Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
RÍO URUBAMBA
Rafting the Río Urubamba through the Sacred Valley could offer the best rafting day trip
in South America, but Cuzco and all the villages along its course dispose of raw sewage in
the river, making for a smelly and polluted trip. Seriously - close your mouth if you fall
in.
Despite its unsavory aspects, the
Ollantaytambo to Chilca
(class II to III) section is
surprisingly popular, offering 1½ hours of gentle rafting with only two rapids of note.
Huarán
and
Huambutio to Pisac
are other pollution-affected sections.
There are a variety of cleaner sections south of Cuzco on the upper Urubamba (also
known as the Vilcanota), including the popular
Chuquicahuana
run (class III to IV+;
class V+ in the rainy season). Another less-frenetic section is the fun and scenic
Cusipata
to Quiquihana
(mainly class II to III). In the rainy season, these two sections are often
combined. Closer to Cuzco,
Pampa to Huambutio
(class I to II) is a beautiful section,
ideal for small children (three years and over) as an introduction to rafting.
RÍO SANTA TERESA
Río Santa Teresa offers spectacular rafting in the gorge between the towns of Santa Teresa
and Santa María, and downstream as far as Quillabamba. One word of warning: the sec-
tion from Cocalmayo Hot Springs to Santa María consists of almost nonstop class IV to V
rapids in a deep, inaccessible canyon. It should only be run with highly reputable operat-
ors, such as local experts Cola de Mono (
Click here
)
. Be very aware, if considering a trip
here, that guiding this section safely is beyond the powers of inexperienced (cheaper) raft-
ing guides. This is not the place to economize. It's not a bad idea to raft another section in
the area with your chosen operator before even considering it.
OTHER RIVERS
Run from May to November, the
Río Apurímac
offers three- to 10-day trips through deep
gorges and protected rainforest. Apurímac features exhilarating rapids (classes IV and V)
and wild, remote scenery with deep gorges. Sightings of condors and even pumas have
been recorded. Four-day trips are the most relaxed and avoid the busier campsites, al-
though three-day trips are more commonly offered. Camping is on sandy beaches, which
have become increasingly overused. Sand flies can be a nuisance. Make sure your outfitter
cleans up the campsite and practices a leave-no-trace ethic.
An even wilder expedition, the 10- to 12-day trip along the demanding
Río Tambopata
can only be run from May to October. The trip starts in the Andes, north of Lake Titicaca,
and descends through the heart of the Parque Nacional Bahuaje-Sonene deep in the
Amazon jungle. Just getting to the put-in from Cuzco is a two-day drive. The first days on
the river are full of technically demanding rapids (classes III and IV) in wild Andean
