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==Season 2025/26==
* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''2026-01-02 to 2026-01-04 / 3 Days / Packrafting / SOBO / RP / Michel, Lisa & Antoine'''</span>
Day 1
We started from La Junta in the late afternoon (16:30) and paddled only a few kilometers to Camp (28P} [5.5/30], which is really nice with tons of flat, grassy spots and space for half an army if you needed it. Shade, wind protection, beautiful views, cow poop - this place has it all.
Day 2 & 3
We got started at 9:30 and floated down the river, only occasionally paddling since there was generally good flow (3-5 km/h) and no wind. It was so hot we went for swims in our drysuits from the boat and Antoine had a go at trying to standup paddle on his packraft. We thought about the names of our packraft and thought that tabaño might be a good one, then there at least would be one tábano that we'd like.
Floating down the river at 5 km/h, not lifting a finger we realized how lucky we were. No wind, no clouds, 30°C, fishing from the packraft, mate in hand, birds chirping in the background and en route to hot springs. What more could one wish for?!! (Maybe catching a fish, still unsuccessful so far)
We did the 33 km to the hot springs in 5 h 40 min with barely any paddling which is quite astounding when reading other entries here I guess.
The hot springs are amazing and we were completely alone there on a Saturday afternoon. There are two small pools, the upper one was 41 °C and the lower one must have been cooler (we didn't try/measure). The small stream that flows into a pool next to the hot pools was 17 °C cold, so a perfect match for the hot water.
While we were all sitting in the nice hot water, Antoine suddenly brought up the crazy idea to paddle on to Raúl Marín Balmaceda in the full moon light. The forecast predicted 5 m/s southeastern winds at night with no clouds and the moonrise was at 22:30, so it all sort of added up.
After apero and dinner on the island just downstream of the hot springs, still enjoying 30deg at 7pm and the view on Melimoyu, we started again at 22:00. The conditions were ideal with no wind except for a ~1.5 km stretch at 2:00 and the full moon to light up the river and surrounding landscape after midnight. All in all it took us 8 h of paddling to reach Raul Marín Balmaceda, arriving at 7:00 at the beach, where we collapsed onto the sand and slept in the sun.
--longer version for Day 2 & 3, describing the night
Got excited about the full Moon, high temperatures and no to 5km SE wind conditions and decided to flow the last 40km overnight, attempting sunrise (6am) when entering fjordo Pitipalena. High tide expected around 3.30am with a high coefficient (7m amplitude), as expected by full Moon (Sun-Earth-Moon alignment increases tidal effects). We aimed to reach canal Gerrao around then, to minimize counter currents on the Palena, counter currents on the canal during falling tide and enjoying the falling currents in the fjord to reach Puerto Raúl Marin Balmaceda.
We started at 10:30pm, very chill and excited for the first 2hr, with a great river flow, rather dark as the Moon was not yet above the mountains. Chose the calmest lines, staying safe from sunken trees and enjoying the stars. Moonrise over the mountain at 0:30 was majestic, at the same time we started observing the rising tide in the 270° section.
After km56 (past the water waypoint), the current increased with many waves (probably increased by the rising tide on the flowing water), making this ~2km stretch quite exhausting. This ceased after the turn and moderate tailwinds (incredible, right?) pushed us down to the channel on this long stretch. As it took us longer than expected, we pressed on to make it for the right tide timing. We attached Antoine's solo packraft to the double one for 6km to get faster. Exhausted but mate-powered, we entered the canal at 5am. It was already flowing out fast to the Palena but further on, when expending, this becomes less noticeable (Venturi effect). And it actually flows to the fjord in the last section, evacuating water both ways. It took about an hour to cross the channel, surprisingly nicer that expected with birds singing in the dawn, jumping fish and the fjord appearing in dim light. The fjord was beautiful, exciting to see tidal currents, feeling some sea smells, crossing the shallow bay before the water ran out in a matter of minutes. The Moon set in the west as the sun rose and gradually enlighten parts of the fjord. Another 45mn with favourable currents and we reach the beach of Puerto RMB at 7:15 where we instantly crashed on the beach after 70km/14h for a well deserved nap, waking up later to see dolphins, a penguin and a seal swimming in front of us.
Though but rewarding traverse, with a variety of atmospheres, lights and moods.
