This tour can combine easily with your Inca Trail or any tours that finish at Machu Picchu. The rain forest is 2 days rafting and it’s only 2 hours away from Machu Picchu. Warm rain forest weather, nice, friendly, fun rapids level II, III and IV with standing waves from the beginning to tend, beautiful scenery, green valleys, papaya, coffee plantations and the Andean Mountains make the perfect location for river rafting.
Briefing the night before departure: Pre-departure information about river canyon, system navigation, personal equipment etc.
Departure: 8am.
Return: 4pm.
River level: II, III, IV and V
Distance: 125km
Time in the water: 6 hours a day
Santa Rosa - Santa Maria
According to location, passengers will be collected from Cusco, Santa Teresa or Hydroelectric, we can also arrange the train from Aguas Calientes to Hydroelectric, or we can organize the complete package from Cusco to Machu Picchu and the rafting trip, for information about transport, how to get there please refer to rainforest info.
Starting the tour in Cusco, our private vehicle will pick you up from your hotel at 6:00 am. The bus journey takes us through the Andean villages of Poroy, Chinchero and Maras until the Sacred Valley and then 20 more minutes to Ollantaytambo, where we can relax for a few minutes and enjoy the ruins perched on the side of a mountain. We soon start going up to Malaga pass (highest place of the tour 14,500 ft. 4,350 meters above sea level) to enter into one of the most beautiful scenic drives from Cusco region. Charming Andean villages, snowcapped mountains, waterfalls, llama an alpaca heard are part of this wonder spectacle. Later, nature changes in forest and valleys while driving down to Santa Maria, a small village in the tropical forest, which is the beginning of the rafting tour.
Before jumping into the water, we will organize the rafting tour, pump the boats, put your luggage in place, have lunch and then after, our head guide will give a well explained safety briefing about the rafting commands, he will demonstrate different techniques of how to hold the throw bags, safety kayak, how to float and other instructions, this briefing will be followed by practice in the river. Once passenger and guides will be totally confident with the commands, the river adventure begins. Soon after we will already facing great rapids with nice waves and holes in a gorge of more than 2000 meters – 6561 foot deep. Right after, the Encounter rapid is about to come with challenging huge fun waves before campsite. We collect wood for the camp fire and once at the river side your guide will explain about the camp facilities. Enjoy the afternoon with our typical happy hour with coffee popcorn and other snacks, while we make a delicious dinner for you.
Meals Included: 1 lunch, 1 dinner.
Overnight: Camping
Day 2: Santa Maria - Quillabamba
After an energetic breakfast, breaking the camp down and a morning stretching, the second rafting adventure begins. Right after camp, the Urubamba river gorge opens meeting in his way other affluent creating excellent rapids. The river opens even more and farms of papaya, coffee, avocado, oranges and many other jungle plantations appear while descending. The River calms but still some level II rapids are coming, perfect time to float through the rapids swim or jump into our one man boat and experience to maneuver a boat by yourself. Sambaray, a little paradise in the rain forest is the end of this fantastic experience. After lunch, we get ready to drive back to Cusco.
Travel time to Cusco 4 hours.
Meals Included: 1 breakfast-1 lunch.
What’s included?
Meals: (2 lunches, 1 breakfast and 1 dinner) and snacks.
Rafting gear: State of the art rafting equipment including self-bailing rafts, hi-flotation life-jackets, helmets, paddle jackets, dry bags for personal gear, and special containers for cameras.
All camping gear: Double occupancy toilet and dinner tents.
Guides: Professional English speaking guides, certified in swift water rescue and Wilderness First Responder.
Transport: Private and public to and from Cusco.
Safety: Professional river system, phone for emergencies, complete first aid kit, including oxygen cylinder for day over the pas of Malaga 4500 meters 13123 ft. sea level
What’s not included?
Train tickets from Cusco to Santa Teresa or from Machu Picchu to Santa Teresa, all this it can be arrange. For more details contact us.
What to bring
Long trousers, fleece, shorts, T-shirts, bathing costume, sandals or tennis shoes (need to cover and support the whole food).
Personal items: insect repellent, sun block, sun glasses etc. See more detailed info about river clothes
Rafting is becoming more popular in Cusco and it’s your responsibility to know and understand the Rules and regulations in order to have a safe and fun rafting experience, the links below will help you to know more about this.
White Water Rafting Regulations.
Safety Tips
Departure dates
For better detailed info about how to get to the rafting point, transportation and other please read rain forest rafting info
Daily departures.
Guarantee departures with a minimum of 2 people.
Season: From May to December