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Ecuador Kayaking Trips

Small World Adventures is here to give you the kayaking trip of a lifetime! We are flexible and can run any trip anytime (space available). If you don’t see something that matches your schedule or ability level then contact us. SWA also specializes in custom kayaking in Ecuador trips. Say you want to tailor a special trip to your group’s needs, we can do it. This is a great idea for special birthdays, anniversaries, or friends’ reunions. A minimum of 6 people is required for a custom, private trip, 12 people is the minimum to buy out an entire week (hotels, vans, guides, everything). Contact our office for details. Kayaking in Ecuador is one of the best ways to get a little break from winter and refresh!

kayak ecuador, ecuador kayaking, kayaking in ecuador, small world adventures

Winter Whitewater Lite Class III/III+ ($1,995)

Ecuador Kayaking Trips

 

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Trip Details

kayaking in Ecuador, ecuador kayaking, ecuador whitewater, jondachi river, hollin river, guiding kayaking tripThere are tons of great Class II, III, and III+ rivers in Ecuador, and Small World Adventures knows where to find them. On our Winter Whitewater Lite Ecuador kayaking trip we will seek out Ecuador’s best challenging beginner to intermediate whitewater. For boaters out there who are super comfortable on their local Class III runs, a week of Class II+ to III+ runs in the middle of winter is an ideal way to keep your skills sharp. At the same time, you’ll advance your paddling in anticipation of the upcoming boating season. This is not specifically an instructional trip, but your guides will be more than happy to do on-river clinics and help you work on the skills you feel need improvement. Feel free to contact our office and talk with us about which trip is right for you.    info@smallworldadventures.com 970-309-8913

Sample Itinerary Winter Whitewater Lite III/III+

This trip combines small volume technical creeking and big water play runs to give you a sample of Ecuador’s best. For the III/III+ trip, we are focusing on paddlers with intermediate skills who are looking to keep practicing and keep advancing. On this trip, you should expect great variety in runs–a little play boating, a little river running, a little creeking, and whole lot of fun. Sample Itinerary

*Please note that itineraries are subject to change due to water levels and the ability level of the group.

Day 1: Saturday—arrive to Quito airport.  Most flights arrive at night and we recommend staying in one of the hotels out near the airport–there are many great choices that are 10 minutes away from the new airport.  You should also arrange an airport pick up through your hotel.  (If you arrive a few days early, it’s worth going into downtown Quito—a 1-2 hour drive from the airport depending on traffic—but if you arrive on the Saturday before the trip, we think it’s better just to stay out near the airport).

Day 2: Sunday. One of your guides will pick you up around 9am (exact time to be confirmed by our office) and you’ll drive over the 13,000 foot Papallacta Pass and drop down into the lush Amazon Basin. If the weather is clear we will see three of the four highest snowcapped volcanoes in Ecuador. Once we arrive to the Luxor Hotel in Borja, we will enjoy the first of many excellent meals then head to the boat shed to outfit kayaks. Depending on the group this afternoon may be spent in the pool at the Luxor Hotel practicing rolls, working on hand rolls and rescue techniques. Or, if the water is low and the group is fired up, there is a short Class III+ run on the Quijos River that we can do.

Day 3: Monday. Drive to Tena in the morning and run a technical Class II+/III section of the Misahualli River. Sleep in Tena.

Day 4: Tuesday. It’s time for big water on the Rio Jatunyacu! Class III.

Day 5: Wednesday. Do a section of the Jondachi and Hollin Rivers. The run will be Class III/III+ with one Class IV rapid that is portagable.

Day 6: Thursday. Paddle a section of the Upper Misahualli. Class III/III+ and then head back to the Quijos Valley after kayaking

Day 7: Friday. Full day of big water on the Lower, lower Quijos. Class III.

Day 8: Saturday. After a morning paddle on the Class III+ Linares section of the Quijos we head back to Quito, hoping to arrive to the airport area by around 5pm.  Most flights are leaving Quito around midnight these days.  If you have a late flight Saturday night/early Sunday morning, you will have quite a few hours to kill.  We can drop you off at the Papallacta hot springs, the airport, or at a restaurant or hotel out near the airport.  If you fly out Sunday morning, you’ll need to book yourself a hotel for Saturday night.

Right for me?

