Pedro was collecting a lot of garbage on his daily kayak outings, only to return each day to find the situation unchanged. Realising he couldn’t make a significant impact alone, he founded Kayakonsciente: a non-profit dedicated to the conservation of the environment through kayak-based recreational and educational activities. There are currently 25 kayakers, 20 divers, and many volunteers aiding the Kayakonsciente cause. “We have removed tons of garbage from the river and we want to inspire others to continue cleaning these aquatic environments to restore the richness of biodiversity that once existed here,” Pedro says.

Pedro’s commitment to the environment extends beyond his organisation. In a recent personal triumph, he completed the first solo circumnavigation of the binational lake shared between Chile and Argentina, known locally as Chelenko, which in the indigenous Patagonian Aonikenk language means ‘Stormy Waters’. The expedition covered 525 km and took Rivas 23 days to complete with some “beautiful and fateful moments” along the way. Follow and be inspired on Kayakonsciente’s and Pedro’s Instagram.