Escape to the wild heart of Peru with a thrilling 2-day rafting adventure through the Apurimac River’s Black Canyon. Paddle through pristine wilderness, camp under the stars, and experience an unforgettable journey in one of the shortest yet most exhilarating rafting trips in the region!
Season: May to Dec.
Tackle exhilarating, world-class rapids that provide an adrenaline-pumping white-water rafting experience.
As you navigate the down river, watch for the playful local wildlife such as giant otters, spot diverse bird species, including Andean condors, vibrant parrots, deers and if we are lucky puma.
Discover and marvel at beautiful waterfalls cascading into the river, enhancing the scenic beauty of the journey.
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes of the Apurimac Black Canyon, featuring rugged cliffs and pristine waters that create a picturesque and unforgettable backdrop for your adventure.
Explore this truly wilderness adventure by camping for just one day on the banks of the Apurimac River. A 2-day itinerary of stunning adrenaline-fueled nature awaits.
At 8:00 am, your guide will pick you up from your hotel for a lovely trip to the river. After you’ve had a useful pre-driving session, the ride will begin along one of the greatest drives in the area. Three hours later, you will get to the foot of Black Canyon’s gap – about 2200 meters (7250 feet) above sea level – where lunch will be served and setup for the tour will begin. You will be helped by the guides to pack your gear (toiletries, camp clothing, sleeping pads and bag) in a secure dry bag.
Right before the rafting Apurimac River, your guides will take you on an intensive safety briefing as food stuff and gears are being loaded. Thereafter, everybody selects boats and then hops in for a run-through of everything discussed. At about 4:00 pm, after two hours of paddling through rapids and pool segments, we get to camp where there’s plenty of leisure time for hiking, reading, fishing, or just unwinding. The water at this elevation is a bit cooler during the months of May to August, and is ideal for fishing – almost always positive to catch a catfish. You will be served happy hour right after the camp settles, and dinner will follow at about 7:30 pm. At night, the camp is an exceptional and serene experience with an explosion of stars.
Highest pass: 4100 meters – 13451 ft above sea level.
Altitude at the river: 2225 meters – 7300 ft above sea level.
Distance paddling: About 15 km – 9 miles
With an early start to the day, you will enjoy the Apurimac Canyon with the scent of freshly prepared Peruvian coffee. Also enjoy a refreshing breakfast with fruit salads, bacon, porridge, and pancakes at your own comfort.
After that is done it’s time to exit camp, pack your dry bags and jump in the boats for the river rafting of the day. The Apurimac is regarded as one of the best rafting rivers in the world, but it’s also considered a fantastic destination in terms of its exceptional views and wildlife.
The day’s rafting commences about 9:00 am with a series of some of the finest rapids on the Black Canyon segment today. The Wall, El Encuentro, The Abis – all level IV rapids – where so named by the foremost Apurimac river runners. The largest rapid to date, The Troublemaker, is one of the toughest in the Black Canyon segment. You must first go through a continuous series nice waves before entering a small pass in the middle of a rock and 2 big holes, and immediately after, small segments of level III having enough rapids to get you pumped up with adrenaline throughout the run!
After this nerve-racking sector, you will have a view of waterfalls running down hundreds of meters into the rocks of the Apurimac River. As there are more rapids to run, the adventure continues until the river levels out, offering the best opportunities to make use of our single-person inflatable kayaks or swim or take a dive in.
We now come to the end of a wonderful adventure of camping, rafting, and spending exceptional time with family or friends as well as guides. You will be served a final delicious lunch with cold beers at the river bank, perfect to reminisce all the great times inside of the Apurimac, after which we will pack up and take a trip back to Cusco.
Highest pass: 4020 meters – 13160 ft above sea level
Altitude at the end of the river: 2100 meters – 7000 ft above sea level
Distance paddling: 15 km – 9 miles
Also See: 1-Day Apurimac Black Canyon Rafting Tour!
Transportation service: includes pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation to the river and vice versa.
Meals: Abundant fresh food. One lunch on day one and another on day three in Cusco prepared by our cook, one river lunch made by your guides. Breakfast: two breakfasts made by guides on days two and three. Dinner: two dinners made by guides on the river.
Rafting gear: Top-notch Type V buoyancy aids, spray jackets, helmets, long-sleeved wet suits, and paddles. Dry bag: Expedition dry duffel for personal gear with comfortable shoulder straps. Boats: self-bailing rafts, kataraft, or kayak for safety and luggage.
Camping gear: Two-person tent, kitchen tent, tables, chairs, kitchen equipment.
Devices: Satellite phone and GPS for emergency communication.
Guides: Swift-Water Rescue certified at advanced III level, experienced, and with advanced first aid certification.
First aid kit: Comprehensive first aid kid, evacuation plan in case of emergency.
Dry duffels: Water-resistant backpack to keep your clothes dry.
Meals: Dinner on the last day.
Travel Insurance: It’s a good idea to think about buying travel and cancellation insurance for your peace of mind.
Gratuities: Don’t forget to leave a 10% tip of the total package price per person for your guides to show appreciation.
Hotel: Please note that hotel accommodation is not part of the package deal.
