White Water Rafting in Chile

Friday, March 19, 2010

White Water Rafting in Chile

paddles up!

waterfun

The last time I have engaged in a water adventure was three or four years ago. It was kayaking somewhere in Batangas, Philippines. If you don't know how to swim as well as visually challenged, water activities might not be very appealing. However, this is white water rafting we're talking about and one shall never let the opportunity to white water raft pass.

here we go!

For $15, I get to go on a more or less than 2-hour road trip from Puerto Montt passing by Puerto Varas (an old German settlement) to Vicente Perez Rosales National Park with the spectacular view of Chilean landscape topped with the famous snow-capped Mt. Osorno. It is also one of the most active volcano in the Southern Chilean Andes.

a museum we passed by in Puerto Varas

I am proud to say that I also get to experience wearing a neoprene wet-suit, a water-proof jacket coupled with a life jacket, a helmet and paddle. Oh, I got all that and more.

After gearing up, we were given a brief instruction about rafting, safety rules and basically how to stay alive in case you fall off the raft. At this point, I started to feel nervous. The mention of staying alive made me worry about staying alive - but this was shortlived and was replaced by screams of excitement.

you basically have to make your way back to the raft. or just keep floating around.

We descended about 17km of the river with 13 rapids that reaches up to level 3. I'd say level 3 isn't really deadly but there were some pretty scary and equally exhilirating parts that made us all raise our paddles and yell in unison, thanking our guardian angels for a job well done. The experience itself is a prize. But I especially loved the part where we get the chance to dive into the water and swim freely in the lake. I was able to do that because of the life vest. Bless the soul of the person that invented life vest.

let's rock and roll and catch some currents!

the calm before/after the storm

and... throw yourself into the freezing water!

The day in Puerto Montt started gloomy but ended perfectly. Mr. Sun graced us with his presence making sure we do not miss the picturesque view all around us.

Mt. Osorno

Capturing the waves on camera may sound visually rewarding but our safety is more important than the shots. It can be hard to imagine currents and waves with this picture though... I know.