Spots / South America
Río Claro
Maule, Chile — Polished volcanic rock and impossibly clear water in the Chilean Andes — a southern-hemisphere gem.
Photo: AlonsoRiveraM · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Spots / South America
Maule, Chile — Polished volcanic rock and impossibly clear water in the Chilean Andes — a southern-hemisphere gem.
Photo: AlonsoRiveraM · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Río Claro, in Chile's Maule region, is famous for water so clear it seems to vanish and for the smooth, sculpted volcanic rock that channels it. The Siete Tazas — 'seven cups' — section is a string of natural pools and falls that has become one of South America's signature aquatic descents, best in the southern summer.
Access is via the Siete Tazas area in the Andean foothills; the walk-in and logistics reflect a less-developed canyoning infrastructure than in Europe.
Smooth volcanic rock makes for clean rappels and slides, but cold mountain water and a remote setting keep it serious. As with any far-from-help canyon, a self-reliant team and conservative judgement are essential.