After breakfast we make an incredibly scenic drive over Peruvian highlands, we will stop at Laguna Sausacocha at 3,300 masl (10,800 feet) for a local trout lunch before descending deep into the Marañon Canyon.

When we reach the river we will find our boats and camp, we will camp for the night at the put in while finishing our rigging. You will be introduced to our complete team of guides and camp systems while dinner is getting ready.

10hr scenic drive over the Andes and into Marañón Canyon. Altitude Loss: 1300m 

After a hearty breakfast, we will load our boats and start rafting! Before, expert guides will give safety briefings and begin training the crew for the rapids ahead. A short way downstream we will complete a set of rescue drills, allowing each raft crew to unite as a team and prepare for the journey ahead. As a passenger, you will be travelling in a 16’ oar assisted raft, guided by a highly trained and experienced river guide. Today we will get into the remote canyon and pass by a cavern with ancient burials, short after we can have a dive below the huge Muro Poso waterfall before reaching camp.

6 hrs / 25 km. Rafting with breaks

We float the Middle Canyon of the Marañón, some of the most remote, dry and steep canyon sections, we will stop at Jecumbuy to visit the riverside town and taste their delicious native cacao, short after that, we will stop at Llanten slot canyon where we can hike up until we reach a waterfall. Right after the hike we run Llanten rapid (III+ - IV), our first big rapid of the trip! We will find camp short after, before Samosierra rapid.

 6 hrs / 25 km. Rafting with breaks 

We will take time to scout Samosierra and decide our best line and strategy to run it safely. This rapid has several sections and has more than 1 mile (1.6 km.) long, it changes constantly and it´s one of our biggest challenges in the trip. We will camp some few miles after the rapid, before we get into the "Heart of the Marañón" section.

 6 hrs / 20 km. Rafting with breaks 

After a nice morning with several class III rapids, we will do a lunch and resupply stop at Balsas bridge. After lunch, we will continue running some class III rapids until we reach the village of Tuén, where we can visit a local farm and some ancient ruins from the Chachapoyan and Inca times.

 7 hrs / 35 km. Rafting with breaks 

After the hike we continue downriver, encountering several class II-III rapids as we wind our way through the geological wonder that is the Marañón Canyon. You won’t forget that you are in a remote, wild canyon, especially if we encounter strong afternoon winds that are notorious in this stretch. Today we aim to visit the village of Mendán, where we can find coconuts, seasonal fruits, a tour of the village and a cold beer of course!

6 hrs / 25 km. Rafting with breaks. Afternoon village visit.

After a lazy morning and an indulgent breakfast, we have a short float full of fun, continuous class III rapids until we reach the village of Tupén. 

In the afternoon we have the option to explore the area. It's an enchanting walk through the fields until we reach the city center and visit the schools. The kids are always excited to practice english, share a game of soccer or show off their incredible treehouse! There are most challengin hike available for more adventurous guests, just let your guide know!

Tonight we can relax and take in the beautiful Amazonian surrounds from the beach. You can begin to see the ecosystem transitioning from Dry Forest to Amazon.

1.5hr / 8km Rafting, afternoon village experience. 

Today is a huge day of whitewater fun. We encounter a handfull of notable class III-IV rapids including ‘Tupén Grande’, ‘San Lucas’, ‘Playa el Inca’ and ‘Magdelena’. We will also pass by the proposed Chadin II dam site, giving thanks to the local people who fought hard to keep this iconic river running beautiful and free. Tonight we will camp on a stunning deserted beach in the heart of the canyon, deep between canyon walls.

6 hrs / 30 km. Rafting with breaks

Today we float the deepest and most isolated part of the canyon. Keep your eyes focused on the scenery as vegetation and rock subtly changes to lush jungle. Soon we arrive at LinLin, the largest rapid we will encounter on this section of the river. After the adrenalin of LinLin, we will bounce through several more rapids before arriving at Marañon Libre, a Conservation Area that our team has played a pivotal role in creating. Here we can relax early and enjoy one of the most stunning sunsets and vistas of the trip.

6 hrs / 30 km. Rafting with breaks

After breakfast we explore the geological phenomenon that is ‘Las Cascadas’. Dozens of natural pools and waterfalls form as small creeks cascade toward the Marañón. There is nothing better than soaking in the pools while you take in the stunning view over the Marañón Valley. 

After lunch we get back on the river and navigate through arguably one of the most scenic sections of the entire Marañón River. Red walled sandstone and lush green shrubs clinging to cliffs give an unmistakable prehistoric feel. Tonight we camp in the heart of the Red Canyon.

3 hours hiking, exploring waterfalls & natural pools / 10km/2hr Rafting

After navigating the final rapids of our journey, we will arrive to Puerto Malleta for a celebratory lunch.  After lunch and saying goodbye to our river family, we take private transport for four hours to the village of Cocachimba. On the drive we will enjoy stunning views of the Shipago mountain range as we leave the dry forests of the Marañón behind. Once in Cocachimba, we will arrive to our beautiful lodgings surrounded by native cloudforest. Cocachimba will be our base for the next 3 nights as we explore the Kingdom of the Clouds.

Guests who are only joining for the river trip can travel 2 hours to Jaen, arriving around 5pm and can arrange to fly out the following day, or get dropped off in Cocachimba.

2.5 hrs / 25km. Rafting. 4-5 hour scenic drive to Cocachimba

Wake up with the sounds of the dozens of colorful Cloudforest Birds and prepare for our trek to the 2531 ft tall Gocta Waterfall (this can be done by horse as well). The hike has two options, the longer more challenging circuit beginning in San Pablo, or shorter direct access from Cocachimba- which can also be completed on horseback. We recommend starting early in the morning to have higher chances of spotting native birdlife including the beautiful Andean Cock of the Rock (Rupicola Peruvianus), Peru’s National bird, who lives in the ravines that we cross on the way to Gocta. On the last leg of the hike there is the possibility of fresh sugar cane juice or local aguardientes to help us make it up the final hills. The afternoon is free for relaxing or other optional hikes.

11km/ 5hrs hiking or 14km/ 8hrs hiking.

We drive 1.5 hours to the town of Nuevo Tingo. Here we will catch the gondola to the top of the mountain, where the Citadel of Kuélap, the main arqueological site of the Chachapoyas waits for our visit. After a brief visit to the interpretation center, we do an easy hike to arrive to the main door of the ancient fortified city built around 500AD. A local Chachapoyan guide will be with us, teaching us local stories and secrets of the site with 60ft high stone walls and over 420 circular stone buildings. Kuelap is thought to have been an important Chachapoya ceremonial center with some 3,000 inhabitants dedicated to rituals and solar observations which enabled them to establish an agricultural calendar. In the afternoon we return to Cocachimba to enjoy our last evening in the Kingdom of the Clouds.

3 hours exploring cultural sites, 30 min gondola, 3 hours transfers

Wake up in the peaceful surrounds of Cocachimba, with option to take an early morning stroll to enjoy your last views of Gocta and moments in this incredible Cloudforest. We depart on time for you to catch your flight to Lima.

1 hour transfer to Chachapoyas or 4 hour transfer to Jaén