Kayaking in Torres del Paine
Torres del Paine's secluded waterways are perfect for paddling through. The many lagoons, rivers and glacier-fronted lakes offer something for all kayaking abilities.
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Patagonia is surrounded by fjords and divided by rivers...what better way to explore the region than from the water. Kayak amongst icebergs in glacial lagoons, through fjords inaccessible by other means, across pristine lakes surrounded by lush forest or Andean peaks, or even take on the white water of some of the world's biggest rivers.
1. Lake Districts: Wild and adventurous kayaking. Kayakers from around the world come to the Futaleufu river in Chile, known for its strong currents and deep blue waters created by glacial sediment. Across the border, Argentina is lush and green and full of remote kayaking locations. Find out more.
2. Torres del Paine: The national parks in central Patagonia are fabulous for dramatic scenery and shorter kayaking trips. Here you'll be able to kayak amongst fjords, glaciers and icebergs, with mountains as your backdrop. Find out more.
3. Aysen: A region full of waterways, kayaking is one of the best ways to see its treasures. Try sea kayaking, visit the remarkable marble caves and cathedral, or pick one of the winding, remote rivers to explore. Find out more.
Putting the kayaks in on the Baker River
Patagonia Kayaking Tours trips scored 4.4/5 from 77 reviews
The kayaking is great fun even in a gale, and you get a better perspective of the lake from a quiet boat. The instruction and attention to safety was first class and the cup of tea at the halfway point was most welcome! Read the full review
Travelled: March 2023
Chris Gibbs - UK
Kayaking on the La Leorna River was SO great and a fantastic way to see more of the Patagonian landscape. I highly recommend this - the guides were fun, super knowledgeable, and very keen on our safety the entire time. One of the other main highlights of the trip! Read the full review
Travelled: March 2023
Zeah Venitelli - USA
Paddling to the hot springs; after two days of paddling on the water, we entered the last fjord and it felt like time stopped. We slowly passed by groups of curious and playful sea lions and made our way to where the river meets the ocean. We had to pull our kayaks through the low tide and made it to our destination. After we set up camp, we enjoyed the hot springs as it began to rain. It was magical. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2023
Kelsey Freeman - USA
Kayaking Serrano River was amazing. I've never been so close to a glacier while on the water. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2018
Jan Reichelderfer - United States Of America
Kayaking up close to a sea lion colony and walking amongst the burrows of thousands of magellanic penguins were absolute highlights. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2017
Jo McGrouther - Australia
What a great way to end our trip. The kayaking was challenging enough and rewarding and better than expected.
Travelled: November 2017
Steve and Jenny - Australia
The river canyon we paddled was challenging and beautiful, with plenty of excitement for an amateur paddler. Our guide was wonderful, and provided a perfect experience for what I was looking for.
Travelled: February 2017
Kevin - Pennsylvania
Kayaking down the Rio Serrano was the highlight - I truly felt like we were in the wilderness because we didn't see any other people!
Travelled: January 2017
Mary - South Dakota
The kayaking in Patagonia was tremendous. Continually beautiful. There is something about being on the water that I just absolutely love.
Travelled: December 2016
Anne -
Kayaking the Baker River is something I would never go to Patagonia and miss doing. It's an incredible experience! The logistics were great, planned out and flawless. The food was beyond our dreams! We could not have had a greater time on our kayak portion of the trip.
Travelled: November 2016
Julie and Nic - Hawaii, USA
Review:
You don't need any kayaking experience to jump in a kayak for a day and get a whole new perspective on the scenery. Whether you make it the most adventurous day of your trip, or just a day to rest your legs after some serious hiking, kayaking can take you places that you simply can't get to otherwise.
The best places to kayak for a day are in Torres del Paine, where you can kayak up to the towering wall of a glacier and reach out to the icebergs floating beside you, the lake districts where the lakes and rivers are pristine, or Ushuaia and Valdes where penguins and sealions await.
Kayakers paddle past a huge iceberg on Lago Grey, Torres del Paine
Kayak by day and wild camp wild by night. Multi-day kayak trips are open to novices as well as more experienced kayakers; all your equipment and food will be provided so you can just focus on the scenery.
The beauty of these longer kayaking trips is getting well off the beaten track. Discover tiny hidden coves and islands, and drift through fjords completely hidden from the nearest road or walking trail. What these areas lack in people they more than make up for in wildlife - consider the Chilean Fjords for up close encounters with whales, and Peninsula Valdes to arrive at hidden beaches teeming with sealions and penguins.
Experienced sea kayakers will be looking for a more meaty challenge, and Patagonia will not disappoint. Audacious and infamous routes include kayaking to Cape Horn, a remote exploration of the Chilean fjords, kayaking deep into the Pumalin national park.
These trips tend to be longer days with even more remote routes, and strong winds can make for challenging conditions. The rewards are more than worth it to see untouched Patagonia.
Kayaking crystal clear waters in Pumalín Park
Torres del Paine's secluded waterways are perfect for paddling through. The many lagoons, rivers and glacier-fronted lakes offer something for all kayaking abilities.
Discover MoreSee the Lake District like you should - from the water! Paddle on the region's pristine blue lakes and rivers and see waterfalls, forest-clad mountains and snow capped-volcanoes.
Discover MoreAysen's rivers are forces of nature; immense bodies of water that carry glacial melt from the ice cap to the ocean. Kayaking along these rivers gives you access to some wildly …
Discover MoreTierra del Fuego is a region of moss-covered forests, craggy mountains and winding fjords, with adventure enough to set any explorer's soul alight.
Discover MoreImpartial advice and a bespoke service to make your trip perfect.
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