Adventures

Very often, Kuoda's clients ask us to design a program with portions that include various activities and adventure sports. Peru offers the adventurous traveler some of the best opportunities for exercising their chosen activity. With so many different types of terrain and climates, a wide variety of sports and activities are available to choose from in Peru and the rest of South America.

HIKING

South America has some of the best hikes in the world, with superb vistas and amazing scenery that can be viewed nowhere else. Some of the best hiking in South America is on the Inka Trail to Machupicchu, the Torres de Paine in Patagonia in Chile, and the Galapagos Islands off Ecuador.

The Inka Trail, part of the ancient network of Inka roads found throughout much of Peru, is one of the most famous, and without a doubt, spectacular hikes in the world. Every year, approximately 25,000 people from all over the world come to Peru to traverse one of the most extraordinary routes of our ancestors, a trek of 43 kilometers that leads to the Inka citadel of Machupicchu.

The Torres de Paine National Park in Patagonia is also considered one of the don´t miss destinations of a lifetime. Here one can attain truly spectacular views while hiking among the pink granite peaks of the torres (rock towers) The Horns of Paine are  bi-colored stone turrets  located here, that provide an even more marvelous vista for the hiker. 

In Ecuador, one of the most popular treks is the Trek de Condor, which takes you through territory dominated by the Antisana, Sincholagua and Cotopaxi Volcanoes.
This region is known as the paramo (sub-alpine region) The amazing views of the volcanoes make this an amazing trek.

BIKING

Every year in Peru, thousands of cyclists converge to cover the diverse Peruvian biking trails, making this one of the fastest-growing sports in Peru.
Considering factors like the degree of difficulty and logistics, biking routes are rated in three categories: (A) For beginners, there are relatively non-sloping routes with hard, compact trails (B) For somewhat experienced bikers, there exist steeper trails with a certain degree of risk. (C) Trails reserved for experts, with steep, winding roads and spectacular drop-offs. Some of the most popular biking routes in Peru are the Pachacamac, with a variety of trails with different degrees of difficulty; Paracas, with short routes best accompanied by an expert; and the Colca Valley, with highly demanding Class B and C trails.

In Bolivia, the road betwern La Paz and Coroico village in the Yungas is known as the most dangerous road in the world. This narrow dirt track has recently been replaced by a modern highway,  but extreme biking enthusiasts still enjoy taking the hairpin turns and spectacular drop offs of the old road.

In Chile and Argentina, there are many spectacular routes for cycling, including Patagonia, which has some of the most remote wilderness in the world. One can pass through amazing scenery that includes mountains, forests, and lake areas in the vastness of the Patagonian wilderness.

RAFTING

Some of the best white water in the world can be found in Peru. One can raft down the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley and for something more exciting, the mighty Apurimac River. This is considered one of the best rivers for rafting in the world. Rafting in the Colca Canyon, one of the world’s deepest canyons is also a great option.

In Ecuador, the Quijos River has many miles of Class IV and higher rapids running through rainforest and canyons. This is a rafting trip for experienced rafters, as the river is extremely wild.

In Chile is found some great white water as well, such as on the Futaleufu River, one of the most challenging rivers anywhere. The waters here flow from a chain of Argentinean Lakes into the rugged glacier mountains in the south of Chile´s Patagonian region.

All of these are great options for the rafting adventurer, and they are only three of the many rafting options available in South America.

KAYAKING

Kayaking is an activity that originated with the Inuit people, in the Artic Circle, and is over 3000 years old. This noble sport combines navigation and respect for the environment and permits access to some of the most remote and beautiful wilderness areas of South America.

Peru is a perfect place for the practice of kayaking, thanks to the Andes mountain chain, which boasts gorgeous rivers on both its eastern and western sides. The level of difficulty of the waters is rated on a scale of I to IV.

Kayaking on Lake Titicaca, the hightest navigable lake in the world, is another marvelous option. Paddling your kayak to visit one of the indigenous islands on the lake is an experience not to be missed.

In Chile, the rivers and lakes of Patagonia also offer some great white water, sea kayaking or paddling. November and December are great months to experience this sport in one of the greatest wilderness regions on Earth.