Right for me? Is the Class III/III+ Winter Whitewater Lite Ecuador Kayaking Trip is right for me? You should have a good whitewater roll! We can’t stress this enough. Ecuador’s rivers are continuous and you do NOT want to have to swim every time you tip over. For our Class III/III+ trip you should be comfortable leading and playing in your local class III run and even some familiar Class III+ rapids. Good examples would be Brown’s Canyon at low water levels flows in CO. Shoshone on the Colorado River in Colorado. The New River at lower flows in West Virginia. The Middle Ocoee in TN. French Broad, section 9 and the Nolichucky in NC. Chili Bar and the Gorge on the South Fork American in CA. The South Fork Payette Staircase run at low flows and the Main Payette in ID.
We find that most people honestly and realistically evaluate their skills. Your guides will choose rivers based on the ability level of the group and the trip signed up for. If an individual has overstated their skills and cannot safely run these rivers, we may have to ask them to sit out a day and enjoy some dry land activities rather than holding back the entire group. And, a note on your whitewater roll: If you aren’t nailing your combat roll in the rivers, you may be asked to sit out for certain runs on your trip, so make sure your roll is good and reliable when you come down to Ecuador! All of our paddlers who go to a few pool sessions before their trip find that it helps them immensely. Even if you have a “bomber roll” hitting the pool before your trip will just remind those muscles of what they need to do while you are enjoying Ecuador’s best rivers.

 

 

Winter Whitewater Class III+/IV- ($1,995)

Ecuador Kayaking Trips

 

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Trip Details

kayak ecuador, ecuador kayaking, kayaking in ecuador, small world adventuresThere are tons of great Class III+ and IV- rivers in Ecuador, and Small World Adventures knows where to find them. On our Winter Whitewater Ecuador kayaking trip we will seek out Ecuador’s best challenging intermediate whitewater. Big water play runs, and technical rivers abound in the IV- range in Ecuador giving us many great runs to choose from. For boaters out there who are super comfortable on their local Class III and IV- runs, a week of IV- runs in the middle of winter is an ideal way to keep your skills sharp. At the same time, you’ll advance your paddling in anticipation of the upcoming boating season.

SEE THAT MORPHO BUTTERFLY? asks our guide, Don Beveridge, guide at Ecuadorian kayak outfitter Small World Adventures. “Line up right below it, heading right.” We’ve already followed ducks over drops and used parrots as reference points in the jade-tongued rapids of the Lower Misahualli, an Amazon tributary five hours southeast of Quito, so keying on the iridescent insect comes easy. And alongside Beveridge, 41, who authored The Kayaker’s Guide to Ecuador, so do the rapids. Indeed, the secret to exploring the world’s exotic river canyons isn’t a Class V boof stroke; it’s going with a ringer. And with many of the world’s best kayakers supporting their habit by guiding, more foreign territory is becoming accessible to intermediate paddlers every year. – Outside Magazine

Feel free to contact our office and talk with us about which trip is right for you.    info@smallworldadventures.com 970-309-8913

Sample Itinerary Winter Whitewater III+/IV-

This trip combines small volume technical creeking and big water play runs to give you a sample of Ecuador’s best. For the IV- trip, we are focusing on paddlers with great foundational skills, but who are not yet comfortable on solid Class IV. On this trip, you should expect great variety in runs–a little play boating, a little river running, a little creeking, and whole lot of fun. Sample Itinerary

*Please note that itineraries are subject to change due to water levels and the ability level of the group.

Day 1: Saturday—arrive to Quito airport.  Most flights arrive at night and we recommend staying in one of the hotels out near the airport–there are many great choices that are 10 minutes away from the new airport.  You should also arrange an airport pick up through your hotel.  (If you arrive a few days early, it’s worth going into downtown Quito—a 1-2 hour drive from the airport depending on traffic—but if you arrive on the Saturday before the trip, we think it’s better just to stay out near the airport).

Day 2: One of your guides will pick you up around 9am (exact time to be confirmed by our office) and you’ll drive over the 13,000 foot Papallacta Pass and drop down into the lush Amazon Basin. If the weather is clear we will see three of the four highest snowcapped volcanoes in Ecuador. Once we arrive to the Luxor Hotel in Borja, we will enjoy the first of many excellent meals, outfit our kayaks, and head to the river.

Day 3: We spend all day on the lower Quijos running drop pool rapids in some of the best rainforest accessible to kayakers. Waterfalls abound on the jungle-covered cliffs with little evidence of human impact in this spectacular gorge.

Day 4: After traveling to the neighboring Napo Valley we paddle the Upper Misahualli, a delightful technical run. We’ll stay at another riverside hotel right in the town of Tena so there is ample opportunity for interaction with, or observation of, Ecuadorian life.

Day 5: Big water play on the Rio Jatunyacu and a stop at a jungle tributary swimming hole and slot canyon. After paddling we visit Puerto Misahualli where we can expect to see monkeys playing in the trees, and where we can shop for local handicrafts.

Day 6: Today we’ll paddle the remote full day lower section of the Rio Jondachi. We will return to our Tena hotel.

