This kayak school class is designed for the first time paddler. Our kayak instruction program will introduce to you the basic kayaking strokes, boat control, wet exits, and the Eskimo roll, before we take you on moving water. The kayak lessons presented in this course will give you a solid foundation that will allow you to rapidly make progress in the sport of whitewater kayaking. Over the course of a week you will learn the basics of kayak eddy turns, peel-outs, ferries, and the fundamentals of edge control. During the middle of the week we usually take a rest day from kayak lessons that will allow you the opportunity to take advantage of the numerous other optional multisport activities in this spectacular Patagonia wilderness. The last two days of our kayak school are devoted to day-long kayak river trips, where we will put all of the paddling instruction fundamentals together.
This course is meant for beginner kayaking students, or experienced kayakers that wish to strengthen their technique. Paddling Instruction is from our Campo or our Cabins on the Rio Azul.
Day 1 Friday: Depart your home town
Fly to Miami and connect on an over night flight to Buenos Aires Argentina. Welcome to the warmth of the southern Hemisphere in summer.
Day 2 Saturday: Travel to Trevelin, Patagonia Argentina
Early morning arrival in Buenos Aires. Change airports and catch another flight to Bariloche, or Esquel Argentina. From Bariloche, a luxury bus will take you on a beautiful drive along the Patagonian lakes and mountains to Esquel. IF you fly direct to Esquel you can arrive in Trevelin with some time to enjoy the area. Trevelin, Argentina is a charming mountain village gateway just 45 minutes from Futaleufu River in Chile. Trevelin is serviced by ground transport (Bus or private taxi) from the Jet ports in Bariloche (4 hrs) or Esquel (40 min). Check into a hotel in this charming village and walk to one of several superb restaurants. Unwind, relax, and get a good nights sleep before the start of you trip 9:00 am the next morning.
Day 3 Sunday: Trip Pick up, Into Chile, Secret Lagoon, Taste of the Espolon
After breakfast you are picked up for the 45 minute drive to the border with Chile. Here you will become familiar with your kayak, equipment, and safety procedures. We put in at the blue secret lagoon on the edge of the Pristine Rio Espolon. We introduce you to the kayak strokes, the roll and all the fundamentals. After lunch we actually get our first taste of moving water on the easiest part of the Espolon River. After this first day on the river we drive 20 minutes to our Eco Camp Tres Monjas, your luggage will be waiting, settle in and enjoy a healthy family style meal before heading to bed.
Day 4 Monday: Secret Lagoon and Upper Rio Espolon
We're headed back to the secret blue lagoon on the edge of the pristine Rio Espolon. We'll spend more time practicing our rolls in the comforts of the lagoon and once our confidence is built up, head off into the Class II moving water. We will practice the ferrying technique, crossing the Espolon several times, as well as strengthen our ability to identify river features such as tongues, waves, holes, and eddies. As the finale of the day we meet your first real rapid, Three Rocks class 2+. The take out is just after this rapid. Afterwards, we arrive at our Eco Camp Tres Monjas where we settle in and enjoy a hearty meal before heading to bed.
Day 5 Tuesday: Roll practice/ Espolon standing wave/ Optional rafting on the Futaleufu.
Today we're headed back to the secret blue lagoon. We'll spend more time practicing our rolls in the comforts of the lagoon and once our confidence is built up, head off into the Class II moving water, We will review the ferrying techniques and reinforcing the proper form and giving individual instruction to overcome any weakness's. We will continue on past Three Rocks and on to Rois's wall to just above the Surfing rapid. Afterwards, we arrive at our Eco Camp Tres Monjas where we join more advanced kayakers for happy hour and enjoy a healty family style dinner.
Option: Whitewater rafting day with roll practice in the afternoon when you return to Campo Tres Monjas.
Day 6 Wednesday: Lower Rio Espolon focus on Ferries/eddies/turns
We return to the Espolon and we will repeat the previous section and continue on into the lower Espolon with its surfing waves. We will solidfy our Ferries, eddy turns and start on our jet ferry techniques. The more adventurous and quick learners have the option to try out thier kayak rolling skills in whitewater. We return to Campo Tres Monjas for a sauna and after kayaking happy hour.
