Arequipa: Río Chili Rafting Class III & IV Rapids

White Water 20 Minutes From the City

You get picked up from your Arequipa hotel, driven to the Río Chili put-in, and spend an hour paddling Class II-IV rapids through a canyon section 20 minutes outside the city. All gear is provided, a professional guide leads the trip, and you're back at your hotel within three hours. No experience needed, and the timing leaves your afternoon open.

Step-by-step itinerary

Rafting on Río Chili near Arequipa

• Drive 20 minutes from Arequipa center
• Raft 6-7 km on Río Chili
• Navigate Class II, III, and IV rapids
• Enjoy 1 hour rafting on the river
• Return to starting point

The experience

The raft hits the first rapid and the river roars. You're gripping the paddle, water spraying cold across your face, and Arequipa's urban sprawl is already gone: replaced by canyon walls and the sound of Class III water churning beneath you. The Río Chili sits just 20 minutes from the city center, which means you're not spending half your day in a van. You're in the water within an hour of hotel pickup, paddling a 6-kilometer section that moves between Class II and Class III rapids, with a few Class IV sections that actually get your heart going.

The whole thing runs about three hours door-to-door, which is the kind of timeframe that works if you've got a morning free but not your entire day. Your guide is a professional. They handle the safety briefing, read the water, and call the strokes. You get a helmet, life vest, wetsuit, booties and a splash jacket, so you're not sitting in wet clothes for the rest of the afternoon. The rapids themselves are real enough to feel like something happened, but the river is designed so that people without rafting experience can do it. Kids come along too, as long as an adult is in the boat with them.

After you pull out, there's a snack waiting. Nothing fancy, just something to eat while you're still buzzing from the current. Then the drive back to your hotel in the city center, and you're done. The whole day doesn't demand much of you except that you show up ready to paddle.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off from city center hotels, professional rafting guides, all river safety gear (helmet, life vest, wetsuit, booties, splash jacket), one hour of rafting on the Río Chili, and a post-rafting snack.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 11:00 and 14:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (7 to 13 years) · Under 7: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Kanuwa Rafting

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a real whitewater experience without losing a full day to travel and logistics: the 20-minute drive and three-hour total time mean you can fit it into a shorter schedule while still getting an hour of actual paddling.

Traveler reviews

4.94★★★★★★★★★★

178 verified traveler reviews

5 ★170

4 ★7

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (7 to 13 years). Under 7: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How far is the Río Chili from Arequipa?

The put-in is a 20-minute drive from Arequipa's city center.

What class of rapids are on this section?

The 6-kilometer section includes Class II, III, and IV rapids. It's intermediate level.

How long is the whole trip?

About three hours door-to-door, with roughly one hour spent on the water.

Is rafting experience required?

No. The trip is suitable for adults and children with or without experience.

What gear is included?

Helmet, life vest, wetsuit, booties, splash jacket, and all rafting equipment.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in Arequipa's city center.

What happens after the rafting?

You get a post-rafting snack before being driven back to your hotel.