Day By Day Itinerary

Day 1- Bay of Ancud- This tour begins at 9:00 AM at our office in Ancud to make the most of the (normally) calm mornings.  We?ll drive 7 kms out of town to the beach area of Lechagua to gear up our Dagger sea kayaks.  The day will be planned according to your activity level as well as by the weather.  Following a safety talk, we?ll explore quiet estuaries of the bay full of birdlife and other marine life as well as sea cliffs; a unique view of Chilo?from the water that is had by few!  We?ll enjoy a picnic lunch on a remote beach at midday.  If conditions are right and you feel strong, we?ll paddle to the 18^th century Spanish fort (Ahui) facing Ancud.  Though once bustling with activity, its cannons are now silent and the fort rarely visited.  By mid-afternoon, we?ll make our way back to the beach of Lechagua and our take out. You will have free time in the early evening to enjoy a tranquil walk on the beach and/or help an English speaking family with some afternoon farm chores (cows, chickens, greenhouse). Lodging will be arranged at The Tower, a one-of-a-kind sea view lodging built specially to receive our guests, and enjoy a gourmet dinner of the freshest food the island has to offer.  (bilingual guide, picnic lunch, kayaking, gourmet dinner and lodging included.) 

Day 2- Into the River- After breakfast we?ll drive 20 kms south through the countryside with our kayaks to put in at a bridge nestled in the forest bordering the Rio Negro.  First paddling on the quiet dark waters, among drooping ferns and native forest, we?ll make our way to the open water of the larger Rio Pudeto.  Both are calm water rivers, though wind can occur on the larger river.   Our route will wind its way through the remains of a sunken forest that flooded when the land dropped in the infamous 1960 earthquake.  We?ll pass through marshlands and into the mouth of another tributary river : the San Antonio, making our way up this small tidal river into quiet forests once again as the river narrows and we come to our takeout.  The night will be spent with a lively local family at their farmhouse above the river.  Fresh food, great company and the warmth of the Chilote hospitality make this a special night of cultural immersion.  (bilingual guide, picnic lunch, kayaking, homestay, dinner included)

Day 3- Big River- After a fresh breakfast in San Antonio, we?ll return to our boats and paddle up the quiet river to its source amidst the quiet temperate rainforest and hopefully spot one of the island?s native sea otters or pudu deer coming for a drink before turning down to the wide Pudeto River.  The wetland waters of this large tidal river harbor countless birds, occasional otters and sometimes even sea lions exploring from the ocean.  We?ll paddle only a few hours before stopping for a picnic lunch on a remote beach.  A short paddle away and we?ll arrive at the small seaweed collecting settlement of Pupelde for pick up and return to Ancud.  Arrival in Ancud should be around  four o?clock in the afternoon- plenty of time to continue on to your next destination. (breakfast, guide, kayaking, transport  and picnic lunch included)