ITINERARY
Day 1: AREQUIPA - CABANACONDE - HUAMBO
We begin the journey to Colca Canyon River / Majes, and stop to enjoy the view at the viewpoint Patapampa (4850m). We continue to Cabanaconde, where we have lunch and to continue our camp at Huambo Village (3100m) and sleep overnight.
Day 2: HUAMBO – CANCO
Breakfast early morning and start the journey. Our porters or muleteers use donkeys to carry our equipment and other gear. The area offers us the chance to appreciate the beautiful valley and the majestic, steep, rocky mountains. This day is hard walking between 7 to 8 hours, down the Huambo Canyon which is the continuation of the Colca Canyon.
After about 3 hours we arrive at the bridge Huambo and we have lunch near beautiful cascades. Then we leave, along a straight and serpentine trail towards Canco, a little village, where we camp beside a natural thermal pool of the Colca River and relax our tired legs. Also, this place is the beginning of our river trip, one of the most exciting adventures of the world. The views of the landscape are a wonder of nature. We spend the night here before starting our rafting.
Day 3: CANCO- JOHN PAUL WATERFALL- THE WALL
After breakfast we hike straight to John Paul II Waterfall. We cross the river using the iron wire so we can appreciate these falls and it will be an experience full of adrenaline. We return to the camp and after a brief technical security instruction, we enter the river. This day, we navigate paddling 4 kilometers of class II and III rapids down to the fork of the Mamacocha and Colca Rivers. From this point its flow is doubled. Here, we have a rest, lunch and then we paddle for 30 minutes down to the camp. This place is known as “The Wall". Here we have dinner and sleep overnight.
Day 4 : THE WALL - JASMINE GULCH
After a good breakfast we enter “The Wall” section of the canyon, a IV class rapid depending on the level of water. We continue rowing a section of amusing class III rapid until we arrive at a “Canoandes” rapid class. Here we eat lunch and we have time to walk and look at the geological formations. We row for 20 minutes more and then we arrive at our next camp in the Gulch of Jasmine from where we can take a beautiful walk. Dinner and sleep overnight.
Day 5 : JASMINE GULCH -“MOSQUITO” BEACH
This day is very special. We leave from the southwest side, appreciating the walls of the canyon joins more and more which make this place look like a moonscape. After a half hour of rowing class II and III rapids, we arrive at the Shower of the Condor, a cascade 100m high. The wind blows its water like a perfect shower for the giant birds: the condors. After seeing some condors having a bath we continue rowing class III and IV rapids until we arrive at The Doors of Chocolate Canyon, which is dominated by the brown colours of the walls in this section. Here we eat lunch, then continue up to "Mosquito" Beach. This is a starting point of one of the most difficult and incredible walks inside the canyon. At “Mosquito” Beach, we have dinner and sleep overnight.
Day 6 : “MOSQUITO” BEACH - REPARAZ CANYON - “ESPERANZA” BEACH
Today is a difficult day. We row about 15 minutes before arriving at the hard section of IV and V class rapids. We go through “Cholo or Peruvian” Rapids (VI class). At the end of this hard section we have lunch. In the afternoon, we see the imposing precipice of the Reparaz Canyon with class VI rapids, but we won't be rafting this one. We walk for a short distance before taking the boats again. We row for 15 minutes more before arriving at Esperanza Beach. Here we have a rest in the middle of desert and we enjoy an exquisite dinner prepared by our guides.
Day 7 : ESPERANZA BEACH- POLISH CANYON
We leave camp and after half hour of our journey, we arrive at the Polish Canyon, with class VI rapids. Everybody needs great team work to pass the impressive gate of the Polish Canyon. Once we pass this canyon, we follow some kilometers downstream and we arrive at camp. We have lunch and a free resting afternoon, that we deserve after an exciting and wonderful river trip. Dinner and overnight.
Day 8 :
After our last breakfast inside the canyon, we row some hours of class II and III, arriving at the fork of the rivers: Andamayo and Majes. This last river is the continuation of Colca River. When we feel the warm breeze more frequently from the Majes Valley, it means our river trip is near the end. Here our transport is waiting for us with some cold beers to celebrate the unforgettable river trip in the Colca Canyon.This canyon is twice as deep as the American Grand Canyon, according to the Polish expedition in 1981, and deepest in the world.
Then we go to Aplao – Majes Valley, and have a nice lunch in a typical restaurant "La Rosa Nautica". Here we taste an exquisite lunch of shrimps and trout, or another according to menu.
After lunch we visit the petroglyphs of Toro Muerto and then we return to Arequipa. At night, we will meet to have a farewell dinner
INCLUDED:
· Private Transport Arequipa / Huambo - Majes / Arequipa
· All meals (an excellent diet for the expedition)
· A safety kayak
· Donkeys and porters
· All camping gear and cooking stove
· Raft captain and guides
NOT INCLUDED:
· Drinks, including bottled
· Extras
PRICE: US$1900.00 per person
Note: The price is based on a twin share tent. A single supplement applies, if you request your own tent.