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Bus rides, long shuttles, early nights after all full day of traveling, all of these are great reasons for uploading/bringing along a book with you when you travel.  many inns have a book exchange, so if you bring one book with you, you can resupply.  Another important reason for doing some reading before, during or after your travels is that you will learn more about the culture you have chosen to immerse yourself in. Following are some of our favorite reads, definitely influenced by the time we have spent in Latin America.

Suggested Books to Read While Traveling in Latin America

The White Rock, Hugh Thompson
Tropical Nature, Adrian Forsyth & Ken Miyata
1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, Charles C Mann
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon, David Grann
Last City of the Monkey God Douglas Preston
Sweat of the Sun,Tears of the Moon: A Chronicle of Incan Treasure, Peter Lourie
Valverdes Gold, Mark Honigsbaum
Land of Ghosts, David Campbell
River of Doubt, Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey, Candice Millard
Savages, Joe Kane
Three Cups of Tea, Greg Mortenson
Latin American Heroes, Jerome Adams
When the Rivers Run Dry, Fred Pearce
Confessions of an Economic Hitman, John Perkins
River of Darkness: Francisco Orellana’s LEgendary Voyage of Death and Discovery Down the Amazon, Deckle Edge

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For women traveling abroad, there are a few cultural hitches that can make for awkward moments.
Nothing that should dissuade a female from embarking on an international trip,
but if known ahead of time, can make traveling as a female a whole lot easier.

Toilet Paper
something many of us take for granted. But once out of metropolitan areas, there are many countries that consider toilet paper a luxury. If you are not a drip dryer, make sure you bring along a travel size roll of paper. And work on your squats before you go—many toilets are not really conducive to sitting down.

When it is “that time”
The last thing you were thinking about when packing for your trip was the ol’ monthly girl time. And even if you check the calendar to make sure you are not going to overlap, traveling often screws up the timetable just to be a nuisance. Pack for it even if it is not going to happen. Outside of large metropolitan areas, many cultures take a different view on how the monthly plague is handled. Solution: pack enough of your favorite product for the time you are going to be gone. And think about disposal. If you are traveling in a country that has little access to public bathrooms, or has septic systems that do not accommodate paper products, you need a disposal solution. Bring a supply of snack-size zip lock bags. And have a bit of toilet paper folded in each one (for reasons already mentioned).

Prescriptions
Many countries bypass the doctor when handing out prescription drugs. You walk in to a pharmacy, describe your ailment, and as long as you are not asking for your favorite recreational drug, you will probably be taken care of. Exception to the rule: birth control pills. Don’t leave home without them. It is not only uncomfortable asking for them, but all but impossible to get a prescription filled in countries that do not exactly condone the use of modern medicine in birth control.

Changing Clothes
If you are visiting a country that has religious and/or cultural stigmas about public nudity for women, don’t embarrass your host country. You will not win any friends flaunting your inhibitions. Respect their culture—even if their culture is not shy about calendar photos of half-dressed women snuggling up to sweating beer bottles, they might not take you changing in front of them well; therefore, bring a changing towel, dress, skirt, long shirt.

Cat calls/wolf whistles/being ignored
Sure it might be sexist in your country. And it is in theirs. But that is beyond the point. In many countries (Latin American countries for example) if you are a good-looking lady, you are going to be appreciated. Don’t shoot them the finger and shout “pig” in every language you know. Just continue on your way and be flattered. On the other extreme, there are certain cultures where you will be overlooked if you are part of a group embarking on an adventure—particularly an athletic adventure. Don’t be offended when there is a show of surprise that you are going to do the same thing as the guys…kayaking a river, climbing a mountain, riding a mountain bike. There are cultures–even in this day and time, where women do not participate in such activities, much less alone with a group of guys. Don’t back off from what you are doing, but don’t take things personally if dubious eyes turn towards you when you start putting on your gear.

The Bar Scene
In many countries, it is against every cultural norm for a woman to hang out in a bar.  Nightclub/dance club – yes, but bars – no. That doesn’t mean don’t go—but make sure you are with friends if you do so. Do not try being a bar fly on your own; it will be taken the wrong way—even if all you intended was to have a glass of wine before going to your room for the night.

Above all, remember that television supersedes you. Take care not to play into the preconceived notions that certain cultures have about women from your culture.
Take the time to do your homework before traveling to learn the faux pas of your destination’s culture.
And remember that you are an emissary for all the women that will travel after you.

