Rafting in Pucón: Upper and Lower Trancura River
In short
Rafting in Pucón takes place on the Trancura River, with class 2 to 4 rapids: the Lower Trancura takes children from age 8 and the Upper, from age 14 with previous experience (Sernatur, chile.travel). The Pucón Municipality rates the Upper section as class IV and closes it when the river rises (Adventure Tourism Ordinance 2025), and Sernatur requires adventure tourism operators to be in its registry (Law 20.423).
The Trancura River is where rafting happens in Pucón. It rises at Quillelhue lagoon, near Lanín Volcano, is more than 30 meters wide and has class 2, 3 and 4 rapids (source: Sernatur, chile.travel, "Rafting and other extreme activities on the Trancura River", August 14, 2024).
Upper and Lower Trancura
Pucón's Adventure Tourism Ordinance divides the local rivers into three reference sections (source: Pucón Municipality, Adventure Tourism Ordinance 2025, Exempt Decree No. 24 of January 7, 2025):
| Section | From | To | Class at low water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Trancura | Llafenco | Camping El Lleuque | IV |
| Lower Trancura | Camping El Lleuque | Puerto Palo | III |
| Liucura | Camping Ayelen | Puerto Palo | III |
- Lower Trancura: the easier section, suitable for children from age 8 (source: Sernatur, chile.travel).
- Upper Trancura: requires previous rafting experience and is open from age 14 (same source).
- When the river rises: the class changes with the water level measured at the Metreñehue bridge. The Upper section closes as soon as the water passes the green mark, and the Lower section becomes class IV and closes above the red mark (source: Adventure Tourism Ordinance 2025, item 9.8).
- Salto Marimán: the final stretch is known as Salto Marimán or "Último Suspiro" (Last Sigh) (source: Sernatur, chile.travel). The ordinance forbids running it by raft: rafts are portaged, that is, carried around on foot (source: Ordinance 2025, item 6.2).
- Where it is: the put-in is about 15 km from Pucón, towards Curarrehue (source: Sernatur, chile.travel, January 2026). To continue up that valley, see Curarrehue: things to do and how to get there.
Minimum age and requirements
The municipal ordinance sets these limits for white-water activities (source: Ordinance 2025, item 9.14):
- Children under 8 cannot take part.
- From age 8, on class III rivers, with a responsible adult and simple written permission from one parent.
- Ages 14 to 17, with simple permission from one parent, on class IV rafting and hydrospeed.
- Every passenger is listed on a municipal "departure sheet" (hoja de zarpe) with their Chilean ID or passport number (source: Ordinance 2025, item 9.2): bring your ID.
- We found no official source on swimming or fitness requirements for the Lower Trancura: ask the operator.
Gear the operator provides
Sernatur says the operator provides a wetsuit, booties, life jacket and helmet (source: chile.travel). The ordinance requires life jackets with at least 7 kg of buoyancy and, in winter, wetsuits with sleeves and full legs (source: Ordinance 2025, item 3.3). You bring a swimsuit and a towel (source: Sernatur, chile.travel).
Hydrospeed and kayaking
Besides rafting, you can run the Trancura by kayak or hydrospeed (source: Sernatur, chile.travel):
- Hydrospeed (riverboarding): you float down the river on a board, wearing fins. Commercial trips are only allowed on the Lower Trancura (class III) or the Liucura, with one guide per 1 to 5 passengers and a safety raft (source: Ordinance 2025, item 8.5). Minimum age 14 (same source, item 9.14.4).
- Kayak: only with guides holding a current kayak license, one guide per 1 to 5 passengers on rivers up to class III (source: Ordinance 2025, item 8.6).
Season
The ordinance regulates departures in both the summer and the winter season (source: Ordinance 2025, items 9.3 and 9.4). We found no official source on the best time of year or on the months of highest flow: since the Upper section closes when the river is high, confirm the section on the day. October averages almost 13 rainy days and February about 5 (source: DGA Pucón station, 1991-2020, in Pucón weather month by month); more in summer and spring. Night descents are forbidden (source: Ordinance 2025, item 9.10).
