Shared photos have been added to the ERA collection for our November 8th - Noveember 15th Costa Rica Class III-IV trips. Two great groups of boaters and some awesome photos shared by the group! Check out and enjoy the photos of the trip!
Adventure Travel
Howlers, Cotomundis and Non Stop Paddling!
You know it is an unusual day on the water when you have an audience watching you paddle down the river .and that audience happens to be a tree full of howler monkeys. Welcome to paddling in Costa Rica! And our Nov 08 - Nov 15 Class III-IV trip. This week was not...
No Vacancy in the Holes
It is disconcerting when you head into a rapid and realize that all the preferable holes to fall into (the ones that might be better-than-not-so-good) all appear to have no vacancy signs because your fellow boaters are already surfing around in them and you are...
Turtle Egg Shots and the Upper Pacuare Costa Rica!
Nothing like turtle egg shots at the end of an awesome day on the river! Okayfirst clarification-the turtle eggs are not from endangered turtles trying to make it to shore on a lonely reef on the coast they are farmed turtle eggs (kind of like farmed chicken eggs you...
Readjusting to kayaking in Costa Rica
Kick Ass on Day One! Nothing like arriving in Costa Rica and in less than 24 hours hitting three big events: two festivals--Dia de los Muertos and Feria de Pejibaye, and one awesome stretch of river. Dia de los Muertos might resonate for some because this holiday was...
Primping for Costa Rica
I don't think I would ever call being a kayak guide a "glamorous" job. You wear funky sometimes smelly gear; you are wet a whole bunch; sometimes you have to roll up and quickly wipe your nose; and you find yourself walking through ankle-deep in-you-know-what cow...
Changing Scenery for the Winter
The first frost (no--the first snow) has occurred in North Carolina, Day Light Savings time is this weekend...all the signs that it was time to change scenery for the winter. First stop...Costa Rica!
Dam Updates from Ecuador
The Ecuadorian Rivers Institute(ERI) is one recipients of our Ecuador whitewater guests' "t-shirt project," with donations from the trip t-shirt going to help support the Napo River Festival and other endeavors. ERI has been working at a feverish pace this year to try...
Tips for the Traveling Paddler
Having worked as a kayak guide in multiple countries over the years, I have definitely been a part of “experiential education” in paddling in foreign countries-- both first-hand and second hand. Over the years I have seen an improvement in the logistics of our own...
Finishing Up in Style: Feb 08 – Feb 16 Ecuador Kayak Trip
The Oyacachi. One of our favorite runs in Ecuador, and one that frequently gets missed out on by boaters in Ecuador. Describing it in a nutshell, call it a steep mountain river where staying right side up is key to avoid getting washed into somewhere you would...
Full Ecuadorian Immersion: Friends, Rivers, Wildlife and Language
There is nothing like full immersion when you embark on an international paddling tripsometimes immersion referring to the culture, sometimes to your time on/in the river. Take this week for example: we are about to embark with a group of paddlers who have immersed...
Finishing up a Great Class III Trip In Ecuador
The following was inspired by six great days of paddling, finishing up with a soak in the hot tubs, and a cold beer for the ride back to Quito..... It is our last day of kayaking and oh how far we've come So let's end as we started- in Quito on night number one. We...
Spinning the 8-Ball for a Class III Ecuador Trip
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:...
Why Our Ecuador Itinerary is Different
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...
Playing Mother Nature here in Ecuador
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...
The Need for Redemption: Ecuador Style
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...
Bringing in the 2008 New Year: Ecuador Style
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...
Recipe for Christmas Kayaking In Ecuador
Here is how Team ERA cooks up a winning Christmas Recipe: 1. Put together a good group of friends, many of whom have paddled with us (many times) previously. And we have them join us for Christmas 2007 here in Ecuador. 2. Survive the holiday travel nightmares getting...
An Incredible Day Kayaking the Rio Piatua, Ecuador
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....
A Reading List for Kayaking In Costa Rica/Ecuador
Part of taking a vacation is being able to have some down time. No one ever believes it until they are with us: often with a week-long paddling trip, by the time dinner is over thoughts of bedtime are dancing through everyone´s heads. There are evenings where it can...