Apurimac Kayaking (lower section)

Skill level: Moderate

overview

Set to be a classic- our new Apurimac rafting one day adventure

Embark on a one-day Apurimac Inflatable Kayak (Duckie) or Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) adventure through one of the most dramatic and untouched sections of the Apurimac River—the true source of the Amazon. Paddle through a deep 3,000 m canyon, taking in pristine landscapes, easy yet fun rapids, hidden side canyons, and abundant wildlife. Enjoy a riverside picnic lunch and a relaxing dip in natural warm springs at Conoc—capping off the day with cold drinks and a sense of accomplishment before returning to your hotel. It’s adventure, tranquility, and natural beauty all in a single, unforgettable expedition.

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Trip Highlights

Paddle a pristine section of the Apurimac River—considered the true source of the Amazon
Choose between inflatable kayaks (Duckies) or SUP for an engaging water adventure
Navigate easy rapids, gentle floats, and scenic canyons with expert guidance
Picnic on a deserted beach amid the canyon’s natural grandeur
Soak in warm natural springs at Conoc and toast your journey with cold drinks

Included

Round-trip transport from Cusco to the river access point
All necessary white-water and safety gear (wetsuit, helmet, boots, buoyancy aid, splash jacket)
Swift Water Rescue-trained English-speaking guide and safety boat support
Use of inflatable kayaks or SUP equipment
Picnic lunch, snacks, water—and cold beers to celebrate at the end!

NOT Included

Accomodation in a hotel (unless requested)
Tips for your guide or support team
Personal purchases or optional activities beyond the described itinerary
Travel insurance—always recommended for adventure activities

This is a unique chance to paddle by sit on top kayak, inflatable ducky or (for the adventurous) a stand up paddle board a one day section of the mighty Rio Apurimac, through a 3000m deep canyon on the true source of the Rio Amazon. This is full day of total adventure and you will be rewarded with spectacular views, fun and easy rapids, pristine beaches, natural springs and a great memories.

We pick you up early from Cusco for the spectacular drive to the Apurimac canyon, hopefully glimpsing on route the snow-capped Vilcanota mountain range and Salcantay Massif before descending past Inca ruins into the canyon and so to our starting point on the banks of the Apurimac. Here we prepare our specialised kayaks and stand up paddle boards and, following a full safety talk and instruction in the art of paddling, we head off into the canyon in search of adventure.

We travel through the most spectacular canyon with fun easy to navigate rapids, interspersed with gentle floats, elusive wildlife and amazing scenery. We stop to have lunch on a deserted beach before enjoying more fun rapids and gentle floats to our take out at Conoc springs where we celebrate our day with a dip in their warm pools and enjoy some cold drinks, before finally jumping in our vehicles for the journey back to your hotel, having had a genuine “mini expedition” on the Rio Apurimac.

Summary

Paddle the mighty Apurimac River through a 3,000 m deep canyon
Fun, safe adventure with easy rapids, pristine beaches & a picnic lunch
End the day with a dip in Conoc’s natural hot springs and cold beers

Insider knowledge

The Apurimac River is considered the true source of the Amazon, the world’s longest river. Few visitors get the chance to paddle here, making this trip feel like a mini-expedition in one of Peru’s most dramatic canyons.

Equipment & Packing List

Watersports kitlist

Important Trip Details

TRIP LENGTH

1 Day

DIFFICULTY

Moderate

PEAK ALTITUDE

~2000m

SEASON

May- Nov

TRIP AVAILABILITY

Private Departure on request only

See What Past Travelers Have to Say

We absolutely love kayaking with them on the Pinipampa section of the Rio Urubamba

Top-notch tour operator in Cusco! We absolutely love kayaking with them on the Pinipampa section of the Rio Urubamba. The guides are always helpful and friendly, and the equipment is high-quality too. We will certainly be back next season for another fun day of kayaking in the Sacred Valley!

Zealous Travel Co.

Two Day Black Canyon Rafting Trip is a must do!

