For four days, experience the adventure of paddling the Apurimac River and enjoy the tranquility of being isolated in the wilderness surrounding one of the deepest canyons in the world. Its waters descend through a 3,000 meter (10,140 ft.) deep canyon, forming fun class III, IV, and V rapids. Encounter immense rock walls, a spectacular granite canyon, and beautiful camping beaches.
Dive deep into the heart of the Andes and discover its millenary magic. This trail will make you feel tiny, as you face the grandness of nature more than once. Once on top of its peaks, you will understand why the Incas worshipped these mountains and considered them their gods. The worship of mountains is not difficult to understand when you expose yourself to these impressive natural sceneries while walking accompanied by the sacred snow-capped Salkantay.
Finally, explore the impressive and enigmatic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
Your journey begins in Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and cultural heritage of humanity. At the airport, a Terra Explorer guide will welcome and accompany you to your hotel.
The city of Cusco is located at 3300 meters above sea level, so we recommend you rest a little to acclimatize optimally.
In the afternoon, discover one of the most beautiful cities in Latin America, full of archeological remains and colorful colonial neighborhoods, witnesses of the passage of time and the events that shaped the history of Peru.
Meals included: Snacks.
Accommodation: Hotel or private house in the Sacred Valley.
During four days, experience the adventure of paddling the Apurimac River and enjoy the tranquility of being isolated in the wilderness surrounding one of the deepest canyons in the world.
Southwest from the city of Cusco is the Huallpachaca Bridge, the starting point of the expedition.
After a safety briefing and with the equipment ready, say goodbye to civilization and enter a remote area of breathtaking natural beauty.
Paddle fun class III rapids until you reach your first campsite on the banks of the river.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Accommodation: Camping.
Witness the first rays of sunlight enter between the walls of this canyon and prepare for an adrenaline-filled day.
Paddle the deepest section of the canyon composed of continuous and fun class III and IV rapids.
Travel through a stretch of incredible geological formations until you reach Calabazas Beach, where you will enjoy a fire on the banks of the river and another night under a million stars.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Accommodation: Camping.
Another action-packed day awaits you. Today you will paddle many class III and IV rapids such as the Gol, Three Marys, the Trinche, and the exciting Maze. Continue down the river until you reach the Toothache, a class V rapid that we will portage for safety.
Return to the raft and paddle a few more minutes until you reach the third camp of the expedition.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Accommodation: Camping.
A morning of incredible class IV and V rapids, including Babalua and the Last Smile, precludes the end of the expedition.
At the Cunyac Bridge, the final point of the trip, enjoy a delicious lunch to say goodbye and thank the Apurimac for these incredible four days of pure nature, adrenaline, and fun.
After a drive to the village of Marcocasa, our five day trek begins here. Along a trail surrounded by impressive mountains and snow-capped peaks, you will reach Challacancha, the first campsite.
Enjoy a short day to acclimatize optimally to the altitude of the Andes.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Accommodation: Luxury camping at Challacancha.
Ascend to the Soraypamba Pass, where the views of the snow-capped peaks of Humantay, Tucurway, and Salkantay will amaze you with their imposing beauty.
Passing Salkantaypampa, you will arrive at Ichupata, the location of the second camp of the route.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Accommodation: Luxury camping at Ichupata.
Walk with snow-capped Salkantay behind you, an immense wall of snow that will accompany you during the ascent to the Incachiriaska Pass, the highest point of the route.
It is inevitable to feel small facing nature and understand why the Incas worshiped these mountains as their gods.
Countless small lakes, turquoise, green, and blue, hide on the slopes of these mountains. With luck, you will observe the wildlife that inhabits this area, such as vizcachas (Andean rodents), white-tailed deer, guanacos, vicuñas, and condors.
Finally, you will arrive at the small community of Pampacahuana, the third camp on the route.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Accommodation: Luxury camping at Pampacahuana.
From this point on, a continuous descent will take you to the end of the trek. En route, explore Paucarcancha, an archeological complex of agricultural use with several dwellings, which will offer you an introduction to the architecture of Inca times.
Continue along a trail in the middle of subtropical rainforest, with abundant bromeliads, orchids, ferns, mosses, and begonias, until you reach Hatunchaca.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Accommodation: Luxury camping at Hatunchaca.
Wake up in the middle of the Andes and its purity with a stunning view of the Hatunchaca Valley.
On the way to Piscaicucho, the final point of the journey, you will have the opportunity to observe the ruins of Llactapata, an ancient Inca village with squares, enclosures, granaries, and impressive terraces, built on the banks of the Urubamba River and discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1912.
After a drive to Ollantaytambo station, board a luxury train for an unforgettable journey through amazing landscapes to Machu Picchu town.
We spend the evening in a luxury resort enjoying the spa for a well-deserved rest.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Machu Picchu town.
Take the day to explore Machu Picchu at length. Discover the Inca’s history as you walk through squares, temples, fountains, monuments, and residences of the most important religious, political, and cultural center of the Empire.
Optionally, you can climb to the summit of Huayna Picchu, a natural viewpoint that allows you to appreciate the citadel from a different angle. There you will see the breathtaking scenery of the surrounding mountains and the Urubamba Canyon.
In the afternoon, you will board the train that will take you back to the city of Cusco or to the Sacred Valley.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel or private house in Cusco city,
Transfer to Cusco 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]