Day 7: Paddle the middle section on the beautiful Rio Cosanga on our way back to Small World’s base in Borja.

Day 8: After a morning paddle on the Quijos we head back to Quito, hoping to arrive to the airport area by around 5pm.  Most flights are leaving Quito around midnight these days.  If you have a late flight Saturday night/early Sunday morning, you will have quite a few hours to kill.  We can drop you off at the Papallacta hot springs, the airport, or at a restaurant or hotel out near the airport.  If you fly out Sunday morning, you’ll need to book yourself a hotel for Saturday night.

Right for me?

Right for me?Is the Class III+/IV- Winter Whitewater Ecuador Kayaking Trip is right for me? You should have a good whitewater roll!  We can’t stress this enough. Ecuador’s rivers are continuous and you do NOT want to have to swim every time you tip over. For our Class III+/IV- trip you should be comfortable leading and playing in your local class IV- and even some familiar Class IV rapids. Good examples would be Brown’s Canyon and the Fractions at medium to high water levels, the Numbers on the Arkansas River at low flows in CO. Lower Gauley in WV. Chattooga Section IV at flows above 1.4 in GA.h e Nolichucky in NC. Tieton in WA. The Canyon run on the S. Fork Payette in ID. Chamberlain Falls on the N. Fork American in CA.
We find that most people honestly and realistically evaluate their skills. Your guides will choose rivers based on the ability level of the group and the trip signed up for. If an individual has overstated their skills and cannot safely run these rivers, we may have to ask them to sit out a day and enjoy some dry land activities rather than holding back the entire group. And, a note on your whitewater roll: If you aren’t nailing your combat roll in the rivers, you may be asked to sit out for certain runs on your trip, so make sure your roll is good and reliable when you come down to Ecuador! All of our paddlers who go to a few pool sessions before their trip find that it helps them immensely. Even if you have a “bomber roll” hitting the pool before your trip will just remind those muscles of what they need to do while you are enjoying Ecuador’s best rivers.

Intro to Creeking Class IV- Instructional ($2,195)

Ecuador Kayaking Trips

 

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Details

kayak ecuador, ecuador kayaking, kayaking in ecuador, small world adventuresHave you wanted to step up to some fun new local creeks, but maybe you are not sure you have the requisite skills for technical runs?  Here is a great opportunity to learn—and then spend a week practicing—your boof, eddy hopping, boat scouting, river signals, and how to safely boat a creek with your buddies. Ecuador is a wonderful place to learn these skills with great, continuous class III to IV creeks and technical rivers. (Just a disclaimer: this week is not about running waterfalls, but we will do more boofs than you’ll be able to count). We will spend 7 days on some of Ecuador’s most technical runs, where you will learn and refine both basic and advanced creeking skills. There will be a couple of evening “classroom” sessions where we’ll discuss skills, safety, technique, and “creeking” in general. But don’t worry, class will be over in time each night to enjoy gourmet meals and Ecuadorian night life. We also offer harder creeking runs for those of you with more advanced skills, check out our Torrents, Advanced Creeking Clinic Class IV+, or Mucha Agua trips.

Sample Itinerary

Throughout the week, we’ll work on all the essential skills you’ll need to become confident on technical creek runs.Our goal by the end of the week is to have you boat scouting drops, then nailing the boofs once you find the line.If you’ve been wanting to work on your creeking skills, this is the trip for you! Sample Itinerary

*Please note that itineraries are subject to change due to water levels and the ability level of the group.

Day 1:  Saturday—arrive to Quito airport. Most flights arrive at night and we recommend staying in one of the hotels out near the airport–there are many great choices that are 10 minutes away from the new airport. You should also arrange an airport pick up through your hotel. (If you arrive a few days early, it’s worth going into downtown Quito—a 1-2 hour drive from the airport depending on traffic—but if you arrive on the Saturday before the trip, we think it’s better just to stay out near the airport).

Day 2: One of your guides will pick you up around 9am (exact time to be confirmed by our office) and you’ll drive over the 13,000 foot Papallacta Pass and drop down into the lush Amazon Basin. If the weather is clear we will see three of the four highest snowcapped volcanoes in Ecuador. Once we arrive to the Luxor Hotel in Borja, we will enjoy the first of many excellent meals, outfit our kayaks, and head to the river. Warm up and skill review on the Rio Quijos, Pica Piedra or Lower El Chaco sections. These sections are beautiful mid volume runs perfect to get the rust off your paddling.

Day 3: After a short dry land discussion on creeking signals, boat scouting and “flow” (what we call running a technical river in a small group while supporting each other) we will paddle the upper Cosanga. You can practice technical river reading, eddy hoping, boat scouting, and other basic creeking skills.

