Rafting in the Land of Enchantment

There are many things that contribute to New Mexico’s nickname. Perhaps you were lucky enough to visit Albuquerque in October to catch the world’s largest international hot air balloon festival. Maybe you’ve had the opportunity to travel the hypnotizing expanse of desert wonderland. If you’re anything like us, one of the most enchanting aspects of New Mexico’s richness was its majestic natural formations.

As your white water rafting experts, we’ve selected an assortment of trips put on by Kokopelli Rafting Adventures that capture the natural and cultural history of this awe inspiring region:

The Racecourse: This is the most popular trip offered by Kokopelli Rafting and is a great one for beginners. It is a fun, fast paced stretch of river with class III+ rapids in the high water of early spring. The trip is a half-day packed with excitement. Minimum age for this one is only 7, but this can occasionally be raised due to changes in water level.

Taos Box: This one day trip is one of the best of its kind in the U.S. and for obvious reasons. The first part of the trip includes a bit of flat water to allow for some instruction and practice paddling. Soon after, however, the gorge deepens and rafters are met with several class III and IV rapids, one after another. An all-you-can-eat buffet is included for lunch, as well as polar fleece tops and splash suits for your comfort.

Rio Chama: Filled with beautiful, remote landscapes and plenty of wildlife, this 2 or 3 day trip is great for families with a sense of adventure. Minimum age is 6 and rapids vary from class II to class III. Rafters also have the option to use inflatable kayaks or “duckies”. This trip is in high demand and has limited availability, so get signed up early!

White Rock Canyon: Kokopelli guides lead adventurers through the ancient lands of the Anasazi, some of which will serve as campsites for this 2 to 3 day trip. You will enjoy delicious meals prepared by expert guides and have the opportunity to explore the area before another day of excitement. This will be a memorable and fascinating experience for the whole family!

Whitewater Adventures South of the Border

In the spirit of winter, we’ve decided to take this blog post south of the border to a land where “December” and “white water rafting” can be used in the same sentence without getting weird looks. For those of you that just can’t wait another 4 or 5 months for the sun to come back around, this may come as an answer to prayers. We enthusiastically invite you to follow your birdlike intuition and migrate to either/both of these South American paradises.

Rio Upano, Ecuador: Filled with some of the most exotic and beautiful scenery in the world, this trip is guaranteed to be one of the most memorable experiences of your life. The cultural aspect of the area adds to the wonder, as visitors will be rafting through the land of the Shuar Indians that live along the river banks. Rapids vary from class II to class IV and the minimum age is 15.

Futaleufu, Chile: Earth River Expeditions gives rafters an incredibly unique experience while also providing them with luxuries such as cliffside dining and private camps. These camps are equipped with hot showers, riverside stone hot tubs, as well as tree houses and cliff dwellings with beds. Aside from exciting adventures on the river, guests will have the opportunity to try rock climbing, kayaking, fly fishing, zip lining, horseback riding and much more.

Aside from being just plain awesome, these white water rafting trips are both offered at times of the year when the rest of us are bundled up, dreaming of warmer days. What better way to get away from the cold than to go rafting in paradise?