Of course, we acknowledge this was done with exceptional conditions, 2 boats and a taste for spicy memories :)
As a side trip, Antoine packrafted in the fjord Pitipalena up to Rodrigo's house. Rodrigo is a lovely man, he offered me a tea and I really enjoyed talking with him. He showed me pics he took of the wild animals of the park. I wish I had more time there.
About 2-3h with rising tide and relaxed pace, barely no wind (southern wind and waves appeared in the last 3km). Did not follow the coast in the bay but went along 2 islands in a straight line (with a lunch break on one). Came back the same wave, quite some headwind (I narrowly followed the shore for shelter), which reduced after 2-3km, and the falling tide made it rather easily and enjoyable. Down to the Pacific Ocean and the lovely popular beach, insane sunset over the fjords.
*2025-12-31 to 2026-01-02 / 2,5 Days / Packrafting / SOBO / RP / Anh
Water level normal to high, as some sandbanks were not visible. I had a headwind of approx. 15-20 km/h.
After 30 km, you usually have to paddle yourself, which is not so much fun.
- 1st rapid no problem
- 2nd rapid I didn't register. It was probably not a problem
As the headwind from Ferry to Bridge (Canal Garrao) was strong, I carried the boat.
After Bridge, Camp {28P} [67.8/16] (Canal Garrao), there is no possibility to camp until the fjord. I camped here at -43.799596, -72.927780, which I had checked very carefully (low tide, high tide, water marks from the previous day). However, I
would not officially recommend Jan, because at high tide the water reaches just short of the tent.
In the fjord, there was a tailwind (from the east) early in the morning (8:00).
* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''2025-12-18 to 2025-12-19 / 1.5 days / Packrafting / SOBO / RP / Daniel.s'''</span>
Day 1:
Started in La Junta early, a day with little wind. Flow speed of the river ~6kph. No news in regards to Rapids or obstacles. Water level was normal. Entry to termas is still possible, one treefall on the trail, but manageable to pass on the right.
Camped at the last river bend (mind tidal level) S 43° 52.370', W 072° 52.148'.
Day 2:
Went out with the tide going low (river speed ~2.5kph), didn't go through the canal, but followed the main river out to sea (very calm morning, no wind, small waves) and went back into the fjord to the pier with the tide rising. Recommend doing so only in calm conditions.
==Season 2024/25==
* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''2025-02-24 to 2025-02-27 / 4 days / Packrafting / SOBO/ RP / Daniela&Gabriela'''</span>
We started quite late on the 24th from the bridge of Rosselot river in La Junta, because we had an issue with the TZIP of one of the packrafts, so that day we only paddled for a couple of hours and camped near Fundo El Sauce (44°00’18.72’’S, 72°32’58.82’’W). We avoided Rapid {28P}[8.1/33] by taking the right flank at the previous fork. You just need to be careful with a large rock on the right just before the junction, as the current pushes you in that direction.
On the second day, we took it easy and started paddling around 12 hrs. Our plan was only to reach the hot springs so we could enjoy them in peace. Unfortunately, it was a very rainy and windy day, which made us go very slowly, so we only managed to reach the hot springs around 4:30 PM. We camped right in front (44°00’25.9’’S, 72°36’33.54’’W) after enjoying the thermal waters.
On the third day, we had to start early because our progress had been very slow. We tried to coordinate our paddling with the tide to have a favorable current, but it didn’t seem to work well. It was a physically tough day; we advanced very slowly, and there were sections where the current was not in our favor—at times, if we stopped paddling, we would even drift backward. That day, we camped near the bridge of the Garrao Channel.
On the fourth day, we woke up late to paddle the Canal Garrap at high tide, as we'd been told it was the best way to do so, and it actually worked to reach the Pitipalena Fjord. When we arrived at RMB, some beautiful dolphins greeted us; it was beautiful.
* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''2025-02-14 to 2025-02-15 / 2 days / Packrafting/ SOBO/ RP, variant G / Tomáš&Natalie'''</span>
I was coming from Alto Rio Palena (GPT27P) but right after La Junta, the headwind increased and it was impossible to continue. It was even pushing me against the stream! I had to get urgently out of the river and even reaching the shore was quite a task! Well, that's how Patagonia is... We have to respect the weather conditions.
* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''GPT28P/ Santo Domingo - Puyuhaupi : Options 3, 5, 6, 7, GPT30P/ Packrafting / 2024 Jan-08 / 8 days / Jordan Jennings'''</span>
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.