Day 4: After traveling to the neighboring Napo Valley we paddle the Upper Misahualli, a delightful technical run, where the emphasis will be boofing. We will also cover scouting–what to look for and tools to help you make the decision to run or not–judgement, self-awareness, group-awareness and self-evaluation.

Day 5: Today you will paddle the Lower Jondachi where we will work on flow, river leading, scouting and decision making–all while running one of the prettiest rainforest rivers anywhere in the world. We will also work on general paddling technique, fine tuning your paddle strokes to be efficient and powerful at the same time.

Day 6: After breakfast, we’ll either paddle the Piatua or Upper Mishualli again, adding in river rescue plus putting all the week’s skills together on an incredible warm-water creek.

Day 7: Middle Cosanga today is full of tight moves where we will use all the skills we have been practicing.

Day 8: After a morning paddle on the Quijos we head back to Quito, hoping to arrive to the airport area by around 5pm. Most flights are leaving Quito around midnight these days. If you have a late flight Saturday night/early Sunday morning, you will have quite a few hours to kill. We can drop you off at the Papallacta hot springs, the airport, or at a restaurant or hotel out near the airport. If you fly out Sunday morning, you’ll need to book yourself a hotel for Saturday night.

Right for me?

Is the Intro to Creeking Ecuador Kayaking trip right for me?

For our Class IV- intro to creeking trip you should have a Solid Whitewater Roll, and be comfortable leading and playing in your local class III and IV- runs. Good examples would be Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River at medium to high flows in CO. Lower Gauley in WV. Green River Gorge in WA. Cheoah in NC. Chattooga Section IV at flows above 1.4 in GA. The Canyon run on the S. Fork Payette in ID. Chamberlain Falls on the N. Fork American in CA. You do not need previous creeking experience but should have good class IV- river running skills. Normally we want people to arrive with experience on similar runs to what we plan on paddling, but this week has an instruction focus so you don’t need to already be a good creeker, just have a desire to learn and practice attitude.

We find that most people honestly and realistically evaluate their skills.We choose rivers based on the ability level of the group and the trip signed up for. If an individual has overstated their skills and cannot safely run these rivers, we may have to ask them to sit out a day and enjoy some dry land activities rather than holding back the entire group. And, a note on your whitewater roll: If you aren’t nailing your combat roll in the rivers, you may be asked to sit out for certain runs on your trip, so make sure your roll is good and reliable when you come down to Ecuador! All of our paddlers who go to a few pool sessions before their trip find that it helps them immensely. Even if you have a “bomber roll” hitting the pool before your trip will just remind those muscles of what they need to do while you are enjoying Ecuador’s best rivers.

Torrents Class IV  Our Signature Trip ($1,995)

Ecuador Kayaking Trips

 

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Trip Details

kayak ecuador, ecuador kayaking, kayaking in ecuador, small world adventuresIf you enjoy nailing amazing boofs and surfing huge waves all in the same week, then the Torrents trip is for you! This trip is our most popular by far, and for good reason. Variety is what this trip is all about. You will challenge yourself on steep, continuous, technical creeks pouring off the Andes mountains, as well as on large volume, drop pool Amazonian tributaries. At this level of kayaking, there are an astonishing number of world-class rivers to choose from. Don’t be surprised if this is the best week of paddling of your life.

Sample Itinerary

*Please note that itineraries are subject to change due to water levels and the ability level of the group.

Day 1: Saturday—arrive to Quito airport.  Most flights arrive at night and we recommend staying in one of the hotels out near the airport–there are many great choices that are 10 minutes away from the new airport. You should also arrange an airport pick up through your hotel. (If you arrive a few days early, it’s worth going into downtown Quito—a 1-2 hour drive from the airport depending on traffic—but if you arrive on the Saturday before the trip, we think it’s better just to stay out near the airport).

Day 2: One of your guides will pick you up around 9am (exact time to be confirmed by our office) and you’ll drive over the 13,000 foot Papallacta Pass and drop down into the lush Amazon Basin. If the weather is clear we will see three of the four highest snowcapped volcanoes in Ecuador. Once we arrive to the Luxor Hotel in Borja, we will enjoy the first of many excellent meals, outfit our kayaks, and head to the river.

Day 3: Paddle the magnificent El Chaco Gorge on the Rio Quijos.

Day 4: It’s creeking time and we travel to the Napo valley and paddle on the delightfully technical Upper Misahualli or Jondachi depending on the water levels. Tonight, we will stay in the heart of historic Tena and have time to wander through town sightseeing.

Day 5: Today we kayak one of the most scenic rivers in Ecuador, the Piatua. The adventure factor is high on this run just to get to the put-in since it is at the end of a remote, small road. Expect a clear, technical river with uncountable boofs and nonstop rapids, a new favorite on our trips.

