Get ready for an exciting, adrenaline-pumping rafting adventure in the heart of the Andes, with this river trip to the Chilean border, on the scenic Manso River. Feel your heart racing with excitement as you conquer rapids with names like “Deep Gorge” and “Scrambled Egg” while navigating through emerald-green waters enclosed in an imposing canyon, traveling at a brisk pace. If you need to catch your breath, don’t worry, you’ll experience some calm waters, as well… perfect for some serene moments of true appreciation of the lush forests, stretches of sand, and snow-capped mountains surrounding you. And then there’s the strawberry atop the cake: rafting the rapids all the way to the Chilean border!
Your rafting adventure day starts in the morning, with a transfer to our base: a Patagonian ranch in the Nahuel Huapi National Park. We’ll drive 65 miles (100 kilometers), for approximately two hours, while seeing beautiful views of high mountains on a road zig-zagging through the lush wilderness. Once at the ranch, we’ll put on our life jackets, helmets, neoprene wetsuits and boots, and listen to a safety talk by our guide. Now we’re ready to make the descent into the Manso River to the Chilean border!
For the first half hour, we’ll enjoy a quiet ride through the breathtaking Velvet Canyon. The tranquil, emerald-green waters running through this leg of our tour offer the perfect opportunity to hone your paddling skills, as the rushing whitewater rapids will be soon approaching.
Now it’s time for the real adventure to begin as we head into Class III and IV rapids. The Manso River teases us a bit with a few “welcome rapids,” shaking our boat with a greeting; but the further along we go, the wilder and wetter the ride will get! Fueling the adrenaline and excitement, you’ll soon understand why the rapids have garnered such names as “Yell and Turn Left” and “Ozone Hole!”
Around 2 hours later, our rafting adventure will come to an end, as we arrive at the Chilean border, where we’ll take some epic pictures along the landmark that separates Argentina from Chile. From here we’ll load up our gear and make our way back to our vehicle, and onto the ranch. Once we arrive at the ranch, we’ll be treated to a delicious “asado patagonico” (Patagonian barbeque), with beverages and wine. We’ll then return to our hotel, filled with pride for having conquered the thrilling and toughest whitewater rapids of Patagonia’s Manso River.
Important: this tour has an age restriction. Travelers must be at least 14 years of age, reasonably fit, and confident about swimming.
Difficulty: Moderate. No past rafting experience is needed for this tour. A professional, experienced kayaker guide follows the rafts at all times to ensure the safety of any traveler who may fall out of the raft and need assistance. The minimum age required for this tour is 14 years old and you must be reasonably fit, and confident about swimming. For children under 14 years of age or for guests looking for a fun and easy rafting ride, ask us about our easier rafting option, which affords a wonderful rafting experience in calmer waters.
Duration: full day (approximately 8 hours from the time you leave your hotel until you return). The rafting lasts approximately 2 hours but this can vary depending on the conditions of the river.
Guide: group guide. The raft’s capacity is of up to 9 people (including the tour guide).
Vehicle: group vehicle. Usually the tour guides will be waiting for the group at the base while preparing all of the equipment, so only the driver but no guide will be at the vehicle going from your hotel to the base. The transfers to and from the rafting site last about 1 hour and 20 minutes each way.
Includes: rafting outfit (life jacket, waterproof jacket, neoprene suit, helmet, and boots), lunch with non-alcoholic beverages and wine.