Venture to navigate the white waters of the deepest canyon in the world: Cotahuasi, located in the province of Arequipa in southern Peru.
This expedition is an incredible combination of culture and adventure. In 6 days, we will paddle 89 km. (55 miles) of amazing class III, IV, and V rapids.
We will camp on beaches, and hike to explore archeological sites, ancient Inca roads, and tunnels of pre-Hispanic origin preserved in perfect condition. The river is the only access to explore this area, and expeditions to this part of the world do not exceed one per year.
This trip begins in Arequipa, located in the south of Peru, an hour’s flight from Lima.
This city lies at the foot of the great Misti volcano, and its historic center dates back to colonial times. Its buildings, including the cathedral, are made of ashlar, a white volcanic stone. For its peculiar beauty and history, Arequipa has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
In the evening, stroll through its cobblestone streets and enjoy one of Peru’s most outstanding gastronomic destinations.
Meals included: Snacks.
Accommodation: Hotel in Arequipa city.
On a ten-hour overland trip, you will travel to the small town of Cotahuasi. During the journey, you will cross the Andes, through a mountain pass of over 4,000 meters (13,520 feet) above sea level. You will see the snow-capped Coropuna, the second-highest mountain in Peru, and several villages that seem to be stopped in time.
Spend the night in a local lodge, part of the experience of immersing yourself in remote and little-explored areas of Peru.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Rural lodge in Cotahuasi.
Wake up in this picturesque village and in the morning enjoy a hike over the Amaña Canyon, explore this inhospitable landscape and cross the Chuquito Bridge, an ancient pre-Inca bridge.
In the afternoon we will visit the thermal baths of Cotahuasi.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Rural lodge in Cotahuasi.
This morning we drive from Cotahuasi to Sipia, a beautiful waterfall over 150 meters (507 feet) high. We then continue to the village of Belinga, where we will have lunch and set up our equipment. Leave behind any trace of civilization and immerse yourself for 6 days in a unique adventure. After getting the equipment ready and listening to a safety talk, we paddle 4 km of fun class III and IV rapids for a couple of hours until we reach our second campsite.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Accommodation: Camping.
For five days, you will run 65 km. (43 mi.) of class III, IV, and V rapids towards the Pacific Ocean.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of remote and unique landscapes, appreciate the impressive flight of condors and visit unexplored archeological remains dating from pre-Inca times. It is still possible to find ceramics and textile fragments in these sites, which are truly fascinating.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Accommodation: Camping.
Paddle until you slowly start feeling the climate changing and becoming more humid, which indicates that we are close to the coast and, therefore, close to the end of the expedition.
Paddle to the town of Iquipí, where a vehicle will be waiting for you to drive back to the city of Arequipa.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Arequipa city.
Transfer to the airport.
Meals included: Breakfast.
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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]
