Chile Water Levels › Panguipulli Levels › Guide

Río Fuy: waterfalls and clear water near Neltume

Río Fuy guide near Neltume: upper class IV+, middle class V and lower class III–IV sections, best flows, access and today’s live Fuy level.

See the live gauge → · Today's readings

Where the Fuy runs

The Fuy flows warm and remarkably clear out of Lago Pirihueico, past Neltume and the Huilo Huilo area, and into Lago Panguipulli at Choshuenco. It is part of the chain of lakes and rivers that continues through the Enco and the San Pedro. Dense coihue forest hangs over its banks, and Volcanes Mocho and Choshuenco rise above the lower valley. It is about 2.5 hours from Pucón.

Sections

• Upper Fuy (class IV+): from the outlet of Lago Pirihueico to just above Neltume town. At low to medium water it is a classic run full of beautiful waterfalls. Ideal flows are about 11–34 m³/s (400–1,200 cfs), most likely in December and January.
• Middle Fuy (class V): a short, intense 4 km section with a waterfall of about 15 m (50 ft). The put-in is at the base of Salto Puma, which had not been run when it was described, reached by a hard-to-find 2 km walk that starts at a black wooden fence about 700 m below the Huilo Huilo turn-off. Take out at the bridge about 4.7 km downstream. It is best in the drier months of February and March.
• Lower Fuy (class III+–IV): about 4.5 km of continuous, eddy-hopping boulder gardens from near Puente Huilo-Huilo to Puente Llanquihue, or on to the black-sand beach at Choshuenco. The hardest rapid, about 300 m below the put-in, should be scouted. Usually there are no portages and the gradient is about 23 m per km. It is best in spring and early summer at about 42–57 m³/s (1,500–2,000 cfs), and it still goes as a big wave train at very high water, above about 70 m³/s, when the upper sections are too high.

Character

Two rivers in one: a waterfall run up top, then a pushy boulder-garden river below. Kayakers love the lower Fuy, while rafts are rarely seen on it. Rivers of Chile notes hydroelectric plans for the river, so conditions may change.

How to read our Fuy gauge

Our Panguipulli page shows the DGA station Río Fuy en Neltume, located at the outlet of Lago Pirihueico. Because the lake sits right above it, the Fuy reacts more slowly to rain than a free-flowing creek. Tributaries such as the Río Neltume join below the gauge, so the lower Fuy carries more water than the reading shows. Compare it with the 11–34 m³/s window for the upper run and 42–57 m³/s for the lower run.

Access

From Lanco on Ruta 5, drive east to Panguipulli and around the north side of Lago Panguipulli toward Choshuenco. From Pucón, go via Villarrica, Licán Ray and Coñaripe, then past Lago Neltume to reach Puente Huilo-Huilo.

Safety

The upper and middle sections are waterfall runs that need scouting and solid safety. On the lower Fuy, inspect the first big rapid and watch for wood in the forested channels.

Frequently asked questions

What class is the Fuy?

Upper class IV+, middle class V and lower class III+–IV, according to Rivers of Chile.

Where can I see the Fuy water level today?

On <a href="https://chilewaterlevels.com/panguipulli/">chilewaterlevels.com/panguipulli</a>, from the DGA station Río Fuy en Neltume.

Provisional real-time data from DGA Chile. Always scout and check conditions on the river.

Open the live gauge → · Español · Chile Water Levels

Sources: riversofchile.com/river-fuy · riversofchile.com/rio-fuy-lower · exchile.com/adventures/patagonia-custom-kayak-trips · Updated 2026-10-26