Adventure & Sports in Cusco | Outdoor Thrills Peru

Cusco Outdoor

Adventure lovers will find the Andes of Cusco the ideal place for trekking, camping, and climbing mountains. Peru’s highlands are filled with over 15,000 lakes, snow-capped mountains over 6,000 meters high, the world’s deepest canyons, rural valleys, and picturesque villages. The Andean Cordillera del Cusco offers unprecedented rafting opportunities, magnificent mountain biking routes, and strong winds on mountain cliffs for hang gliding and paragliding enthusiasts.

In the city of Cusco, you will find experienced guides who will advise you and allow you to practice the sport of your choice safely. They can also provide you with all the necessary equipment and logistics.

Rafting

The Urubamba River and its torrential waters (Levels I and II), especially between December and April, flow through some of the most spectacular landscapes in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, amidst places that blend the mysteries of the Incas with the purest excitement of adventure. It is possible to carry out tours for up to two days. It has sections for inexperienced people who offer little difficulty, and it is always advised to assist expert guides and provide all the necessary equipment for their safe and exciting practice.
Recommended sections are:

• Huambutío – Písac
• Calca – Urubamba (Huarán)
• Ollantaytambo, Chilca. (Stretch that can be combined with the Inca Trail)
  • The recommended season for canoeing on rafts or kayaks is May to October.
  • The months of July and August can significantly reduce the flow.
  • December to April corresponds to the rainy season, which presents significant challenges.

Canoeing on this river is reserved only for the most experienced, and it has rapids of classes I, II, III, and IV. It is one of the best scenarios, attracting athletes from all over the world. The Apurimac River is the Andean origin of the Amazon River; its narrow and deep channel forms one of the deepest depressions in America, with massive cliffs.

From the city of Cusco, you can hire guides who provide you with all the necessary equipment, logistics, and ground transportation. This adventure requires at least three days, and you can take tours lasting up to five days to explore the waters of the Apurimac.

Hiking, Mountain Biking, and Horseback Riding

If you want a spectacular hike with the highest excitement, take the “Inca Trail.” Alternatively, there are circuits of Lares, Salcantay, and Choquequirao, among others.

The beautiful landscapes of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, featuring nature trails and ancient Inca roads, offer an ideal and incomparable place to explore through hiking, mountain biking, or horseback riding. These tours can be a day or more, including camping at the end of each day. The ideal season is between April and November. The tremendous natural beauty of its scenery, rich flora, and fauna provides an excellent opportunity for birdwatching. Majestic snowcapped ravines, fabulous archeological remains, villages of native communities, and living museums await you.

Andinismo: Mountaineering

The department of Cusco is situated in three mountain ranges with numerous snowy peaks, offering beautiful natural scenery and providing opportunities to explore landscapes ideal for the practice of Andinismo. The Vilcabamba, Vilcanota, and Urubamba mountain ranges have impressive snowy peaks, including the Ausangate (6,336 m.s.n. – 20,787 feet), the Salcantay (6,271 m.s.n. – 20,574 feet), and the Veronica (5,750 m.s.n. – 18,865 feet)

Andinismo in this area is a sport that the most expert mountaineering professionals can practice. Who can choose routes of an ascent of extreme difficulty that can be practiced by fewer expert athletes using the classical ways of rising and conquering beautiful snowy peaks?

Rock Climbing (Mountrek)

Numerous almost vertical rock walls are found in the lower part of the snow-capped mountains of Vilcabamba, Vilcanota, and Urubamba, with enormous potential for rock climbing. Most experts will find routes of extreme difficulty, and there is a lower difficulty level for those with little experience.

Rock climbing practice is available all year round. However, the rainy season between December and April adds incredible difficulty.

Birdwatching in Cusco and the Sacred Valley

Peru is the 2nd most prosperous country in the world for bird diversity, and Cusco offers ideal birdwatching scenarios. In the department of Cusco, you can choose between the high and middle Andean zones (Sacred Valley), high forests (Sanctuary of Machu Picchu), and cloud forests (Manu National Park). The paradise route for observing birds is between Ollantaytambo and Quillabamba—the Abra de Málaga. Also, you can find many species of hummingbirds in Machu Picchu.

Sportfishing

In the waters of the Vilcanota River, you can fish for exquisite salmon and rainbow trout in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, especially between April and October.