After breakfast we make an incredibly scenic drive over Peruvian highlands before descending deep into the Marañon Canyon.

When we reach the river we will have lunch and load up the gear, but not before enjoying a cold coconut. Expert guides will give safety briefings and begin training the crew for the rapids ahead. The journey truly starts when we pass under the bridge and plunge into the Balsas rapid (III), just a taste of what is to come. 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.

4hr scenic drive over the Andes and into Marañón Canyon. Altitude Loss: 1900m.  
2 hours /16km Rafting

Optional sunrise hike to cliff-top ruins at Playa el Cura which overlook the river canyon.

1.5 hours / 2km steep/difficult hike.

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 reach the village of Mendán, where we can find coconuts, seasonal fruits, a tour of the village and a cold beer of course!

The village is friendly and welcoming, we will enjoy a home cooked meal in town, and most likely the kids will be keen for a game of soccer (they may be small, but they will give most visitors a run for their money!). The hardest part is sometimes saying goodbye to the new friends we find in town.

6 hours/ 29km Rafting with breaks. Evening 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 ‘Shingate’ 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.

27km / 6 hours 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.

38km / 6 hours 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.

4 hours hiking, exploring waterfalls & natural pools / 9km/1hr 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.

2.5hours /17km Rafting. 4 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.

12km/ 6hrs hiking or 14km/ 8hrs hiking.

Early morning option to enjoy birdlife before 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. After we have fully explored the Citadel we head down for lunch and then drive to the Leymebamba Museum, one of the best museums in Peru. In the evening we return to Cocachimba to enjoy our last evening in the Kingdom of the Clouds.

4 hours exploring cultural sites 3 hours transfers.

Wake up in the peaceful surrounds of Cocachimba, with option to take an early morning stroll to enjoy your last views Gocta and moments in this incredible Cloudforest. We depart at 10am to arrive to Jaén around 2:30pm, in time for you to take and afternoon flight back to Lima.

4 hour transfer to Jaén