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Hi Folks,

We have just completed an amazing trip down arguably the worlds deepest canyon, The Rio Cotahuasi.

With amazing logistics courtesy of Amazonas Explorer we completed the trip in 3 and half days, with a suitably early season high water level.

The journey started with a long jeep journey from Arequipa to the village of Cotahuasi. After picking up suppiles in Arequipa, the roads picked their way across the Atacama (the worlds driest desert) and over 4000m to arrive late on Monday 25th.

Petraglyphs and Atacama Desert

An early start saw us walking into the Gorge via the un-runnable Sipia Falls, with mule support organised by team member Paul Cripps of Amazonas Explorer. The planned 8 hour hike was knocked off in just 5hrs , so as a team we elected to get started on the river and loaded our kayaks, two Everests, a large Burn and medium Burn courtesy of Pyranha Kayaks.

We set off for about an hours travel with heavily laden kayaks. Cautiously we ran the first hard rapid ‘Broken Neck’ with good style.

Camp was then set up just before the sun left the scorched canyon around 2 o’clock and we got down to the essentials of cooking and exploring the ancient inca ruins and terraces.

Wednesday saw us prepare for a long, hard and comitting day, on the water for 8.30 we cruised through continous rapids, running class 4-4+ onsight. In fact continuous is an understatement, with no flat pools to rest in we keep it together encountering Marlpas Mile and Jasons Hole, both solid class 5, with quick inspections and only minimal portages from Adam, the team pressed onto the campsite again for around 2.30 pm.

Thursday was yet another full on day with considrable rapids like Canyon del Metro, Orange Juice I, Orange Juice II and Orange Juice III, (confused, then come along to our lecture tour on our return), and Canyon del Centrimetro.

Adam, Paul and Spike on a 'flat' section!!

Mentally drained we elected to camp above ‘Hyside for your life’, the final class 5, preferring  to eat it for breakfast on the final morning.

Pete running Hyside for your life

The final day, Friday started yet again with an early start and clean lines on ‘Hyside for your life’, before the grade eased back to class 3-4, with the only exception being ‘S bend’. A sneaky twisting series of off-set holes. More gentle cruising followed until the confluence of the Rio Maran.

Friday was slightly overcast unlike the previous days so a quick and swifty exit was made down the gravel beds with a distance of about 50km being covered to the town of Iquipi, before retiring to a hostel with chicken and chips and copious amounts of beer.

The Rio Maran Confluence

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