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RAINBOW MOUNTAIN, RAFTING THE VILCANOTA RIVER: 2D, 1N

Overview

In the Andes, the towering Ausangate snow peak in the Vilcanota mountain range is considered sacred. At 6384 meters it is one of the highest mountains in Peru. As the symbol of the father and masculinity, Ausangate is said to fertilize Pachamama, or Mother Earth herself.Andean traditions and myths consider this mountain to be “Apu”, a god, and the spiritual protector of the native people.

Rainbow Mountain Peru, also known as Vinicunca, is an undiscovered area with wild desert landscapes, snowcapped glacial peaks, herds of alpaca, and pristine beauty.

This journey passes between two different ecosystems, first is the Andean grassland called “puna”, and closer to the glaciers, the “janca” ecosystem. There is interesting flora and fauna on the way to the sacred mountain of Vinicunca. Among the species that may be seen will be the river gull, Andean flicker, falcon, and puna ibis. There may be ichu grasses and tress such as polilepis like queuñas. Near the glaciers there are many succulents, mosses and chilcas shrubs from the aster family.

The journey passes through a vibrant green valley with the impressive Ausangate Mountain towering in the distance. You will experience firsthand how locals live in the mountains and even see them hard at work. As you get closer to the Rainbow Mountain you will begin to see the first signs of the colored minerals and your guide will explain what makes up the Rainbow Mountain. One last push either on foot, mule or horseback ends at a spot with a 360 degree view of the breathtaking landscape of this sacred land. A great sense of satisfaction descends upon you on arrival at the ultimate destination – the painted hills of Rainbow Mountain, hidden deep in the Andes. The same trail takes us back down through magnificent scenery to the beginning where hot drinks and a warm meal will be waiting for you in the dining tent after your challenge to this magnificent scenery.

Duration: Full day 4am – 6pm

Distance: 15K / 9.3 miles optional 10Km / 6.5 miles

Elevation: 4300m (14,200ft) – 5035m (16,520ft)

Difficulty: moderate / difficult

The Inca road system called Capac Ñan (beautiful road or Great Inca road) it was the most extensive and complex ancient system in the new world. It is believed that this main road built it by the Incas was the main net work system that connected the four cardinal points in this part of the world. This sacred road was also part of the Inca empire high way of the Tawantinsuyo( the empire of the four corners).Chinchaysuyo(the north region,Contisuyo( the south region),Collasuyo (the west region) and then the Antisuyo( the east region )ending in the jungles of the unexplored Amazon

It use to run from south to north and from west to the east parts of the Andes with several primary and secondary roads that were connecting several sacred places, Inca cities, shires and administrative places as well military stations.All of them with great scale, beauty and functions, providing also all kind of sources for the people, helping the redistribution and spreading around the messages of the Incas, carried by Inca runners who where coming from the capital Cusco. The Capac ñan was a great web and work system with all the communication well organize with imperials and government messages and member in duty, used by the Inca people .In this way the Incas achieve a well organize empire and only with one language, one religion and one culture ,The Inca culture.
The Capac ñan covered a distance of over 40 thousand kilometers of primary and secundary roads made it by the Incas or added to their sistem from preInca civilizations and over 3000 kilometers long in a territory filled with one of the longest mountain range called the Andes over 9000 kilometers long, one of the densest jungle in the world the Amazon and one of the dries places in the world the dessert of Peru and Atacama. With elevations in between 100 to 5000 mts providing access to different ecosystem and territory estimates in over 5,000,000 square kilometers of territory, where the Incas built and crossed mountains valleys rivers and glaciers. The main road of the Incas was also beginning in the great capital of the Inca empire Cusco or Qosqo (navel of the world).According with the evidence found in this capital .There was the four main roads beginning in the sacred plaza of Aukaipata in the heart of the Inca capital city and used to go to the four directions of the empire ending in the places like the jungle and the high plateau of the Andes. Others covering valleys and then deserts ending close to the ocean.

It went in to places like Ecuador and Colombia in the north .as well to places like Bolivia, Argentina and the deserts of Atacama in between Peru and Chile. To access to those Inca roads it was mandatory to get permissions because many of f those Inca roads were used by members of the high classes and soldiers as well many representers of the government in duty. In some bridges taxes where charged as well many messagers were running through stations to deliver the messages that were connecting the different places.

The most spectacular and scenery road is found near Cusco that connects some sacred cities like Machu picchu, Choquequirao, Vilcabamba, Vitcos, Espiritu pampa.as well Sacred mountains called Apus like the Mythic Ausangante (6384 mts) and the Salcantay (6221mts).Finally some of those Inca trails are connecting communities in the area of Lares and the sacred valley ending some of the in the jungles of the department of Cusco.

itinerary

THE GREAT URUBAMBA RIVER/RAFTING CLASS III- IV.
The Great Urubamba River in Peru is a partially navigable headwater of the Amazon River. It rises in the Andes to the southeast of Cusco, near the border of the Puno region, in a place called “La Raya Pass”, which at 4338 meters; it lies between the snowcapped Chimboya that rises to 5489 meters and the Mosaya snow peak, at 5400 meters. Here, at its origin, it is called the sacred Vilcanota River. Another main source of water for this sacred river is the snowcapped mountain Ausangate that rises to 6384 meters. As it flows in the Sacred Valley between Pisac and Ollantaytambo the river is called the Willcamayu or “Sacred River of the Incas”. It flows north-northeast for about 724 kilometers before joining the great Apurimac River to form the Ucayali River. Together they join the Marañon River and the Napo River to form the Great Amazon River near Iquitos in the north part of Perú.

