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Traveling in the time of COVID is challenging.

There is the concern of exposure while traveling, and then the concern about testing positive before or during your trip. Travel insurance is highly recommended – if it will cover you in case of a trip disruption. In researching your options, make sure and read the fine print. Here’s a link to a recent Forbes article that provides other good options.

Best Option for Traveling to Ecuador

In narrowing down options, Travelguard – voted the best insurance by Forbes, may be your best bet for traveling during the time of COVID. Travelguard includes:

• COVID diagnosis prior to departure is a covered reason for trip cancellation. COVID diagnosis during the trip is covered under medical and trip interruption.
• Quarantine and fear of travel are not covered.
• 50% coverage is available for cancel for any reason (they got rid of their 75%).
• adventure activities coverage is available

If you are planning to travel to Ecuador this winter and are looking for a place that will minimize exposure to large crowds/urban areas, the RioQuijos EcoLodge is the perfect escape. Located just two hours from the International Mariscal Sucre Airport, we can arrange private transportation for you to be picked up and brought directly to the lodge. 

Kayak Trips to Ecuador

If you are thinking about traveling this winter, check out our winter 2021 Ecuador schedule for dates.

About our kayak trips this season:  We will not run trips that are scheduled over holidays to discourage travel during peak travel times. We will be following a very strict COVID protocol based off the Ecuadorian Government’s executive orders (which are being routinely updated) and our own recommended protocols.  A negative COVID test is currently required of all in-bound tourists. In addition, we will be doing daily temperature checks during the trips.  Any one of our travelers who tests positive, displays symptoms of COVID, or is living with/exposed to an individual with COVID will be given a full refund and will not join the trip.

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Pictures tell so much about the trips to Ecuador, but sometimes it is nice to hear first-hand what a trip is all about.  Here is a collaboration between two of our veteran Ecuador paddlers (who will be returning again this year for more fun!!).  Carrie and Mary – paddling Ecuador with Endless River Adventures, what a trip is all about.

As I stumbled off the plane at 2am in Quito, I frantically searched for the Endless River Adventure’s driver and there he was, well named, Angel. He gathered us 3 weary travelers up and took us to our hotel, ready to start our adventures.

Day 1 began with breakfast and a tour of Quito. It’s an opportunity to stand with a foot on either side of the equator, and enjoy a guided tour of the beautiful Old Town of Quito – where Spain built on top of the original Inca capital, tour stunning churches and the presidential palace, as well as getting to know the other trip participants. It is also a chance to acclimate to the elevation of nearly 10,000 feet.

We then hopped on the bus with Angel, a 20 year ERA driver and land guide extraordinaire. We headed out of town, over a 14,000 foot pass into what is called the “oriente” of Ecuador and home to the Rio Quijos Eco-Lodge – our home away from home for the next 3 days. Located on the banks of the Quijos River, it is a dramatic change from the big city of Quito.  For those who don’t get enough exercise paddling, there is a yoga stand on the Quijos as well as miles of hiking/running trails through the jungle around the lodge.

We wake up on Day 2 to the sound of the river, and a silence broken by the calls of the Ecuadorian birds.  There are over 80 species of humming birds alone in Ecuador and many greet us on the porch as we head inside for a home cooked breakfast of freshly prepared eggs to order, breads, coffee, yogurt and various wonderful fruits. Afterwards, we outfit our boats with help from ERA and head out to the Quijos.  Interesting, there are no river gauges in Ecuador, so each day Juliet goes out to look upstream at 2 rocks in the Quijos and determines what river and section we will paddle that day. The first paddling day Juliet “tech’s” us so she knows everyone’s abilities and limitations.  Ecuador offers an immense variety of whitewater.  Just the Quijos River itself offers 35 miles of whitewater, divided up into several sections from steep Class IV+ to big water Class III-IV.

Rapids in Ecuador tend to be long, but we break them up with eddy hopping and scouting if needed/possible. Some moves are big water moves and some are more technical.  We always had at least 2 skilled guides in addition to Juliet who often goes ahead to take amazing pictures. Some rapids I am told to walk and a guide carries my boat, some I have the option of running, and some I run with no problem. Angel follows us on a road above the river in case anyone tires, or like me, the least-skilled of the 7 guests, puts in at the class III- III+ section to meet up with my fellow paddlers who I can watch running the class IV’s. ERA always tailors the trip in terms of put-ins and take-outs to meet an individual’s  paddling abilities.

