Patagonia adventures – family friendly rafting
Patagonia in Chile is known for its wild rivers, offering exciting rafting and fishing experiences. The Cautín River in the Araucania region of central-southern Chile is a perfect place for family friendly rafting being les technical than some of the rivers further south. Surrounded by native beech forest, rural landscapes, National Parks and volcanoes, the region is worth visiting if you are spending more than a week or two in Chile.
Originating in the Andes Mountains, the Cautín passes Volcano Lonquimay and arrives to the antiquated town called Curacautin, with some force but it is wide and has many peaceful stretches, ideal for a family adventure with children.
Epu Pewen is the company we went with. They accept children from 7 years old and provide all the instruction and safety gear required (wetsuit, booties, lifejacket); BYO sunscreen. The company offers three tours, one on the upper stretch of the river, towards Malalcahuello, rated grade 2-3, a second tour on the lower stretch, close to the town, rated 2 and a longer one that lasts half a day encompassing both sections. We did the lower section and although rated the easiest, still managed to raise some squeals when the guide navigated us into the waves and against the rocky outcrops.
The trip took us approximately 3 hours from when we met at the store to get our gear to the the return at the same place, all in all about 1-1.5 hours in the water. Apart from the rapids, there were calm stretches when we could enjoy looking at the plants and trees lining the banks and observe water birds such as the Cortacorriente (Merganetta armata armata), a white-faced duck that lives in fast running rivers in South America. The guide was fun, relaxed, careful and confident, making the participants feel relaxed and happy. Recomendable on a hot sunny day. The cost ranges from CLP$20.000 – $35.000 per person depending on which tour you choose(2019).
