One of our favorite adventures is spending four days in one of the world’s deepest canyons, where the starry sky is like nothing you have ever seen or imagined before. The Apurimac River is one of the most important rivers in Peru, a canyon with a depth of 3,000 meters and a length of 700 km, an ideal place for activities such as rafting and sport fishing.
This river is located within the canyon that bears the same name, 166 km from the city of Cusco, and is the natural border between the departments of Cusco and Apurímac. The name Apurimac comes from the Quechua language, which means “Apu”, divinity, and “Rimac”, speaker. As soon as you step on its shores, you will realize why they gave it such a remarkable name. You will hear how the river “speaks” as its waters hit against the rocks and the immense granite walls that welcome it.
The river originates in the thawing of the snowy Mismi mountain, which belongs to the Chila mountain range, in the Arequipa region, at 5597 masl. This place is also the source of the magnificent Amazon river. This river is composed of several affluents, named after the farmhouses or the land that its waters cross.
Sportfishing is well known in various regions of our country since it has countless lagoons, lakes, and rivers full of fish of different types, sizes, and beautiful color blends.
This type of fishing allows you to fully enjoy the surrounding natural landscapes while, with a fishing rod equipped with a line, a hook, and bait, you wait for the perfect catch.
The best-known fish in this area are the Jahuaco night fish, which dates back to pre-Incan times, trout and sardines.
The best way to really enjoy and get the most out of this activity is to take part in a river expedition through the Apurimac’s white canyon. This experience is undoubtedly one of the most amazing adventures around the region of Cusco.
This river forms fun class III, IV, and V rapids (the higher the number, the higher the level of difficulty) that take you through forests, vast white sand beaches, and a large granite wall that protects you all the way. This journey is undoubtedly perfect for nature and adrenaline lovers.
This remarkable canyon has a great variety of flora and fauna throughout its extensive section that passes through different climates and various ecological floors.
There are three very important animals for this ecosystem and, at the same time, unfortunately also threatened by humans, that can be seen throughout this canyon. One is the oscollo (belonging to the cat family), the spectacled bear, and the toucan. These last two are seed spreaders, thus achieving the maintenance and recovery of the native forests. These animals are not easy to detect since they blend perfectly into the landscapes and are usually very shy. With a lot of luck and patience, they can be seen while rafting or fishing.
The cloud forest, Queuñas tree, and the dry seasonal forest are part of the flora belonging to this canyon. These forests form unique ecosystems in the Apurimac canyon, including several endemic species of plants and animals. A great variety of orchids of assorted bright colors that do not go unnoticed can be found in the cloud forest.
Besides being the best in what they do, our team of professionals makes each adventure unforgettable and packed with fun. We take you on a 4-day expedition touring an impressive granite canyon. We will sail through the Apurimac´s White Canyon among hidden landscapes and breathtaking starry nights that you will enjoy in the luxury campsites that await you at the end of each day´s paddling and river fun.
One of the reasons why this expedition is even more special is that Piero Vellutino, founder of Terra Explorer, pioneer of rafting in Peru and rescue instructor in white waters, will accompany us from beginning to end on his favorite place in the world.
Now that you know a little more about the Apurimac River, do you want to be part of an expedition that you will never forget? At Terra Explorer, we have various itineraries for you. If you wish to know Peru in an authentic and spectacular way, get in touch with us, and we will help you design the trip of your dreams!
To ensure the well-being and safety of our travelers and staff throughout our operational chain, Terra Explorer will comply with the health and safety measures and protocols established by the Peruvian Association of Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism (APTAE), and implement the Covid-19 health and safety guidelines for adventure tourism developed by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA).
Our experiences are designed considering the least possible exposure, where the final destinations are usually remote places. By their very nature, our adventure activities are considered to be low risk, mainly because they are performed outdoors where ventilation is constant and making it easy to achieve social distancing.
During these times we are working together with a small staff of honorable people who have been part of the Terra Explorer family for many years. They and their families are aligned with the established health and safety measures. Employing these staff members also seeks to reactivate the local economy.
We guarantee a safe, soul-fulfilling trip to all our travelers for whom we make these adventures possible.
Terra Explorer will strictly comply with the safety, cleaning, and hygiene protocols during our internal processes, third parties, and throughout your trip. This involves:
Follow the instructions related to health and safety given by the Terra Explorer team and your guide, before and during your trip.
Stay home if:
With the intention of delivering the most flexibility at the time of confirming your trip, we will determine the amount of the initial deposit individually and according to your itinerary characteristics.
Secure your trip with a deposit and pay the rest in one or more payments, at a time that suits you best. Please make sure you adhere to our policy and pay in full at least 31 days prior to your trip date.
If you need to cancel your trip, we will apply the following flexible policies.
For more detailed information on our terms and conditions and Covid-19 policies, please contact us at [email protected]
