Apurímac

Capital: Abancay
Population: 420,000
Tourist Attractions: Hiking, White Water Rafting, Source of The Amazon River
Peru Guide – Importance Rating: Low

The name of this southern-central region originates from the native Quechua language, meaning ‘Where Gods Speak’ referring to the many mountains that seem to be talking to each other. The Apurimac Region is also considered to be the source of the mighty Amazon River, starting from just a small trickle before turning into the Ucayali-Apurímac River and down river turning into The Amazon River. This region is not overly popular with tourists, but does provide a superb opportunity for hiking and River Rafting expeditions from Cusco.