Ecuador Trip Report
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 2:23 pm
Ecuador Jan. 10th-20th, 2013 A grand adventure for a Texas girl!
Day 1- Flew into Quito, Ecuador, the airport is 9,500ft+ ($997).The city is located on an incredibly rugged mountainous slopes. Took a cab ($8) to my $6 hotel. BRRR –COLD shower!
Day 2- Took a cab 1 hour to Cumbaya ($10). Then took a bus over a mountain range 3 hours to Baeza ($3). Spectacular drive- mountain and cloud forests, paramo, waterfalls, and deep river gorges.
I found my guide, Abe Herrera, owner of “Boof Sessions”. He, Dominick, and I then paddled the Baeza to Borja section of the Quijos river. Giddy Up! The level was the low end of high. This was an intense beginning. It felt a bit more challenging than the Cheoah 4/4+ sections. I had 4 combat rolls, walked one long rapid, and ended the day with a swim right before the take out. The swim was out of a hole, in a land of holes, in a long rapid Abe has named, “Fight Club”. What an amazing, scary, fun, and awesome day! Easily beyond my ability, smashed several body parts, but I survived.
That night we soaked in Papallacta Termales (hot springs) and ate fresh trout and empanadas. Heavenly!
Day 3- After pleading with Abe to take it down a notch, he and I paddled the Upper and Middle Cosanga River . This 4- section of river was INSANELY GORGEOUS! Boulder choked and creeky, I loved it- it was so fun. Two days with Abe, boat, lodging and meals: $240.
Day 4- Found my way back to Quito and met up with the DeRiemer’s, of “Adventure Kayaking”. 15 paddlers (who became dear friends) and I headed back over the mountains to Borja. We broke into three groups. My group geared up and headed to paddle the Quijos –Chaco Canyon Run. Guide Andy Round (owner of Precision Kayaking) and Matt Terry (of Ecuadorian Rivers Institute) were our guides. My group had four men, plus me. Tons of great instruction, and fun! Today’s focus: the forward stroke. Every day we had instruction on and off the water. This was not just being guided down rivers.
Day 5- My group and I paddled the Cosanga River-Middle and Gorge. The Gorge was challenging 3+-Class 4 and out of this world beautiful. If I could do any river run again for the rest of my life-this would be it.
Day 6- We paddled the Quijos River, this section included “El Torro”. I blew my initial ferry but caught an eddy, and then had a great run down. I started celebrating at the bottom and flipped in a hole, dangit. We all packed up and headed to the jungle city of Tena.
Day 7-We drove to the Piatua River, but it began pouring rain-the river became insanely unrunnable! So we instead paddled a creek which can only be caught with a sudden crazy intense downpour-the 2+-3+ Inchiyacki. Then we got on the Upper Mishaualli. 3+-4-. Following a swimming break in the very beautiful Mish river, we were greeted by monkeys on our hike out. The jungle was so spectacular-we saw indigenous petro glyphs, & countless birds and flowers.
Day 8-We paddled the Middle Jondachi (Hun-DAW-chee) river. The beauty of this river gorge is nearly indescribable. Boulder gardens abounded, and canyon walls-interspersed with veil waterfalls- were laden with massive ferns. Today was a tough and challenging Class IV day. We scouted a lot, and the river was steep and dropped out below us. I ended up in my second swim of the week—following getting off line and landing in a patch of boulders that I pinned (gently) upside down in. I walked the next rapid. Following a grueling and GORGEOUS hike out (luckily porters carried our boats out for $4—crazy women) we all packed up and headed back to Borja.
Day 9- We paddled the Upper Upper and Middle Mishaualli. This was very fun—and beautiful. After running the gorge, I ended up pulling off sick (you don’t want the details)-I had a fever and was weak, so spent the rest of the day sleeping in the van.
Day 10- Last day paddling: I tiredly flipped my way down the Chaco Canyon section of the Quijos, a repeat run. We then all packed up and headed back to Quito. We stopped at the hot springs and soaked our tired bodies en route. It was a sad goodbye following a touching group farewell meal.
Eight day trip paddling with Adventure Kayaking: $1495.
Day 11- I flew home to good ole Texas, and then promptly slept for two days. Awesome trip!!!
I learned a lot, and met lifelong friends. My guides Abe, Andy and Matt were the very best! I can’t wait to go back to Ecuador. I loved the people, the beauty, the food, and above all the rivers!! Hulabulita!!
