Rio Palena Lodge
A remote base in Chilean Patagonia
Wild rivers, finely kept
Set deep in Chilean Patagonia, Rio Palena Lodge is a remote yet highly polished base for adventure, combining wild rivers, Andean peaks and heli-accessed exploration with warm hospitality, chef-led dining and a strong sense of place. Each stay is tailored to guest interests, but the days typically blend exhilarating outdoor pursuits with time to unwind back at the lodge beside the river.
- Duration
- A six-night stay at a remote lodge in Chilean Patagonia
- Season
- 10 November 2026 to 28 March 2027
- Days
- Heli-adventures, fly fishing, rafting, hiking and paddling, shaped around what you feel like
- The lodge
- A riverside base on the Rio Palena, reached through Chaitén
- Included
- Chef-led dining, drinks, guiding and personalised pre-arrival planning
Rates from $4,260 per night, based on double occupancy
Whitewater and wilderness
Days on the water are the lodge's signature: whitewater rafting, float fishing, walking and wading for trout, paddleboarding and kayaking, with old-growth forest and waterfalls within reach. The helicopter opens the more remote edges of the landscape, from glacier hiking to heli-fishing and scenic flying.
Asado, pisco and a fire
Adventure stays central, but Rio Palena has a strong cultural and social side. Afternoons are for the hot tub, the sauna or a pisco sour before dinner, and evenings for asado, Chilean wines and the kind of convivial company that makes a stay feel immersive rather than simply active.
Quiet, at the end of the day
Rooms panelled in wood look out over the valley, and the pace between the days is as considered as the days themselves. Restorative downtime is built into the week, which is what lets a guest take an active day and then another one.
The week, day by day
Arrive in Patagonia
After arriving in Chaitén, transfer through the landscapes of northern Patagonia to Rio Palena Lodge, set on the banks of the river in a spectacularly remote valley. Settle in, meet the team and ease into lodge life with a relaxed evening, local flavours and views of the water.
Whitewater and wilderness
Begin with one of the region's signature adventures, whether that is whitewater rafting, hiking through old-growth forest or exploring nearby waterfalls. Back at the lodge, the afternoon is for slowing down with a hot tub, sauna or pisco sour before dinner.
Heli-accessed Patagonia
A day for the more remote edges of the landscape, with the helicopter opening up glaciers, hidden valleys and extraordinary viewpoints. Depending on your interests it might take in glacier hiking, scenic flying, heli-fishing or an adventure shaped around your appetite for it.
Fishing, paddling or hiking
The lodge is built to be flexible, so the day can be tailored to a more active or a more restorative pace: float fishing or walking and wading for trout, or paddleboarding, kayaking and a guided hike through Patagonia's quieter corners.
Chilean culture and lodge life
Adventure stays central, but the lodge team also draws guests into a more local rhythm. Expect time for asado, Chilean wines, perhaps cueca dancing, and the kind of convivial evening that makes the stay feel immersive rather than simply active.
One last adventure
For a final full day, head back out with the guides for one more memorable outing, perhaps a river excursion, a scenic flight or a last morning on the water. Return for a celebratory final night and one more exceptional dinner in the heart of Patagonia.
Depart Rio Palena Lodge
After breakfast, depart the lodge and transfer back towards Chaitén, leaving with a strong sense of Patagonia's scale, beauty and remoteness. The experience is shaped by adventure, but equally by the ease with which it is delivered.
What defines this stay
The setting
A riverside lodge in one of Patagonia's wildest corners.
The helicopter
Access to glaciers, hidden valleys and remote adventure terrain.
The water
World-class fishing, rafting and wilderness days.
The table
Traditional Patagonian asados and warm, convivial lodge life.
The pace
Restorative wellness and downtime between the active days.
Make this stay your own
All itineraries are 100% customisable to your liking. Get in touch to speak with one of our travel advisors.