Rio Chama River Rafting 3 Day

This is the signature multi-day rafting trip in New Mexico. The trip consists of a float through the stunning colorful sandstone and limestone walls of this amazing canyon and finishes up near the renowned artist village of Abiquiu. The upper reaches of the river are well known for gorgeous pine trees lining the banks of the river and spectacular views of the desert cliffs that border this area and that are so famous in many different artists works, such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams.

Multi Day
Rio Chama
Age 6

$595 Adult
$495 Child

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Pro Tip: The Rio Chama is a dam release section. Flows are typically guaranteed from mid April through May/early June. Also on weekends only from mid July through Labor Day Weekend.

Who Is This For?

Best 3 Day Rafting Trip in the Region!

Minimum age for the Rio Chama multi-day rafting trip is 6 y/o; children should be adventurous and have some previous outdoor experiences. Groups of 4 or more may request Custom dates, subject to availability.This beautiful 3 day, 2 night trip contains fun whitewater that is fairly mellow with a difficulty rating of class 2-3 on a 1-6 scale.

What To Expect?

Amazing Wild and Scenic Canyon!

The relaxed 3-day itinerary allows us the flexibility to stop often and explore the many treasures within the high reaching walls like hot springs, ancient Puebloan ruins, and dinosaur tracks to name a few. Don’t forget about some fun, but not too intense, whitewater along the way. We will spend two beautiful nights out under the bright New Mexican sky.

Highlights

31 miles through the Wild and Scenic Rio Chama Wilderness
Delicious meals prepared by your guides
Beautiful forested campsites beneath towering sandstone walls
A variety of crafts available to best suit your group

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Trip Details

Where To Meet

Our Rio Chama 3 Day journey meets in the small village of Abiquiu at Bode’s General Store. All rafters park their vehicles here in a designated area while on the river. Don’t forget to check out this unique and iconic mercantile. For directions to our Rio Chama multi-day rafting meeting location, Click Here.

What To Bring

When we meet you on day 1, we will distribute 2 55L drybags to pack your gear. We suggest using one for your clothes and one for your sleep kit. Your Guides will be there to help with this process. Please reference the suggested packing list included in your confirmation email. Also note that the packing list has to be inclusive of all weather possibilities from April to Sept. Use common sense during warmer months, reference weather reports from Tierra Amarilla, NM and always feel free to call with questions.

Break It Down

Meet Up + Gear Up

After meeting, packing and loading our vehicles, we will drive an hour to our starting point. While the Guides are putting the final touches on the gear rafts, your trip leader will cover a trip and safety orientation. Once ready, it’s time to head downstream to find a beautiful place to enjoy lunch and explore this amazing canyon.

Get On The River

The Rio Chama is known for its nice sandy beach and grassy bench camps, most with ample shade from towering old growth Ponderosa Pines. Each night’s camp will be right on the river’s edge and backed up by excellent opportunities for hiking and the exploration of numerous side canyons and vistas. Sit back in one of our camp chairs and take in the sunset as the colors of the canyon walls change right before your eyes. Enjoy a cold drink as the guides pass around appetizers and prepare a gorgeous dinner and dessert. This is luxury camping in one of the most beautiful river canyons in the Southwestern United States.

Take Out + Return

On the final day, after a nice riverside lunch, we will head downstream toward the take-out. Everyone’s help at the take-out is appreciated as we load up all of our gear and start the 30 minute drive back to Abiquiu. We typically arrive back at your vehicle between 3 and 5pm.

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REVIEWS

Fun in the Sun on the Chama! We did the three day float down the Rio Chama. We loved being out on the water with a great crew! The food was great, the scenery was spectacular. Our crew made our trip memorable as well as educational. They were the consummate professionals yet personable. Luke, Rachael, Eric and Austin worked together seamlessly. We worked like a well oiled machine. Luke was our trip leader and had a wealth of information of the area and history to share with us. He handled any situation that arose with care and diplomacy. He led us on a short hike through sagebrush and desert plant life. We had a NM folk band along with us that provided midday and evening entertainment. I was impressed with the helpful community we developed over the course of the trip where everyone pitched in to pack and unpack each day. I can't wait to take another trip with NMRA!!