Day 1- Flew into Quito, Ecuador, the airport is 9,500ft+ ($997).The city is located on an incredibly rugged mountainous slopes. Took a cab ($8) to my $6 hotel. BRRR –COLD shower!
Day 2- Took a cab 1 hour to Cumbaya ($10). Then took a bus over a mountain range 3 hours to Baeza ($3). Spectacular drive- mountain and cloud forests, paramo, waterfalls, and deep river gorges.
I found my guide, Abe Herrera, owner of “Boof Sessions”. He, Dominick, and I then paddled the Baeza to Borja section of the Quijos river. Giddy Up! The level was the low end of high. This was an intense beginning. It felt a bit more challenging than the Cheoah 4/4+ sections. I had 4 combat rolls, walked one long rapid, and ended the day with a swim right before the take out. The swim was out of a hole, in a land of holes, in a long rapid Abe has named, “Fight Club”. What an amazing, scary, fun, and awesome day! Easily beyond my ability, smashed several body parts, but I survived.
That night we soaked in Papallacta Termales (hot springs) and ate fresh trout and empanadas. Heavenly!
Day 3- After pleading with Abe to take it down a notch, he and I paddled the Upper and Middle Cosanga River . This 4- section of river was INSANELY GORGEOUS! Boulder choked and creeky, I loved it- it was so fun. Two days with Abe, boat, lodging and meals: $240.
Day 4- Found my way back to Quito and met up with the DeRiemer’s, of “Adventure Kayaking”. 15 paddlers (who became dear friends) and I headed back over the mountains to Borja. We broke into three groups. My group geared up and headed to paddle the Quijos –Chaco Canyon Run. Guide Andy Round (owner of Precision Kayaking) and Matt Terry (of Ecuadorian Rivers Institute) were our guides. My group had four men, plus me. Tons of great instruction, and fun! Today’s focus: the forward stroke. Every day we had instruction on and off the water. This was not just being guided down rivers.
Day 5- My group and I paddled the Cosanga River-Middle and Gorge. The Gorge was challenging 3+-Class 4 and out of this world beautiful. If I could do any river run again for the rest of my life-this would be it.
Day 6- We paddled the Quijos River, this section included “El Torro”. I blew my initial ferry but caught an eddy, and then had a great run down. I started celebrating at the bottom and flipped in a hole, dangit. We all packed up and headed to the jungle city of Tena.
Day 7-We drove to the Piatua River, but it began pouring rain-the river became insanely unrunnable! So we instead paddled a creek which can only be caught with a sudden crazy intense downpour-the 2+-3+ Inchiyacki. Then we got on the Upper Mishaualli. 3+-4-. Following a swimming break in the very beautiful Mish river, we were greeted by monkeys on our hike out. The jungle was so spectacular-we saw indigenous petro glyphs, & countless birds and flowers.
Day 8-We paddled the Middle Jondachi (Hun-DAW-chee) river. The beauty of this river gorge is nearly indescribable. Boulder gardens abounded, and canyon walls-interspersed with veil waterfalls- were laden with massive ferns. Today was a tough and challenging Class IV day. We scouted a lot, and the river was steep and dropped out below us. I ended up in my second swim of the week—following getting off line and landing in a patch of boulders that I pinned (gently) upside down in. I walked the next rapid. Following a grueling and GORGEOUS hike out (luckily porters carried our boats out for $4—crazy women) we all packed up and headed back to Borja.
Day 9- We paddled the Upper Upper and Middle Mishaualli. This was very fun—and beautiful. After running the gorge, I ended up pulling off sick (you don’t want the details)-I had a fever and was weak, so spent the rest of the day sleeping in the van.
Day 10- Last day paddling: I tiredly flipped my way down the Chaco Canyon section of the Quijos, a repeat run. We then all packed up and headed back to Quito. We stopped at the hot springs and soaked our tired bodies en route. It was a sad goodbye following a touching group farewell meal.
Eight day trip paddling with Adventure Kayaking: $1495.
Day 11- I flew home to good ole Texas, and then promptly slept for two days. Awesome trip!!!
I learned a lot, and met lifelong friends. My guides Abe, Andy and Matt were the very best! I can’t wait to go back to Ecuador. I loved the people, the beauty, the food, and above all the rivers!! Hulabulita!!