The Urubamba River, has its drainage system in the Amazon River, rises in the Andes of southern Peru. It flows for approximately 450 miles (725 km) to its junction with the Apurímac, where it forms the Ucayali.

Urubamba River Cusco

Your journey through the northeast of the department of Cusco takes you through the Archaeological Complex of Raqchi, where the famous Temple of the God Wiracocha (Creator of the universe according to the Incas) is located; Cross the South Valley through the town of Andahuaylillas, a place where the Sistine Chapel of America is called, 36 km from the city of Cusco.

Characteristic

The Urubamba River is born at the Vilcanota knot, in Peru, from where it runs through a large part of the territory of the Cusco Region with the name of Vilcanota River. When passing through the city of Urubamba, it receives the name of the Urubamba River. From above, on the edge of Machu Picchu itself, you can see a vertical cliff 600 meters high that ends where this river passes. In the Sacred Valley of the Incas the Vilcanota or Urubamba river is crossed, by light boats, rubber boats or kayak. The most frequent routes are Huambutio, Pisac, Calca, Urubamba (Huaran) and Ollantaytambo, Chilca. The Urubamba Valley has a temperate climate and the season is all year round. Urubamba River: navigable 200 km at 2700m. Its access to Cusco from Huambutio and Pisac by road. As it passes through Ollantaytambo, the Urubamba River narrows and deepens. It is the geographically most rugged area of ??the route (Torontoy Canyon), where at the top of the hills there are also the ruins of Machu Picchu. Passing the main mountain range the wide and fruitful valley of Quillabamba extends. The Convention before crossing the last low mountain ranges (Pongo de Mainique) towards the Amazon. When they converge with the Tambo river, they form the Ucayali river. The turbulence of the Urubamba River, crossing the Sacred Valley of the Incas, lends itself to the practice of rafting, which is one of the most interesting adventure tourist attractions in Peru.

Flora and fauna

The species that inhabit the waters of the Urubamba such as the torrent duck (Merganetta arnata), plants, insect larvae, also inhabit the aquatic blackbird (Cinclus leucocephalus), a tiny black and white bird that has learned to swim under the waters in search of food.

The trees of pisonay (Erythrina falcata) and tall q’euña (Polylepis racemosa) with their crowns full of red flowers seem to boil with life. For a botanist, these trees are a natural display: lianas and bromeliads compete for each space of the branches, while orchids, mosses and lichens are grouped together giving the branches the appearance of being lined with a green and wet coat. The forests of Machu Picchu are home to almost three hundred species of birds. From the large condors, to the tiny tanagers of beautiful colors. Hummingbirds are a special case here. The abundance of flowers in the region allows the existence of 14 different species. Some are as small as an insect, adapted to access the nectar of the tiny flowers of the capulí, or so large that they exceed the size of the bird itself, making it the only animal capable of sucking the bells and datura. Also living in these forests is the Andean bear Tremarctos arnatus) the only bear that lives in the South American continent, it usually lives a vegetarian existence hidden in the depths of the cloud forest and the pudu or sachacabra (Pudu mephistopheles), is a deer the size of a Pekingese dog, waits for twilight to wander in search of shoots and fallen fruits under the cover of vegetation that makes it an invisible creature for predators.

Among the moss and orchids, numerous epiphytic plants cling to the stone on the banks while the waters hit the rocks with force. Fuchsia bushes grow on the shores, purple in color, offering their nectar to the blue-throated hummingbird. In another cocoon, a pair of emerald beetles seem to struggle awkwardly for access to the inside of the colorful floral wrapper. Colorful butterflies abound.

The Urubamba River runs from the high Andean mountain ranges through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, beyond Machupicchu and into the jungle. In the river you can enjoy the exciting rafting depending on the section of the river there are areas of rapids; depending on the time of year. One of our most popular Rafting sections during the season is Class IIl Chuquicahuana “Chuqui” on the Alto Urubamba River. There are good class III rapids and also in this area the water is not polluted. This section of the river is more intense with Class III and III rapids, we will include a cataraft or safety kayak.

Urubamba River Rafting

Urubamba River Rafting is a new tourism alternative for adventure and adrenaline lovers, if you do not have experience in this new type of tourism, be careful, we have highly trained staff to be able to act in the face of any adverse situation and make this tour a unforgettable experience, this tour takes place in the Vilcanota river and has the best rapids in the rainy season in the class of 2,3,4 in the months of January, February and March, starting in the chuquicahuana sector where we will find class rapids 3 there are good rapids and you will travel this beautiful river and its landscapes for 2 hours and 30 m. approximately.