Float 260km/161mi on the Inambari River from subtropical to tropical terrain through canyons along the eastern slope of the Andes and along the National Park of Bajuaha Sonene's buffer zone.
KML file (Opens with Google Earth)
Duration
Difficulty
Walking Distance
Rapids Class
Raft Dist
Rafting Duration
River Speed
Water Quality
Bugs?
8-10D
2 of 5
--
2-3
260km/161mi
6hrs/day
5-9kph/3-6mph
Murky
Yes
Day 1-2 Juliaca - Masiapo
From either Cusco or Puno by bus (5 or 1 hrs) or flight from Lima we arrive in Juliaca (has an airport) and find bus transportation to the north (8 hrs) towards Sandia and San Juan de Oro and to our put in location at Masiapo at the beginning of the Inambari River. We'll either stay in a local hostal or camp next to the river in Masiapo.
Day 3-9 Pacopacuni - Chiwi - Puerto Manoa - Mazamari - Mazuko
We'll spend the next week rafting class 1 - 2 with short sections of 3 for a total of 260km/161mi along the eastern slopes of the Andes first through subtropical then high jungle terrain. We will raft a steady descent from an elevation of 1360m/4460ft to 310m/1020ft. The Bajuaha Sonene National Reserve borders the river along the north side and we will essentially be moving through the park's buffer zone. There may be trails from the river up into the park which we can stop to explore. We can expect waterfalls, cliffs, creeks, mountainous views and subtropical scrub to tropical leafy vegetation. There are only a few communities in the area due to the difficulty of reaching the area. There is little to no information about this area online and satellite imagery is fuzzy from mile 44 until 135. The seemingly most pristine area may be between miles 75 to 126 where no communities or geotagged photos are marked.
Day 10 Mazuko - Cusco or Puerto Maldonado
From our take out point at Mazuko it's either a 7 hr bus/private car ride to Cusco or a 3 hr bus/private car to Puerto Maldonado.
Inambari River at high water
Cost Estimates
Expect anywhere from $60 - $180 per person for a flight from Lima to Juliaca depending on the airline. Cheaper airlines often get bumped so it would be wise to plan an arrival for the previous day. Basic hostals in either Juliaca, Masiapo and Mazuko should cost from S/20-40 soles per night. Food purchased at Peruvian supermarkets can be about $10 per day. There are no entrance fees for this trip. Land transportation will be about S/40-60 soles Juliaca - Masiapo or Mazuko - Cusco. A flight from PEM to Lima is about $100. There are no fees for 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
You will need to provide your own gear for this trip including packraft, PFD, paddles, bug hammock, tarp, sleeping bag, cook kit and food. Both a tent and hammock are ideal in the case that suitable trees for a hammock are not readily available or that beach camping is not available. A lightweight mesh tent with separate tarp to double over as a hammock tarp would be suitable. In the case that you cannot provide your own equipment contact us for options.
Risks
The Inambari River looks relatively calm from satellite views, no whitewater sections but should not be attempted during rainy season (Dec - March) when rain and water levels can become unpredictable. On the other hand, any trip date later than July 15th could mean that the river is too low and slow requiring numerous portages (boat dragging). The ideal time for this section would be from May 15th - July 15th. 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.