River rafting: Vilcanota,Chuquicahuana section:
After two hours drive we reach a town called LLocllora. Late afternoon we will arrive to the camp near the river to enjoy hotdrinks and some rum,fire for the night and agood sleep near the sounds of the water of the sacred river vilcanota. After , we reach a town called LLocllora where we get up for breakfast and for preparations, safety instructions and to gather our equipment and gear for the rafting trip. Because this is a challenging section, we will meet up with our “Safety Kayak” who will accompany us along this section. For the first 3,30 minutes , we will be in a variety of class I, II, III, IV rapids, over a distance of 30 kilometers. Our first class III rapid is called “the Introduction” which is good training for the main rapids coming ahead. After that, we pass the class III+ rapid called “the Curve”, and then we will continue through easy class I and class II rapids. After a rest in a spot with great views of the Vilcanota Mountain range, we will run the canyon, enjoying a section with two class III+ rapids, called “the Train of Waves” and “the Knife”. Further down the canyon we will run three class IV rapids.Because our first class IV rapid is difficult, we will stop to scout the rapid and assess the conditions. Continuing down the river, we will run “the Butterfly” rapid, a class IV with technical conditions, then “the Bridge” rapid, also a class IV.

We will take a break in another spot with beautiful views of the Vilcanota mountain range and prepare for the next challenging section. “The Big Waves” is a large class IV rapid that is over 100 meters long with big, continual waves. Later, we will have two great class III+ rapids until we reach a flat section. The rest of the day is class I and class II rapids. Along the way, we enjoy excellent opportunities to see some of the flora and fauna of the Inter Andean valleys.

Then we will float for a while in class I;II rapids with incredible scenery of the vilcanota mountain range. With great variety of flora and fauna such a Andean gull, black phoebes and giants hummingbirds.as well we will be paddling in grass land and Andean scrub bush vegetation with tress like pepper corn and tanning.as well chachacomos and queñas which is part of our native forest “the Introduction” rapid, which is class III. From there we go through a section of class II rapids until we reach Cusipata Canyon, which has class III rapids..

We continue through sections with some waves and some flat sections of class I and class II rapids, then more class II rapids. All along, we will be enjoying beautiful views of the Vilcanota Mountain range and the flora and fauna of the Andean forest. We take-out at a beautiful spot change into dry clothes and have a picnic lunch. Our drive back to Cusco is about one hour and a half..

Includes

Included: We Provide and Include: Itinerary transport round trip from Cusco-Licensed,C;P;R,SWISS WATER RESCUE COURSES Bilingual, history and naturalist Tour Guides-All Itinerary Meals, including vegetarian & snacks, Safety orientation and River Equipment , optional activities-First Aid kit and Oxygen-Tour specific,-Dining tent, Cook & Services. Emergency phone, Safety Kayak. Portable toilet. Pictures and video optional

Note

We can recommend the best and more comfortable hotels or we can take care of the reservations for you.

For adjusting to tour altitude, we suggest one day tours like the Sacred Valley hike,one day River Rafting before the Apurímac River and the City Tour of Cusco hike. As Guides we offer 100% Gauranteed Information, for your sensibilities – about the best specific hotel rooms and services around Peru, like extra windows and other amenities.

What to bring

This is a list designed to advise you what equipment is appropriate to bring according to the weather conditions predominating at the time of your trip:

Jeans and other pants are good as well.as well any clothes that cover the request of being water proof or resistance to water or cold are fine as long they are resistance to the conditions are fine.

  • Flashlights (at least one headlamp among them).
  • Sun Block; Insect Repellent.
  • Towels (Small; cotton and hygienic).
  • Rain Gear (Pants and Jacket)
  • A couple of pairs of socks, perhaps even an extra pair.
  • One pair of trousers for the evening plus two more pairs for trail use (zipp-offs).
  • Sandals for River OR DRYSHOES.ASWELL use or CAMP OR HOTEL use (Teva types).
  • Low ankle height hiking shoes or regular hiking boots (check the season).
  • Reading material.
  • Binoculars (always useful regardless of season and activity).
  • Bathing Suit.
  • Water Bottle (I liter capacity).
  • Good Sun glasses, perhaps two sets.
  • A bandana for neck protection.
  • A couple of sets of underwear (perhaps an extra pair).
  • Camera and plenty of film.
  • Passport (plus a couple of Xerox copies).

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