Apurimac River: The best one day rafting in Peru

Skill level: Moderate

overview

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

The Apurimac Rafting one day tour is for those who like their adventure with a capital A. This one-day Peru raft trip has it all. Superb rapids on a clean, empty river. A spot of canyoning. A delicious lunch on a beach. And a scenic drive in and out through the Andes.

This trip covers the last day of our longer 2-day Apurimac Black Canyon rafting expedition and is suitable for 13-year-olds upwards. If you need an easier day of rafting, try our one-day Rafting the Rio Vilcanota, Chuquicahuana section.

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Did you know: We plant two trees per person, per day when you travel with us- making us the sustainable choice.

Trip Highlights

Superb class III to IV rapids
A remote, clean stretch of river
Explore a small waterfall canyon
Click here to see more options for Rafting in Cusco and Peru
The season for this section of the river is May to November due to water levels in the canyon. If you wish to travel outside of these dates, please contact us and we will do our best to accomodate you.
Read our guide to White Water Rafting in Cusco and Peru

Included

Private round-trip transport
Expert English-speaking Swift Water Rescue certified guide
All rafting and safety equipment (raft, wetsuit, helmet, boots, buoyancy aid, splash jacket)
Safety boat
Picnic lunch with snacks, water & cold beers

NOT Included

Personal Travel Insurance (strongly recommended)
Tips for guides
International or domestic flights
Accommodation

This is a unique chance to paddle a 1-day section of the mighty Rio Apurimac, through a 3000m deep canyon on the true source of the Rio Amazon. This is a full day of total adventure and you will be rewarded with spectacular views, amazing whitewater, pristine beaches and 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 an incredible road into the canyon and so to our starting point on the banks of the Apurimac. Here we inflate our specialised rafts, and, following a full safety talk and instruction in the art of white water rafting, we head off into the canyon in search of adventure.

We travel through the most spectacular canyon with world-class rapids, interspersed with gentle floats, elusive wildlife and amazing scenery. We stop to explore side canyons, have lunch on a deserted beach before enjoying more fun rapids to our take out at Puente Huallpacachaca where we celebrate our day with cold drinks, before jumping in the vehicles for the journey back to your hotel, having had a genuine “mini expedition” on the Rio Apurimac.

Summary

Full-day rafting adventure on the Rio Apurimac through a dramatic 3000 m-deep canyon.
Enjoy thrilling rapids, calm floats, pristine beaches, and incredible Andean scenery.
Includes transport, professional guides, lunch, and all rafting gear.

Insider knowledge

The Apurimac River is considered the true source of the Amazon, and paddling here offers a rare view of one of Peru’s most remote canyons, with a chance to see Andean condors soaring overhead and to spot Inca ruins hidden in the cliffs.

Equipment & Packing List

Watersports Kitlist

Important Trip Details

TRIP LENGTH

1 Day

DIFFICULTY

Moderate

PEAK ALTITUDE

~3800m

SEASON

Mid-March to Mid-Nov

TRIP AVAILABILITY

Private Departure on request only

See What Past Travelers Have to Say

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

This is a well run business that believes in quality of service. I would highly recommend it!

We did the 1-day rafting trip down the Apurimac Canyon thru Amazonas Explorer. It was an experience that I would highly recommend. Our guide for the day was Santiago. From the moment he picked us up from our hotel we knew this was going to be a great experience. He is very passionate about rafting and wanted to make sure the experience was enjoyable for me, my husband, and our 2 daughters ages (12 and 14 years old). We had a 2.5 hours van ride to the starting point of the river, however, Santiago educated us on Peruvian culture. Once we got to our starting destination we were given wet suits, thermal shirts, water shoes, life jackets, and helmets. There was a safety lesson and then we began rafting. At no point during the trip did we feel unsafe. They take every saftey precaution available and we had another guide (Neil) follow us in a safety kayak. Neil took pictures throughout the trip down the river. Halfway thru the rafting, we stopped on the bank of the river for a snack. My kids were able to sit in front of the raft during the second half of the trip. We experienced up to 3+ rapids. Toward the end of the rafting trip, Santiago gave us the option to jump out of the raft and swim in the river. The water was quite cold (50 degrees F), but it was a great experience. When we arrived on shore there was a tent to change and a tent with a portable toilet. Three other members of their group made a wonderful lunch and set up a tent for us to eat in. The food was amazing. This is a well-run business that believes in the quality of service. I would highly recommend it! Check out Amita’s adventure, our One Day Apurimac Canyon Rafting Trip, here.

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.

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Apurimac River: The best one day rafting in Peru