Cheap Thrills in Ecuador
Posted by Chris on December 6, 2007 at 3:09 pm | In Trip Reports, Rivers |At this moment, Hilary and I are sitting at a bar in the small town of Tena, located at the confluence of the Rio Pano and Rio Tena. We are drinking 22oz bottles of pilsner (just about all beer down here comes in 22oz, and usually cost about 1 buck each) and reminiscing about our epic day on the upper Jondachi. Yesterday, same time, same place, more beer, reminiscing about the day on the upper Misahualli.
This is kayaking in Ecuador.
Boaters on the last half of “Kinda worthy,” Upper Rio Misahualli.
Of the 30 some odd days we’ve been here, we have paddled 26 days on 12 different rivers and numerous different sections of whitewater on the Rio Quijos and Rio Misahualli.
Upper Rio Misahualli.
More upper Rio Misahualli.
Every new section of river has been really top notch, its amazing that there can be so many miles of good whitewater in such a small area. Some are better than others, of course, or maybe I am just a sucker for warm water and huge granite boulders, I dunno.
Ecuador has nearly every conceivable type of boating we could want: from large volume rivers with dynamic surf waves and huge holes (biggest I have ever seen), to small volume steep creeks with tons of sick boofs off smooth granite boulders, and when most of the runs are a continuous 6-8 miles long (many are longer) you get your money’s worth.
Hilary at the lower Rio Misahualli put-in. Tena.
Big water on the lower Rio Misahualli.
The lower Rio Misahualli portage.
So far some of the highlights of our trip have been the Rio Cosanga: Damn good continuous, fun, class 4 rapids, clear water and amazing scenery. Also the Rio Piatua. Just last year a road was put in next to the river, making this run accessible for the first time. This little gem has a very pristine watershed and granite strewn everywhere. I am sure when people start running this more it will become a classic.
Rio Piatua.
Don Beveridge, boater extraordinaire.
Hilary. The Rio Piatua.
Darcy and Hilary somewhere in the land of 2-5 foot boofs.
The upper and lower Rio Jondachi are arguably the most scenic runs in the area. The upper Jondachi has over 80 rapids in six miles, not to mention countless great boofs. Photos coming soon…
No other river in the area has as many quality, navigable river miles as the Rio Quijos. A kayaker could put on the Rio Quijos and paddle over a hundred miles of river with only one portage around San Rafael falls (not an easy portage…).
San Rafael falls.
Even with another month of so of boating down here ahead of us, we are already thinking of coming back next year, and the next…
Me enjoying time at Cabañas Tres Rios.
If you are interested in planing a boating trip to Ecuador, there are a few different ways to do it. One would be to sign up for a guided trip with Small World Adventures. Larry, Don, and Darcy know their sh$&”!$% and offer up a very affordable way to experience boating here. Let them deal with the complicated logistics while you enjoy the boating and the first class accommodations at Cabañas Tres Rios.
That said If you are interested in a DIY trip pick up a guide book and learn some Spanish. Also try to bring a boat down and plan on selling it before you leave, at 15-20 bucks a day boat rental adds up fast.
Some of the many shuttle scenarios:
Right now (Nov-Mar) is the best time to be boating in Ecuador. In just the last week, boaters from all over the world have been showing up and getting on it.
Hasta luego.