Kayaking on the Petrohué River means letting yourself be carried away by the tide, the silence, and the shapes that the Earth has sculpted over thousands of years.
We start from Ralún, in the Reloncaví estuary, in an area where the river and the sea still merge, forming small arms of water between reeds and coastal vegetation.

During the first stretches of the tour, the landscape unfolds at water level: herons, cormorants, native ducks, and kingfishers watch us from the shore as we head upstream, taking advantage of the tide's momentum. The pace is gentle and steady, ideal for those looking for an active but not demanding experience.

As we move forward, we cross under the Petrohué bridge until we reach Las Viguerías, a rock wall that rises up to 15 meters above the river level. This basalt formation, shaped by ancient lava flows, was named by local inhabitants, who saw in its long, straight shapes the silhouette of the beams of their houses. Here we pause: some dive into the clear waters of the river; others simply contemplate and take photographs.

On the way back, we change banks to row through little-explored areas, where forests of alicios—a tree introduced by seeds that arrived on boats—now colonize the bank. Depending on the tide, it is possible that in some sections we have to drag the kayaks for a few minutes, which adds a realistic and active quota to this experience connected with the natural rhythms of the place.

At the end, we share a small snack prepared with local products: coffee or tea, a local craft beer, and something sweet or savory homemade, such as pan amasado or kuchen. A warm and simple way to close a tour where water, stone, and wildlife invite us to look at this corner of the south with different eyes.