Women’s Raft Guide School
Mendoza, Argentina
April 10th – April 15th, 2026
Course Overview
By Women, For Women • 6 Days
Created by women and for women, this immersive guide school is designed to uplift and empower Argentinian women in the river world—while remaining open and welcoming to anyone who wants to learn. Whether you’re stepping into a raft for the very first time or you’re an experienced paddler ready to advance your skills, this course provides a supportive, high-level training environment where women lead the way.
Across six days of on-river instruction, you’ll build strong technical foundations in rowing, paddling, river reading, safety, leadership, and rescue skills. On Day 7, participants can take an ACA International Guide Exam to earn a respected certification that opens doors throughout Argentina and internationally. *This exam is not included in the course cost.
More than a course, this is a place to grow your confidence, your community, and your power on the river—guided entirely by women who are committed to seeing you thrive.
Dates: April 10th, 2026 – April 15th, 2026
Location: Mendoza, Argentina
Group Size: Maximum 10 participants — intimate, personalized, and adventurous.
Cost: $700
FAQs
Arrival and Departure
Course Start: Friday, April 10th, 2026
Course End: Wednesday, April 15th, 2026
Please plan on staying for the asado at the end of the course. It will be a great way to celebrate all together.
Optional: ACA Guide Exam Thursday, April 16th, 2026 (additional cost, write Jess for details)
Where Will We Meet?
What is Included?
✔ 6 full days on the river with professional instruction
✔ All rafting equipment (boats, oars, safety gear, PFD, helmet, wetsuit)
✔ Leadership and mindset coaching woven into each day
What’s Not Included
✘ Transportation to Mendoza
✘ Lodging
✘ Meals
Do I need to be in great shape to join?
Not at all! You don’t need to be an athlete to learn to be a river guide — just adventurous and willing to learn. We’ll provide you with a simple fitness routine ahead of time so you feel confident and prepared, and we’ll pace each day to match the group’s energy and ability.
What if I’ve never been rafting before?
Perfect — this course is for beginners and intermediates. We’ll start with foundational rafting technique, body mechanics, and safety. Instruction builds progressively, so you’ll feel confident and supported each step of the way.
Itinerary &
Schedule
Please plan on arriving the evening before the course begins.
April 10th, 9 AM – Course begins with classroom sessions, afternoon on the water
April 11th-14th – Training days on the water
April 15th – Celebratory final day of training with a farewell asado
April 16th – Optional ACA Guide Exam
Meet Your Instructors
This course is led by Jess Lewis and Mendoza local, Agua Blanca Leiva, combining international expertise with deep local knowledge. Jess is an ACA Instructor Trainer in Rafting, an ACA Swiftwater Rescue Instructor, and a Wilderness Guide, with decades of experience guiding and teaching in rivers around the world. Agua is an Argentinian river guide and ACA-certified instructor who knows Mendoza intimately. Together, they offer world-class river instruction, proven risk management, and the kind of mentorship that helps you grow as both a guide and a leader.
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Founder of Wyld Heart, ACA Instructor Trainer, Swiftwater Rescue Instructor, Chair of the ACA Rafting Committee and Wilderness Guide. Jess brings decades of guiding and leadership experience, blending technical skill with mindset coaching to help people step into resilience and confidence on the river. Jess is fluent in Spanish and lived in Chile for a number of years, she cannot wait to welcome people to her ‘heart home.’
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Agua Leiva Pérez is a professional rafting guide and kayaker from Mendoza, Argentina, with nine years of experience running and teaching on rivers around the world. Her passion for whitewater has made her one of the leading figures in the sport both in her country and on the international scene.
Throughout her career, Agua has worked as a guide and athlete in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, the United States, and Argentina, exploring rivers of enormous variety and gaining a global perspective on both the sport and river culture. Her exploratory spirit has also led her to compete in multiple high-level events, solidifying her presence in the rafting and extreme kayaking world.
She competed in three Rafting World Championships (2018, 2022, and 2025) and the 2025 GoPro Games, in addition to racing in Brazilian rafting championships and demanding extreme kayaking competitions in Brazil. Her dedication and consistency earned her significant recognition, including the Llama Awards in 2022, thanks to her standout performance at the World Championship.
In 2024, together with her women’s team, she became Pan American Rafting Champion—a milestone that further cemented her status as an elite athlete in the discipline.
Beyond her competitive career, Agua is a Level 4 rafting instructor certified by the American Canoe Association (ACA), reflecting her commitment to teaching, safety, and the professionalization of the sport. Her international experience and technical expertise make her a highly respected instructor among both students and colleagues.
Passionate about running rivers around the world, Agua continues to grow her career as a guide, athlete, and instructor, always driven by the desire to keep learning, compete at the highest level, and share her love for the river with new generations of paddlers.
The Nitty Gritty Details
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Reserve your spot directly through our website or with Venmo. A 25% deposit is required at registration to secure your place, with the remaining balance due prior to the start of the course.
We accept payments via credit or debit card, PayPal or Venmo @WyldHeartCo.
Have questions or want to talk it through first? I’d love to connect with you directly:
Email: jess@wyldheartco.com
Phone & WhatsApp: +17193955546 -
A 25% deposit is due at registration, it is non-refundable and non-transferable.
More than 120 days prior to the course start date: Full refund of any payments made, less the $200 non-refundable portion of your deposit.
91–120 days prior: 50% refund of trip cost, less $200.
61–90 days prior: 25% refund of trip cost, less $200.
60 days or fewer prior: No refund.
If Wyld Heart cancels a course for reasons other than force majeure (natural disasters, political instability, pandemics, etc.), you’ll receive a full refund, including your deposit. If cancellation is due to force majeure, we’ll make every effort to refund recoverable costs or apply your payment toward a future trip.
All cancellations must be submitted in writing via email to: jess@wyldheartco.com.
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Wyld Heart requires all participants to carry travel insurance with emergency medical and evacuation coverage. We also strongly recommend a policy that includes trip cancellation protection in case unforeseen circumstances prevent you from joining.
Popular providers our guests use include Allianz, Travel Guard, World Nomads, and AIG Travel. Some participants also use coverage offered through their credit card provider, or airline.
Local women (Chile or Argentina) this does not apply.
