Making the Dream a Reality: Whitewater Kayaking and Teleworking in Chile

When you dream of exploring the world’s most epic rivers and waterfalls, it’s hard to imagine fitting such adventures into everyday life. But with a mix of remote work and whitewater kayaking, Brenton Petrillo and I made it happen in Chile—a paddler’s paradise.

For an entire month, starting on Christmas Eve during Chile’s summer season, with its longer daylight hours, we balanced work and adventure, traveling from the volcanic rivers near Santiago in the north to the stunning blue waters of Patagonia in the south. We paddled iconic rivers many kayakers only dream of, making the most of both work and play.

Paddling the Rio Claro: A Christmas Eve to Remember

The Rio Claro is a geological wonder, featuring some of the cleanest drops and narrow gorges formed by ancient volcanic rock. On Christmas Eve, our dreams came true as we paddled all of its sections in a single day—including the famous Siete Tazas (Seven Teacups), Veintidós Tazas (22 Teacups), and the infamous Entresaltos, home to La Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), a swirling 60-foot plunge that pushed my adrenaline to the limit. With over 50 pristine waterfalls and ledges, the black volcanic gorges of the Rio Claro were unlike anything I’d ever experienced.

Brenton, having paddled some of these sections 10 years earlier, remembered the whitewater well. Our trust in each other’s paddling styles gave us confidence as we approached the river. Pedro, our guide, played a crucial role—not only navigating and shuttling us between sections but also helping with rope access to lower our kayaks, making the entire experience possible. He tracked our progress from the cliffs above, capturing incredible photos and ensuring our safety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBQtRK1wfJc

Teleworking in Pucon: Work-Life Balance at Its Best

For the first week, Pucon became our base. Teleworking in a place known for its towering volcano and crystal-clear lakes sounds idyllic—and it was, thanks to David Hughes at Kayak Pucon Retreat. David provided the perfect office setup, with reliable internet and a comfortable environment for us to work during the day.

Before and after work, we squeezed in laps on the Upper Palguin and Trancura rivers, both offering thrilling steep drops and beautiful scenery. I even snuck away for a day with raft guides and my friend Abed to explore the lower sections of the Fuy. To cap off Christmas week, we fit in a spontaneous skydiving adventure over Villarrica, thanks to our friend Matt Jackson at Paracaidismo Pucon. Pucon was the perfect place to blend work and play.

New Year’s on the Road: Hornopirén and the Blanco and Negro Rivers

New Year’s weekend took us south from Pucon to Futaleufú, with a pit stop in Hornopirén, a quiet town where horses roam the streets. The rivers there were as wild as the landscape. We paddled the striking blue waters of the Blanco and the dark, mysterious currents of the Negro, thanks to local raft guides Felix, Freddy, and Kevin, who helped with shuttles and gate access. Hornopirén was an unexpected highlight, offering serene beauty and wild rapids.

Futaleufú: Teleworking and Thrilling Whitewater

Futaleufú is legendary in the whitewater world, known for its powerful rapids that are every paddler’s dream. For three weeks, we teleworked from Hostel Las Natalias, where the staff treated us like family. In the afternoons, we paddled the nearby Espolón, Futaleufú, and Azul rivers, all just a short distance from town. We even shared our love for kayaking with fellow travelers at the hostel, taking them down the Espolón in duckies after work.

During our one weekend off in Futaleufú, we made the most of our time. On Saturday, we ran several bridge to casa laps, and on Sunday, we completed a full “Todo Futa” lap. This epic 7-hour paddle covered over 20 miles, starting at the Inferno Canyon put-in and ending at Macal. Along the way, we navigated major rapids and scouted tricky sections like Zeta, Throne Room, and the Terminator. By the end, we were thoroughly exhausted but deeply satisfied. A Todo Futa is a must-do for anyone visiting Futaleufú.

Exploring the Rio Baker: A Week of Vacation in Puerto Bertrand

We took a week off from work and, along with our friends Tyler Deets and Beckham Bayreuther, headed south to Puerto Bertrand to paddle the Rio Baker, Chile’s largest river by volume. On the way, we stopped at the Marble Caves, an easy paddle into one of the most breathtaking natural formations we had ever seen.

After a day and a half of driving, we arrived in Puerto Bertrand and scouted the Rio Baker from the cliffs. In the evening, as we planned for the next day at a local café, we met a quiet girl named Mai, who overheard our conversation. She asked if we were planning to kayak the Baker and if she could watch. It was a lucky encounter—Mai and her photographer friend Valentina ended up helping us shuttle our gear. Thanks to their assistance, we were able to tackle the immense rapids of the first two gorges with plenty of time. The next day, we ran the third gorge, a section with little beta, forcing us to paddle some rapids blind. It was nerve-wracking, but we embraced the challenge, ending the day exploring a national park and later celebrating at a disco party hosted by raft guides, reuniting with Mai and Valentina—an unforgettable way to celebrate.

On our final day, we paddled the Class III raft section in Puerto Bertrand with the same guides, once again sharing our love for the river and connecting with the local community.

Making It All Possible: People and Planning

This trip wasn’t just about luck—it was made possible by incredible people and careful planning. Pedro helped make the Rio Claro accessible, while David Hughes ensured seamless teleworking in Pucon. The raft guides in Hornopirén, Futaleufú, and Puerto Bertrand supported us with logistics, shuttles, and local expertise. And the staff at Hostel Las Natalias provided a home base that allowed us to balance work and adventure. Other key components were ensuring that we had kayaks and a vehicle as soon as we landed and that we had reservations at hostels with Wi-Fi that allowed us to telework effectively during core work hours. We made all of our reservations ahead of time before setting foot in Chile.

Conclusion: Turning Dreams into Reality

Chile is a whitewater paradise, offering everything from high-adrenaline waterfalls to serene, beautiful stretches of river. Being able to work remotely while exploring these waters was a dream come true. Our trip proved that, with the right planning and support, adventure and work can coexist.