Rio Cotahuasi -The World’s Deepest Canyon
fromOur most exciting expedition to date, this is an adventure for experienced rafters looking for the ultimate white-water challenge. The Rio Cotahuasi is a relatively new white water discovery but one that surely has to be one of the world’s last remaining best kept rafting secrets. In 1994 a group of American Kayakers made the first descent of this remote river situated on the pacific coast of Southern Peru. They reported continuous world class rapids, spectacular campsites, unexplored archaeological ruins dating back to the Pre-Inca Huari civilisation and burial tombs complete with mummies untouched by grave-robbers. This is all set in the most breathtakingly beautiful desert canyon that has since been evaluated and declared the “World’s Deepest Canyon”.
This is not a trip for the faint-hearted. It starts with a gruelling twelve-hour drive through beautiful high altitude terrain, followed by a 4 X 4 drive around the impressive Sipia falls, where the Cotahuasi drops 150 m into an impenetrable gorge. We start rafting at the highest navigable point on the river and using our state-of-the-art equipment and highest safety standards, we challenge the 120 km of Class 4 and 5 rapids for six days, allowing plenty of time to scout the major difficulties and to explore the surrounding desert canyons and ruins.
Join us for this trip of a lifetime and be amongst the first ever to visit this incredible discovery.
- Reviews 0 Reviews0/5
- Vacation Style Holiday Type
- Expedition
- Peru
- Rafting
-
- Activity Level Challenging
- Group Size Medium Group
Our most exciting expedition to date, this is an adventure for experienced rafters looking for the ultimate white-water challenge. The Rio Cotahuasi is a relatively new white water discovery but one that surely has to be one of the world’s last remaining best kept rafting secrets. In 1994 a group of American Kayakers made the first descent of this remote river situated on the pacific coast of Southern Peru. They reported continuous world class rapids, spectacular campsites, unexplored archaeological ruins dating back to the Pre-Inca Huari civilisation and burial tombs complete with mummies untouched by grave-robbers. This is all set in the most breathtakingly beautiful desert canyon that has since been evaluated and declared the “World’s Deepest Canyon”.
This is not a trip for the faint-hearted. It starts with a gruelling twelve-hour drive through beautiful high altitude terrain, followed by a 4 X 4 drive around the impressive Sipia falls, where the Cotahuasi drops 150m into an impenetrable gorge. We start rafting at the highest navigable point on the river and using our state-of-the-art equipment and highest safety standards, we challenge the 120km of Class 4 and 5 rapids for six days, allowing plenty of time to scout the major difficulties and to explore the surrounding desert canyons and ruins.
Join us for this trip of a lifetime and be amongst the first ever to visit this incredible discovery.
- Peru travel adviceby GOV.UK on 07/03/2026 at 11:23 am
Emergency measures affecting Lima and Callao regions declared by Peruvian Government in response to natural gas shortage (See ’Warnings and insurance’ page).
- Accommodation the night before the river trip in a tourist hotel (Days one and two) and in Arequipa on day ten. This will be on a share twin basis with someone also on your river trip. Single supplements are available
- All transfers to and from the river.
- All meals from breakfast on day three to breakfast on day ten. Breakfast is also provided at your hotel in Arequipa. We can cater for any dietary requirements, just let us know!
- All necessary rafting equipment, including the best in buoyancy aids, helmets, full length wetsuits (men’s and women’s fit) and spray jackets.
- All camping equipment excluding sleeping bags and Bivi bags. Please note that due to the nature of the rapids on this trip, we keep camping equipment lightweight. Sleep kits can be hired for this trip for £55.
- Fully qualified, experienced river guides and safety kayakers. We have a mixture of local and overseas guides who are extremely professional and make up one of the most experienced river teams in the world. They make every effort to make your trip one of the most memorable, optimising your fun without compromising on your safety. They all hold advanced first aid qualifications and in the unlikely event of an injury they have the expertise and professionalism to deal with it.
- All necessary permits and licenses.
- Not included are flights, visas, departure taxes, travel insurance, inoculations, sleeping bags, bivi bag, video or DVD of your trip, alcohol, personal items or gratuities.
- You will also need to budget for meals in town which are not included in the price and any extra accommodation outside of what is provided.
- Day 1 Arrival in Arequipa
- Day 2 Visit to Juanita’ the Inca Ice Maiden Mummy
- Day 3 Drive to Pan-American Highway
- Day 4 Explorer to Velinga
- Day 5-9 Adventure in Rio Cotahuasi.
- Day 10 A Visit to Iquipi
- Day 11 Departure
- Day 11 Optional Machu Picchu Extension
- Day 12 Trip to Lost City Of The Incas
- Day 13 Explore the Local Secrets of the Town
- Day 14 Back to the Airport
For two nights before and two nights after your rafting trip, you’ll be staying in a hotel sharing with a fellow adventurer from your trip. If you have a request regarding who you are sharing with, please inform our office. If our trip ends up with odd numbers the last single will be charged a Single Supplement. If this is requested there will be an additional charge of £300. On the river portion of the trip, you’ll also be sharing a tent with a fellow rafter. You can request a single tent for a small additional charge. A single supplement for Machi Picchu portion of the trip is £300.
