APURIMAC RAFTING - 3 DAYS
Briefing (night before departure): pre-departure information: description of river canyon, navigation, what to bring, etc. In May, when the river is swollen with snow-melt, prepare for a wet and wild ride with big waves, holes and powerful currents. During mid July until November, the river changes, requiring technical maneuvers around rocks and dropping through narrow chutes
- Departure: 8:00 am.
- Return: 4 pm.
- River level: II, III, IV and V
- Distance: 45 km
- Time in the water: between 4 to 6 hours a day
Itinerary
DAY 1: Cusco - Wallpachaca breach - Paltas beach
Your trip leader and our private bus river will meet you at the office at 8 am., on the first day of your rafting trip, for the four hour bus ride to the Apurimac river. We will have one first stop at Izcucahaca, small town where we can buy the last suplies for the trip, after we will stop several times along the way, so we can stretch our legs go to the bathroom etc.. One hour before we arrive to the beginning we will stop at Condorhuachana where we can have the first real view of the Apurimac River canyon from 2000 meters high. This is the perfect place to take pictures and enjoy the scenery. Once in the River guides and passengers will organize the expedition, you'll then pack your camp clothes, sleeping bag, etc., into the dry bags. After packing the dry bags we provide a picnic lunch near to the river side, there after we gather close to one of the rafts for the rafting orientation, a thorough, 30 minute presentation given by the trip leader. He will go over the safety features of the trip, and demonstrate techniques for paddling, floating and rescue.and some, this briefing will be followed by a practice in the river, each passenger takes turns swimming in some moderate rapids so everybody can practice grabbing the safety kayak and cataraft, grabbing the secure rescue lines and also we will practice flipping the rafts so everybody feel good and comfortable to start this great adventure. Then, it is on to the river! fun level II and III rapids and peaceful calms and magnificent scenery. After the initial stretch of river, we arrive to the first level III+ rapid (Level IV in may and beginning of June) called the little Z, after a series of rapids we reach a nice water fall. More good rapids and beautiful scenery we will see below the water fall before reaching camp later in the afternoon. We organize the camp on the sandy beach called LasPaltas (the avocados). After a brief camp orientation where you’ll become acquainted with the place, our solid waste toilet system and the camp routine, you can enjoy an afternoon snack and relax, as the guides make the first of many delicious dinners. In the evening we listen to the river sound and the tales and experiences of the Apurimac river guides as twilight consumes the canyon. We have a briefing before we go to bed about the next day. The Apurimac sky in the nights are cover with thousands stars prefect to sleep outside the tents.
DAY 2: Paltas camp - Table tail camp
The day begins at 8 a.m. with a delicious fresh fruit salad, cereal, yogurt, juice, fresh coffee, tea, hot chocolate, oat meal, bread etc. After breakfast, it’s time to pack up the tents, dry bags and reload the rafts for the day’s river adventure. 9:00 am we jump back into the rafts and continue our way through the Apurimac canyon wilderness. Today features some of the best rapids on the river. Just around the corner from camp we have many level II, III and III+ technical rapids until we arrive to El Chute level IV. Afterward, you can enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Chute gorge as you travel toward The Portage rapids, passengers need to walk around it carrying your dry bags while the guides will be taking the rest of the staff. There after we arrive to Minefield canyon with a series of level II, III and IV rapids until the Apurimac river calms and go into the Purgatory gorge, this is fantastic place where we can see different rock formation that the river, wind and other natural agents built with the years, here we can jump from a cliff, swim until we arrive to the Purgatory rapid level IV, in this place the hole river flows in the left hand side of the canyon near to a massive wall, creating big waves and powerfulcurrents, making of this rapid one of the best in the River. Before we run this rapid the guide will explain from where to go and where the safety kayak and the guides with the secure lines will be located, there after we will have one more portage ant then the river we will see another river called Vilcabamaba who will join the Apurimac. At lunchtime, you may be able to take a short walk to explore the unique geology of the Apurimac river Canyon or cool off swimming in the river while your guides will making another fantastic lunch.
After lunch there will be more rapids as Las tresMarias, The Z, Indiana Jones, The roller over, Window, all class IV rapids with nice waves and holes. in between this rapids there are many other rapids level II and III. Finally we arrive to another big rapid El Trinche level IV (Level V form may to June), In this place the river goes form the right side, in the beginning there are waves an holes with some rocks and at the end is awaiting a big hole with a little pass in the middle that the guides need to maneuver and go through with out any problems, few minutes more and we will be in The table, Playa rapid and the No name rapids all level IV.
Before we arrive to the camp we will collect wood for the campfire and then go to the camp, once we arrive at our riverside campsite, we can change into camp clothes and set up tents. Guides will assist with setting up your camp. and then you will be free to read a book on the beach, take a hike with spectacular views of the Apurimac River Canyon, or a refreshing swim in the Apurimac river.
After unwinding for a few hours, the Guides will have a hot delicious dinner ready for you. After dinner you can relax with a cup of coffee or tea next to the campfire under the stars playing cards, telling more river stories, and re-living your best adventures moments from the river day
DAY 3: Table camp - Quinta Primavera
Another hearty breakfast prepares you for today’s journey with pancakes, bacon, scramble eggs, cereal, yogurt, juice, coffee, tea etc.
The river starts out with exciting rapids so be prepared for a thrill from the beginning. During the first hour we will raft through fun and challenging rapids like Wake Up, Ramona, and the Labyrinth all rapids level IV, minutes after we will be in the biggest rapid of the Canyon the Toothache where passengers are going to walk around it just river guides will be able to run this rapid in order to minimize risks. Immediately after this rapid we will have another portage that will be the last. After this portages there will be a section of rapids level II and III until we arrive to Babaluba rapid Grade V, here we organize the safety, first to run the rapids will be the kayak, luggage boat and once everybody is properly located Passengers boat will star running the rapid. In the first part, the river goes trough small channels with many rocks, after the river gets calm, and then we disappear dramatically while the boat is jumping through drops an holes. We have only few minutes to rest because the last rapid is awaiting for us the Last Laugh rapid level IV. After this rapids there will be a series of class II, III, and III+ rapids to run until the end. At the end our private bus will be waiting for us with a good lunch and cold beers, there after we drive for two hours to Cuzco. In Cuzco we can enjoy watching the video in one of the pubs where they have a big screen.
What´s included
Meals (3L, 2B, 2D), boat, guide, safety kayak, safety boat, life jacket, wet-suit, helmet, paddle-jacket, paddle, all camping gear .
What´s not included
Torch/ flashlight, clothing: lightweight long trousers (for evening), shorts (obligatory in order to wear over wet-suit), fleece/thermal top, T-shirts, bathing suit, sandals.
Personal items: eco-friendly toiletries ie. bio-degradable (no place to wash except in the river, no pollutants please!!)
- Sun-block
- Insect repellent
- What to bring
- Sleeping bag (may rent for $3.50 per day)
- Inflatable mattress (may rent for $3.50 per day)
- Your travel insurance has to cover the rafting trip as well.
Peru Rafting Notes.
In Cusco there are only seven Peru rafting companies who operate the Apurimac river, and just few of them follow all the rafting precautions in order to minimize risks, if you want a safe trip ask about the criminal record, experience of the guides, if they had an accident in the river where you are going to and how many people they have per group, the maximum number of people aloud to have in the Apurimac river is 18, but there are some companies that take 24, 30, 36 and more.
PRICE PER PERSON 2010
USD 385
EUR 274
ASK FOR OUR PRIVATE SERVICE
This tour can be combined with Salkantay or any other trekking tours