Day 1: United States This evening, fly from Miami to Lima. Day 2: Lima/Arequipa Upon your morning arrival in Lima, transfer to the short flight to Arequipa, Peru's second largest city (750,000 people). This afternoon is free for exploring. Many of the buildings in the old part of the city are a light colored volcanic rock called sillar and Arequipa is often referred to as "the White City". In the evening you’ll have an orientation dinner and spend the evening in a hotel. Day 3: Arequipa/Huambo This morning, begin the five-hour drive to the rim of the Colca Canyon. Climbing north through arid desert country and over a 13,500-foot pass to the small village of Huambo, a rustic village set on the edge of the Colca Canyon, where camp will be set up. Day 4: Huambo/Colca Canyon In the morning the burros are loaded with your gear and you’ll begin the 15-kilometer hike down a narrow rugged trail to the river. The moderately difficult seven-hour downhill hike affords dramatic views of the Colca Canyon. Days 5-9: Rio Colca For the next six days, you will negotiate the most difficult and inaccessible commercially run river canyon in the world. The scenery is magnificent with massive geologically twisted walls towering above the angry water. In many places giant boulders have fallen from the cliffs, littering the canyon floor and forming numerous long, steep, technical Class 4 and 5 rapids and at least one portage. The most difficult rapids come a few days into the expedition so there is time to develop the necessary teamwork in the rafts. You’ll also make a number of spectacular side hikes including one to Earth River Falls a dramatic 200-foot-high tributary waterfall discovered on Earth River’s first trip down. Fewer than 150 people have ever traveled through this incredible area and it is still a place of mystery and intrigue. Earth River takes every possible precaution to insure a safe journey, using the finest custom made 14-foot self-bailing paddle rafts, safety kayakers, and some of the best Class 5 guides in the world. Each paddle boat is double guided making a guide-client ratio of nearly one to one, the highest of any commercial raft trip. An expedition of this nature is obviously not for everyone, but for those willing to endure possible physical hardships for a truly unique experience, it could well be the trip of a lifetime. Day 10: Rio Colca/Arequipa This morning, take out and make the three-hour drive back to Arequipa, arriving at the hotel in the early afternoon and then to enjoy a Peruvian style banquet. Days 11-12: Arequipa/Lima In the morning, fly to Lima. That evening, board the plane to the United States, arriving early the next morning. |