Cotahuasi River, Arequipa

A classic, multi-day rafting trip through the world's deepest canyon in the Department of Arequipa.

The Cotahuasi River offers up to 160 km (100 miles) of Class IV & V rapids, with evocative names like 'High Side for Your Life', 'Metro Canyon' and 'Centimetre'.

It was only descended for the first time in 1994, and is not for the faint-hearted. 

It is a full day's drive from the city of Arequipa to the Andean town of Cotahuasi.

From here, rafters spend at least five days on the river, paddling (and occasionally portering) during the day and camping by the river (and near Inca ruins) at night.