Kayak Ecuador with the Most Experienced Team in South America!
If you want to come kayaking in Ecuador and have the best week of paddling of your life, look no further. Small World Adventures wrote the book on kayaking in Ecuador (literally)! We’ve been offering guided kayaking trips in Ecuador since 1993 and we guarantee that we’ll send you home tired and happy after seven days of kayaking Ecuador’s world class rivers. Don and Darcy work with an all-star team of Ecuadorian guides, drivers, and cooks to ensure you get the most out of your time kayaking in Ecuador. So what’s stopping you? Come kayak Ecuador with the best team in the game!
Why Kayak Ecuador with Small World Adventures?
- We have the most experienced guides in Ecuador, hands down. Our team makes kayaking in Ecuador their #1 priority, which means you’ll get the most knowledgable kayakers in the guiding world. Our core guide team is made up of a group of multinational kayaking professionals: Don, Darcy, Andres, Byron, Brayan, Bladimir, Emerson, Juanito, and Alejo.
- SWA hires local guides, cooks, drivers, and hotel staff to ensure we do our part to contribute to the local economy. This is a lifestyle for us, and supporting our local crew has become our top priority. In any given week the SWA dining room will be full of equal numbers of guests and staff and there will be lively multi-lingual and multi-cultural conversations taking place. We are like one big family and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
- We always have a minimum of 2 guides per trip (and often 3) to ensure we are ready for anything that may come up and to make sure you have a safe and fun experience in Ecuador. We employ 7 Ecuadorian guides and giving them work/purpose/a good life is the main point of SWA these days so we are always happy to have more guides rather than less on the trips.
- Deluxe food, lodging and transportation
- Over 55 modern kayaks to choose from
- 7 days of kayaking in Ecuador’s Amazon Basin with only 1 week off from work
- Class II through V
- November to March
- We wrote the Kayaker’s Guide to Ecuador
- Small World supports a number of local initiatives that are in line with our values, such as a reforestation and bird habitat project called El Concierto de los Aves, a local kayaking/youth environmental leadership program called the Yaku Churis, and a local food lab that supports agro forestry through connecting rainforest communities with markets for their food products called Canopy Bridge. If you want to bring donations for any of these groups, or get involved, please let us know before your trip.
- SWA is a proud member of 1% for the Planet
- SWA’s guides and owners are Ecuadorian River Institute volunteers and board members. Small World acts as the chief fundraiser for the ERI, and we do frequent fundraising drives to support Ecuador’s rivers. SWA also makes regular contributions to the ERI as part of our 1% for the Planet commitment.
- We support two other local kayaking clubs–Amazon RiverKeepers and the Kayak Club Ecuador with gear donations and river outings with club members.
- Don and Darcy were part of the first team to Kayak the Amazon River from source to sea and Darcy was the first woman to do it. Read about it in Amazon Woman, her adventure memoir!
- Small World Adventures is an insured, legal, and licensed entity in Ecuador. Our guides hold the Ecuadorian guide license required by the Ministry of Tourism and the transportation providers we work with are certified by the Ministry of Tourism as well.
Current Conservation Efforts for Kayaking in Ecuador
Small World Adventures has raised over 100k for the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute since Don and Darcy bought the business back in 2016. Because we love kayaking in Ecuador (and the Earth in general), we want to do everything we can to keep the rivers free-flowing. We have also become enthusiastic supporters of the Yaku Churis kids club whose mission is to teach kids to protect rivers through the medium of whitewater kayaking. Our annual 1% for the Planet contribution also goes to the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute and the Yaku Churis who are both members. We always encourage people to come kayaking in Ecuador because the more we can show the government that tourism is a sustainable and viable industry, the better off Ecuador’s rivers will be. Kayak Ecuador to show your support for free-flowing rivers!
River Conservation Efforts at Home
Our guides and owners also work with American Whitewater to protect our North American Rivers as well. As of January 2025, Darcy is an American Whitewater Board member. And, whether it’s racing at Gore Fest, volunteering at Gauley Fest, or writing updates for the AW mag, the entire SWA team does our best to get out there and show our support for the amazing folks at AW! Spreading the love of kayaking and providing a voice for the rivers is an important part of who we are.
Our Passion: Kayaking (especially kayaking in Ecuador)
Our Mission: To share our passion with as many of you as possible
Our vision: Protect our natural places for future generations by spreading a passion for, and knowledge of, these places
What you’ll get when you kayak Ecuador with Small World Adventures
You will get the best guided kayaking vacation ever! If 7 days of non-stop paddling, delicious home-cooked meals, professional guides, safe drivers, and comfortable lodging sound good to you, you’ve come to the right place. Are you a serious paddler looking for a seriously awesome kayaking vacation? We get that, and that’s why we work so hard to make sure that you get the most out of your week of kayaking in Ecuador. SWA owners spend four to five months each winter kayaking in Ecuador, and most of our guides live in Ecuador. After so many years of paddling Ecuador’s rivers, we know each run at each water level ridiculously well, which means we’ll get you seven days of the best whitewater that Ecuador has to offer. After all, we wrote The Kayaker’s Guide to Ecuador, so you know you’ll be in good hands. Come join us!
Testimonials for Kayaking in Ecuador.