Day 6: After breakfast we will head back to the Quijos valley and run the Rio Cosanga, taking out just minutes from our hotel in Borja. It’s a low volume tributary of the Quijos and one of the best in this valley.

Day 7: We have lots of runs to choose from such as the playful big-volume Bom Bon section or maybe the technical Oyacachi or Upper Quijos.

Day 8: After a morning paddle on the Quijos or Cosanga, we head back to Quito, hoping to arrive to the airport area by around 5pm. Most flights are leaving Quito around midnight these days. If you have a late flight Saturday night/early Sunday morning, you will have quite a few hours to kill. We can drop you off at the Papallacta hot springs, the airport, or at a restaurant or hotel out near the airport. If you fly out Sunday morning, you’ll need to book yourself a hotel for Saturday night.

Right for me?

Is the Torrents Ecuador Kayaking trip right for me? A bomber roll is an absolute must on this trip. If you sign up for this trip and fail to show competency in your combat roll, you will be asked to sit out. Also, you should be comfortable both play boating in bigger volume rivers and running tight, technical, low volume creeks. You should be comfortable leading runs, catching eddies, ferrying and down river boating on many different Class IV runs. Good examples of runs you should be comfortable on are: The Royal Gorge and Numbers at medium to high water and Pine Creek at medium to low water on the Arkansas River in CO. Canyon Creek in WA at medium flows. The Upper Gauley in WV. Upper Yough in PA. Bottom 5 of the North Fork Payette in ID at normal summer flows. Chamberlains Falls on N. Fork American and E to P on the South Yuba in CA (you should run all rapids on these runs at medium water levels). The Dart River from Dartmeet to Newbridge and the Kent River from Scroggs to Park Head both in UK. Lower Blackwater in WV. Seymour River in British Columbia at low flows.
We find that most people honestly and realistically evaluate their skills. Your guides will choose rivers based on the ability level of the group and the trip signed up for. If an individual has overstated their skills and cannot safely run these rivers, we may have to ask them to sit out a day and enjoy some dry land activities rather than holding back the entire group. And, a note on your whitewater roll: If you aren’t nailing your combat roll in the rivers, you may be asked to sit out for certain runs on your trip, so make sure it’s good and reliable when you come down to Ecuador! All of our paddlers who visit a few pool sessions before their trip to Ecuador find that it helps them immensely. Even if you have a “bomber roll” hitting the pool before your trip will just remind those muscles of what they need to do while you are enjoying Ecuador’s best rivers. Feel free to contact our office and talk with us about which trip is right for you. info@smallworldadventures.com

Advanced Creeking Class IV+ Instructional ($2,195)

Ecuador Kayaking Trips

 

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Trip Details

kayak ecuador, ecuador kayaking, kayaking in ecuador, small world adventuresThis trip/course is for people who are already good paddlers and are looking to become great paddlers. We focus on paddlers who have the basic and intermediate creeking skills down, feel good on IV and even IV+ creeks, but who want to refine their skills in order to push themselves even more.  During the week, we will review basic creeking skills, learn advanced techniques, on-river safety, and work on putting it all together. Besides on-the-water skills, we’ll talk about the necessary mental skills, group skills, river rescue, and equipment necessary for advanced creeking. We hope to train you to be the kayaking partner everybody wants to paddle with. You can expect 7 days of Class IV and IV+ kayaking with the occasional Class V rapid thrown in. We will offer occasional dry land skills discussions in the mornings and evenings but still leave plenty of time for paddling. While this is an instructional course, you can expect to paddle one of Ecuador’s fantastic creeks each day. Contact our office to see if you are right for this course.

Sample Itinerary

*Please note that itineraries are subject to change due to water levels and the ability level of the group.

Day 1: Saturday—arrive to Quito airport. Most flights arrive at night and we recommend staying in one of the hotels out near the airport–there are many great choices that are 10 minutes away from the new airport. You should also arrange an airport pick up through your hotel. (If you arrive a few days early, it’s worth going into downtown Quito—a 1-2 hour drive from the airport depending on traffic—but if you arrive on the Saturday before the trip, we think it’s better just to stay out near the airport).

Day 2: One of your guides will pick you up around 9am (exact time to be confirmed by our office) and you’ll drive over the 13,000 foot Papallacta Pass and drop down into the lush Amazon Basin. If the weather is clear we will see three of the four highest snowcapped volcanoes in Ecuador. Once we arrive to the Luxor Hotel in Borja, we will enjoy the first of many excellent meals, outfit our kayaks, and head to the river. Depending on water levels, we’ll either run the Upper Cosanga or the Bridge to Baeza section of the Quijos.

