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  Adventure Travel > Whitewater Rafting > Earth River Expeditions > Trips > Journey to the Center of the Earth

EARTH RIVER EXPEDITIONS

Accord, New York
United States
www.earthriver.com
Earth River Expeditions - International White Water Rafting Trips

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Journey to the Center of the Earth

Tucked away in an isolated fold in the Andes of Southern Peru, the Colca thunders through the Everest of river canyons. Well over twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, cliffs rise over two vertical miles framing a gorge so impossibly deep that on occasion the sky gives way to wind swept walls. Condors soaring through the mist of thousand foot waterfalls and wispy plums of smoke from live volcanoes form a backdrop for one of the earth's grandest cathedrals.

Earth River Made the first commercial descent of the Colca Canyon in 1993.

All Earth River trips include hotel stay to and from expedition.

NOTE: Because of the serious nature of this expedition, interested participants will be carefully screened on an individual basis. It is imperative that they be in excellent physical condition. Previous Class 5 whitewater experience is important but not necessarily a prerequisite for joining the trip.

Trip Details

Duration 12 Days/11 Nights
Location Colca Canyon River
Season July - August
Trip Type Paddle
Nearest City 500 Miles from Lima, Peru
Physical Condition Required Excellent
Destination(s)  Lima, Peru
Rated Classes V
Guest Capacity 14
Minimum Age Limit 16
Distance Traveled 30 Miles in 7 Days
Additional Activities IMPORTANT NOTE: The Colca Canyon expedition is the most challenging and one of the most spectacular commercially run rivers in the world. Slicing through the deepest walled canyon on earth, the river corridor is only accessible by whitewater craft. Due to the arduous nature of the trip and its inaccessibility, potential participants will be carefully screened before being allowed to join the expedition. For more information, contact the Earth River office and ask for Eric Hertz.
Dining All Meals Included (Freeze Dried)
About Liquor No Alcohol Provided
Rates
$3,000.00 per person Currency Converter
(Rates shown are in US Dollars. Rates and terms are subject to change.)
Website www.earthriver.com

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Trip Itinerary

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.


Notes

Note: Earth River offers a number of other incredible adventures not listed on this site including; trekking through British Columbia’s Yosemite like Headwall Canyon, sea kayaking around the remote northern reaches of Fiji’s Vanua Balavu, rafting through the grand canyons, rapids and cultures of China’s Great Bend of the Yangtze and a multi-sport traverse of the Yukon’s stunning Primrose River/lake system. For more information on these trips as well as the ones listed on this site please contact Earth River.


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In addition to whitewater rafting, browse related adventure travel and active vacations such as canoeing, and kayaking.
 

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