Well, this is probably the material dreams are made of.
Roy and On went south, looking for a ride to Antarctica, and I took a 30 hours bus to the little village of Futaleufu (meaning the great river).
First ran by kayakists more then 20 years ago, the river Futalefu is a dream for almost every white water lover.
The river’s turquoise water flows through an amazing valley, surrounded by ice caped mountains and green valleys.
On the water, a series of class 3-5 rapids, with deep water, big waves and nice play spots- a great place to spend a day on the water.
I’m being hosted here by “FUTALEUFU EXPLORE”, a rafting company that operates on the Futa. Guides from around the world, and a lot of experience and good time on the water.
Had a great opportunity to arrive here just a few days before the FutaFest. A white water festival, that took place here last weekend. Kayakists and rafting teams from many countries gathered on a campsite on the river bank.
*Boater cross competitions for kayaks (running down river, catching eddies as fast as possible).
*sprint down a rapid with rafts.
*down river competition for rafts and kayaks (bridge to bridge section as fast as possible)
*free style, on Mondaka hole, rafts and kayaks (just playing on the biggest hole on the bridge to bridge section)
So, after kayaking the river only a few times, I gave up competing with a kayak… but found a place on the FUTALEUFU EXPLORE raft.
Roy and On went south, looking for a ride to Antarctica, and I took a 30 hours bus to the little village of Futaleufu (meaning the great river).
First ran by kayakists more then 20 years ago, the river Futalefu is a dream for almost every white water lover.
The river’s turquoise water flows through an amazing valley, surrounded by ice caped mountains and green valleys.
On the water, a series of class 3-5 rapids, with deep water, big waves and nice play spots- a great place to spend a day on the water.
I’m being hosted here by “FUTALEUFU EXPLORE”, a rafting company that operates on the Futa. Guides from around the world, and a lot of experience and good time on the water.
Had a great opportunity to arrive here just a few days before the FutaFest. A white water festival, that took place here last weekend. Kayakists and rafting teams from many countries gathered on a campsite on the river bank.
*Boater cross competitions for kayaks (running down river, catching eddies as fast as possible).
*sprint down a rapid with rafts.
*down river competition for rafts and kayaks (bridge to bridge section as fast as possible)
*free style, on Mondaka hole, rafts and kayaks (just playing on the biggest hole on the bridge to bridge section)
So, after kayaking the river only a few times, I gave up competing with a kayak… but found a place on the FUTALEUFU EXPLORE raft.
us, surfing Mondaka hole
Great weekend, on and in the water for a few hours every day.We also got second and third (on the river running competition) and first place on the rafting freestyle surfing, which means surf the raft into a hole and stay there as much as possible. Interesting flips are also appreciated.
The last day was free rafting for the community of Futa village. Many boats and kayaks on the water on a beautiful sunny day.
So, if you pass by the area, on the boarder between Chile and Argentina, not far from Bariloche, you don’t want to miss this place. Great atmosphere, in and out of the water.
Asado, on the second day of the festival.
a picture taken while i was safety kayaking for a home made raft competition on the near by Rio Espolon.
Gilad in his car. wind shield is optional.... Gilad lend me all his gear while went dancing in the Carnaval in Rio...
kayaks in Mondaka hole.
Mondaka rapid on the down river kayak competition
a picture taken while i was safety kayaking for a home made raft competition on the near by Rio Espolon.
Gilad in his car. wind shield is optional.... Gilad lend me all his gear while went dancing in the Carnaval in Rio...kayaks in Mondaka hole.
Mondaka rapid on the down river kayak competition
kayaks playing on Pistola wave, Entrada rapid, the first one on the Bridge to Bridge section
The take out point, next to the lower bridge. the sign says ¨Futaleufu, a landscape painted
by God¨.
The take out point, next to the lower bridge. the sign says ¨Futaleufu, a landscape paintedby God¨.
**
The festival was organized by many volunteers, to raise awareness to the place and as part of the effort to prevent new dams on the rivers of Patagonia.
Patagonia sin represas
(without dams)
The festival was organized by many volunteers, to raise awareness to the place and as part of the effort to prevent new dams on the rivers of Patagonia.
Patagonia sin represas
(without dams)