Mid week we change water sheds and head to the Tena area. It’s an interesting change in rivers and eco systems.  While Quito’s elevation is about 9500 feet above sea level, the Rio Quijos Eco-lodge sits at about 5000 feet, and Tena is about 1900.  All the rivers we paddle in the Oriente are headwaters to the Amazon out of Ecuador, and this is really clear in the Tena region. At this lower elevation we go from cloud forest to rain forest, highlighted by the several varieties of monkeys who have free range of the lodge and pose for picture-taking.

The food of Ecuador is not fancy, but very healthy.  Lunch is typically served on the river, flipped over kayak for your table, with a full spread that includes “ a mystery fruit of the day,” veggies, lunchmeats, bread, cookies, peanut butter, and chips.   Dinners are typically fresh fish or chicken, the ubiquitious potato, plantain and rice, and local additions to make it all interesting and filling.

Depending on the river and water levels, some days are shorter (5-10 miles) and some longer (as long as 20+ miles).  Anyone who wants instruction gets it, so I worked on speeding up my too slow roll. Many of my fellow paddlers worked on and got their other-side roll or tweaked other skills. Often we finished dinner and sat around to a night of photos, sharing stories and relaxing before turning in. One night the locals including Angel jammed for us, dancing, singing and whooping it up Ecuadorian style.

The trip was truly all –inclusive.  All food, lodging and transportation were included.  Often we stopped at local grocery stores for additional beverages and snacks, like ice cream which could not be carried on the river. Luckily Ecuador uses the dollar as their currency so no issues there. My few swims were uneventful with the guides being there quickly to assist almost before I knew it.  After paddling in Tena there were always excursions to visit the locals and get a feel for the culture as well.  We were very lucky with the water levels, we could paddle every day, as the following week Tena was flooded and those guests missed a day of paddling but had some wonderful adventures, as there is always a backup plan.

I loved paddling Ecuador, the people are so friendly, I could walk whatever I needed to and I felt safe trying to step it up with the support from ERA, so much so that I am headed back down again this December. Hope to cinch my other-side roll and run some of the rapids I walked in 2016.

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Jondachi-Hollin Rivershed

Endless River Adventures has increased its support of the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute (ERI) river conservation work in Ecuador with the donation of an Ecuador whitewater kayaking trip to help bolster ERI’s Save the Jondachi Campaign.

Formed in 2002, the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute targets river drainages which are important for recreational river use and advocates protecting river corridors for the benefit of maintaining the high levels of biodiversity and realizing sustainable, tourism-based economies in these areas.

Endless River Adventures has been a staunch supporter of ERI efforts since the early years of the Rio Napo Festival. Currently, ERI is working on trying to protect the Jondachi-Hollin-Misahualli-Napo ecological corridor, which is threatened with an impending dam project on the Jondachi River. In 2015, the first annual Jondachi Festival was held – bringing together local whitewater paddlers, the local community, politicians, and international whitewater paddlers. It was a great success! This years’ should be even better.

The approach that ERI takes in bringing together the local community with the international community falls in line with Endless River Adventures’ commitment to recognizing our responsibility to be shepherds of the rivers we love to paddle, and offer our support of/participation in organizations who share the same commitment.

For more information on contributing your support to the Save the Jondachi Fund and the efforts of the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute, check out this years information.  To start dreaming of winning a trip to Ecuador, check out Endless River Adventures’ website for trip dates and details.

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Start Dreaming about your trip to Costa Rica or Ecuador this year!

The 2015 Costa Rica and 2015/early2016 Ecuador dates are available.  Let us help you start planning your adventure with us.  Want to know how much fun the trips are? Check out photos on our Facebook page.  And complete albums from our trips on our photo site.

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL!
Sign up before May 1st and you will get $50 off your trip this year.
Deposit for the trip is $350.

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This week will see the community gathering in support of protecting one of the whitewater jewels of Ecuador: the Jondachi River.  The fight to save the Jondachi from a planned dam project has been going on for several years now under the leadership of Matt Terry and the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute (ERI).

To understand the issue, a recent article published on outdoor Research.com is most helpful leading up to the scheduled community event this week.

Matt Terry and ERI has long spearheaded environmental issues here in Ecuador.  For many years, ERI put on the Napo Festival, which brought together the local community as well as the international paddling community to celebrate the value of rivers here in Ecuador.  Community awareness is at the heart of saving a river.   Not only will there be whitewater-related events – kayaking and rafting, but music, education and more.  Music will be headlined by our own Daniel Terrence Young.  If you are here in Ecuador, it will be an event to support. If you are not in Ecuador but back home suffering through another arctic freeze, reach out and support the endeavors of an organization like ERI who works tirelessly for the environment so that there will be a legacy left for the next generation.

