Expedition Report
The main aim of the Paddle Peru 2012 expedition was to kayak and explore some of the whitewater rivers in the remote parts of the Peruvian Andes, and relay their findings to the British and European paddling communities in order to increase awareness of Peru as a suitable kayaking destination. The team was comprised of 6 members, including 3 Imperial undergraduates and 1 Imperial postgraduate. The expedition, from late June 2012 to mid-September, enjoyed 12 weeks of whitewater kayaking and in total paddled 19 sections of river of which 2 were thought to be first descents. Three regions were explored, Pozuzo, 400km north east of Lima on the edge of the jungle, Cusco, in the heart of the Andes at high altitude, and Arequipa, towards the coast in the South of Peru.
Whilst in Pozuzo the team were able to negotiate the Rio Huancabamba, Rio Santa Cruz, Rio Pozuzo, and the Rio Mallampampa, (first descent). The group then travelled to Cusco via Lima, and here were able to tackle the Rio Velille, (first descent), Rio Apurimac, and finally Rio Urubamba which runs alongside Machu Picchu, through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. For the next stage the team journeyed to Arequipa, Peru’s second largest city, and in this region they kayaked the Rio Chile, Rio Cotahuasi, which flows through the deepest canyon in the world, (3535m deep), and Rio Colca, the second deepest canyon in the world. On returning to Cusco they teamed up with a veteran Peruvian kayaker who had completed many first descents in Peru, and together they kayaked the commercial section of the Rio Apurimac, Rio Urubamba, Rio Sacsara, Rio Santa Teresa and Rio Lucumayo. Two members then headed to Lake Titicaca where they paddled to some of the villages and towns and visited the island of Taquile.
Kayaking in the Andes involved the group having to travel at times to nearly 5,000m above sea level. Many of their runs were multiday events, and the level of kayaking reached Grade 5+ rapids. On several occasions occupants became separated from their boats and had to swim to shore whilst other members had to chase and rescue the unmanned boats and paddles. One of the boats was pinned for three days in the middle of a wide stretch of the Rio Apurimac before being retrieved. A thunderstorm led to flash floods which resulted in the team having to travel along near impassable roads on a journey back to Pozuzo. Transport in the region was provided in the form of buses, cattle trucks and on one journey to a remote location, donkeys, to which the kayaks were strapped. Local cuisine such as Manjar, (Peruvian coffee), cuy (guinea pig), was enjoyed, and during some of the runs, Inca ruins were encountered. A visit to Machu Picchu was also included in the itinerary.
In addition to funding provided by the Exploration Board this expedition was supported by the Old Centralians' Trust and Hereford Cathedral School. Equipment support was provided by Canon, Kent Canoes, Lyon Outdoor, Armourgel, and Dam Watersports.