10-Day World’s Deepest Canyon-Cotahuasi Rafting
Raft the world’s deepest canyon
The ultimate rafting challenge
Raft the Cotahuasi and enjoy one of the most extreme commercial rafting expeditions in the world. You can be one of the select few to have navigated the world’s deepest canyon by boat. If you are an experienced rafter looking for your next big challenge, this is it. Six days of continuous technical class IV – V rapids, untouched pre- Inca ruins, hot springs and gorgeous campsites. Peruvian adventure at its very best.
Highlights
- Continuous grade IV to V rapids
- The deepest canyon in the world
- Remote riverside camps by pre Inca ruins
- Click here to see more options for Rafting in Cusco and Peru
- Read our guide to White Water Rafting in Cusco and Peru
We meet you off your flight on arrival at the “White City” of Arequipa in Southern Peru. This is a beautiful place for you to begin to acclimatise to the rarefied air of the Andean high plains.
You can visit the Monasterio of Santa Catalina, first opened to the public in 1970, which boasts a maze of intricate architecture and a photographer’s paradise. You can also take in the impressive Plaza de Armas with its breath-taking view of Volcan Misti, or sample the delights of Arequipa’s cuisine in a typical ‘Picanteria’. You stay overnight in a central hotel.
Included: English-speaking guide, transport, hotel
Today you have a free day in Arequipa to explore on your own and acclimatise to the altitude.
Arequipa is known as the ‘White City’ for due to the use of white rock in its beautiful architecture. Ringed by volcanoes, it boasts spectacular views over the volcano El Misti, regarded as the true source of the Amazon.
The city boasts the best shopping in Peru, and alpaca textiles are the best known export of the area. Arequipa is also the final resting place of Juanita, also known as the Inca Ice Maiden. This extraordinarily well preserved mummy sits on display in the Museum of Andean Sanctuaries.
If neither of these takes your fancy, Arequipa is a great place to sit back with a coffee, relax and enjoy the scenery of the Andes. At a convenient time, your guide will hold a full expedition briefing.
Included: breakfast, hotel
Today you drive north along the Pan-American Highway before turning off up a rough road, skirting the majestic Coropuna volcano and head towards the small village of Cotahuasi where you stay the night in a local two star hostel.
Included: breakfast, lunch, hostel
The road has advanced so far now that you can maybe drive to Velinga, although you may still have to hike parts. The total distance is about twenty kilometres. You can take a short detour to the spectacular falls of Sipia where the river plunges 150m into a deep chasm – an awe-inspiring sight.
Continuing on foot you will arrive at the highest safely navigable point in the late afternoon. Some serious safety training and white-water swimming practice is taken in preparation for the challenge ahead. If there is time you can visit the small village of Velinga where they brew a rather interesting wine.
Included: Swift water Rescue qualified, English speaking expert raft guides, all white-water & safety equipment, camping equipment (except sleeping bag), breakfast, lunch, dinner
After full training in the Amazonas Explorer’ high standard of rafting, you set off to explore the one hundred and twenty kilometres of class IV and V rapids.
Plenty of time will be allocated for scouting the major rapids and obstacles. The emphasis will always be on safety, as you will be extremely isolated at the bottom of a vertical canyon for much of the journey.
Rapids such as “High side for your life”, “Canyon del Metro” and “Canyon del Centimetro” need to be inspected carefully before being run or at times portaged. Hopefully there will be time for a rest day to explore the impressive pre-Inca terraces, to trek up side canyons or to hike up to small villages that are famous for their friendliness, river shrimp and good wine.
Cooking over firewood, rough camping on the banks of the river and knowing that only very few people have been lucky enough to visit this place, is just part of this amazing adventure.
Included: Swift water Rescue qualified, English speaking expert raft guides, all white-water & safety equipment, camping equipment (except sleeping bag), breakfast, lunch, dinner
Raft the Cotahuasi: Today you can enjoy a free morning in Arequipa before a transfer to the airport in time for your internal flight back to Lima to connect to your international flight.
Included: breakfast, transport
In order to fully enjoy your trip it is very important that you choose the right trip for you and fully understand what it involves.
There are risks inherent in travelling in Peru, as indeed there are in most of the activities that we provide. Many of the activities we offer also involve a significant level of effort on your part. After all, it is called Adventure Travel for a reason.
It is really important that you read both the trip notes above and the Risk and Safety Section on our website, to enable you to choose the best trip for you. Once you have read them both, please make sure you ask if there is anything you do not understand. We classify this trip as:
- Paddlesport ‘Advanced’… Remote, committing, arduous (at times), adventurous… Describes all of our ‘Advanced’ trips. Add to this the adrenalin rush of the white water! You need no experience, just some serious water confidence (and reasonable swimming ability given the environment), reasonable mobility (to help us get you back in the boat/move down very rough river banks) and a big slice of spirit! If you need to know more, please get in touch.
