COLCA & COTAHUASI SELF SUPPORT (12D/11N)

INTRODUCTION

In trips of this nature (“Self Support”), it is indispensable to count with solid experienced Class-V Kayakers, since they will be hauling all of their own personal gear and commissary, thus making it into a true expedition.

With our years of experience of boating in the rivers of Peru, we feel absolutely confident, capable and assured of total success in our endeavor of leading you down their courses, showing you the best lines of current to run, as well as the ideal campsites, etc.

The purpose and goal is to run the two deepest navigable river canyons in the world, within the context of one single expedition: the Colca, with a depth of 3,191 meters (approximately 10,700 feet)  -characterized by the impressive sheer walls of its inner gorge and  otherwise lunar landscapes; and the Cotahuasi, with a depth of of 3,535 meters (approximately 11,600 feet)  -possibly the deepest river canyon in the world- containing among its features a significant amount of remarkable  archaeological sites and remains strewn along its entire course.  Both of these routes possess Class- IV and Class-IV+  rapids.

TRIP ITINERARY AND DESCRIPTION

Day 01:

Arrival in Lima and board connection to Arequipa. Transfer on private coach to hotel.  After resting, we have lunch and proceed to tour the famous “White City” of Arequipa. Come nighttime, we all go out to enjoy dinner and officially proclaim the start of the expedition.

Day 02:

Early departure from Arequipa. We have lunch in Chivay, the main town and population center of the Colca Canyon Region, situated at an elevation of 3567 meters (11,700 feet) above sea level. In the afternoon we continue on our way along the south rim of the Colca Canyon, corresponding to the left bank of the river below. We pass through a succession of  17th century villages strung out along the valley, famed for their remarkable colonial baroque churches, all the while taking in views of the snow-capped peaks of the Ampato range, a section of the Cordillera Volcánica, in turn part of the Cordillera of the Andes. We eventually arrive at the town of Huambo (elevation 3300 meters – 10,850 feet, above sea level), staging point for tomorrow’s hike. Here we shall lodge overnight in a local, rustic, hostel.

Day 03:

In the early morning, al our gear is loaded on burros and we hike for 6 hours until reaching the Hacienda Canco, which is our first camp on the banks of the Colca River.

Day 04:

We put into the river in the morning and paddle down a stretch of 4 kilometers (under 3 miles) till reaching the confluence of the Colca with the Mamacocha river. From this point henceforth begins the actual Canyon of the Colca River, since the volume of the river flow becomes virtually doubled. We proceed on and reach the section of "La Pared" (the Wall), which possesses Class-IV rapids. At this point we have lunch. In the afternoon we run the "Canoandes" rapid and reach our next camp in the Quebrada (gully, valley) "Jazmín". From this point an interesting hike can be undertaken.

Day 05:

Today we run Class-IV rapids, pass by the "Ducha del Cóndor (the "Shower of the Condor"), a waterfall dropping hundreds of meters into open space. With the help and connivance of the wind, the water is atomized into a fine spray in the course of its fall, thus becoming a perfect "birdbath" (or "birdshower")  for the gigantic winged creatures. After watching some Condors taking a shower, we move on through the "Cañón de Chocolate" (the "Chocolate Canyon"), run the “Cholo “rapid (so named after “Cholo” Ibañez, a pioneer kayaker of the Colca, followed the rápido del Desastre (Disaster rapid) and wind up the day portaging around the rapids of the  Canyon of Reparaz. After putting in again, we reach our campsite at Playa Esperanza.

Day 06:

We set off from Playa Esperanza and after a half hour of paddling we reach the impressive Cañon Verde ("Green Canyon"), also known as Cañón de los Polacos ("Polish Canyon", in reference to the pioneering expedition of  1979) around which we portage. After this we again take to the river and boat down a few kilometers of Class II and III water and come to the confluence of the Colca with the Mamacocha river. At this point we take out, have lunch, board our 4x4 all terrain vehicles and drive to the town of Cotahuasi where we spend the night in a local hostel.

Day 08:

Following a six-hour trek – in the course of which we shall have passed by the cascade of Sipia, a waterfall with a vertical drop of 150 meters (approx. 495 feet), as well as through a grove of giant cacti- we eventually reach the village of Belinga and  our first campsite on the banks of the Cotahuasi river.

Days 09 to 11:

In the course of these four days we shall boat down the canyon running Class-III and Class-IV rapids. Every night we will camping in the vicinity of archaeological sites of pre-Inka origin and we will set out from our campsites on exploratory hikes.

Day 12:

After its confluence with the Marán river, the Cotahuasi river becomes the Ocoña river, with easy Class-II rapids.  We paddle and float down the Ocoña, reaching out take-out at the town of Iquipí. Here, our vehicles lie awaiting our arrival laden with cold beers to celebrate the success of our trip and take us back to the city of Arequipa. That night we indulge in a well earned and exquisite dinner.

Day 13:

Flight from Arequipa to Lima and from there Homeward bound !

SERVICES INCLUDED:

• Private Transfers Airport-Hotel-Airport (in Lima and Arequipa).
• Hotel accommodation in Lima (01 night).
• Hotel accommodation in Arequipa (02 nights).
• Local Hostel accommodations in Huambo and Cotahuasi.
• All meal on expedition.
• Private transport in 4x4 all-purpose, all-terrain vehicles Arequipa-Huambo and Andamayo-Cotahuasi.
• Private transport Iquipi-Arequipa.
• One or more (depend of the size of the group) security back-up professional kayaker (Swift Water Rescue training and First-aid Course training).
• Commissary Equipment.
• First-aid kit.
• Satellite phone link.

SERVICES NOT INCLUDED:

• Flights Lima-Arequipa-Lima.
• Expenses and services beyond those specified.
• Sleeping bag and mat.
• Meals in Lima and Arequipa.
• Kayaking equipment.
• Kayak ( Terra Explorer Perú rent kayaks per $ 200.00 per person for all the trip).