Day 3: We stay in the Quijos drainage today but hop on the Rio Oyacachi for hours of continuous powerful and technical rapids. After the confluence with the Quijos we have the option of continuing downstream on the big water Bom Bon section.

Day 4: We’ll start the day with an instructional boofing video and discussion of the “art of boofing.” Then it’s time to run the even warmer Upper Misahualli on the way to Tena and practice those skills! This run is very low volume with large granite boulders creating fun slots and boofs. We stay at our riverside hotel in the heart of Tena.

Day 5: The Rio Piatua is today’s mission. This very remote medium volume river is usually super clear and very continuous. There are fun boofs in almost every rapid and you can eddy hop until you are exhausted.

Day 6: Upper Jondachi! With over eighty significant rapids in a 6.5 mile run you’ll be ready for a take-out beer after this one. We’ll return to the Quijos Valley.

Day 7: Today we will paddle the Cosanga or one of the upper sections of the Quijos depending on water levels and energy levels.

Day 8: After a morning paddle on the Quijos in El Chaco Canyon or the Cheesehouse section, we head back to Quito, hoping to arrive to the airport area by around 5pm. Most flights are leaving Quito around midnight these days. If you have a late flight Saturday night/early Sunday morning, you will have quite a few hours to kill. We can drop you off at the Papallacta hot springs, the airport, or at a restaurant or hotel out near the airport. If you fly out Sunday morning, you’ll need to book yourself a hotel for Saturday night.

Right for me?

Is the Advanced Creeking IV+ Ecuador Kayaking trip right for me? A bomber roll on both sides is a must for this trip. We will be paddling very steep and continuous whitewater so good boat control and the ability to stay on line with minimal mistakes is also a must. If you sign up for this trip and fail to show competency in your combat roll, you will be asked to sit out. You should be comfortable on the following rivers: Gore Canyon on the Colorado River. Green Narrows in NC. Norris Creek in BC. 49 to Bridgeport on the S. Yuba in CA at low flows. The Raquette River (Stone Valley: Colton to Brown’s Bridge) in NY. Green Truss on the White Salmon at medium flows (minus Big Brother and BZ). Nevis from Steall Gorge to Polldubh Falls and Conway (Fairly Glen) in the UK. Feel free to contact our office and talk with us about which trip is right for you. info@smallworldadventures.com

We find that most people honestly and realistically evaluate their skills. Your guides will choose rivers based on the ability level of the group and the trip signed up for. If an individual has overstated their skills and cannot safely run these rivers, we may have to ask them to sit out a day and enjoy some dry land activities rather than holding back the entire group. And, a note on your whitewater roll: If you aren’t nailing your combat roll in the rivers, you may be asked to sit out for certain runs on your trip, so make sure your roll is good and reliable when you come down to Ecuador! All of our paddlers who go to a few pool sessions before their trip find that it helps them immensely. Even if you have a “bomber roll” hitting the pool before your trip will just remind those muscles of what they need to do while you are enjoying Ecuador’s best rivers.

Mucha Agua Class IV+/V- (or Mucha Agua lite Class IV/IV+) ($1,995)

Ecuador Kayaking Trips

 

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Trip Details

kayak ecuador, ecuador kayaking, kayaking in ecuador, small world adventuresThe Mucha Agua trip is the most difficult week of whitewater that we offer. This trip has a strong focus on Ecuador’s creeks and it’s steeper, more continuous rivers. We’ll most likely throw in 1 or 2 days of bigger volume boating, but for the majority of the week you should bring your creeking game. For people who are super comfortable boating Class IV/V runs, this is an awesome week full of world class boating. The “Mucha Agua” runs in the Qujios and Tena Valleys tend to be on the longer and more continuous side, so get yourself in shape so that you can get maximum enjoyment out of your week with us. If you love paddling Class IV and V runs around the world, this trip is for you.

Sample Itinerary

*Please note that itineraries are subject to change due to water levels and the ability level of the group.

Day 1: Saturday—arrive to Quito airport. Most flights arrive at night and we recommend staying in one of the hotels out near the airport–there are many great choices that are 10 minutes away from the new airport. You should also arrange an airport pick up through your hotel. (If you arrive a few days early, it’s worth going into downtown Quito—a 1-2 hour drive from the airport depending on traffic—but if you arrive on the Saturday before the trip, we think it’s better just to stay out near the airport).

Day 2: One of your guides will pick you up around 9am (exact time to be confirmed by our office) and you’ll drive over the 13,000 foot Papallacta Pass and drop down into the lush Amazon Basin. If the weather is clear we will see three of the four highest snowcapped volcanoes in Ecuador. Once we arrive to the Luxor Hotel in Borja, we will enjoy the first of many excellent meals, outfit our kayaks, and head to the river. Time-allowing we will head to the Lower Cosanga to warm up. Or, if we are short on time, we will run the technical Baeza to Borja section of the Rio Quijos.

