Explore the waters and discover remote corners of South America during your 9-day Peru rafting tour. Your customizable excursion will take you into the thrilling whitewater of the Andean Altiplano and across the wilds of the Amazon Basin. Whether navigating class IV rapids or searching the riverbanks for endangered jaguars and rare macaws, you will experience true beauty during the ride of your life in Peru’s wilderness and wilds.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Juliaca - Arrive in the Andean Highlands and Transfer to the Remarkable Cloud Forest
Your flight descends onto the Andean Highlands and the city of Juliaca. From the window, you can see the urban design spreading across the plateau and fading into the distance where Peruvian villages and popular Sunday markets thrive. Spanish Colonial churches punctuate the skyline around Plaza Bolognesi, and the aroma of grilled corn and meat roasting over an open flame drifts through the streets. Your flight lands at Inca Manco Cápac International Airport, where your private transfer greets you upon your early arrival. At over 12,500 feet above sea level, the thinner atmosphere here provides an interesting introduction to the Altiplano, the high-altitude plain of the Andes.
Your guide offers you the first taste of Peru with a sample of the coca leaves the Quechua people have used for more than two millennia to help with the altitude. You chew the leaves and find a slightly bitter, but pleasant flavor and learn that you can also use the leaves to brew a popular, soothing tea. Your scenic drive takes you out of Juliaca, passing the Andean pasture where herds of alpaca graze on farmland. You ascend the mountain pass at nearly 15,000 feet above sea level, stopping along the way to view the vicunas in their natural habitat. The wild vicuna is a relative of the llama, and they live in groups consisting of a single male and up to 50 females. The territorial male protects his herd, keeping a keen eye on you as you return to the car to continue your journey down the mountain pass.
The cold air and thin atmosphere bites at your cheeks. The rugged landscape of the high altitude plain reminds you of the craggy landscape of another planet, filled with loose rocks and sporadic mounds. As you descend into the rainforest basin, the trees return as a cloud forest, offering unique biodiversity and lush greenery contrasting the Andean Highlands, and marking your arrival into the Tambopata National Reserve.
Peru is a region unlike any other; learn more by seeing how our partner Peru tour operators can personalize the experience for you.
What's Included:
Day 2
Rio Tambopata - Embark on a Whitewater Rafting Excursion on Rio Tambopata
Day 3
Rio Tambopata – Discover Marvelous Flora and Fauna alongside Class II and III Rapids
Day 4
Rio Tambopata - Search for Spider Monkeys, Tapirs, and Colorful Birds en route to your Camp
Day 5
Rio Tambopata - Experience the Thrills of Class III and IV Rapids in the Jungle
Day 6
Rio Tambopata - Continue your Wildlife Exploration in Search of River Otters and Jaguars
Day 7
Rio Tambopata - Enjoy a Riverside Sunrise and the Beauty Found at the Macaw Clay Lick
Day 8
Puerto Maldonado - View the Macaw Clay Lick at Sunrise and Venture to Puerto Maldonado
Day 9
Puerto Maldonado - Transfer to Cusco and Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Experience the thrilling and scenic ride of your life on the Rio Tambopata, traveling a portion of the 250-mile waterway to traverse class III and IV rapids
- Discover the marvels of nature with a sunrise visit to the largest clay lick South America, from which 17 different types of parrots and macaws feed
- Enjoy the stunning landscape alongside the river for a chance to spot peccaries, tapirs, jaguars, and various types of monkeys
- Relish a unique view of a cloud forest on your scenic drive from the Andean Highlands to the Amazon Basin
- Explore the lands and waters of the more than 1,000 square miles of Tambopata National Reserve
- Delight in the knowledge of your private guide who is eager to introduce you to the flora, fauna, and avifauna of the protected landscape for a deeper understanding of nature’s beauty
Detailed Description
This unique jungle expedition takes you on a 9-day immersive experience and allows you to indulge in the range of whitewater rapids on the Tambopata River. Along the way, you will also have ample opportunity to view the inspiring scenery and the active wildlife including more than 530 species of birds and 13 types of monkeys. The journey begins with your arrival at Inca Manco Cápac International Airport where your private transfer greets you at customs and eagerly leads you away from the city and to the altiplano. You take in the views of the grazing vicunas as you travel over the mountain pass to descend into the Amazon Basin.
The cloud forests of Peru offer a captivating ecosystem between the high altitude plain and lowland rainforest, with lush trees feeding off the moisture of the passing mist. You disembark from the village of Curva Alegre to begin your whitewater excursion spending five full days floating down the river and experiencing the variety of undulations, from placid water to class IV rapids. During the quieter moments of your adventure, you partake in a jungle safari, scouring the landscape and river’s edge for jaguars, ocelots, capybaras, tapirs, and caimans.
The marvelous landscape encourages your inquisitive mind and adventurous spirit, as your guide leads you deeper into the tropical rainforest far away from Peruvian civilization. Upon reaching the famous clay lick, you spend time witnessing the distinctive colors and unique socialization of the macaws and parrots feeding on the eroding soil. You will then have the chance to relax in the comforts of Puerto Maldonado, which glows with the facades of a decadent past, before flying to Cusco for your flight home.
Consider browsing our tour of Peru page for more inspiration on designing your own Peru vacation.
Starting Price
$3,300 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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