Rafting

Rivers of passion

Peru has more than a dozen rivers that cover its varied coastal, hill and jungle regions. Its five longest rivers cover more than 7,000 kilometres within the country’s borders. The power of the water in some of these rivers allows makes rafting possible, a sport of pure adrenaline. Rapids are classified according to an international scale from I to VI, according to their difficulty.

The best-known rivers for rafting are the Apurímac (Class II and V), the Cotahuasi (Class V) and the Tambopata (Class III and IV).

Rafting arrived in Peru from Poland thanks to the adventurer Yurek Majcherzyck and his travelling companions who, after various attempts, managed to conquer the torrential Colca river and its 300 rapids in one of the deepest points of Arequipa. The sport uses inflatable boats or rafts, which are powered by oars and generally steered from the stern, carrying the raft and its crew along the turbulent waters of the rivers.

• Mayo and Huallaga Rivers
• Cotahuasi River
• Cañete River
• Apurimac River
• Urubamba River
• Colca River
• Tambopata River