Day 3: We stay in the Quijos drainage today but hop on the Rio Oyacachi for hours of continuous powerful and technical rapids. After the confluence with the Quijos we have the option of continuing downstream on the big water Bom Bon section.

Day 4: It’s time to run the quintessential Class IV/V run of Ecuador–the Upper Jondachi. While only 10km long, this run boasts over 85 rapids and will definitely have you ready for a beer by the time we hit the take out! We stay at our riverside hotel in the heart of Tena.

Day 5: The Rio Piatua is today’s mission. This very remote medium volume river is usually super clear and very continuous. There are fun boofs in almost every rapid and ends up with a rope swing!

Day 6: Depending on water levels we will either hit up the super technical Upper Misahualli or head back to the Quijos Valley to paddle a section of the Quijos. We will spend the night back in Borja.

Day 7: If the group is still feeling strong, we’ll head to the upper reaches of the Quijos River and paddle the Cheesehouse section, Bridge to Bridge and however much more of the Quijos the group is in the mood for!

Day 8: After a morning paddle on the Quijos in El Chaco Canyon or the Cheesehouse section, we head back to Quito, hoping to arrive to the airport area by around 5pm. Most flights are leaving Quito around midnight these days. If you have a late flight Saturday night/early Sunday morning, you will have quite a few hours to kill. We can drop you off at the Papallacta hot springs, the airport, or at a restaurant or hotel out near the airport. If you fly out Sunday morning, you’ll need to book yourself a hotel for Saturday night.

Right for me?

Is the Mucha Agua Ecuador Kayaking trip right for me? The Mucha Agua trip is right for you if you are a competent class IV/V kayaker with a super solid roll, and bomber river running skills. Participants should have–and use on a regular basis–a combat roll on both sides. If you sign up for this trip and fail to show competency in your combat roll, you will be asked to sit out. You will be paddling on remote rivers, so Ecuador is definitely NOT the place to be in over your head. Having said that, we love running these trips because we get to hit up many of the classic IV+ and V granite-strewn creeks of Ecuador. So, if you’re feeling up for Mucha Agua, let’s do it! You should be more than comfortable running (meaning you don’t have to follow anyone down) the following runs with minimal portaging: South Yuba 49 to Bridgeport at low flows in CA. Little White Salmon and Green Truss in WA at low flows. Gore Canyon and Bailey in CO at a variety of levels. The Raquette River (Stone Valley: Colton to Brown’s Bridge) in NY. Robe Canyon in WA at low flows. Sections of the North Fork Payette in ID (more than just the bottom 5). Lower Meadow, WV.
We find that most people honestly and realistically evaluate their skills. Your guides will choose rivers based on the ability level of the group and the trip signed up for. If an individual has overstated their skills and cannot safely run these rivers, we may have to ask them to sit out a day and enjoy some dry land activities rather than holding back the entire group. And, a note on your whitewater roll: If you aren’t nailing your combat roll in the rivers, you may be asked to sit out for certain runs on your trip, so make sure it’s good and reliable when you come down to Ecuador! All of our paddlers who visit a few pool sessions before their trip to Ecuador find that it helps them immensely. Even if you have a “bomber roll” hitting the pool before your trip will just remind those muscles of what they need to do while you are enjoying Ecuador’s best rivers.
Feel free to contact our office and talk with us about which trip is right for you. info@smallworldadventures.com 970-309-8913

 

Middle Fork Salmon, Idaho

2025: June 15th-20th

Idaho, Middle Fork Salmon, multi-day river trip, kayaking, USA, Idaho kayakingThe Middle Fork Salmon in Idaho is one of North America’s most iconic multi-day river trips. On this trip, you will descend 3000 feet in elevation through 100 miles of unforgettable Class III-IV rapids and breathtaking scenery. Towering granite walls, desert side-hikes and natural hot springs will keep you busy when you aren’t running classic Middle Fork rapids like Velvet Falls and Pistol Creek. Each night we will make camp along the banks of the river where you can relax, listen to the river flow by and stare at the stars with zero light pollution to drown them out. The Middle Fork runs through the heart of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness which contains over 2.5 million acres of protected land. This is some of the most rugged and beautiful country on our continent, and we know your 6-day trip down this river will be etched in your heart forever. We are running this trip through ARTA which is a non-profit company that has been in the outdoor business since 1963! Kayakers should be confident Class III+/IV- boaters with a solid combat roll.  Rafters are welcome too!  No experience necessary for rafters, but an adventuresome attitude is required.

