Rafting
was made popular in Peru thanks to Polish adventurer Yurek
Majcherzyck and his traveling companions who, after several
attempts, managed to paddle down the torrential Colca River
and cross its 300 rapids that run through the heart of the
department of Arequipa.
Since then, a group of Peruvian
enthusiasts has dedicated a lot of hard work and energy to
open up new rafting routes all across the country. It is a
tough task, considering that Peru is criss-crossed by more
than a dozen rivers that flow for more than 600 km, while
just the five longest rivers alone run across 7 000 km of
territory. Whitewater raftingrequires inflatable rubber rafts, which are, pushed
on by paddles and a helmsman generally at the stern, who guides
his crew through the wild river rapids.
Internationally, rapids
are classified on a scale of Class I to VI according to their
difficulty (VI usually being impossible to tackle, requiring
portering the raft along the river bank). There
are no age limits for rafters.
The only requisite is a taste for adventure.
Click
on the name of the program for more information
Complete rafting equipment (rafts, life jackets, oars,
helmets, raincoats, first aids) - Transport during the
whole trip - Rafting instructor guide - Snacks (chocolates
and mineral water) - Guide on the raft
URUBAMBA CLASS II - III
Duration:
Full day
Location:
Cusco
Passengers:
1 to 12
Departures: Daily
Difficulty:
Class II - III
PROGRAM INCLUDES
Full Lunch - Transport to the River rafting trip -
River Equipment (Helmets, Life vest Hi-Flotation Class
V, Full Wet Suits) - Avon River Boats - Guide with E.M.T.
II (Paramedic).
URUBAMBA - III - V
Duration:
Full day
Location:
Cusco
Passengers:
1 to 12
Departures: Daily
Difficulty:
Class III – V (hard, in rainy season from December
to April)
PROGRAM INCLUDES
Full Lunch - Transport
to the River rafting trip - River Equipment (Helmets,
Life vest Hi-Flotation Class V, Full Wet Suits) - Avon
River Boats - Guide with E.M.T. II (Paramedic).
CHUQUICAHUANA
Duration:Full
day
Location:
Cusco
Passengers:
1 to 12
Departures: Daily
Difficulty:
Class III - V (hard, in rainy season from December
to April)
PROGRAM INCLUDES
Full Lunch - Transport to the River rafting trip -
River Equipment (Helmets, Life vest Hi-Flotation Class
V, Full Wet Suits) - Avon River Boats - Guide with E.M.T.
II (Paramedic).
APURIMAC RIVER
Duration:
2 days / 1 night
Location:
Cusco
Passengers:
1 to 12
Departures: Daily
Difficulty:
Class II to V
DAY
1 CUSCO / URUBAMBA RIVER
(l/d)
Early morning transfer from Cusco to Pivil Community by
bus (3 hours).
Here we will have the best top view of the Vilcabamba
and Vilcanota Highlands's west and east side, from this
pass we mountain bike downhill to Pivil (optional). Visit
the community. Here we carry all the equipment and food
for our journey to the Apurimac river-rafting trip with
mules and horses from the Community Pivil. After 2 hours
hiking downhill we arrive at the hot springs, swimming
and camp at the river side and take part of our sustainable
tourism project with evening BBQ Lamb from the community.
DAY 2APURIMAC
RIVER / CUSCO (b/l)
Early morning, River Rescue talk, training time and river
rafting rapids class II, III, IV and optional class V,
El Dolor de Muelas, Following with more rapids class III,
IV. Finish rafting at 2:30 pm. Lunch on the shore and
bus drive to Cusco.
PROGRAM INCLUDES
Full board during the trip - Transport to the River
rafting trip - Tents and Mattresses - River Equipment
(Helmets, Life vest Hi-Flotation Class V, Wet Suits
Full suits) -Safety Kayak - Avon River Boats - Guide
with E.M.T. II (Paramedic)
PROGRAM
DOES NOT INCLUDE
Overnights at Cusco - Extras (drinks, telephone, laundry)
- Personal effects
APURIMAC RIVER
Duration:
4 days / 3 nights
Location:
Cusco
Passengers:
1 to 12
Departures: Daily
Difficulty:
Class II to V
DAY
1 CUSCO / LAS PULGAS (l/d) Depart
Cusco to Huallpachaca Bridge, Military Bridge, the journey
takes 4 to 5 hours. On arrival, our guides will be waiting
for you with the equipment prepared and ready for departure.
We will have lunch at Huallpachaca Bridge. Familiarization
with equipment.
Practical introduction to "white water" techniques.
Safety training (Huallpachaca bridge grade II) the afternoon
training. Overnight at Las Pulgas camp.
DAY 2 LAS
PULGAS / LAS CALABAZAS (b/l/d)
We leave Las Pulgas and begin the descent, encountering
rapids with grades of difficulty ranging from I to IV.
After 2 hours we reach our first portage. From here we
encounter the rapids of Space Odyssey and the technical
section of purgatory. Finally camping at Las Calabazas.
DAY 3
LAS CALABAZAS / THE TABLE (b/l/d)
Canyon. From Las Calabazas camping, the river augments
its volume as the Vilcabamba River joins it. From here
the river is stronger but at the same time has larger
pools between each rapid (grade of difficulty I to IV)
nevertheless more strength and greater precision are
required although, of course these rapids are much more
fun. The running rapids and the waves make our descent
exciting; rapids such as "Zeta", "El
Roller" and "Trinche", amongst others
will take us to our campsite, The Table, a beautiful
place, perfect for resting, on the white sand and calm
water in which we can swim and relax.
DAY 4
THE TABLE / CUSCO (b)
The canyon opens giving out oblique formations and consequently,
rapids of high difficulty like "Toothache",
"You First" and "Babalua Carajo"
are of grade V difficulty. These three rapids are optional
for the passenger, as the banks are easily accessible.
At the end of the trip our bus for the return journey
to Cusco meets us.
PROGRAM INCLUDES
Full board during the trip - Transport to the River
rafting trip - Tents and Mattresses - River Equipment
(Helmets, Life vest Hi-Flotation Class V, Wet Suits
Full suits) -Safety Kayak - Avon River Boats - Guide
with E.M.T. II (Paramedic)
PROGRAM
DOES NOT INCLUDE
Overnights at Cusco - Extras (drinks, telephone, laundry)
- Personal effects
Depart
Cusco to Huallpachaca Bridge, Military Bridge, the journey
takes 4 to 5 hours. On arrival, our guides will be waiting
for you with the equipment prepared and ready for departure.
We will have lunch at Huallpachaca Bridge. Familiarization
with equipment.