Cusco Rafting, White water river trips

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Overview

Do you want to experience the thrill of rafting great river rapids in Cusco? Rivers for white-water rafting in Cusco are among the best rafting experiences in the world. The exciting rush of rapids, the great scenery, the attraction of new destinations and a chance to explore a magnificent landscape, means that you can have a unique experience. Our tours has all of this and more. With so many rivers, Cusco rafting activities continues to attract those who love whitewater river rafting from all over the world.

We offer rafting tours on various rivers in Cusco’s general area, which also includes the wonders of Machu Picchu, the Andes and the rain-forest. Beside exciting river adventures you can also enjoy, exquisite food, go on guided tours, go camping, and have great overnight stays in high-class accommodation. There is the option of enjoying multi-day or day rafting trips. Cusco rafting offers white-river experiences to rafters of all capabilities, beginners intermediate and advanced.
Rivers

Cusco is a paradise for adventure activities such as whitewater river trips. You can select day tours or up to eleven-day rafting adventures on four different rivers, Cusco is the best in South America, and River Explorers is the only Cusco rafting provider that provides the largest range of white water trips in Peru.

Select the most popular rivers near Cusco and Machu Picchu and if you want to be more adventurous, embark on one of our exclusive rafting tours in the Amazon basin. No matter the river, we guarantee incredible rafting rapids with awesome views and rare and beautiful wild life.

The Apurimac River

Apurimac River

After the building of new roads, it is now much easier to explore this fantastic place. River Explorers created 5 unique white-water rafting trips for everyone seeking to raft the great Apurimac River.

This river’s source is in the Andes close to Arequipa and it is the source the greatest river in the world, the Amazon River. The Apurimac River is ideal for whitewater rafting with rapids for rafters of all capabilities from Level II to V. The scenery is breathtaking with giant stone monuments and ruins, waterfalls cascading for hundreds of meters, lush valleys, and snowcapped mountains make this an incredible experience from start to finish. Cusco whitewater offers a once in a life time experience.

Choose now between 2, 3, 4 and 6 days tours on the Apurimac River.

Black Canyon 2 days

The Black Canyon 2 days is our latest whitewater rafting package on the Apurimac River, this is suitable for boaters of all capabilities and for families who have some rafting experience. This river is some 16 kilometers in length- (10 miles) and has memorable scenery and great rafting rapids. Contact us for more details.

The Black Canyon

A River Explorers and Apumayo team consisting of a crew of 5 people, with three experience boaters first descend in 12 feet boat the commercial and non-commercial sections of the Black Canyon. After several attempts and expeditions’, the Black canyon was open for white river rafting trips in Cusco from Nayhua to Walpachaca. The first section between Tinqoq breach and Nayhua is restricted to expert kayakers.

The commercial section is only three hours from Cusco in the scenic upper Apurimac- The Black Canyon 3 days is perfect for beginners or even more advanced intermediate boaters. Enjoy the serenity of the flat calm waters of this beautiful river, the outstanding landscape of the river canyon and magnificent whitewater rapids. We are proud of the fact that we became the first outfitters who opened this section up for commercial rafting, so that people from all over the world can enjoy whitewater trips on this beautiful river.

The Grand Canyon

Perhaps the most challenging section of the whole Apurimac River and perhaps the best Cusco rafting rapids are those in the Grand Canyon. Rafting here is suitable for intermediate and advanced boaters. This section offers the toughest rapids of the entire commercial section on the Apurimac River, with four portages and many levels, including IV and V rapids. Choose between 2 trips,

The Grand Canyon 3 days
The Grand Canyon 4 days

The Full Canyon

This section is exclusive to River Explorers and probably the longest rafting tour in the general Cusco area. The Full Canyon 6-day expedition trip transports you to Nayhua the entrance of the Black canyon, in the mountains, about 2400 meters high and almost 8000 feet above sea level and it concludes 90 km – 56 miles down in Qunyaq at a height of 1800 meter, over 6000 feet above sea level. This exciting section has more than 300 hundred between volume of water and technical rapids. The scenery of the river canyon its simply AMAZING and like nowhere else. The river, erosion and the environment have created one of the most fantastic places in South America if not on earth. There are massive vertical massive stone walls, that are more than 2000 meters, water-falls, valleys and historic ruins. Spectacular wildlife is also part of the Cusco rafting experience and you will witness condors, giant river otters, ducks, foxes, deer, pumas and many species of bird.
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The Urubamba River

Urubamba River

The Urubamba river is located very near to Cusco that flows parallel to the Apurimac and the Mapacho river. The Urubama crosses Sicuani city, the beautiful Urcos Valley, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and runs all the way to the Amazon Jungle. The river’s course is interrupted by many great rapids that are open all year long and these are perfect for one and multi day Cusco rafting adventures trips.

The Upper Urubamba

. The upper Urubamba is divided into numerous sections that are perfect for rafting, this is dependent on the time of the year and the river level. The upper Urubamba rises at Chuquicahuana, at Checacupe, a small village and ends in San Salvador, neighboring the Sacred Valley.

Chuquicahuana

With more than 14 km – 8. 7 miles of pure rapids, Chuquicahuana is considered by many one of the best Cusco rafting sections and one of the best in Peru during the rainy season (Mid December to April). Available for experience boaters.

Quiquijana

This is great for whitewater rafting trips during the rainy season. Awesome and constant rapids are found in this waterway. Available for beginners, advanced and experience boaters

Urcos, Piñipampa and San Salvador

Located some 45 minutes from Cusco this section is ideal for beginners, families, school groups and anyone looking for a safe and fun rafting adventure. This is only available during the rainy season.

Sacred Valley

Ollantaytambo

This section is situated in the Sacred Valley near the Ollantaytambo complex and only an hour from Cusco, this is perfect for beginners, families, school trips, honeymooners and friends.