Day 7 Thursday: Lower Espolon and Surfing waves
We put in above Three Rocks rapid and will spend more time on the perfect standing waves of surfing rapid. This is a beautiful class room, pristine water, ideal eddies, glassy waves, and gorgeous mountains sourrounding us. There is even a great rock bank to get out and eat lunch and sun on. If you were to design a teaching spot you could not come up with anything better. After lunch we descend into our most challenging rapids yet on the Class 3 lower. Tonight when we return to Campo Tres Monjas we are pulling out all the stops with a huge asado or open pit gill. We'll enjoy a fantastic night at the camp with Patagonian lamb and outstanding company on the beach under the stars.
Day 8 Friday: Complete River run and return to Trevelin, Argentina
Today is our graduation day for our New Kayaker paddler we will paddle the entire Espolon river from top to bottom allowing for students to practice their skills in more radical environments, but having a professional safety net serving as a back-up. Each student will be monitored and advised on better techniques to emphasize in the future. After today, you will have the skills necessary to kayak Class II/III whitewater, as well as have the experience of having been on the Futaleufu. Not many can say that. Our vehicles will be waiting at the end of today's run. Our luggage will join us as we make our way toward the border on our way to Trevelin. Check into your hotel, take a shower and change clothes before enjoying your last night in Patagonia. There are several outstanding and reasonably priced restaurants in Trevelin that we can recommend. Relax, recover and look back on the exciting week of kayaking before heading back the following morning.
Day 9 Saturday: Return to Capital City
Depending on your connections you are now are in Argentina ready for an early departure in a cab from your hotel to the bus station in Esquel for the trip to Bariloche and your flight back to Beunos Aires. A private transfer can be arranged direct from your hotel to the airport in Bariloche. If you have a flight from Esquel you have the morning to enjoy and buy gifts in Trevelin before your 2 pm flight to Buenos Aires and the connection back to your home country.
Day 10 Sunday: Return home
Day 9 Saturday: Day off
Day 10 Sunday: Rio Espolon
We head off to the Rio Espolon. We know which techniques need to be built on and, if accomplished, much can be achieved this second week.
Day 11 Monday: Rio Azul intro to Big Water
Today we put in on the mini gorge of the lower Rio Azul. This run is technical class II/III paddling and there will be spots to practice ferries. When we get to the confluence with the Futaleufu, there is a pool at a small beach perfect for practicing rolls in an incredible setting. Once you have confidence in your rolls we eat lunch and practice our introduction into Big water moving water Class II on the Futaleufu at the confluence.
Day 12 Tuesday: Espolon Surf Waves/Combat Roll
We return to the Rio Espolon with the distinct goal of playing, and mastering the surf wave rapid. We want you to practice your rolls in the standing waves. After passing this test you will be ready to paddle the easiest section of the Futaleufu.
Day 13 Wedneday: The "El Macal" Section
We start below the spectacular Class V "Casa de Piedra" section, which we will stop and see on our way to the put-in. The water here will be big and fast, providing the perfect introduction and classroom for big water paddling. Here we will learn the counterintuitive techniques of big water kayaking, such as learning to delay our eddy turns rather than accelerating them, dealing with large boils and whirlpools, crossing elevated and depressed eddy lines, and how to roll effectively in aerated water. After a 3/4 of the day paddling on big water, we take out drive 15 minutes to the lower Rio Azul section and paddle back into camp.
Day 14 Thursday: Return to "El Macal"
We're in for another day of paddling. "Every Man's (and Woman's) Surf Wave" is the perfect place to let it rip! The rapids on this run are both challenging and forgiving, and the scenery is some of the best on the river. Return to the Rio Azul and paddle back to camp. This is our night for our weekly asado and party.
Day 15 Friday: Graduation day/on to Trevelin, Argentina
The section that the student is most ready for. This could be another easy section of the Futaleufu, Rio Palena, or the Rio Corcovado in Argentina. We transport you after paddling to your hotel in Trevelin, take a shower and change clothes before enjoying your last night in Patagonia. There are several outstanding and reasonably priced restaurants in Trevelin that we can recommend. Relax, recover and look back on the exciting week of kayaking before heading back the following morning.
