Kayaking in Ecuador is all about the culture, the lodge, the rivers, the guides, the experience!

Which Level International Kayak Trip Is Best For Me?

You are planning a paddling vacation, so please be sure to choose a trip with which you will be comfortable and enjoy. Paddling in a foreign country adds variables not found on “backyard runs” paddlers are used to back home. Rivers can often be remote and access off the river can be limited to impossible. Water levels can fluctuate dramatically in a rain-forest setting. It is important that you choose a trip that is suitable for your skill level.

You will paddle more continuous whitewater in a week than one can usually do in a year’s worth of boating!

In an effort to help you choose the trip most enjoyable, following is a sampling of rivers under each skill level that we feel are accurate comparisons:

CLASS II-III TRIP

Paddlers on this trip should have a fairly consistent whitewater roll. Rivers that will help you enjoy the trip include:

  • N. Fork of the American, CA (Shirttail Run), CA
  • Wolf River, WI (Sec III),WI
  • Lehigh River (Whitehaven to Rockport),
  • Nantahala River, NC,
  • Section III of the Chattooga River,GA
  • Hiawassee River, GA
  • Lower Pigeon, NC
CLASS III TRIP
Paddlers on this trip should have confidence rolling in Class III rapids.  To enjoy a Class III trip, the following rivers will help you prepare:

  • Ocoee, TN (from Second Helping to the takeout)
  • Shoshone Section of the Colorado,CO
  • Lower Section of the Roaring Fork,CO
  • Section III of the Chattooga,GA
  • Chili Bar Section of the South Fork of the American,CA
  • Brown’s Canyon of the Arkansas,CO
  • Westwater Canyon of the Colorado,
  • Deerfield River,
  • French Broad River, NC
  • Pigeon River, NC
CLASS III-IV TRIP
This trip is for paddlers who run an occasional Class IV rapid, but prefer a Class III river with the option of Class IV rapids.  Paddlers should be comfortable on rivers such as:

  • S. Fork of the American (Riverton to Peavine), CA
  • Kern River (Miracle Run), CA
  • Numbers of the Arkansas River, CO
  • Wolf River (Otter Slide to Big Smoky), WI
  • Ocoee River (with no trouble at Broken Nose), TN
  • Section III and III+ of the Chattooga (including Bulls Sluice), GA
  • Lower Gauley River, WV
  • New River, WV
  • Lower Youghiogheny, PA
  • Lower Tellico River, TN
CLASS IV TRIP
Paddlers on a Class IV trip should have a solid whitewater roll, preferably on both sides.Boaters should be comfortable catching eddies and making moves on Class IV rivers such as:

  • Section IV of the Chattooga
  • the Upper and Lower Gauley
  • Upper Youghiogheny,PA
  • Lower Tuolumne, CA
  • Royal Gorge of the Arkansas or Slaughter House Section of the Roaring Fork, CO
  • Upper Ocoee River, TN
  • North Chick Creek, Gorge Section, TN
  • Little River in the Park, NC
  • Upper Tellico River, TN
  • WIlson’s Creek, NC
CLASS IV+ TRIP
This trip is for paddlers who paddle Class V rapids, but prefer Class IV runs. On Class IV+ trips, paddlers should be comfortable paddling on new, unfamiliar runs, where boat scouting is more the norm than the exception. Paddlers should have and use a roll on both sides. Class IV+ paddling includes being able to handle running high water runs on:

  • Section IV of the Chattooga, GA at levels of 1.8 – 2.2
  • Slaughter House, Numbers of the Arkansas, CO
  • North Fork of the Skykomish, WA
  • the Cal Salmon
  • Upper Gauley, WV
  • Pine Creek of the Arkansas, CO
  • Cheoah River, NC
  • Cain Creek, TN
  • Narrows of the Green River, NC
  • Watauga River (Guys Ford to Lake), NC

​If you need assistance in choosing which level trip is best for you, please contact us, at 828.488.6199, and we can help you assess your skill set and choose which trip will be the most fun for you.

Have a mixed group of boaters that all want to paddle together – or a non-paddler that wants to come along? We have quite a bit of flexibility in Ecuador, so find the week that would work best for the group as a whole, and then we will work with you on a custom trip that will satisfy everyone’s idea of a great week both on and off the river.

​A note about your roll:
Your trip is scheduled for later in the season, when many boaters have already called it a season at home. Come on this trip with confidence in your whitewater roll. If you have been having problems with your roll this past season, plan on spending a day or two at the pool before your trip or book a day of instruction with us. You will have a much better time!

About Ecuador

The diversity of this country is amazing! In this Inca nation, you have the opportunity to experience the towering Andes, climb snow-capped volcanoes, the Amazon jungle, the Galapagos Islands, and the Pacific Coast–all in one amazing country.​

ECUADOR FUN FACTS
  • Ecuador is becoming known as the eco-tourism destination of Latin America.
  • Plan on a bit more of an “adventure travel” vacation in comparison to Costa Rica.
  • English is not as commonly spoken throughout Ecuador, so bring your dictionary.
  • The currency of Ecuador is the dollar, but do not bring large bills (a $20 bill can be considered “large” to a small shop keeper or taxi cab driver).
  • Do not be surprised that flights tend to arrive in Quito late at night. The international airport is new and state-of-the-art. Taxis into Quito are readily available.
  • It is easy to set up additional tours, particularly out of Quito.
  • Wi-fi is nearly universal throughout the country. Cell phone coverage is universal, but you absolutely want to set up an international plan with your phone carrier (including for data) before you arrive.
  • The Oriente of Ecuador – destination for the paddling segment of our trips, boasts a “wet season” and a “wetter season,” with weather patterns coming from both the Pacific and the Amazon.
  • Our base in the Oriente is our lodge – the Rio Quijos EcoLodge. Once you settle in, you will not want to leave!