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==Section Logs, Recent Alerts and Suggestions ==
* GPT28P/ Santo Domingo - Puyuhaupi / Packrafting Route / 2024 Jan-08 / 8 days / Jordan Jennings
OK! I would like to acknowledge here that as with any section, our perspective having completed a section is always coloured by the weather and conditions we experienced.
Now that has been said, my next comment is this: Canal Jacaf is a beast and was by far the most challenging packrafting section I have yet completed in Patagonia.
I started in SD, actually spent two days with Juan Carlos who owns the property surrounding SD. No one else lives there unless he has a worker on the property. You might want to let him know you’re coming as he has a dog which may be waiting when the ferry door comes down. +56 9 6238 7187. He’s an interesting character.
I also spent some time with Pia at Hosteria Melimoyu. She is super lovely and her hostel is beautiful as Jan mentioned.
A very suitable trip for packrafters id to do Santo Domingo to Puerto Gala - both have access to ferries. This route means you can explore the more sheltered Seno Melimoyu and Seno Gala fiords. There is some exposure to weather reaching Puerto Gala however.
The other option is to finish at Puyuhuapi or Prto Cisnes. The former is safer as a open water crossing of Fiordo Puyuhuapi is not required (c2.5km at most narrow point). Saying this, Canal Jacaf is a challenge. The predominant wind coming from the west creates uncomfortable waves throughout the entire distance of the canal. It’s remote, with little by the way of exit opportunities, so take extra food. If you usually take one extra days’ worth, take 3.
I had unstable weather roll in from Bahia Bonita (worth a visit not far from P. Gala) all the way through CJ. I spent three days waiting waves that were too large, battled through conditions that I would have rather avoided had I not had the constraint of limited food. The only other ppl in the area are Salmoneros and they spend 20 days on/20 days off on the farms, so they don’t make frequent trips into puerto cisnes/puyuhaupi. Likely they would radio the maritime police to rescue you if you asked them for help. Luckily I didn’t have to but I was too close for comfort to need to.
So if you’re going to do Jacaf, make sure you start with a good weather window, and be prepared to wait for it to pass if one comes out of nowhere like it did to me.
HOWEVER - beautiful area. I imagine on nice days it would be heaven. Some of the beaches reminded me of Los Alerces in Argentina.
Finding suitable campsites above high tide line can be challenging but is doable. One trick which worked for me is finding a fresh water source eg a creek, and walking up it to find a space to pitch my tent. I didn’t have a machete but my free standing tent was a blessing.
Agua dulce is easy to find - one of the benefits of a rainy region :) but I still always had one days’ worth on me at all times in case I needed to find the next available camp and not fuss over water.
Happy to be whatsapped +447464304622
* GPT28P Option 5: Packrafting Seno Gala (and Ferry from Puerto Chacabuco to Quellon)