We went on the 2 day Black Canyon rafting trip and had the best time! This was our first overnight rafting trip so we had no idea what to expect, but our experience was far superior to what I could have imagined! Neil picked us up from our Airbnb and took us to the river. He recommended quick stops to take pictures of the beautiful landscape on the way to the river. Once at the river the team had everything ready to go! We had such a good time with Neil! There were two other guides, one guiding our gear boat and another on a kayak to be there in case someone fell out or needed help. It was clear they love their job! They were so fun to hang out with. They had picked out a great place for our campsite! It was serious glamping! They provided everything we needed! We had so much food it was impossible to eat it all! They cooked us an amazing dinner and we had awesome food throughout the entire trip! The rapids were also a blast! If you have a GoPro mount bring it! They have the base of the mount at the front of the raft. Neil made sure we got some great pictures! They had everything down to the last detail and we couldn’t have been better taken care of. They made sure we were safe, comfortable, and had fun the entire time. I can’t recommend this company enough! Check out Katherine’s adventure, our Two Day Black Canyon Rafting Trip, here.

Excellent Kayaking Trip.

Amazing service. We did a kayaking trip and hike/see Salt Pan of Maras. I am glad I booked these activities with them. I have the confidence to recommend them to my friends and family. Book with them to have an excellent time in the Sacred Valley. Check out Rochelle’s adventure, our kayaking adventures and day hikes here

Best rafting in Peru

Rafting with Santiago was amazing!!! Our safety kayaker Victor was a very skilled boater and always had eyes on us through all the rapids! This company has great focus on safety and fun and has top notch staff! Also the food served during the trip was amazing!!! I would 10 out of 10 recommend using Amazonas Explorers! We can’t wait to come back to Peru and plan another excursion with Paul and his team!! Check out LeighAnn’s adventure, our rafting trips in the Sacred Valley.

Hike, Cycle and Raft to Machu Picchu – A Truly Unforgettable Adventure in Peru – 5 Stars!

I can’t recommend this trip enough — it was the perfect combination of adventure, nature, culture, and incredible food, all seamlessly led by our outstanding guide, Jimmy. From start to finish, Jimmy orchestrated the experience with such professionalism and warmth. He led every activity with confidence, humour, and care, and always knew exactly when to push us and when to give us a breather. On top of all that, he also picked the most fantastic local restaurants for our evenings —every meal felt like a treat. Another huge highlight was our chef, Enrique. I’m a pescatarian, and I was genuinely blown away by the variety and quality of the food he prepared. Every day brought something different — from beautifully grilled trout to hearty quinoa and soy dishes with fresh local vegetables. Enrique’s creativity and attention to detail made each meal feel special and nourishing, especially after a long day of activity. Speaking of activities—this itinerary struck the perfect balance. While I’m reasonably fit, I’m pretty new to rafting, mountain biking, and paddleboarding. That didn’t matter at all. Each day was thoughtfully planned: we’d tackle something challenging one day, like a 40km bike ride, and recover the next with a more relaxing activity like stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking. The mix kept things exciting without ever being overwhelming. The hike to Machu Picchu was, unsurprisingly, a major highlight. The first section was a steep climb and quite demanding, especially with the altitude and heat, but Jimmy kept us motivated, hydrated, and safe. And of course, arriving at Machu Picchu made every single step worth it—it’s every bit as magical as you imagine. Finally, the scenery throughout the entire trip was absolutely breathtaking. Whether we were white water rafting through a gorge framed by the Andes, standing in awe at the almost-deserted Palcoyo Rainbow Mountains, or kayaking peacefully on Laguna Pomacanchi, every location felt like a dream. It’s rare to experience such raw, diverse beauty in one trip. This was without a doubt one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever been on. If you’re even remotely considering it — do it. You won’t regret it! Guide/Trip Crew Feedback: Jimmy and the Amazonias Explorers team are amazing! This trip was seamlessly run. Thank you!

Georgia C.

