This guide is a joint collaboration modeled after the minimalist clarity of Chilewaterlevels.com. We set out to give whitewater kayakers an honest, unvarnished, professional guide to paddling Chile's world-class rivers.
David Hughes is the founder and director of the Pucón Kayak Retreat (PKR), nestled directly on the banks of the Río Trancura in Pucón, Chile. A former NCAA Division I wrestler and founder of the legendary New River Academy (which mentored multiple world freestyle champions and Olympic paddlers), David has dedicated his life to whitewater coaching, expedition leadership, and river preservation.
Many of Chile's premier rivers flow through ancestral Mapuche and Pehuenche territories. Always ask permission before crossing private gates, pay customary access fees to local landowners with a smile, and leave zero trace.
For live streamflow data, this guide links directly to ChileWaterLevels.com, which ingests continuous 15-minute telemetry from Dirección General de Aguas (DGA) stations across Chile.