Kayak Guide to Whitewater of Peru
In the Department of Cuzco on the road from Quillabamba to Ollantaytambo lies the valley of the Lucumayo. Born in the high pass of Abra de Malaga and flowing off the Northern flanks of Nevado Chicon is a river of the same name.
Put in for the Lucumayo River
First [...]
Posted on January 16th, 2009 by kurt
Filed under: Class 4, Class 5, Rivers in Cuzco Region | No Comments »
Most who have stayed awake for the final six hours or so of the bus ride from Lima to Cusco have noticed the Pachachaca dropping abruptly just out of view of the bus windows, and surely have wondered where this little river goes. Sometime in late October of 2004, Brian Fletcher and I put [...]
Posted on January 16th, 2009 by kurt
Filed under: Class 5, Rivers in Cuzco Region | No Comments »
The Rio Sonches is a steep-walled, high jungle adventure in the North of Peru. The run originates in the highlands of the Department of Amazonas and for the first 50 km follows the Chacapoyas-Mendoza road system. This upper stretch is relaxed, roadside boating and would be a good high water [...]
Posted on January 16th, 2009 by kurt
Filed under: Class 5, Rivers in Central Highlands | No Comments »
Born in the highlands of the department of Pasco is one of Peru’s mightiest Rivers known as the Mantaro. Its course is directly southward through the mining town La Oroya and on past Peru’s third largest city, Huancayo. Beyond here the river is twice dammed forming Peru’s single largest source of hydroelectric power. The fertile [...]
Posted on January 16th, 2009 by kurt
Filed under: Class 4, Class 5, Rivers in Central Highlands | No Comments »
The Rio Cosñipata is one of the princiapal tributaries of the Alto Madre de Dios River in the Department of Cuzco. It is a high jungle run of incredible beauty with good bird watching.
It is now commercially rafted in an enjoyable 9 km, class 3-4 stretch. Trips start in Cuzco and usually encompass several days [...]
Posted on January 16th, 2009 by kurt
Filed under: Class 3, Class 4, Rivers in Cuzco Region | No Comments »
The Rio Tumbes is an journey through an ecological paradise. Forming the border between Southern Ecuador and Peru’s Northern frontier, the river meanders through two national parks on both sides of the river before plunging through the Canyon Del Tigre.
On many people’s wish list for years -this class2-3 whitewater gem was not run until November [...]
Posted on January 16th, 2009 by kurt
Filed under: Class 3 | No Comments »
Flowing off the Northern flank of the sacred Nevado Auzangate 6372 meters (21,076 feet) is the Rio Paucartambo (also called Mapacho). After meandering through 80 + km of relative flatwater the river passes through the colonial town of Paucartambo at 3000 meters of elevation. From here begins one of Peru’s premier whitewater kayak trips and [...]
Posted on January 16th, 2009 by kurt
Filed under: Class 5, Rivers in Cuzco Region | No Comments »
Colonel P.H Fawcett was the first to run Tambopata River in 1911. His craft was a raft made of lashed logs. Tales of this incredible explorer can be found in a hard to find autobiography called “Exploration Fawcett”. This same individual made the first descent of the nearby Rio Tuichi in Bolivia during the same [...]
Posted on January 16th, 2009 by kurt
Filed under: Class 3, Rivers in Cuzco Region | No Comments »
Somewhere around Ollantaytambo the Vilccanota river changes names to Urubamba. The railroad from Cuzco to Machu Pichu follows the river and the milage posts are used to reference location.
The stretch of river known as the Urubamba should be thought of as two distinct sections. The first stretch is from Ollantaytambo (km 68 to [...]
Posted on January 16th, 2009 by kurt
Filed under: Class 5, Rivers in Cuzco Region | Comments Off
The Vilcanota River is a fun day trip during high water visits to Cuzco. The river is most fun from late November to April when the Apurimac and Urubamba are too high. Access to the river is easy with the paved road from Cuzco to Sicuani following it the whole way.
There is daily bus service [...]
Posted on January 16th, 2009 by kurt
Filed under: Class 4, Rivers in Cuzco Region | No Comments »
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