Paddling near Angol, La Araucanía

Angol sits in the Malleco province of La Araucanía, where the foothills of the Andes give way to river-cut valleys. The area is defined by moving water: the Río Duqueco and Río Lumaco drain the surrounding hills, while the major Río Biobío lies to the north. The Araucanía region as a whole is recognized among Chilean paddlers for its varied whitewater rivers, drawing kayakers ranging from beginners to advanced paddlers seeking technical rapids and waterfalls.