Saltos de Diablo was perhaps the driving force that convinced us to explore the Rio Cotahuasi. When we saw the video of this incredible entrance to an unknown canyon we were driven to explore its depths.The waterfall cascades some 156 meters (500+ ft) in five distinct drops. Although the intermediate pools are virtually impossible to reach, tales of huge trout prodded us into a death defying portage and moonlight descent to reach the lowest pool.
The trails in this area are spectacular. An Inca bridge spanned the falls until a few decades ago when Rene's father burned it to keep a marauding couger from crossing to kill his livestock. The abutments remain as monuments to the Inca's engineering feats.
Just upstream of the falls the river plunges through some challenging rapids. We almost lost the Shredder over the falls when it flipped 100 meters from the lip. I guess the Inca gods were smiling upon us that day.
From here you can load your gear on burros and make the daylong portage to regain the river below Chaupo. Or, you can return upriver to rerun some of the most incredible whitewater on the planet.