RIVER RAFTING

Peru, country of "Deep Rivers" as writer Jose Maria Arguedas named it, has in its diverse geographical zones torrential and abundant rivers that lure the challenge of hazarding risks and peril. 44-year-old Polish Jerzy Majcherczyk, nicknamed Yurek, was the first to encourage white river rafting in Peru, in the turbulent Colca River with its 300 rapids.

When he arrived in Peru in 1981, he first ran the Marañon and then organized his two famous expeditions in the Colca River. These expeditions were widely publicized by National Geographic.

The Pope also invited him to the Vatican when he found out that one of the rapids had been named after him. Since then, Yurek’s idea of living in Peru is to be at the foot of the Misti volcano. "Me characato", he says in his bad Spanish. Yurek is considered among the 20 river rafting legends. He is also in the Guinness Book of Records.

Among Peruvian pioneers, Walter Valderrama stands out in this sport. He discovered that the Santa and Cañete Rivers were fit for river rafting after exhaustive explorations. These are not as dangerous as the Colca. The Santa is navigable from May to October and the Cañete from December to April. 9-year old kids and 60-year old adults can venture in these waters. Cost per person is US$15 and includes all the necessary equipment like helmets, vests, oars, lifeguard lines and an experienced captain.

In kayac, one of the most dexterous and constant sportsmen is Duilio Vellutino. In 1988, he ran the entire Santa River, from its birth in the Conococha Lagoon to the Pacific Ocean. The trip lasted 13 days. In 1989, he ran the Colca River despite his apprehension because an uncle of his had drowned in those rapids together with two partners.

The difficulty of the rapids is evaluated according to a scale that goes from I to VI (this last one is generally fatal). The Colca, for example, which at some places has a depth of 2,200 and 1,400 meters below sea level, can be ran along 44 kilometers. It has rapids class III, IV, V and VI (these must be crossed on foot along the shore). The weather is dry and cold between five in the afternoon and nine in the morning because the sun does not shine into the deep valley at that time. The ideal season is from May to September.

The Santa crosses the Callejón de Huaylas between the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra. The best rapids are found between the towns of Yungay and Caraz and are classified as class II and III. The best time is from May to September.

Another point worth mentioning is the Cañete River that has the largest water volume on the coast. Lunahuaná, located 40 kilometers from the coast, has an excellent climate. The Cañete rapids are class II and IV.

Finally, there are the Vilcanota and Apurímac rapids. The Vilcanota River in Cusco divides the Sacred Valley of the Incas in two and then changes its name to Urubamba when it crosses the city of Cusco. In this city, there is a well-organized service which provides rubber boats and kayaks to run the river at this points: Huambutío-Pisac (rapids class II and III), Calca-Urubamba (rapids class II and III) and from the Ollantaytambo town (rapids class IV).

The Apurimac is well liked by river runners who want extra risk because the rapids vary from class III to class VI. Expeditions are also organized from Cusco.

Other interesting rivers are the Huallaga, Mayo Cotahuasi and Tambopata.

River rafting has become quite a significant tourist activity in Peru.

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