For more on Matt’s work, check out our interview with Matt……

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Traveling with your kayak is a special adventure

Rather than thinking in terms of “choosing” instead pick the trip that works better for your current skill level and your current schedule.  Both Costa Rica and Ecuador offer paddling opportunities almost year-round, but there are definitely better times to choose in order to maximize your paddling time. Following are just a few tidbits to help you decide where to go….this time.

Enjoying the pure vida of Costa Rica

The definition of “adventure travel” is something you are doing you wish you were home talking about.  If you are not a seasoned traveler, or prefer more of the comforts of home, try Costa Rica first. The infrastructure in Costa Rica is advanced (except for the roads) and Costa Rica understands tourism. There is very little suffer factor.  Looking for a bit more adventure?  Ecuador. Once you cross over into South America, there is the chance of a bit more “adventure travel.”  The showers are not always hot, you do not always find toilet paper in the bathrooms of public restrooms, and there is less English spoken.  In both countries the people are welcoming to tourists and with only a  few exceptions, very hospitable.

Enjoying the kayak surfing - not bad for early winter!

Time of Year. Both countries have better times for maximizing paddling.
Looking for early winter paddling before ski season kicks in?  Costa Rica is your better bet. October, November, early December is considered the tail end of the rainy season. Usually by early December the country is starting to make the transition between seasons.  The country is also making a transition from the “low season” tourism-wise to high season.  It would be similar to when would you prefer to travel to southern Florida: off season or peak tourism season.  Chosing high season means you just have to factor in more tourists, higher prices, less flexibility with tagging on additional siteseeing at either end of the paddling week.  Does that mean don’t go if that is the only time you can get away? Certainly not. Rivers like the Pacuare are run year-round by the rafting companies, as are some of the dam controlled rivers like the Rio Balsa.  And in the dry season, there are a couple of Class IV-IV+ runs on the West coast that open up with lower water.

Enjoying the boof of Ecuador

Looking for one of the best places to paddle during the cold winter months?  The Ecuador is your choice November, December, January, through mid-February.  In the Oriente of Ecuador, there is less seasonal difference between dry season and rainy season. It is more “wet and wetter.”  To give an example: In the Oriente, January is considered the “driest” month of the year, and the average rainfall for January is nine inches.  Those are statistics, so don’t consider it written in stone.   In a “normal” year, there is a definite change in weather that kicks in by mid-February and the “wetter” tends to be more the norm.

"Rain" is the operative word in rainforest!

Skill Level.  International paddling immediately increases the difficulty of the rivers because of the fact that there is less access to the rivers, less roadside boating, and you must factor in a lack of familiarity with the rivers you will be paddling.  An international trip is not the time to try and upgrade your paddling experience. Chose a trip that is within your current comfort zone. And bring your roll with you.

Continuous is the nature of rivers in both countries

Class II-III versus Class IV?
The rivers of Costa Rica are optimal for Class II-III through Class III-IV trips.  The West coast is more accessible to the main kayaking areas so it is easier to travel from the West coast to the central region, giving you more options for paddling.  On the other hand, if you are a Class IV boater looking for the definitive Class IV paddling country, Ecuador is where it’s at. There are great Class III and Class III-IV options without a doubt, but quality Class IV whitewater is where Ecuador really shines. Are there Class IV options in Costa Rica. Of course! And Class III in Ecuador? Without a doubt. It is just that both countries have their favorites.

Loving life on the river!

What is to be expected? Choosing either Costa Rica or Ecuador, you are guaranteed beautiful scenery, amazing people, and fantastic whitewater.  What is not guaranteed is which rivers you will run during your visit as weather conditions affect water levels.  Over and above the obvious (that as kayakers we are dealing with Mother Nature in all her quirkiness), there are several factors unique to Costa Rica and Ecuador:

1. Rain Forest Conditions.  Paddling down rivers surrounded by rain forest is a remarkable experience.  The views can be most distracting at times!  The whole rain forest environment also sets up conditions that paddlers are not used to at home.  Because both countries deal with lots and lots of rain, the ground tends to be very saturated. A hard rain can bring rivers up between one and thirty feet (seriously).  There is no place for the additional water to go but downhill into the watersheds.  In both countries, you will see rivers spike, and then drop almost as quickly.  Could you get rained out on a paddling vacation? Rained out in a trip’s entirety is highly unlikely, but there have been given days in both countries where there just flat-out is no where to paddle because all the rivers are too high. It pays to be paddling with folks who know how weather patterns affect particular watersheds in that country as they are better at reacting to anomlaies and getting you where you need to be to still have a great day of paddling, even if it means doing some traveling.  You don’t want to base your whole trip on one specific run because you might not get on that particular river that trip; but you may end up on a river that becomes your new favorite.  And if you miss out on a run you had on your wish list, this merely sets up an excuse to have to come back again!
2. Northern Cold Systems. From November – February, winter weather patterns in Canada and North America can definitely affect things even as far south as Ecuador, but more typically in Costa Rica. You will not see snow flurries, but sometimes the weather can be chillier than normal.
3. Staying Healthy.  Tourism in both Costa Rica and Ecuador are driving economic factors. Should you assume you might get a bit of gringo-itis while visiting either country? No. But don’t be surprised if you end up with a little funkiness going on in your digestive tract.  When you travel you are dealing with bacteria foreign to your system. It potentially sets up a bit of a battle in your digestive tract.  Take some precautions to remain healthy throughout your visit.

