Rafting And Zip Line, Urubamba

Add a little adrenaline to your time in Cusco with this 8-hour Urubamba River combo package. Go rafting, ride a zip line and explore Peru's natural landscapes from a different angle.

Overview

This full-day combo from Mayuc River Rafting packs two adrenaline activities into one trip out of Cusco: whitewater rafting on the Urubamba River and a zip line across it. The whole thing runs about eight hours, with round-trip private transport, a professional rafting guide, and a safety kayaker on the water. Groups are capped at 18 travellers.

The day is built around the operator's Cusipata River Lodge, roughly a two-hour drive from Cusco according to one reviewer. Reviewers describe rapids in the class 3 to 4 range, with one noting high water in April made for strong rapids, and another mentioning a mid-trip stop to jump off a rock into cold water.

After the river, the lodge becomes the base for winding down: a sauna, hot showers, and lunch are included at no additional cost. Photos and video are optional extras, as are tips and snacks. The trip suits most travellers, though the listing advises against it for people with back problems, pregnant travellers, and anyone with serious heart or medical conditions. Wheelchair users should note the listing marks transport and surfaces as accessible.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickup in CuscoOne reviewer reported an 8:15am pickup from their hotel, and the operator has been flexible on timing on the day.
2. Drive to Cusipata River LodgePrivate transport heads out of Cusco toward the lodge, which one reviewer described as about a two hours away on the other side of Urcos.
3. Zip line across the riverRuns go across the river and back. One reviewer's rainy-season trip did this first, though the listing does not fix an order for the day's activities.
4. Whitewater rafting on the UrubambaA professional rafting guide and a safety kayaker lead the river section, with rapids that reviewers placed in the class 3 to 4 range.
5. Sauna and showers at the lodgeIncluded at no additional cost, along with hot water and toilets. A good warm-up after cold river water.
6. Lunch at Cusipata River LodgeLunch is included. Several reviewers praised the food, with one calling it delicious.
7. Return transport to CuscoPrivate transport takes the group back, closing out the roughly eight-hour day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape how this day goes, from cold water and wetsuit fit to what the lunch actually involves.

• Bring a snack. Snacks are not included, so pack something for the drive or between activities. Photos and video are also optional extras if you want a record of the rapids.
• Expect cold water. The Urubamba runs cold, and one reviewer mentioned the chill, including a mid-trip rock jump. The sauna and hot showers at the lodge afterward are included, so plan to warm up there.
• Check your wetsuit. One reviewer found the wetsuits ran large and lacked tops, leaving the group very cold by the end. Ask the operator about fit and gear before you set off, especially in high water.
• Rainy season matters. Reviewers flag that rain in the Cusco area often arrives in the early afternoon in the rainy season, and one reviewer's trip did the zip line first for that reason. Water levels also change the rapids, with April described as high.
• Food is set, not chosen. Go in expecting a served meal rather than options.
• Small groups in low season. One traveller booking off peak found themselves the only one booked for the day, and the operator still ran the trip. The maximum group size is 18.

Common issues. The experience requires a minimum number of travellers; if it is not met, you will be offered a different date or experience or a full refund. Gear quality has drawn complaints, with one reviewer reporting oversized wetsuits and no wetsuit tops. The zip line is fairly basic, in the words of one reviewer, though safe and enjoyable. Pregnant travellers and people with back problems are advised against the trip, and anyone with serious heart or medical conditions should not book.

Common Questions