Day 16 Saturday: Return to Capital City
Depending on your connections you are now are in Argentina ready for an early departure in a cab from you hotel to the bus station in Esquel for the trip to Bariloche and your flight back to Beunos Aires. A private transfer can be arranged direct from your hotel to the airport in Bariloche. If you have a flight from Esquel you have the morning to enjoy and buy gifts in Trevelin before your 2 pm flight to Buenos Aires and the connection back to your home country.
Eco Camp Campo Tres Monjas
Price per Person: $2195.00 USD Week 1
Price per Person: $1975.00 USD Week 2!! |
Special Flexibilities: Exchile will be flexible to make your trip a total success. The actual program for your custom trip mayl vary according to the desires and skill level of your group, weather, or other factors. Patagonia has constantly changing weather patterns that might affect what day is best for a certain activity. If a certain part of your trip is not possible due to danger risks and weather extremes, our experienced guide staff will work with you to figure out the best possible option to substitute for the weather complications. If you have any concerns, please feel free to ask us more about the situations and what is guaranteed on the trip.
Included:Your described trip, guiding, instruction, activity equipment, local transportation, shuttles, all meals, wine with dinner, accommodations at our eco-camps, cabins, ranches or lodges, from your trip pick up point to your trip drop off point. See the packing list of your activity, for the specific clothing that is required.
Not Included: En-route transportation, lodging, and food from your home town to the border with Chile and Argentina or other trip pick-up point. Laundry services, massage, additional alcohol are available but not included. You can reserve on our web page a pre-trip and post-trip hotel in Trevelin that includes the shared transfer to and from the border.
You can also ask our travel agent to prepay private ground transports between airport and from the airport to Trevelin, for an additional charge. Expediciones Chile is not financially responsible for your travel complications getting to your trip pick up point and from the drop off point, HOWEVER, we will be relentless allies in offering our services to help solve any issues that you may encounter.
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| Season: Nov 15- March 30 |
| Off Season the first two days rolling practice in warm pools October 15th to November 15, March 30th to April 15th |
| Experience Needed: Desire to learn |
| Physical Challenge: Moderate to High |
| Cultural Experience: High |
| Nature Experience: Maximum |
| Max Trip Size: 10 |
| Min Trip Size: 2 |
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| Region Visited: Patagonia Argentina and Chile |
| Lakes, Rivers, Sites Visited: Espolon, Azul, Futaleufu, Palena, Corcovado |
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Direct Line, USA:
+1.208.629.5032 (7am/5 pm mst)
Toll Free, USA:
+1.888.488.9082 (7am/5 pm mst) |
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| Travel Consultant 1 |
Travel Consultant 2 |
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New Kayaker Lite Week
A four day kayak instruction program that is a shortened version of our New Kayaker Week for those that don't have the time to spend a full week at our kayak school.
Day 1 Friday: Depart your home town
Fly to Miami and connect on an over night flight to Buenos Aires Argentina. Welcome to the warmth of the southern Hemisphere in summer.
Day 2 Saturday: Travel to Trevelin, Patagonia Argentina
Early morning arrival in Buenos Aires. Change airports and catch another flight to Bariloche or Esquel Argentina. From Bariloche, a luxury bus can take you on a beautiful drive along the Patagonian lakes and mountains to Esquel. If you fly direct to Esquel you can arrive in Trevelin with some time to enjoy the area. Trevelin, Argentina is the mountain village gateway just 45 minutes from Futaleufu River in Chile. Trevelin is serviced by a private transfer service from Bariloche (4 hrs) or street taxis from the Esquel bus station (20min) or airport (40 min). Check into a hotel in this charming village and walk to one of several superb restaurants. Unwind, relax, and get a good nights sleep before the start of you trip 9:00 am the next morning.
Day 3 Sunday: Secret Lagoon
This natural lagoon is the perfect setting for learning how to getting in and out of your kayaks and rolling. An explanation of each kayak roll, and which best suits you, along with practicing all the strokes we will need on the river,will be the focus of the day. We'll spend the night at the Campo Tres Monjas as we review our progress of the day's lessons. At the end of the day we will nose the kayaks out into the current and start to get the feel of how the kayaks respond to moving water.
Day 4 Monday: Secret Lagoon and into the Espolon
We head off again to the secret blue lagoon located on the edge of the pristine Rio Espolon. We practice our rolls in the comforts of the lagoon and once our confidence is built up, head off into the moving water of the Espolon to learn to ferry, eddy turn, eskimo rescue and start our first class 2 down river run. We may have a chance to try our nearly learned kayak roll with the back up of your instructor. You are learning to be the pilot of your craft.
