| Until very
recently, the Rio Apurimac remained a
scarcely known river through one of the
deepest canyons in the world and the
uppermost source of the Amazon River.
Rising in Peru’s glaciated southwestern
Cordilleras at 18,000’ in elevation,
the Apurimac courses downstream through
a distinctive narrow canyon sculpted
over the millennia into smooth, overhanging
walls of incredible shapes and of astonishing
dimensions. Today, the Apurimac (translated
as “divinity talker” in native
dialect) remains one of the least explored
canyons on Earth. The gorge features
fantastic waterfalls and stunning scenery,
awesome Class III-V whitewater, one portage
at a point where the river constricts
to less than one-tenth its size, and
an unrivaled feeling of remoteness.
Stretching over a massive area throughout
the Peruvian Himalaya, the Inca road
system covered nearly 14,000 miles. Portions
of the network remain today, providing
trekkers with access to some of the most
spectacular mountain passes and to a
multitude of pre-Columbian ruins. Among
the most impressive of the Incan ruins
is the renowned Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas.” Situated within a stunning valley at 8,000 feet in elevation, the greatest of the Incan establishments beckons visitors from around the world, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The site officially encompasses 325 square kilometers and features marvelous well-preserved stone structures, religious sites, gardens, and walkways. |
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Rio Apurimac/
Inca Trail Video
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recent expedition video!
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