Safety: how to choose an operator
- Sernatur registry: registration is mandatory for adventure tourism (source: Sernatur, Tourism Services Portal, Law 20.423). Check the operator in the search tool at serviciosturisticos.sernatur.cl. Note that being registered does not currently mean the operator has passed an on-site inspection (source: El Mostrador, September 28, 2026).
- Municipal license and insurance: in Pucón, white-water guides need a current municipal license, and the operator must hold accident insurance with at least 300 UF of cover for accidental death or disability, displayed at its office (source: Ordinance 2025, items 1.4 and 2.2.1).
- Technical standard: the Chilean rafting standard is NCh2991, from 2006 (source: Sernatur, NCh2991.Of2006). According to El Mostrador, Sernatur held a public consultation until October 11, 2026 to update it (source: El Mostrador, September 28, 2026).
- Before you get in: the guide must explain what the descent involves: place, duration and conditions (source: NCh2991). Ask how many passengers go per raft: on class IV the maximum is 6 (source: Ordinance 2025, item 8.2).
Recent news
On August 26, 2026, a 34-year-old Universidad de La Frontera student died during an academic rafting activity on the Liucura River, about 14 km from Pucón; three others were injured and the Public Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation (source: Emol, August 26, 2026). A reform of Law 20.423 requiring verification before operating is going through the Senate (source: El Mostrador, September 28, 2026).
Next: Pucón itinerary in 2 or 3 days, Hot springs near Pucón and Canopy and zipline in Pucón.
Information reviewed on October 15, 2026. Open sections, rules and prices change with the river level and the Municipality: confirm them with the operator and with Pucón Tourism (puconchile.travel) before you go.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age for rafting in Pucón?
Age 8 on the Lower Trancura and age 14 with previous experience on the Upper Trancura (Sernatur, chile.travel). Pucón's ordinance requires simple written permission from one parent for minors (Adventure Tourism Ordinance 2025).
What is the difference between the Upper and Lower Trancura?
The Upper runs from Llafenco to Camping El Lleuque and is class IV; the Lower, from Camping El Lleuque to Puerto Palo, is class III at low water. When the river is high, the Upper section closes (Pucón Adventure Tourism Ordinance 2025).
What gear does the rafting operator provide?
A wetsuit, booties, life jacket and helmet (Sernatur, chile.travel). You bring a swimsuit and a towel.
How do I know if a rafting operator is safe?
Check that it is in the Sernatur registry (serviciosturisticos.sernatur.cl), mandatory for adventure tourism under Law 20.423, and ask about the guides' municipal license and the accident insurance required by Pucón's ordinance.
Sources: Sernatur, chile.travel, «Rafting y otras actividades extremas en el río Trancura» (creado el 14-ago-2024) y «Araucanía Lacustre: senderos, volcanes y aventura» (actualizado el 15-ene-2026); Municipalidad de Pucón, Ordenanza Municipal de Turismo Aventura 2025, Decreto Exento N° 24 (7-ene-2025), capítulo I «Aguas blancas» (municipalidadpucon.cl; no encontramos una versión 2026); Sernatur, Portal de Servicios Turísticos, «Registro» (Sello R; consultado el 15-oct-2026) y buscador serviciosturisticos.sernatur.cl; INN, NCh2991.Of2006 «Turismo aventura - Descenso en balsa o rafting - Requisitos» (publicada por Sernatur en su Portal de Servicios Turísticos); El Mostrador, Revista Jengibre, «Turismo aventura en Chile: cómo saber si una empresa es segura y qué exigir antes de contratar» (28-sep-2026); Emol, accidente de rafting en el río Liucura (26-ago-2026); Explorador Climático CR2, estación DGA Pucón, promedios 1991-2020 (vía la guía «Clima en Pucón mes a mes»). Revisado el 15-oct-2026.
