Cotahuasi River

Location: Arequipa, Peru

Arequipa, second largest city in southwest Peru. A one hour plane flight from Lima.

Level of Difficulty: Class V / Advanced

The most extreme whitewater found in Peru. The whitewater is challenging but it also takes a truly adventurous spirit to brave such a remote river canyon.

Scenery: Spectacular desert canyon, known to be the deepest raftable canyon in the world.

The river is surrounded by sheer granite walls and there are spectacular views of the Andes. Declared a National Tourist Reserve Zone, habitat for endangered and protected species such as Condors and Vicuñas (a relative of the llama and Alpaca) has been set aside along the river.

Season: December – May

Whitewater rafting trips on the Cotahuasi River are offered during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer months.