Perfect trip! – Hike, Cycle and Raft to Machu Picchu

I can’t recommend this trip enough! We had the most incredible guide, Jimmy, who knows everything about Peru: recent and ancient history, politics, traditions, plants, Peruvian animals, food, farming, cooking – you name it! On top of that he’s incredibly charming, funny and welcoming! We felt in very safe hands from the moment we landed to when Jimmy dropped us at the airport! Our group consisted of a mix of solo travellers, friends and a couple all in their 30s-40s. All friendly and like minded, you can easily make friends for life on this trip. The trip itself is perfectly structured with different activities each day, with less strenuous days between the more difficult ones, and activities using similar muscle groups separated – eg the paddle boarding and kayaking are at the beginning and end of the trip respectively. At the start of each activity Jimmy and the other guides gage your experience and can subtlety adapt the excessive accordingly if necessary so that it’s always suitable for your level. This trip is really perfect for that feeling of adventure, whilst also feeling like a very relaxing holiday as you don’t have to worry or think about anything – everything is taken care of. Each evening Jimmy took us through the events of the next day, including what to pack in our day bag. On most days, after the morning activity of the day, we were met by Enrique, an incredible chef, who prepared a luxurious lunch for us in a large tent the team sets up. I’ve never finished rafting only to be met with a freshly cooked 3 course lunch! We brought snacks but they weren’t needed as Jimmy provided us with multiple daily snacks. On the two hiking days a delicious lunch box is provided. All the support staff are wonderful. Throughout the trip we were accompanied by the driver Julio, who ensured the van was clean and safe for us to leave our belongings. He even drove back to a previous hotel when one of us forgot their sunglasses. There’s also two other support staff to help with the serving, driving the kayak van, setting up tents – they do a wonderful job. Everywhere we arrived everything was set up for us. There’s also an additional rafting and mountain biking guide. Jimmy is very helpful in discretely reminding you how many days each of the guides was with us, and when you are saying goodbye to them, so you know when to provide the tips. In the evenings we choose to go out to dinner as a group, every restaurant Jimmy recommended was exceptional and accommodated different dietary requirements. What I loved about this trip is that even though it’s an adventure holiday, you learn so much about Peru – everything day was educational. The camping itself was beautiful – the tents are right next to a lake and you can stargaze at night. When we arrived by the lakeside everything was set up for us: tents, toilet, changing room, sleeping bags and liners, pillows, warm water bowl for washing, a fire. And of course our dinner tent. The activities themselves were challenging enough, but if you are a reasonably fit person you will not require to train for this holiday. The most challenging days are the cycling, hiking and the kayaking. Of course the hike to Machu Picchu will be the highlight for most – I loved this day as you got to experience the last section of the Inca Trail, and have an incredible sense of achievement whilst you walk through the sun gate. Guide/Trip Crew Feedback: Thank you to the whole crew for creating the perfect holiday!

Katharina E.

The rafting itself was very well organized, the safety drill thorough, the wet suit fitting and the rafting fun.

The rafting trip went very well. As you may know, neither Yvonne nor I had done white water rafting before so it was a new experience. Amazonas Explorer put one of their experienced helmsmen/guides (Juan Carlos) on the job. He was supported by the rescue canoeist, a driver, and a cook. We had an interesting trip out to the Urubamba river, taking in several villages, each specializing in a different product. The rafting itself was very well organized, the safety drill thorough, the wet suit fitting, and the rafting fun. The river is rather low at the moment but there was one spot where we got out and walked. Otherwise, the degree of difficulty was, we were told, Level 3. Juan Carlos zipped it up a bit further by dunking us at the front to get Yvonne giggling hysterically. All this is recorded on our GoPro which we positioned at the front/bow and then on Juan Carlos’ helmet. We had a break halfway through, where to our surprise a snack was produced. In the end, we were treated to a lovely meal, so much so that cars were stopping by the roadside to ask if we were a pop-up restaurant. The scenery was stunning. We got back in the late afternoon. It was tiring while we were paddling but we soon recovered. Check out Graham’s adventure, our 1 Day Vilcanota

We thoroughly enjoyed the one day rafting experience

While we arrived in the rainy season and the rapids were said to be not the best, we thoroughly enjoyed the one-day rafting experience. The equipment was good, the staff were very professional, and the river was great fun. We had options of large rafts or kayaks and used both. The lunch following was delicious, and Juan Carlos, our rafting guide, was knowledgeable, interesting, and clearly had extensive rafting and outdoor experience. Highly recommend this for families. Check out John’s adventure, our One Day Apurimac Canyon Rafting Trip, here.

Recommendations

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Apurimac Kayaking (lower section)