 

 

 

 

 

Cost? $3099
Boat? You should paddle a boat you are comfortable in. Play boats are okay if you can sit in all day long.
Entirety? You will paddle the whole river. We know you can do it!
Rent? Yes – We can help you lineup a rental kayak.
Arrive? We will meet at 8pm at the River 1 Store in Stanley Idaho the night before your launch. Stanley is a small town and the River 1 Store is 100 yards north of the Mountain Village Lodge and the junction of Highways 21 and 75. You can drive yourself to Stanley or fly commercially into Boise Idaho then take Gem Air into Stanley Idaho. Make your reservations at the Mountain Village Lodge (800.843.5475) in Stanley. They will pick you up at the Stanley Airport. ARTA will provide transportation from Stanley to the put-in and from the take-out back to Stanley at the end of the trip. You can also choose to have your car shuttled to Salmon ID (the town nearest to the take-out) if you want to leave directly from there. For more details click here.
Skills? As long as you have a solid combat roll and Class III+ to Class IV- skills you’ll love it!
Rafters? Absolutely – If you don’t kayak you can ride a raft.
Temp? Spring weather in Idaho can be fickle. Be prepared for 90 and sunny and 50 and rain. You’ll probably get a little of both.
More? Contact our office
Ready? Your non-refundable $700 deposit is due ASAP to Small World Adventures. You can mail a check to: Small World Adventures, PO Box 1225, Salida, CO 81201, pay via Zelle, or pay via credit card here.
Payment? Full payment due April 15th 2025


Grand Canyon of the Colorado River

2025:August 30th-September 12th. 14 days on the River (full)

kayaking, grand canyon, kayaking the grand canyon, colorado river, desert, adventures, raftingIt’s impossible to describe what people feel as they travel through this timeless place! A journey through the Grand Canyon can be a life-changing experience. We are sure this trip will impact your life and give you fresh eyes to see the world. If you’ve dreamed about rafting or kayaking down the mighty Colorado through the Grand Canyon, this is a great opportunity to do it–why wait? We tailor our Grand Canyon trips around kayakers which means we stop at the great play spots and give kayakers the best lines through the big rapids. It also means we supply kayak guides (two of SWA’s great guides) to show you the good lines and, more importantly, to show you the best surf waves! Non-kayakers are welcome too! This is a great way for friends or family with a mix of kayakers and rafters to enjoy the Grand Canyon together. Our guides will take you on amazing hikes and fill your head with interesting knowledge. You will paddle, hike and eat your way through this Canyon while making new friends and running amazing whitewater. We run our trips through Arizona Raft (AZRA) who have been guiding in the Canyon since 1974. AZRA guides know where all the great hikes are, and are amazingly knowledgeable about the geology and history of the Grand Canyon. They will also feed you well with gourmet meals each day. AZRA’s TL will also be in a kayak which is incredibly helpful for kayaker logistics! Small World Adventures will provide the kayak guides, can help you arrange rental kayaks if you are traveling from afar, and will also provide the fun and friendly atmosphere on the river! Kayakers will love paddling through this awe-inspiring place. And, it’s even better to surf a big wave while contemplating John Wesley Powell’s epic adventure or the slow geological processes that formed the canyon. Whatever you like to contemplate while on the river, we know a trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon will leave a lasting impact.

 


Cost?  $5820
Boat?  You should paddle a boat you are comfortable in. Play boats are okay if you can sit in all day long.
Entirety?  You will paddle the whole river. We know you can do it!
Rent?  Yes – We can help you lineup a rental kayak.
Arrive?  You arrive in Flagstaff AZ by 7pm on August 29th for a trip orientation at Little America Hotel. The Little America offers a reduced rate for AZRA folks. 2515 E. Butler Ave Flagstaff AZ. If you are driving and bringing your own kayak you must arrive by 10am on the 29th to drop your boat off at AZRA’s warehouse. Warehouse address is 4050 E. Huntington Dr. Flagstaff
Finish?  We get off the river September 12th. AZRA provides transportation from Diamond Creek take out back to Flagstaff. We’ll arrive between 3-5pm
Driving?  Leave your car parked at Little America’s parking lot.  AZRA takes care of the transportation to and from Flagstaff.
Skills?  As long as you have a solid combat roll and Class III+ skills you’ll love it!
Rafters?  Absolutely – If you don’t kayak you can ride a raft.
Temp?  September is a great time to be in the Grand Canyon. You should have hot days on the river and cooler nights for sleeping.
More?   Contact our office
Ready?  The deposit for this trip is $1213 per person. You can mail a check to: Small World Adventures, PO Box 1225, Salida, CO 81201, pay via Zelle or pay via credit card here.
Payment? Full payment due March 30th 2025