Grab your paddle, because the Futaleufú River in Chilean Patagonia’s Palena region is gearing up for its 5th annual FutaFest on February 21-24.

 

Athletes from 16 countries will converge to compete in white water sports on one of the world’s fastest, most stunning rivers. In addition to an annual trade fair, the festival will this year also include a sprint triathlon featuring a run-bike-paddle format. 

 

Thanks to word-of-mouth and long-time outfitters established in this small town since the early 90s,  Futaleufu is a global destination for rafting and kayakers. Still, Mitch Sasser, director of Futafest, says festivals such as this one help ensure a sustainable future for rivers, the lifeblood for many towns in Patagonia.  Said Sasser: “If we damage rivers, and don’t try to utilize them in a positive way, we will lose our natural environment.” 

 

For more information, visit www.futafest.com. Below is the program for this year's event.