Futaleufu, a mapuche word for 'big river' has become widely known as one of the top destinations in the world for whitewater enthusiasts. Located in the Palena Province of northern Patagonia, Chile, just 8km from the Argentine border, this gateway town founded in 1929 has become much more than just a place to pass through.

With several whitewater and fishing outfitters based in the Valley, the Futaleufu River draws in around 20,000 tourists a year, bring in more that $7 million, primarily from whitewater rafting and fly-fishing. In the high tourism season, from December to March, the community of roughly 1800 people, receives an influx of tourist who come for a taste of this class IV-V section of river. The river, drawing in national and foreign crowds alike, has its headwaters in Lago Futaleufquen, located in Los Alerces National Park, Argentina. The striking turquoise blue waters run through a vibrant, pristine landscape, crossing green valleys, hugging dramatic mountains, and housing several small communities, which are primarily based on forestry and subsistence-agriculture.

Although fit with modern conveniences, it is a daily occurrence to see "gauchos" - chilean cowboys - riding horseback down the streets of town. Futaleufu, the most isolated community of the Lake Region of Patagonia and the fifth most isolated in the country of Chile, contributes to its attraction, the authenticity of the area and the nearly uninhabited shores of its river. The area, considered the "Jewel" of Patagonia, has preserved an ideal combination of traditional Chilean historic charm through its culture and life, as well as become the whitewater Mecca for kayakers and rafters alike; creating a dual personality that makes the Futaleufu a one of a kind destination.