Tours

Three-Day White Canyon Apurimac River Rafting Expedition

A three-day Class III, IV and V whitewater expedition through the legendary Apurimac Canyon.

Take on one of Peru’s most challenging and spectacular rafting expeditions on the Apurimac River, deep in the Andes.

Known in Quechua as “the Speaking God,” the Apurimac River was revered by the Incas and is famous for its powerful whitewater, dramatic canyon walls, and remote landscapes.

This three-day expedition takes you deep into the White Canyon section of the Apurimac River, where you will progress from Class II and III rapids to technical Class III and IV whitewater, finishing the expedition with demanding Class V rapids.

You will travel with professional bilingual river guides, safety kayakers, a safety cataraft, and a cargo boat carrying the equipment and supplies needed for the expedition.

For three days, our team will take care of the logistics while you focus on the river, the canyon, and the adventure. All meals are prepared by our expedition team, and you will camp on beautiful beaches along the Apurimac River under the Andean night sky.

Highlights

Three-day whitewater rafting expedition
Explore the White Canyon section of the Apurimac River
Navigate Class III, IV, and V rapids
Professional bilingual Class V river guides
Safety kayakers and safety cataraft
Three days of remote canyon scenery
Two nights camping on riverside beaches
All meals included during the expedition
Cargo boat carrying camping equipment and supplies
Professional rafting and camping equipment

Season & River Conditions

May – November: Dry season — generally Class III, IV, and V conditions.

River difficulty can vary depending on water levels and weather conditions. The professional river guides will determine the appropriate route and safety procedures based on the conditions of the river.

Route

Day 1 — Cusco – Haullpachaca Bridge – Apurimac River

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at approximately 8:30 AM in our private transportation.

We will travel across the Andes for approximately 4 hours, enjoying spectacular mountain scenery along the way, until reaching the Haullpachaca Bridge, approximately 2,000 meters above sea level.

Upon arrival, our expedition team will begin preparing the equipment and rafting boats.

While the guides prepare everything for the expedition, you will have lunch and receive your personal equipment for the three-day adventure.

You will be provided with a helmet, life jacket, windbreaker, wetsuit, paddle, and a waterproof dry bag for personal belongings that need to stay dry.

Before entering the river, our professional guides will provide a detailed safety briefing and practical demonstration.

You will learn important rafting techniques, including paddling commands, swimming techniques, how to get back into the raft, and what to do in the event of a raft flip.

We will then begin our expedition, spending approximately 2 hours on the river and navigating Class II and III rapids.

At the end of the day, we will arrive at our first riverside campsite.

Our team will set up the tents and provide sleeping bags while the guides prepare dinner.

Overnight camping on the Apurimac River.

Meals included: Lunch and dinner

Day 2 — Class III & IV Rapids

After breakfast and preparation, we will return to the river at approximately 9:00 AM.

This will be our longest day on the water, with approximately 6 hours of rafting through exciting Class III and IV rapids.

We will stop for lunch on a riverside beach before continuing downstream through the spectacular canyon.

Our safety team will accompany the group throughout the day.

We expect to reach our second campsite at approximately 4:00 PM.

After setting up camp, our guides will prepare dinner.

You can then relax on the beach, enjoy a hot tea or coffee, and take in the incredible night sky far away from the lights of the city.

Overnight camping on the Apurimac River.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 3 — Class V Rapids – Take-Out – Cusco

After breakfast, we will begin our final and most challenging day on the river.

We will return to the water at approximately 9:00 AM and enter sections featuring technical Class V rapids, including rapids known as Tooth Ache, You First, and Last Laugh.

Because Class V whitewater can be extremely demanding, our professional guides will carefully assess each rapid and determine the safest way to navigate it.

Some Class V sections may require a portage. A portage means that passengers leave the raft and walk around a rapid while the professional guides navigate the section without passengers. This is an important safety procedure used when a rapid is considered too dangerous for guests to run.

After approximately 4 hours on the river, we will reach the take-out point and complete our rafting expedition.

We will pack our equipment and enjoy a final lunch prepared by our expedition team before beginning our journey back to Cusco.

Our private transportation will take us back to the city, where we expect to arrive at approximately 5:00 PM.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

What’s Included

Round-trip transportation from Cusco
Professional bilingual Class V river guides
Safety kayakers
Safety cataraft
Complete rafting equipment
Raft
Helmet
Life jacket
Wetsuit
Windbreaker
Paddle
Waterproof dry bag
Tents
Sleeping bags
Cargo boat for transporting equipment and supplies
First-aid kit
All meals during the expedition
Camping support

What’s Not Included

Travel insurance
Accident or life insurance
Tips for guides
Personal expenses

What to Bring

Dry clothing for use at the camps
Swimsuit
Sunscreen
Sandals or sneakers suitable for rafting
Personal hygiene items, including toothbrush and toiletries
Mosquito repellent
Waterproof camera, if desired
Small amount of cash for personal expenses

Important

This is an advanced whitewater rafting expedition involving Class III, IV, and V rapids, remote environments, camping, and physically demanding activities.

Class V whitewater is highly technical and requires a high level of skill and experience from the rafting team.

The professional river guides will determine which sections can be safely run by guests. Some rapids may require a portage, meaning guests walk around the rapid while the guides navigate the raft through the section.

River conditions can change significantly depending on water levels and weather. The itinerary, specific rapids, and route may therefore be modified according to river conditions and safety considerations.

Participants should be in good physical condition and comfortable participating in a demanding multi-day outdoor adventure.