Huaran

There are great technical rapids on this river and this make it one of the best in the Sacred Valley. Located right in the heart of the Sacred Valley, this has some of the best Cusco whitewater rafting experiences. This is recommended for intermediate to advanced rafters available only during dry season.

The rain-forest – Lower Urubamba River

This is a recently opened section for rafting, especially during the dry season in the Cusco area. With temperatures ranging from 25 °C – 77 °F the rain forest is ideal for rafting in Cusco. You can choose between one to three days whitewater rafting adventures.

Santa Rosa Chaullay: This is the best section for one day whitewater rafting trips in Cusco and Peru during the dry season. It is located just two hours from the wonders of Machu Picchu. Warm weather, the volume of rapids and remarkable scenery makes this section perfect for intermediate to advanced boaters.

Just two hours from Machu Picchu, you can combine your rafting exploits with our guided Machu Picchu tours.

Chaullay Quillabamba – Echarate. This is another section in the lower area of the Urubamba rain forest, this is great for beginners, families, and school groups, who are on their first Cusco whitewater rafting trip.
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The Yavero River

Yavero

A new River for the rafting lovers and perhaps one of the best rafting adventures in the world. This adventure occurs in the rain forest in the Cusco area. Yavero was recently opened for commercial rafting and it is exclusively operated by our company. Very few people in the world have rafted this river. The Yavero package, tours of waterfalls, an overnight stay at a Machiganga indigenous tribe, countless great rapids with perfect waves, wholes and calm section in between, a visit to Pongo the Mainique, with their unique ecosystem formed by the confluence of two rivers. To conclude this trip of a lifetime we take you to Machu Picchu, where you will have a complete guided tour around its wonders. In total, you will 11 days of pure adventure.

The Yanatile River

Yanatile

This is another fantastic river opened by us for commercial Cusco rafting. This section is perfect for beginners, families and school tours. There it also a section for advanced boaters but this is limited to small boats and kayaking. This river is six hours from Cusco and it takes you on an astonishing journey from the Andes to the rain forest. We love this river because it is unspoiled and not full of tourists. There are no tourists at all, only friendly locals, pretty villages and of course the pleasent warm jungle weather. This section is great when combined with the Lares trek and Lares mountain biking, packages.
Choosing the river

Cusco whitewater rafting is the best for rafting in Peru. The best rivers for whitewater trips are found in the Cusco area. This region offers a diverse range of rafting sections suitable for rafters of all levels. For us safety is the main concern on all our whitewater river trips and it is important that you follow these helpful tips.

Finding the right River

Finding the right River

We recommend that you select a section that suits your level of experience. We offer four different rivers for Cusco rafting. On each river, there are many different sections from level II to V. First-timers should begin with a beginner river, then after a while move to an intermediate and finish then an advanced river. Not sure about choosing a river, call or send us an e-mail to contact@riverexplorers.com for some helpful advice. It is important to always consider the abilities of the least experienced member when planning a whitewater rafting trip.

Who Can Participate

Who Can Participate

Whether it is a lazy day during the dry season on the Class I-II, relatively easy sections of the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley, to the excitement of the Class V sections on the Apurimac River, Cusco whitewater rafting trips give trips that satisfy all levels. Participants need to feel confident about their rafting abilities and can swim in the water. E-mail or call us for more information about people with special health considerations and consult your doctors for suggestions.

Making a Reservation

Making a Reservation

Please feel free to call our office at +51 084 431116 or go online at River Explorers contact form to reserve a place on our Cusco rafting adventure and select the dates you want. Usually, payment is made at the time of your reservation.

What is included?

What is included?

River Explorers provides professional instruction and training before your rafting adventure begins. Specific gear is needed for Cusco rafting tours. We have the best equipment available and all our gear is imported from NRS and approved and certified by the United States Coast Guard and by the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism.

A life vest type V that is suitable for age and size.
Self-bailing rafts suitable to the season and river conditions
River shoes, paddle jackets, helmets, bags, paddles, full body wet-suits, and duffel bags for multi-day tours.
Professional certificated and experienced rafting guides who are English and Spanish speaking.
Private transport and transfers.
Delicious Peruvian homemade food.
Excellent first aid kit for emergencies.
A safety kayak or cataract.
Tents for sleeping, kitchen and toilet for multi-day rafting adventures.

What to bring?

What to bring?

Personal clothing for the whitewater river trip.

A sleeping bag with a mattress.
Convertible pants – shorts and shirts preferable, preferably of synthetic/ nylon material.
Underwear, socks, a hat, sunglasses. It is very important to have sunblock, mosquito repellents and a personal water carrier.
A wool or synthetic shirt for under your wet-suit or life jacket is recommended. Cotton shirts are not recommended.

We provide shoes for one day trips, for longer trips we recommend bringing sport shoes, teva or chaco works too, we recommend a shoe that will protect your whole food. Flip-flops are suitable for rafting or camping excursions.
Environment

River Explorers is committed to protection and conservation of the natural environment. Our Cusco rafting adventures are created to have a better understanding of Cusco’s river ecosystems while at the same time protect our rivers natural ecosystem. Our leave-no-traces and a low-impact call is strictly controlled by our crew member on each tour where carrying out all organic and inorganic garbage including human waste is obligatory.
Cuisine

Our customers love our home-made food. It is the ideal compliment, to the action-packed rafting adventure. Our plentiful, tasty, filling and delicious meals are all made with healthy and fresh local ingredients. Our meals usually consist of fish, delicious grilled chicken, the local specialty Lomo Saltado, a buffet of sandwiches and more, these are accompanied with salads, potatoes and rice. All out food is seasoned with spices from the local area. Vegetarian dishes are available by request.