You will be able to leave any clothing or baggage that you don’t require on the river at your Hotel whilst you are on the river and collect this again when you get off your trip. All valuables will be locked and kept in the hotel safe. Please do not take valuables such as passports, money, credit cards and flight tickets on the river with you on the river!
Most of our clients are aware that adventure travel to far flung lands can pose it’s own interesting idiosyncrasies common in the developing world. Very few things happen fast, and you’ll find a smiling face and a little patience work wonders in these countries for getting things accomplished. We recommend a few phrases of the local language will get you a long way (this is sent to you in your pre departure pack). Our trip leaders are on hand if you have any queries about the country you are visiting.
On receipt of your deposit and booking form, we’ll send you a suggested equipment list. This can also be found on our website, on the page relating to the country you are visiting. If you require some of the items suggested for your trip, we can organise this for you. 30 days prior to your trip departure, you’ll be sent a pack with a few “goodies” including facts about the country you are visiting, who your guides are, along with what you might expect on your trip.
An adequate insurance policy is required to cover you whilst white water rafting. This must also include medical evacuation and repatriation in the unlikely event you are injured on your trip.
As most aspects of your trip are taken care of, the money you will need to bring will be limited. You can pay for many items at this destination by credit card although we recommend travelling with a small amount of Nuevo Sol, US dollars or Pound Sterling in small denominations. (10, and 20 notes are good) ATM facilities are available at this destination and you can conveniently withdraw Nuevo Sol for payments of local items.
What better way of travelling down a river than by your own paddle power and gravity? We keep groups small to not impact the environment and to give you the chance to chat with all the interesting people on your trip.
On many of our departures we take along a trip cameraman who will capture your trip through their eyes. This will capture not only you paddling through white water, but have local wildlife, scenic shots and the adventures around camp. These can be pre-ordered or they can be ordered in destination. When edited, they will be put to music and enclosed in the DVD case for your memory.
Visas
You don’t need a visa to travel if the purpose of the visit is tourism. If you’re travelling for any other purpose, check entry clearance requirements with thePeruvian Consulate-General in London.
If you have tourism status in Peru, you’ll need to apply online for a special permit in order to sign any type of contract, eg, purchase of a home, business contracts, at a notary public. For more information, please contact the Peruvian Immigration Office or the Peruvian Consulate-General in London.
On arrival, you’re normally given permission to stay for up to 183 days.
Double check the period of time you’ve been granted. If you overstay, you’ll need to pay a fine. In the worst case scenario you could be held in detention.
Immigration
If you enter Peru overland from Ecuador, make sure your passport is stamped with a Peruvian entry stamp at the local immigration office. Most people crossing the border with Ecuador enter Peru through Aguas Verdes (Tumbes region) – you may need to ask for directions to the immigration office. If your passport is not stamped at the border with Ecuador, you can have it stamped at the Immigration Office in the city of Tumbes.
If you enter Peru from Bolivia by bus or taxi, make sure your passport is stamped with a Peruvian entry stamp at the immigration office in Desaguadero or Copacabana (Puno region).
Immigration authorities may also not let you leave Peru without a valid exit stamp from the last country you visited.
If you enter Peru without an entry stamp then you’re required by law to apply for a new entry stamp at the nearest immigration office. The immigration authorities will need you to provide your passport and evidence of your entry to Peru, eg air/bus ticket in your name, exit stamp from the last country you visited, and any other documentation they deem necessary. If you’re unable to provide any such evidence you must apply for an exit or expulsion order at the Immigration Office in Lima. You won’t be allowed to leave Peru without this, and you may be prevented from re-entering Peru for the next five to ten years.
The British Embassy can’t intervene in immigration issues. Make sure you get your entry stamp when you arrive in Peru, but if your passport was not stamped on entry into Peru, we can assist you in requesting the entry stamp or the exit order. The sooner you start that process, the better.
Passport validity
Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Peru.
UK Emergency Travel Documents
UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) are accepted for entry, airside transit and exit from Peru. Your ETD should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Peru.
Customs
British nationals have experienced problems when trying to enter the country with more than one laptop. You should familiarise yourself with Peruvian immigration or customs procedures before you enter the country. For further details contact the Peruvian Consulate in London.
If you are returning to the UK via Europe, be aware that the customs authorities in European airports frequently confiscate duty free alcohol and other liquids purchased at the duty free shops in Lima airport from passengers in transit.
Travelling with children
Children under the age of 18 years travelling on a British passport who have resident status in Peru need written permission (Autorización de Viaje Notarial) from the non accompanying parent(s) to leave the country. This permission is obtained by a notary public in Peru. The letter must mention the proposed destination, the purpose of the trip, the date of departure and the return date. If unable to obtain a notarial permission, the child will need a judicial written permission (Autorización de Viaje Judicial) issued by a judge. If one of the parents has committed certain crimes, the other parent can request a judicial written permission from the judge. If one of the parents is deceased, the other parent would need to submit the death certificate to a notary public, so that an indefinite notarial permit to travel with the child is issued.
Children who have tourist status do not need these permissions, but immigration officers are free to request them in circumstances considered suspicious by the immigration authorities or if the child has stayed in Peru for over 183 days. For further information, contact the Peruvian Consulate in London or the Peruvian Immigration Department.
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