take Out: Pull-off at fence hole .75 KM below putin. Leave nothing in your vehicles.
Only one way out…
Seal launch at the land bridge for the basalt canyon experience.
Lapping Double Drop
We built a ladder to lap our favorite rapid. Get your speed and boof on… then do it again.
Safe 20 Foot Waterfall
Safely practice clean plugging, boofing, angle control, or freestyle.
Stick your first waterfall.
Ashley seconds after gracing the twenty-foot-epic-line of a lifetime. FIERO!!!
Highlights. One of a kind land bridge seal launch; Double Drop challenges, ear dipping the 12 footer, and multi-lapping the 20 footer.
Dangers. The run is relatively safe. Although, high flows can get downright nasty with scary swims. Low flows and too far left off the 20 footer the water is green. Avoid taking out river right above the crack.
Instructor Tips & Challenges. Go with someone that knows has access permissions or have a vehicle security plan. Plan to lap Double Drop and the 20 footer (leftside below Pescador is trail). PKR provides safety and freestyle coaching for various waterfall skills.
Advanced Pucon Chile Rivers to Kayak
Lower Trancura (III to IV)
Upper Palguin River (III to IV+)
Lower Palguin (III to IV+)
Maichin Canyon (III+ to IV+)
Upper Fuy (III+ to IV+)
San Pedro River (II to IV)
Liucura Wave to Trancura Confluence (III to III+)
Rio Claro (III+ to V)
Salto Blanco del Sur (IV)
Other advanced rivers descriptions coming soon: Coilaco 30 Footer, Maipo (Lower & Upper), Rio Nuble, Futaleufu
Chile Kayak Trips Featuring
Upper Palguin River
Have a Question?
Other Advanced Chile Kayak Trip Options
CUSTOM TRIP-JAHRivers Class IV Tour of Chile
Jay Hicks invites friends to his dream Chile kayak trip of waterfalls, basalt canyons, and Chile blue water rivers fest spectacular. Join Jay as Chile provides the goods and PKR provides everything else.
Students Kayak Chile Waterfalls + Rescue Certification
DEC 18 – JAN 2
Students kayak Chile waterfalls, rivers plus earn swift water rescue certification. We’ll throw in a vertical canyon extraction scenario just to give students the best rescue training in kayaking. Check out our Holiday Trip Gifting options… you’ve earned it.
Fuy Plus Pucon Rivers
JAN 18 – 25
Advance Kayak Chile’s best January whitewater destinations with the Fuy blue waterfalls and Pucon rivers and basalt canyons. Rio Fuy offers multiple sections from mellow to advanced within the Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve. With Pucon’s diverse river options this is as good as kayaking gets.
Pucon Classics Advanced (III to IV)
Multiple WEEKS Available
MOST POPULAR. Want to up your kayaking game with the safety of world class coaches on rapids that will challenge and excite you? Trip guarantees blue rivers, waterfalls, slides, and boofing all on world class creeking and big rivers.