APURIMAC RAFTING - 3 DAYS
Briefing (night before trip 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 to cover in the river: 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 supplies for the trip after this we will continue driving stopping several times along the way, so we can stretch our legs, go to the bathroom etc. One hour before we arrive to the beginning of the trip, we will have one last 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 riverside, 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; this briefing will be followed by a practice in the river, each passenger takes turns swimming in some moderate rapids, we will practice grabbing the secure rescue lines, we will show you how to grab the kayak and cataract in case you fall off , we will also practice flipping the rafts over.
Once that guides and clients feel good and comfortable, we get ready 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 waterfall. More good rapids and beautiful scenery we will see before reaching camp later in the afternoon. We organize the camp on the sandy beach called Las Paltas (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 the afternoon 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, oatmeal, bread etc. After breakfast, it’s time to pack up the tents, dry bags and reload the rafts for the day’s river adventure. We jump back into the rafts at 9:00 am 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. Thereafter, you can enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Chute gorge as you travel toward The Portage rapids, in this place passengers need to walk around it, carrying your dry bags while the guides will be taking the rest of the staff. After the portage we rest and then 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 and 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 powerful currents, making this rapid one of the best in the River. Before we run this rapid, the guide will explain how to run and where the safety kayak and the guides with the secure lines will be located and then we start running the rapids one by one and everyone finish safely; after this we will have one more portage (Purgatory).
One hour after, we will see another river called Vilcabamaba who will join the Apurimac. Couple of rapids more and we will arrive to the a sandy beach to have lunch, here you can take a short walk to explore the unique geography 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 (Las tres Marias, The Z, Indiana Jones, The rollover, Window), all class IV rapids with nice waves and holes. In between this rapids there are many other rapids level II and III and then, we arrive to another big rapid (El Trinche) level IV (Level V form May to June), in the beginning there are waves an holes with some rocks and before the end is awaiting a big hole, that the guides need to maneuver and go through without any problems, few minutes more and we will be in The table, Playa 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 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.
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 rapid will be the kayak, after the 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 and holes. We have only few minutes to rest after Babaluba, because The Last Laugh rapid level IV is waiting for us.
After these 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 Cusco. In Cusco we can enjoy watching the video in one of the pubs where they have a big screen.
What´s included?
Meals (3L, 2B, 2D)
Professional English speaking guides, certified in swift water rescue and wilderness first responder guides.
State of the art rafting equipment including self-bailing rafts, hi-flotation life-jackets, helmets, paddle jackets, dry bags for personal gear, special containers for cameras.
Double tents, safety and professional river system, private round trip transportation, video and picture service, complete
First aid kit. including disposable resuscitator (CPR Bag Valve Mask)
SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger.
Rescue insurance optional, Pre hospitalization insurance for 35 USD extra, this means that there will be immediate assistance in case of emergency, including a rescue helicopter.
What´s not included?
Sleeping bag (may rent for $10.00 per trip), inflatable mattress (may rent for $10.00 per trip). Tips.
What to bring
Sleeping bag (may rent for $10.00 per trip), inflatable mattress (may rent for $10.00 per trip). Flashlight, clothing: lightweight long trousers (for evening), shorts (obligatory in order to wear over wet-suit), fleece/thermal top, T-shirts, bathing suit, sandals that covers the hole foot.
Personal items: eco-friendly toiletries i.e. Bio-degradable (no place to wash except in the river, no pollutants please!!)
Apurimac rafting - map
View Apurimac River rafting - River Explorers in a larger map
Peru rafting Notes.
IIn Cusco there are only seven rafting companies who operate the Apurimac river, and just few of them follow all the rafting precautions in order to minimize risk, if you want a safe trip ask about the criminal record, experience of the guides, if they have accident in the river where you are going to raft 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 takes 24, 30, 36 and more.
Accidents happen in this kind of adventure trips, but if we follow rules we all can minimize risk of accidents.
This tour can be combined with Salkantay or any other trekking tours.
