Ecuador

About the Country
For whitewater paddlers, Ecuador offers a network of rivers falling off either side of the Andes — the spectacular range of mountains which serve as the backbone of the country. A country of immense cultural wealth and geographical diversity unmatched in the Americas, Ecuador consists of the towering Andes, snowcapped volcanoes, fantastic animals, expanses of Amazon jungle, the Pacific Cost and the Galapagos Islands. Ecuadorians include descendants of the Spanish conquistadors and original pre-Columbian inhabitants, many of whom still speak "Quicha" and maintain traditions from Inca times and before. The people are approachable and easy going and you will find them remarkably open to foreigners.

The striking geographical and cultural contrasts you will encounter while paddling with us are what make Ecuador such a fascinating place to boat. Remote and untouched in spirit, the potential of rivers in Ecuador can be called nothing less than remarkable! Ecuador compliments our Costa Rica trips in the diversity of rivers to be boated at all skill levels. And it is hard to beat warm-water boating during the cold winter months!

The Rivers We Paddle
A frequent comment after a day of paddling in Ecuador is that “you paddle more continuous whitewater in a week than one can usually do in a year’s worth of boating.” Ecuador offers a network of rivers falling off either side of the Andes. Ecuador, similar to Costa Rica, is a jungle, rain-forest environment. The rivers will vary from steep, technical runs similar to rivers found in the southeast US, to big water runs full of surf waves and play holes.

We provide itineraries from Class III to Class IV+. Each of our itineraries includes six days of paddling and an additional in-country day to explore the culture of Ecuador. Our focus is specifically on two regions of the country: the Quijos watershed and the Tena Region. We use various combinations of runs on our Class III, III-IV, Class IV and Class IV+ trips. The sections we use depend on the experience level of the group and water levels. And we are always looking for new rivers to add to the itineraries!

"I again wanted to thank you for an absolutely fabulous week. I know that I do not have to tell you, but the quality of the paddling that you provide access to, and support for, is just awesome. Truly one of the best trips of my life."
- Brad, Maine

Additional Information and Reservations
The boats we supply are current and tend to run more towards river runners/creek boats because of the style rivers we run. It is possible to bring your own boat down if you are more comfortable with your personal boat but we would always make sure you had a back up plan.

Deciding on which trip to go on? Review The Trip for You information and take time to talk with us about which trip will ensure you have the best time! For complete trip itineraries and trip sign-up material contact us.

Custom Trips
We can plan a special trip for you and your friends. Choose dates that work best for you and your friends, regardless of the skill level or dates published. We can do high-end itineraries, or mixed-group itineraries to make everyone happy. Itineraries can include plans for on and off the river groups. Call us for more information on custom trip itineraries that will work for you!

"We have been home for a week and we are still enjoying the glow of a wonderful trip. You guys really have a knack for putting on a great trip. Everything was perfect; all the little details of the trip worked smoothly, the rivers you chose were perfect and we both thoroughly enjoyed the biking portion of the trip. It is a pleasure to travel though the countryside with you as you spread friendship and goodwill to folks you meet along the way."
-Devi and Hunter, on a sailboat somewhere

Additional Days
You have gone out of your way to plan a paddling vacation to this great country. If you have additional days available, plan to stay after your trip! With extra days in this Inca nation, you have the opportunity to experience the towering Andes by bicycle, climb snow-capped volcanoes, take a jungle trip down into the Amazon jungle, swim with the sea lions at the Galapagos, or hang out on a Pacific Coast beach.