Cusco is at 3300m so it was a bit of a shock to the system when I first arrived. Especially when local kayaker Noel picked me up and I had to climb a bunch of stairs to get to his flat! However the acclimatisation was going well and as my kayak had finally arrived we could head to the Urubamba River and drop some altitude!!
We got stuck in the village of Urubamba for a day or so as there was a strike called and with the roads closed to the jungle we just had to sit it out and wait for it all to pass. This was not going to be the first or the last strike to affect me in Cusco but at least we could head to the market, drink some freshly made juices and watch the world go bye!
Finally we were on our way and with our little taxi we headed over a couple of passes over 4000m, through the village of Santa Maria and onwards to Santa Teresa. The road was pretty sketchy in places and with our little Cusco taxi just making it through the side streams I wished we were in our usual Tata Sumo jeep that we know and trust in India.
However, Percy our driver kept going and going and we were rewarded with a stunning view of Salkantay mountain and the Urubamba River below. This road is also the back door route to Machu Picchu if the trains are fully booked or you do not want to cough up the price!
Again another fresh juice and a fried egg and avocado roll for breakfast and we were ready to kayak. The first part was pretty steep with continuous rapids and plenty of scouting. There had been a few landslides and a couple of years back there was a big flood that tore away the train tracks.
We actually came across some of the train tracks in the river further downstream.
The water was nice and warm and we were getting more of a jungle feel to the river now. We arrived at a small gorge where the colours of the walls were absolutely stunning.
We had seen a bit of the gorge from up on the road but it was only now revealing its beauty!
Though only short, the gorge was spectacular with some great rapids and drops
The river now started to change character as it widened and the rapids were more spaced out.
Noel was enjoying being back on this section of the Urubamba, it had been a few years since he was last here.
There were still plenty of places and drops to catch some air.
It was great to be finally kayaking in Peru, it had been a long time. In fact it was some 7 years since I last kayaked in Peru and the lower part of the Urubamba was just the perfect way to get into the flow and enjoy some warm water kayaking in the land of the Incas!!
A big shout to Noel for putting me up at his place and more importantly having the drive to get out of Cusco and go boating!!
Next was a spot of trekking, Machu Picchu and a day on the river with a South American legend....
Steve
Kayak School Arlberg
www.gokayaking.at
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