Palma H
3 Day Rio Chama The 3 Day Rio Chama trip was stunning. Our guides Brenden and Jack were next level. The food was exquisite, the views were spectacular, and the people were phenomenal. I can’t wait to return to this beautiful river. If you love friends, good food, kayaking, tent camping, and a cold beer after a day in the water this is the perfect trip for you. Thank you for providing us an adventurous outlet after a long quarantine in a safe but fun manner. I highly suggest this trip to anyone looking. This is my second trip with this company and I continue to be beyond impressed with the organization, professionals, and overall experience. Also, I don’t think I ever saw my guides without a smile on their faces. What an amazing time.

Kristina W
I was looking for a "family rafting" experience for my daughter's first time rafting and New Mexico River Adventures came up in the search. We decided to go on the three day Rio Chama trip and it was fantastic. The staff was very helpful, attentive, and quick to answer any and all questions from the booking, to the COVID-19 procedures, to the day of rafting and the return. Our guides, Luke Stacy, and Eric, did an excellent job making sure we were safe, entertained, and well cared for during our time on and off the river. We had wonderful views, several hiking opportunities, and delicious meals provided and we all wouldn't hesitate to recommend New Mexico River Adventures to anyone and everyone.

Paul Uribe

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

No prior rafting or camping experience is required. Professional guides handle navigation, safety, meals, and camp setup, so you can simply enjoy the trip.

Guests camp along the river at scenic campsites. You’ll sleep in tents near the water, with guides helping organize camp and prepare meals.

The Rio Chama is considered an easier river, with mostly Class II rapids and occasional Class III sections depending on water levels. It’s ideal for beginners and those looking for a relaxed, scenic rafting experience.

Yes, the Rio Chama is one of the best multi-day rafting trips for beginners. Its mild rapids and slower pace make it a great option for those new to rafting or looking for a more relaxed adventure.

The Rio Chama 3-day trip is a scenic, multi-day rafting adventure through a remote canyon in northern New Mexico. It combines gentle whitewater, riverside camping, and time to relax, making it more about the overall experience than intense rapids.

It is recommended but not mandatory that all our guests know how to swim. All guests are given Type V, US Coast Guard approved flotation devices (lifejackets) that are designed to float you on your back, nice and high in the water. For all our class 3 and above sections on the Rio Grande, you will also be issued a helmet.

We have packing lists for you to review for each of our different trip types. Remember that the weather changes dramatically throughout the New Mexico rafting season. It can be significantly colder during March-May we encourage our guests to always be prepared.

Unfortunately, we cannot bring our furry friends on our river trips. We ask that you leave your pets at home before heading to our headquarters.

We do not have a secure area to keep your dog at our headquarters. Moreover, the temperatures get extremely hot during our season, because of this, you will NOT be able to leave your pets in your car. We ask that you leave your pets at home before heading to our headquarters.

No, however, you are welcome to bring whatever you like. We will have a drink cooler available for cold beverages

We will do our best! We have carefully crafted our menus to be inclusive of a variety of dietary preferences.

No, although lots of guests choose to bring their own sleeping bags, we can provide you with a sleeping bag, sleeping pad and tent to share with other members of your group for no extra charge. Just be sure to indicate on your individual trip registration form what gear you would like us to provide and we’ll make sure your covered.

Our cancellation policy for groups of less than 18 people, for all Half and Full Day trips is that we do not offer any refunds less than 72 hours before your scheduled trip time. For our Rio Grande overnight trips and for groups of more than 18 participants, no refunds are offered inside of 14 days before your trip date and for our Rio Chama overnight trips, no refunds are offered within 30 days of your scheduled trip date. If you cancel outside of these time frames, you will be eligible for a full refund.

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