From Cusco it's an overnight bus ride west past Abancay and Choquequirao to Ayacucho (flights in also avail). From there we take local transportation through mountainous terrain for over 100 miles with spectacular views passing through the town of San Miquel reaching the small pueblo of San Antonio on the Apurimac river. From here we raft 34 miles to Kimbiri to see the ruins of Lobo Tahuantaysuyo, thought once to be the lost city of Paiti. We will continue another 239 miles meandering through subtropical then tropical terrain, beginning at an elevation of 2260 ft and ending at 679 ft. The decent is very smooth about 250 ft descent every 25 miles. The river will move but does not show any rapids. Along the way we will pass various agricultural communities, thousands of plantations and finish off with preserved jungle and indigenous communities until we reach Atalaya where the Urubamba (Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley river) now joins the Apurimac to form the new Ucayali river. From Atalaya it's a few hrs drive back to Ayacucho then an overnight on a comfortable tour bus back to Cusco. Atalaya also has an airstrip for those with a few extra bucks.
KML file (Opens with Google Earth)
Duration
Difficulty
Walking Distance
Rapids Class
Raft Distance
Rafting Duration
River Speed
Water Quality
Bugs?
14D
3 of 5
2.5-5mi
2-3
273mi
6hrs/day
6.5-13kph/4-6mph
Clean
Yes
Day 1-2 Cusco - Ayacucho - San Antonio (Apurimac)
We take a comfortable, overnight tour bus from Cusco to Ayacucho then take local transportation up through mountainous terrian with switchbacks from 9,000ft up to 14,000ft, down to 7,000ft back up to 13,000ft then finally down to 2,200ft and the riverside town of San Antonio on the Apurimac river.
Day 3-4 Kimbiri - Jungle Ruins of Lobo Tahuantaysuyo
We raft 34 miles to Kimbiri where will stay a day to see the ruins of Lobo Tahuantaysuyo, thought once to be the lost city of Paiti. Here in town we can stay in a local hostal, book transportation to the ruins and nearby waterfalls.
Day 5-14 Agriculture of the Apurimac Valley - Otishi National Park - Atalaya
We'll raft down shallow but swift class 2 - 3 for the next 2 weeks and another 238 miles until we reach the town of Atalaya and confluence with the Urubamba river (Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu river). Along the way we'll pass through 1000's of plantations, and experience a change of subtropical to tropical climate. We'll raft anywhere from 25-35 miles per day with river speed averages from 5-8 mph. The river moves but doesn't show whitewater, and it meanders but does not turn back on itself likelike it does in lower jungle. We would be best off to bring both hammocks and tents as the upper section will have less trees while the lower will be thicker with less beaches. Along the way we will pass through agricultural towns such as Pichari, Llochegua, Mayapo, Esmeralda, Puerto Rico and Anapati. After about 109 mi down we near the end of agricultural areas and enter the tropical climate of Otishi National Park with mountain ranges to to both the east and west. We have the option here to take a break from the river and trek up to one of a few waterfalls such as the "Cascada Parijaro" or "Cataratas Las Tres Hermanas". Continuing to raft down it becomes more lush as we pass by the local communities of Cutivireni, Puerto Bolgnesi, Catshingari, Quiteni, Potsateni until we reach Remolinos and confluence with the Perene river. Here, we have an out if time is short as we are near a highway which can take us to Mazamari and eventually back to Ayacucho. Here at Remolinos the river takes a hard right turn at 180mi then turns back north at 228mi at the native community of Poyeni. For the next 44 miles we have options to trek up creeks to waterfalls s we float by the communities of Mayapo, Charahuaja, Maranquiari and Ratery until we reach Atalaya where the Urubamba river dumps into the Apurimac to form the new Ucayali river. From Atalaya it's a few hrs drive back to Huancayo, then Ayacucho then an overnight on a comfortable tour bus back to Cusco. Atalaya also has an airstrip and flights to Lima run twice a week on Tues and Fri in the afternoon.
"Las Tres Hermanas" - Otishi National Park
Cost Estimates
Expect anywhere from $100 - $150 total per person for round trip land transportation. Local basic hostals in towns are about $7 per night. Food purchased at Peruvian supermarkets can be about $10 per day. A flight from Atalaya to Lima is $70 - $150. There is no charge from our agency for any of these expeditionary trips, no guide fees and also no guarantees on return times, points of interest or the assurance of any planned activities.
Gear
In the case that you will not be providing your own rafting equipment, camping equipment or cooking equipment we can rent these items. For this trip packrafts, dry bags, breakdown paddles, tents/hammocks and cooking equipment will be neccesary and can be rented for a flat $220 for up to 14 days. We can also provide meals although cooking will be shared by the group. If your group will be arriving in Ayacucho from Lima, further arrangements may be needed in order to transport the gear from Cusco, depending on the group size.
Risks
In the past some areas surrounding Ayacucho have been known for narcotrafficking and have been referred to as the "Zona Roja". We will need to talk with locals as we continue through each town. Most reports of busts happen on roads leading from the river, not on the river itself. Rapids - This lower section of the Apurimac river has already come through the Apurimac canyon and has mellowed out but still moves with a steady descent (see elevation graph). In fact, I cannot find a single section of whitewater for the entire 273mi long trip. Nevertheless, this should not be attempted during rainy season (Dec - March) when rain and water levels can become unpredictable. Although to most unfamiliar, the Amazon is not as dangerous as it is often portrayed. The real potential dangers are people hurting themselves with their own machetes, falling on uneven ground, ant bites, mosquito bites, allergic reactions etc. In most cases it may take days to reach the nearest clinic or "Centro de Salud" for any needed medical attention. We offer no guarantees for any of these expeditions for planned activites, definite costs or for your absolute safety.
Highlights
This is a great way to see Peruvian lowland from agricultural regions to tropical jungle. You will meet the working class farmers and learn their culture. We will also visit indigenous communities in the Otishi Park area.
