We depart from Cusco toward the town of Calca, where we begin the ascent into the Urubamba mountain range, crossing the Lares pass before reaching the village and hot springs of Lares. There, we will have time to relax and enjoy the thermal waters. After lunch, we continue for approximately three more hours to the village of Quebrada, where we will spend the night in a comfortable and cozy hotel.

We continue very early by private transport and cross the pass that leads us to the Yavero River at 4,400 meters above sea level. We begin descending into the Amazon cloud forest, where the vegetation and Andean ecosystems gradually change. We will enjoy a packed breakfast and continue our journey toward the Amazon rainforest, descending to 950 meters at the banks of the Yavero River. Upon arrival, we prepare our rafting equipment and rafts, followed by an important safety briefing. We then begin this incredible adventure through the Class 3 rapids of the Yavero River. We camp on a river beach.

During the next four days, we will navigate the crystal-clear Yavero River, with its warm waters and rich biodiversity. We may see many species of birds, river otters, monkeys and even try some fishing. Each day, we raft for 4 to 5 hours through Class 3 rapids, passing small settlements of native Amazonian communities and camping on spectacular sandy beaches where we will light campfires, enjoy happy hour and prepare delicious meals. We can also take short exploration hikes into nearby streams and forest areas for nature observation. On the sixth day, we reach the Urubamba River, where we find the tributary Yoyato River, the location of our campsite just before entering the Pongo de Mainique. We will enjoy its spectacular turquoise-colored waters.

After a nourishing breakfast, we check in at the SERNANP control point of the Megantoni Reserve and begin the descent through the legendary Pongo de Mainique. This canyon is filled with tropical vegetation and is formed by the last section of the Andes mountain range opening into the lowland Amazon jungle. At the end of the rafting section, we leave the boats on the riverbank and begin a hike to the Pongo viewpoint. In the afternoon, our motorized boat will pick us up and take us back to our Yoyato beach campsite, where we will relax and pack our equipment in preparation for the return to Cusco.

We begin our trip by boat to Retorno and then continue to the port of Ivochote (approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes), where our private transportation will be waiting for us. From there, we continue to Echarate for lunch and then pass through the jungle town of Quillabamba until we arrive at our hotel: a beautiful countryside lodge surrounded by cacao, coffee and organic crops. The total driving time is approximately 8 hours.

After a good breakfast, we visit the lodge property, known for its Chuncho cacao production. Later, we begin the return journey crossing the Málaga Pass toward the Sacred Valley or Cusco (approximately 5 to 6 hours). For those wishing to continue to Machu Picchu, there is also the option to travel by road from Maranura and Santa María to Santa Teresa, and then continue to Aguas Calientes.