Rafting Urubamba River
23 reviews
Rafting Urubamba River
23 reviews
Overview
This section is called Chuquicahuana and is the best part of the Urubamba River it is located at 2 hours southern from Cusco. It is classified as class II, III and III+. This section has continuous rapids and for one day trip it’s a great fun.
The Urubamba River or Willkamayu (Quechua for “sacred river” is a river in located near the Incan capital city of Cuzco. Upstream it is called by its Aymara name Willkanuta (“house of the sun”, hispanicized Vilcanota). Within the La Convención Province the naming changes to Urubamba. A partially navigable headwater of the Amazon River, it rises in the Andes to the southeast of Cuzco. It originates in the mountain Khunurana in the Puno Region, Melgar Province, near the La Raya pass. It flows north-north-west for 724 kilometers before coalescing with the Tambo River to form the larger Ucayali River.
Rafting on the section of the river is surely an adventure! This section the river is located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a two hour trip by bus from the city of Cusco.
Enjoy a scenic ride from Cusco to the rafting site – complete with views of distant glaciers, vast plateaus and local communities.
After arriving from our exciting previous adventure, we will tackle a chat on safety instructions, Each passenger will receive the necessary equipment to later enjoy rafting with rapid class and the II- II+, from December to March (rainy season of).
After finishing the tour, lunch will be served on the banks of the river – after which we will begin our return tour to Cusco.
Rafting and kayaking the rivers of Peru will be an unforgettable experience that you will really enjoy. The waters that flows down from the Andes form the mighty rivers of Peru and Chile, an authentic and irresistible challenge for lovers of rafting and kayaking, is an experience that will put you on the edge of risk and danger. This fascinating adventures of rafting or kayaking in Peru sprinkled with adrenaline, native ancient Inca culture wildlife and safe serious fun will be epic journey that is once in a lifetime.
(Class 2: Some rough water, maybe some rocks, might require some maneuvering (Skill level: basic paddling skill)
Class 3: Whitewater, small waves, maybe a small drop, but no considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering
Class 4: Whitewater, medium waves, maybe rocks, maybe a considerable drop, sharp maneuvers may be needed.)
The Urubamba River, also known as the Vilcanota River, passes through the beautiful region of Cusco. This river is a tourist spot of interest, for those people who enjoy sports such as kayaking.
Itinerary
Day 1,URUBAMBA RAFTING 1 DAY – CHUQUICAHUANA SECTION
This section is called Chuquicahuana and is the best part of the Urubamba River it is located at 2 hours southern from Cusco. It is classified as class II, III and III+. This section has continuous rapids and for one day trip it’s a great fun.
- Departure: 09:00am.
- Return: 16:30 pm.
- Trip grading: II and III.
- Distance in the water: 18 km.
- Time in the water: 2.4 hours.
Best time from May to December.
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- We start at our meeting point at 8:25 am (we can also collect from your hotel). Then we will take 2 hours private transport into a beautiful and very scenic views of lakes, villages and towns in the way to Urcos and Cusipata. Once we get there, you have time to change in a river rafting clothes, you will find a wetsuit that will fit you. Afterwards, you have to pick up a helmet, a life-jacket and a paddle, once you are ready, your guides will offer a field briefing of each details after -definitely a great picture time!!!
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- Time to pull the raft to the river and to learn the commands. Once on the raft and far from the shore, the real fun starts. The river is smooth in the beginning, giving you the chance to practice the commands when the guide tells you, but don’t worry, the bumps will come soon. You realize soon that the river is getting rougher, it’s time to paddle. Suddenly the rapids show up, and you will see yourself paddling. You will get soak, even if you don’t fall, water splash from everywhere, and it’s cold, you will be glad that you are wearing the wetsuit and a wind cutter.
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- It is very important to follow the guide´s instructions and paddle seriously after the commands, this will keep in a good balance of the boat. After various rapids the river calm down for a while, giving you the chance to rest for a little while until the next rapid come. The rapids are basically rocks and holes on the riverbed. Rapids are classified from I to VI, been VI the roughest. In the Urubamba river, the rapids are class II up to III+ and IV when the river is high after the rainy season. (December to March)
After two hours and an half your ride is about to end, I suggest, if it’s a sunny day, to jump into the water and flow with the river. Don’t worry, the guide will get you to the shore or back on the raft. It is always another guide on a kayak who goes next to the raft to pick up the people who fall, and also he will take pictures, this is great because back in Cusco you can buy a CD with all the pictures taken.
Once back on the shore, the same bus will be waiting for you. After drying yourself and changing your wetsuit for warm clothing, you will have a delicious lunch. Then a good nap on the ride back to Cusco.
Class and categories of rapids.
- Class II, Ollantaytambo. ( in the Sacred Valley of the Incas; Only 1.3 hrs of rafting )
- Class III (We run it from May to December), Quiquijana, Cusipata, Chuquicahuana.
- IV and V (Dec to May). For the last one, which is the hardest.
- We always take a safety kayak with us, so it means one extra guide for the safety of our clients.
- After lunch we return to Cusco, arriving at around 4:00 -4:30 pm.
Included
- Transportation from Cusco to the put-in at the River.
- All the rafting equipment, such as helmet , life jacket, paddle, self bailing raft.
- Spray Jacket, wet Suit.
- Professional English speaking rafting guide.
- Delicious lunch.
- Transportation back from the river.
No Included
What to bring
Prices
| Number of persons | Price per person |
| 2 | $130.00 |
| 3 | $130.00 |
| 4 | $130.00 |
| 5 | $130.00 |
| 6 | $130.00 |
| 7 | $130.00 |
| 8 | $130.00 |
- US $130 price per person.
Travel Guide
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