How I Fell in Love with the Futaleufú Valley, why every river lover should experience it, and the origins of Bio Bio Expeditions

I’m Marc Goddard, Co-Founder of Bio Bio Expeditions, and here’s the short version of how I found my way to the Futaleufú River, and why I want to share this treasure with you.

I began guiding rivers in 1986. I had the good fortune to work my way up and guide most of the commercial Class V rivers in California, my home state. I later spread my wings and spent a couple of years guiding the iconic Zambezi River in Africa as well as rivers in Costa Rica and Nepal. In 1991, my Team won the Whitewater World Championships, and from there nothing was going to deter me from exploring and guiding the world’s most remote canyons and extreme whitewater. I made my way to Chile, where I began working for a Peruvian company guiding back-to-back trips on the Bio Bio River. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the Bio Bio, the country, and its people. Bio Bio Expeditions was born!

Sadly, talk of damming the Bio Bio River meant devastation for the Mapuche People who had lived along the Bio Bio for thousands of years. Our days of guiding there were numbered. In 1994, with rumors of an amazing river down south, my partner Laurence Alvarez and I set off and landed on a beach at Chucao above the Bridge-to-Bridge section of the Futaleufú River in the rugged, wild-west of Patagonia. Wide-eyed with excitement and a healthy dose of fear, we launched our maiden voyage with a few friends. We ran the continuous rapids fueled by pure awe and blind faith, and knew immediately that the Futa was where we were meant to be. This unmatchable day would shape the rest of my life.

Having now run this river hundreds of times, I can still feel the rush, the joy, and the adrenaline of that first run. The whitewater was incredible, and around every corner were jaw-dropping views. It wasn’t necessarily bigger than the Zambezi or more technical than California’s toughest rivers, but it was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.

Over the next 25 years, our team of friends, guides, and the Diocares family who welcomed us on their land, built the Bio Bio base camp log by log. I consider the camp one of the most legendary river camps in the world.

Fast-forward to 2026, and I’m still just as excited about the Futaleufú. The valley has grown up: there’s electricity, a paved road, and more ways than ever to experience this incredible place. We now offer three different Futaleufú trips, each with its own style and adventure.

The town of Futaleufu may have changed, but the river, the scenery, and the welcoming Chileans of the Futaleufú region remain the same. I’d love to share it with you!

Please call us to chat about which trip will be the best fit for you and take a look at all of our unique offerings HERE.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]