A c h i b u e n o

 Character

The Achibueno is generally not much known, even though it is a worthwhile river. It is  technical and its big granite boulders remember somehow the Swiss Tessin.

    The put-in at the end of the dirt road. The picture is taken mid-February, when the river has already
    minimum flow.

How to get there

In Linares drive towards the mountains to the little village Pecherrey (buy your food already in Linares !). Almost all the way is dirt road, what you should consider in your timing. After approx. 40 km you reach the Puente Halles where you will come to a boarder guard (if you have a rental car look for a permit to cross the boarder!). At night time, the boarder is closed (there are no campgrounds nearby, if you want to stay the night there you may find some places beside the road.) . 
From the boarder it is approx. 14.5 km to the recommended put-out (there is a gate at your right, from there it is some 500m to the river). This place is also good to camp.
Towards the put-in the road is becoming worse, and at the limit what you can do with a normal car. A truck is recommended.

Put-In  / Take-Out

The put in is at the end of the road. There is a sign that from this point on you may only go on with a 4 wheel drive. The following 200m you may enter with a normal car, there is a parking close to the river and possibility to turn. The continuation may be done with a 4x4 and some  "cochones" nevertheless walking is better...
The put-out is at the place described before.  

The lower Achibueno was not run by us. One of the interesting rapids is at the height of the boarder guard. They may be scouted from Puente Halles.

    The Achibueno is convincing by its crystal clear water and sporty rapids in Drop and Pool style !

Distance

Approx. 7 km

Gauge             

LW  /  MW  /  HW

There is a information in the Internet but now reference to the runable water levels is known. As reference you may take the pictures: 
This is the lower level to run the river. With more water the river will stay technical but become certainly more powerful. Best is to judge the level at the put-in.

Difficulty

At low flow: WW III+ (some rapids up to WW IV)
At higher flows, the difficulties will certainly rise by one degree.
All rapids may be scouted or portaged. The road is most of the time not accessible.

       From the beginning joyful WW.... 

      ...and the lines may be seen from the boat.

      Looking to the horizon shows you the high gradient of the river. Sometimes some sections seam unclear...

      ... but there are very little surprises.

      Except of two "key rapids", the river has always the same character. The first of this rapids is coming after a
      longer "Pool" where you may stop an scout it...

      ...this is a 70 m cataract with a difficult entry...

      ... but a big pool at the end. The second rapid follows after approx. 500 m and comes a bit more surprising...

      ...the river is making a sort of an S-curve and after the last bed the river narrows and is getting quiet sporty
      on the next 100 m. 

     Towards the end, the river bed gets wider and at low flow, you reach soon the limit of navigability. .