Day 5 Monday: Rio Espolon Introduction to River Features
Today after reviewing our Class II/III moving water, our first real rapids that will test your skills learned so far in the course. We will practice the ferrying technique, crossing the Espolon several times, as well as strengthen our ability to identify river features such as tongues, waves, holes, and eddies. We will get our first chance to surf our first standing wave, on a safe part of the river. We will also run your first bigger rapid the Class 2/3 Three rocks rapid.
Day 6 Wednesday: Graduation Day/on to Trevelin, Argentina
Today is our graduation day for our New Kayaker - Lite class. We will let you loose, and go paddle the entire Rio Espolon, allowing for students to practice their skills in more radical environments, following their own lines, but having a professional safety net serving as a back-up. Each student will be monitored and advised on better techniques to emphasize in the future. Our vehicles will be waiting at the end of today's run. Our luggage will join us as we make our way toward the border on our way to Trevelin. Check into your hotel, take a shower and change clothes before enjoying your last night in Patagonia. There are several outstanding and reasonably priced restaurants in Trevelin that we can recommend. Relax, recover and look back on the exciting week of kayaking before heading back the following morning.
Day 7 Thursday: Return to Capital City
Depending on your connections you are now are in Argentina ready for an early departure in a cab from you hotel to the bus station in Esquel for the trip to Bariloche and your flight back to Beunos Aires. A private transfer can be arranged direct from your hotel to the airport in Bariloche. If you have a flight from Esquel you have the morning to enjoy and buy gifts in Trevelin before your 2 pm flight to Buenos Aires and the connection back to your home country.
Day 8 Sunday: Return home
Eco Camp Campo Tres Monjas
| Price per Person: $1495.00 USD |
Special Flexibilities: Exchile will be flexible to make your trip a total success. The actual program for your custom trip mayl vary according to the desires and skill level of your group, weather, or other factors. Patagonia has constantly changing weather patterns that might affect what day is best for a certain activity. If a certain part of your trip is not possible due to danger risks and weather extremes, our experienced guide staff will work with you to figure out the best possible option to substitute for the weather complications. If you have any concerns, please feel free to ask us more about the situations and what is guaranteed on the trip.
Included:Your described trip, guiding, instruction, activity equipment, local transportation, shuttles, all meals, wine with dinner, accommodations at our eco-camps, cabins, ranches or lodges, from your trip pick up point to your trip drop off point. See the packing list of your activity, for the specific clothing that is required.
Not Included: En-route transportation, lodging, and food from your home town to the border with Chile and Argentina or other trip pick-up point. Laundry services, massage, additional alcohol are available but not included. You can reserve on our web page a pre-trip and post-trip hotel in Trevelin that includes the shared transfer to and from the border.
You can also ask our travel agent to prepay private ground transports between airport and from the airport to Trevelin, for an additional charge. Expediciones Chile is not financially responsible for your travel complications getting to your trip pick up point and from the drop off point, HOWEVER, we will be relentless allies in offering our services to help solve any issues that you may encounter.
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| Season: 6th to March 15th |
| Off Season the first two days rolling practice in warm pools October 15th to December 6th, March 15th to April 15th |
| Experience Needed: Previous whitewater experience |
| Physical Challenge: Moderate |
| Cultural Experience: Medium |
| Nature Experience: High |
| Comfort Rating: Moderate to High |
| Max Trip Size: 10 |
| Min Trip Size: 2 |
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| Region Visited: Futaleufu River Valley |
| Lakes, Rivers, Sites Visited: Rio Espolon, Rio Futaleufu, Rio Azul |
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Direct Line, USA:
+1.208.629.5032 (7am/5 pm mst)
Toll Free, USA:
+1.888.488.9082 (7am/5 pm mst) |
|
|
| Travel Consultant 1 |
Travel Consultant 2 |
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|
Also
offered at the Patagonia
South Kayak School: Beginning Kayak
Instruction, Intermediate Paddling
Instruction, Advanced Paddling
School Courses. How
to Roll a Kayak clinics and private kayak lessons.
Downloadable
pdf: Kayak
School