“I love that Don and Darcy have hired an all-Ecuadorian team. It made the trip special to get to spend time with their local staff. And seeing all the cool Ecuadorian initiatives that SWA supports–from a ex-farmer turned birder reforesting his land to a food lab bringing indigenous foods to local markets, to a whitewater kayaking kids club in Tena–made me feel like my trip money was getting put towards causes that I could really get behind.” –Chris Torrents Class IV trip
“This was, hands-down, the BEST experience I’ve ever had. My three friends and I signed up for the Mucha Agua trip and were met with the lushest, steepest jungles, surrounded by the warmest, funniest, and safest guides one could ask for. From the moment we stepped off the bus, they made us feel right at home. Their expertise and methodical love for kayaking these rivers seeps out in every way possible, providing a real community to experience the Ecuadorian majesty… and majestic it really is. I’d reccomend every boater make at least one journey to this mecca in their lifetime, and Small World is THE premier outfitter. Highlights from our trip included: Boofing into a IV+ cave, witnessing Reventador Volcano “erupt”, amazing cuisine, and without a doubt, the most fun-filled week of IV-V boating I could ask for.” –Gabriel Mucha Agua IV+/V-
“Small World Adventures, thank you for all that you do for the rivers and peoples of Ecuador and the greater community of paddlers. It was great to experience a part of the world new to me and have the opportunity to meet new people and renew old friendships.” –Mark, Winter Whitewater III+/IV-
“With Don paddling here since 1993 and Darcy since 2001, they’ve both done wonders in growing the local paddling community. They, along with company co-founder Larry Vermeeren, are the de facto Godfathers of kayaking in Ecuador, even writing its guidebook The Kayaker’s Guide to Ecuador. Now in its third edition, the definitive book details the 77 different runs they’ve paddled.” –Eugene Buchanan Men’s Journal, Torrents Class IV trip
“One the Best Kayaking Trips out there! Their guide team was very experienced and professional on and off the water also very well equipped with all safety gear. If you are looking for a Guided Trip in Ecuador and want awesome whitewater, amazing food and very clean/comfortable lodging with cultural experience mixed in. This is for you!” Wade Harrison, Winter Whitewater III+/IV-
“I’m absolutely blown away by your level of passion, professionalism, and knowledge. Every day felt like an incredible adventure with a trusting team. I felt like I could really explore and push myself while also being expertly cared for.” Tenney, Class II/III trip and Class III+/IV- trip
“I have been to Ecuador without guides and spent much of our time scouting, arranging logistics and wondering what was around the next corner. SWA took all of the guess work out and led me to paddle better and stronger over the week. The experience was absolutely worth the minimal extra cost versus my DIY trip.” Andy, Torrents Class IV
“I was impressed with Small World Adventures every step of the way–from pre-trip communication, transportation, food, guides, gear, rivers, and lodging. Of course, as someone wishing to be guided in a foreign country on new rivers, I believe what matters most is the guides. Every single one was so professional, competent, and personable. They now serve in my mind as the ideal river guide.” Auri, Torrents Class IV.
“Everything about this trip was perfect. I felt confident each day that the section of river we were running was the best option for the conditions and that we would get down safely. SWA is made up of incredibly well organized, kind and humorous people.” Mac, Class IV Torrents
“Don, Darcy, and the entire SWA team were gracious and professional hosts who obviously care so much about Ecuador’s rivers, people, and culture. I especially appreciated their ability to weave the joy and excitement of running rivers with meaningful injections of Ecuadorian lifestyle. As with any adventure – and especially in an area that experiences hourly fluctuations of water levels – plans are dynamic; and their knowledge and experience was obvious when mapping our itinerary each day. Logistics seemed flawless, which requires a lot of thought and work behind the scenes. Best of all, these are good people who hire outstanding local guides, who all put great effort into the Small World Adventures experience.” Will, Torrents Class IV.
“That was a special trip! Thanks so much for showing us all a great time navigating the rivers through the jungles of Ecuador; what an adventure! I’m impressed, you and Don have quite an operation going on down there. With all the variables, challenging logistics and scheduling concerns to contend with – in a foreign language, you manage to run a tight ship while being flexible and adapting to the changing nature of the business. It’s obvious you have a passion for what you do, and it shows in everything from the delicious, home cooked meals, clean comfortable accommodations to the daily speeches clarifying what the day has in store, but where it truly shines is on the river. It was so fun paddling with you guys. Being a guide is much more than being a strong kayaker and you and the guides you have trained are super cool, kind and pleasant. It really added to the group dynamics.” Jim, Torrents IV
“Just sign up! Don and Darcy’s river knowledge in Ecuador is incredible and well worth every penny.” Eric, Mucha Agua IV/V
“An amazing combination of 20+ years experience and new guide enthusiasm! SWA is absolutely the people to kayak with in Ecuador, or any place in the world!” John, Torrents Class IV
“The instruction was superb and I’m definitely leaving as a stronger paddler. Thank you!” Stephanie, Intro to Creeking trip IV-
“Our trip with SWA was nothing short of spectacular. Don and the crew did a great job of keeping everyone engaged on the river without scaring us. The paddling was world class, and the accommodations and food were top notch. A perfect blend of adventure and vacation.” Jack, Mucha Agua IV/V
“I have taken various trips for kayaking outside the USA, and this one BY FAR has been the best. It was a great boating experience and cultural experience. Our guides Don, Larry, and Andres were 10 out of 10! Darcy was extremely helpful for any questions that came up. I couldn’t ask for a better trip.” Jamie, Winter Whitewater III/IV
“I couldn’t be more happy with my experience with Small World. Best kayak trip in Ecuador of my life!” Ryan, Torrents Class IV
Who’s in Charge?
As of 2016, Don and Darcy are back as owner-operators of Small World Adventures. SWA has been guiding whitewater kayaking trips in Ecuador since 1993 and we are honored to carry on the tradition that we started with whitewater kayaking pioneer Larry Vermeeren. Come let us show you the amazing rivers of Ecuador.
1% For The Planet
SWA is a proud member of 1% for the Planet. As a business, we know our actions impact the world, and we are doing our best to make sure we leave a positive legacy.
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