Rafting in Arequipa: White water in Chilina Valley

You paddle the rapids, not ride them

Rafting in Arequipa's Chilina Valley is a four-hour white water adventure where you navigate the rapids with a professional guide, private transport and basic snacks included. Children from age 12 are welcome; guides speak English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese. The operator's strength is river tourism with high safety standards and personalized service.

Step-by-step itinerary

Adventure in Chilina Valley, Arequipa

• Explore Chilina Valley landscapes
• View volcanoes Misti and Chachani
• Enjoy photography and hiking

The Experience

You're in Arequipa with an afternoon free and no experience required. The guide picks you up and drives you into the Chilina Valley, where the Misti and Chachani volcanoes frame the landscape. The river here runs through a valley that combines white water with the kind of scenery that stops you mid-paddle—the kind of place where the activity and the setting are the same reason to come.

Once on the water, you're paddling your own raft through the rapids under the guide's supervision. This isn't a passive ride; you're making the decisions about line and timing, which is what separates it from a standard tour boat. The guide handles safety and navigation, but the work—and the adrenaline—is yours. The valley's volcanoes stay visible the whole time, and the water changes character as you move downstream, so the four hours doesn't feel like a single stretch.

Transport is included, so you don't arrange a separate ride to the valley. You get water and cookies during the break, and the guide speaks your language—English, Spanish, Italian, French or Portuguese. Kids from twelve can join, which means families can do this together. The operator runs a kayak school and offers rock climbing too, but the rafting is where their reputation sits: they've built this around river tourism and the people who know how to run it safely.

What’s included

• Private transportation to and from the Chilina Valley.
• professional guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or Portuguese.
• water and cookies during the break.
• all rafting equipment.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Expediciones y Aventuras

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to paddle the rapids yourself rather than sit as a passenger—the Chilina Valley is where you make the decisions about line and timing, which is what turns a boat ride into an activity. The four-hour window fits an afternoon free, and the volcanoes on the horizon mean you're not just looking at water.

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Top questions

Can I raft the Chilina Valley if I've never been in a raft before?

Yes. The Chilina Valley rafting is designed for all physical fitness levels and no experience is required. The guide supervises the whole time and handles the technical decisions; you paddle and navigate under their instruction.

What's the difference between the two rafting options at checkout?

Rafting & Picnic includes a meal during the break; Rafting in Arequipa is the river activity alone with water and cookies. Both are four hours with the same guide and transport.

How old do children have to be to raft in the Chilina Valley?

Children from age 12 can join the rafting. Equipment is provided for that age group, and the guide adjusts the experience for younger paddlers.

Does the price include getting to the river?

Yes. Private transportation from your location in Arequipa to the Chilina Valley and back is included in the rafting price.

What makes the Chilina Valley different from other rafting spots near Arequipa?

The valley sits between the Misti and Chachani volcanoes, so the landscape is part of the experience. The operator specializes in river tourism and runs the rapids with professional guides trained in high safety standards, which is their core strength.