The delicious fruit is almost reason enough to travel!

• Get some sleep in preparation for your trip!  Because of the work it takes to actually embark on a vacation, paddlers often work longer hours leading up to their trip, miss out on some sleep, then hop on an airplane full of germs.  Particularly in November and December, there is the winter flu season at home. All you need is someone coming down with the same sniffles / stomach their kids brought back from day care and combined with travel, viruses tend to like to join the party.  Arrive in country with a healthy immune system.
• Be aware of what you are eating.  It is winter and you are eating fresh fruit and drinking fresh fruit juices in quantities unheard of at home.
• Wash your hands. Frequently.
• Careful with the water.  In respectable hotels and restaurants, care is taken in preparing food and serving water/juices. In Costa Rica you can actually drink water right out of the tap and in both countries, bottled water is readily available.  When most people get caught unaware is brushing their teeth. Use bottled water to do so.
• Female travelers, there are additional things for you to think about. Here is a bit of information to help you with your trip planning…
• Yogurt, lots of water, washing your hands frequently, getting good sleep and bringing along some Imodium are all great preventative measures.

Finally, regardless of your destination, arrive with an open mind ready to embrace the culture, the things that are “different” from home, the people, and the language.  Pull out that high school Spanish and you will be surprised at how much of it comes back.  Don’t be naïve about caring for your valuables.  And enjoy every moment of your time …remembering that every day, someone at home is probably shoveling snow!

Let your kayak take you to beautiful places!

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The Quijos Valley was opened up to a broader population in the late 1960’s when oil was discovered in the northeast corner of Ecuador.  A road cut through the Quijos Valley to provide access to this oil-rich area.  In the early 1990’s, kayakers followed this road and discovered the Quijos River and its many tributaries.  Aside from oil engineers and kayakers, tourism has been fairly non-existent in the area, so there were few accommodations up to a standard that would satisfy tourist.  And in the past fifteen years, those accommodations that have become available are usually committed to the oil engineers for long-term leases.

“Building the eco-lodge is another display of our commitment to investment in Ecuador.” explains Ken Kastorff, who was hands-on for much of the construction of the facility.  “We have always believed in supporting the local tourism infrastructure in any country we have established ourselves, but here in the Quijos Valley we finally had to make an exception because of the lack of accommodations.”

Accommodations are an integral part of successful tourism. Hot showers, a good night’s sleep and a good variety of activities is what it will take to build tourism in this beautiful area.  “We have always struggled with roosters, dogs, loud speakers and being behind the oil company in terms of accommodations,” explains Kastorff. “Our hope is that the RioQuijos EcoLodge will be a landmark for building tourism in the Oriente.”

The property is positioned as a perfect put-in/take-out spot on the Quijos River for kayaking and rafting, as well as a private beach for fishing.   Bordering both sides of the Quijos, the 20 acres on river left provides easy access off the main highway. The 90+ acres on river right were purchased specifically for land conservation.  A feeding area for toucans and gallo de penas, migration route for hummingbirds and home to such endangered animals as the oso anteojos, the land was registered with Ecuador’s Media Ambiente in 2009 in help in the conservation cause.

While Kastorff was hands-on helping with the construction of the cabins, even with his extensive construction background, he acquiesced to local experience. “In a jungle area, even details such as what phase of the moon you cut your wood can determine the longevity of your buildings.” Shares Kastorff.  “These guys have been building for years and know what it takes to make sure that the building lasts against everything the jungle has to throw at it.”

In addition to cabins that are designed to blend into the breathtaking scenery of the riverside property, there are four sets of nature trails that provide exquisite opportunity for bird watching and nature photography.  A sauna made out of all local products allows for a relaxing wind-down with music by the Quijos River.

The RioQuijos EcoLodge is not only the perfect setting for whitewater kayakers, but outdoor enthusiasts looking to hike, bird watch, and explore many of the treasures found in this region.
Follow the progress of the project from start to finish through our photo album!

And check out the RioQuijos EcoLodge website….

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