After leaving Chaiten, we drove south along Highway 7 which was paved. We saw our first real glacier of the trip, which totally blew us away. It was stunning.
We then headed west on our way to the adventure town of Futaleufu on highway 235, which was 75% gravel, and 25% paved. We had to go very slow along the gravel, as most of it was washboard, and our heavy vans don't handle the bumps well. We saw lots of people fly past us in their SUVs, but it was a long trip for us. Needless to say, it was totally worth it. You pass by Lake Yelcho, which is crystal clear blue and lots of snow topped peaks surrounding it.
We were staying a full 5 nights in Futaleufu, so we chose to stay at a campground. This one was perfect for us. It was a 15 minute walk into town, and the River Espolón skirted the campground. One section in particular was nice and calm, so the boys had a great time playing in it, and Brian enjoyed some fishing.
On Monday, we went for a Family Float trip on the upper section of the River Futaleufu. This section of river is very calm and flat, so it was perfect to the whole family. This was Nana's Christmas present to the boys, and they had a great time. The whole adventure was an hour rafting, then an hour hike to a lookout over the river we were just on, then back in the boats for 30 more min of rafting, then we got out and had snacks. All in all a lovely adventure.
Tuesday was Drew and my 14th wedding anniversary. Grandma, Grandpa, and the boys treated us to steak and potatoes with a full waitstaff. The boys were at our beck and call, and they took their roles very seriously. It was great.
After our dinner, Drew and I stayed the night at the Uman Lodge, actually just across the valley from our campground! But it was a bit higher up, so it had gorgeous views. It was a beautiful lodge, a very luxurious reprieve from our camper. We also had the place to ourselves for most of the evening, which was a nice surprise.
The view from our room.
View from the upper deck after some relaxation in the hot tub.
Our final anniversary treat was a rafting adventure, this time just for Drew and I. The boys were not allowed on this one, as the rapids were too big. We had a great time. Futaleufu is known for its rafting, and if you are in the area, definitely do it. So fun, and well worth the money. We paid $90/person for 6 hours (that time includes transportation, snack, etc.) with a company called Patagonia Elements, which was very professional and safe. The company gave us both wetsuits and splash guards, which I was all about, I didn't feel cold at all, even though the water was very chilly.
After rafting on Wednesday, we met the boys and G&G in town at a pizza place called La Fábrica. As soon as we walk in, we see a Kiwi couple that we met at the campsite we stayed at just off the Ferry by Lago Rio Negro. We only hung out with them for maybe an hour before dinner, just talking because it was raining and there wasn't much else to do. So very small world to see them again here at this restaurant. But then, when we were almost done with dinner, in walks the British couple with the Land Rover that we met in Chaiten! I couldn't believe we saw both of these couples in the same restaurant on the same night (What are the odds, what are the odds!), but apparently this happens all the time on the Carretera Austral. But I thought it was hilarious.
After Drew and my backpacking stint in Cochamo, Avery wanted to experience his own backpacking adventure 1-1 with Dada. So on Thursday evening, they went for a wee hike to a nice meadow and camped out for the night. Needless to say, Avery was super thrilled. Emerson will get a chance to do the same later on in the trip.
Futaleufu really is a beautiful place. If you can make your way here, visit! So worth it!
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