Anyone who says Ecuador is only for Class IV+ boaters has never joined us for an   awesome week of boating on a less-than Class IV+ trip! And this is especially true with the friends that we have join us!  Take this week for example; here are some great statistics:...

There are a lot of similarities among the organized trips here in Ecuador. Of the established companies here, everyone does a really good job. And how could you not with the everything this country has to offer.  Just the "classic" runs that really are must-dos for...

It is surmised by rain forest specialists that there is an almost 100% fall-rate of trees in the rain forest and that it is a good thing. Trees get tall and tired and when they fall down, a space is opened up for a new little tree to scoot in and grab some sunlight...

Bring together a solid Class IV+ group of southeastern boaters who have been suffering through the drought and what is the one thing they all want: rain!! So we had to have an attitude adjustment at the beginning of this past week: we had to agree that there would be...

Sunshine, great water levels, incredible Class III-IV runs....just the start to a week that ended 2007 and brought in the 2008 new year! If our week was any indication of 2008--stick with us, it is going to be a great year!! Heading out of Quito, we had to stop and...

Progress. A kayak itself defines modern technological progress: plastic that is durable, able to take a pounding, does not melt in the sun.... as with the boats themselves, progress is needed to expand boating options in a country; usually in the form of roads built....

There is nothing better than being on a river...well maybe being on a river and taking a break to eat a peanut butter sandwich. Hey�it does not have to be a sandwich per se, it can be peanut butter on cookies, or yippys, peanut butter with a little mango on the side,...

During Carnaval week you have to watch out for the guns.  And the silly string.  Water is a big part of the theme of Ecuador’s Carnaval celebrations.  So squirt guns are in the hands of every child and everyone is fair game in the week’s squirt-and-run attacks!  And...

  During the past few weeks, every bit of warmth may have been diverted from the States and sent to Ecuador.  We thank you!  And so did our last group of paddlers that reluctantly returned home to shovel snow after a memorable week of paddling.   Participating in...

51 That is how many waterfalls were counted as we paddled the Lower Jondachi/Hollin.  And no two were alike (sounds like a snow storm!)  Landscape designers would be envious of the way Mother Nature has decorated the bank of the river with cascading waterfalls...

Antisana Volcano magically appeared yesterday morning…looming majestically over the Quijos Valley in all its snow-capped glory.  Granted, in order to finally come out of hibernation it first had to take a snow blower and wipe the skies clear of the rain that had...

The lower run on Ecuador’s Cosanga River is often described as a continuous version of the Chattooga’s Five Falls…without the two-mile paddle at the end.  Instead of the two-mile flat water paddle across the lake, you paddle into the Quijos River for a few more...

There are specific times when soaking in hot springs is pure joy: after a day of skiing or a week of kayaking come to mind right away. This is especially true here in Ecuador as the paddling tends to be “busyâ€? and at the end of six full days, the muscles start to...

When Angel pulled off his belt and explained that each of us had to give our burning muneca a belting for each year of the 21st century, our participation in Ecuadors New Years Eve celebration took a turn for the weird!  But then, New Years Eve celebration in Ecuador...

Most of us have a favorite river.  But when you run many different rivers it is hard to call one single section a “favorite.â€?  Instead, it is easier having a favorite style of river (i.e.: big water or steep creeking).  But that also gets thrown out a bit...

 The ERA team has had some unusual Christmas experiences together.  Because of trip schedules and travel restrictions over the holidays, we have often finished up our trips in Costa Rica and headed straight down to Ecuador. This allows us time to do a run-down of the...

We barely made it out of town this morning before the marching band, ice cream vendors, buckets of cokes vendors, as well as hordes of parade participants effused with the Christmas spirit took to the highway to parade from the town of Borja to El Chaco.  In our van...