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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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With 27+ years’ experience running trips and paddling in Latin America – we’ve got some pretty good beta on paddling DIY (Do It Yourself) in a foreign country  specifically in Latin America; even more specifically, in Ecuador. The short answer to paddling on your own in Ecuador is “Yes!” And “No.”

The “yes!” is for all of you who have any combination of the following:

1. At least a month set aside to travel and paddle
2. Enough money to make ends meet for an extended period of unemployment
3. At least a minimal grasp of Spanish, or a knack for picking up a foreign language easily and/or comfort in a country that speaks very little English, which is the case in Ecuador.
4. A good stomach to deal with lower-end budget restaurants where food prep is not typically scaled to gringos.
5. Solid boating skills and comfort running unfamiliar rivers. Don’t come to Ecuador on your own without a solid roll.  Period.
6. Have someone who is willing to babysit you. 
7. A sense of adventure for dealing with whatever the day brings you.

That’s a short list of must have’s for having an awesome time on your own traveling/paddling in Ecuador. 

The “No” list for paddling on your own is also any combination of the following:

1. Having a short, specific time to travel and paddle, with little room for “adventures” that will throw off your schedule
2. Having a preference for focusing your time on the paddling and culture expedited by guides that are super experienced on the rivers, know varying water levels, and know the people and the culture. 
3.  A preference for letting someone else deal with the logistics of a foreign country, from the rivers to transportation to hotels and restaurants.
4. Not really interested in the dirt bag lifestyle of low rent hotels full of a lot of young bros – many who are as interested in the partying end of things as the paddling and are able to do both with gusto. 
5. Not jazzed up about the idea of jumping on new rivers, at wildly varying water levels, with people you may or may not know, who have a wide range of paddling styles and idea of responsibility on the river.
6. Not interested in public transportation as your day-to-day means of getting to and from wherever you are going.
7. Little to no Spanish.

That’s the short list for why joining a commercial paddling trip Ecuador will be your best bet.

Here’s a few extra clarifications about paddling in Ecuador:

Boats.  There are no well-stocked outfitters stores in Ecuador full of paddling gear and boats to replace what you may not bring down/break/lose/have stolen.  One of the biggest challenges to doing things on your own is the kayak. Airlines continue to be a coin toss as to whether they will check your kayak/surf boat/windsurfer/fishing vessel.  During the holidays Ecuador always places an embargo on the airlines, limiting travelers to two bags.  The airlines cannot get around that in their computer system.  If the person checking you in is happy to check in your kayak, there will be a cost involved – up to $150. Say thank you as you pay the fee and be happy you have your boat.  And please DO NOT bring a welded boat to Ecuador with the intent of selling it to some unassuming person once you are done. You are bringing trash into another country that will end up in the landfill after a few weeks of hard boating.  Leave your trash at home.  If you want to try and sell your boat after you paddle, have the courtesy of selling a boat that at least arrived in good condition.  Ecuadorian paddlers do not have the expendable income most Americans do and if you rip them off with a welded boat, you are doing all of us a disservice.  A great idea is to work out selling your boat to someone who is coming down after your travel is over.  A win win for both of you!  There are options for renting boats short term and long term in country. If you rent a boat from someone in country remember that if you break it you buy it. It will not matter if you break it on the first rapid of the first day; you break it you buy it. 

Public Transportation. It is great in Ecuador! There is bus service throughout the country. And in local paddling communities, locals have pick up trucks and provide shuttles to boaters.   Make sure you always keep an eye on your belongings when using public transportation. You stand out like the gringo you are. And it is obvious that you have money, electronics, cell phones, and passports – all of which have street value for a savvy thief.  In using the local shuttles, make sure you have a dry bag for your personal belongings and be prepared to bring them along in your boat since you cannot leave them in the shuttle vehicle.  Plan on having your passport with you at all times.  And always – have a copy of your passport somewhere safe in case you lose it. 

Rivers. It is no exaggeration that the water levels in Ecuador fluctuate drastically.  Not just over night after a hard rain, but within mere hours.  Ecuador is not the United States.  Most rivers are not road access.  Most treks off isolated rivers are hard going.  And there is no medivacing off a river if you get hurt.  In fact, if you do get hurt, you are most likely going to need to go to Quito for any serious injury (including dislocated shoulders). 

Food.  The food is inexpensive and nutritious. But you will not find vegan, organic, gluten free, non gmo American nonsense on the menus of most of the Ecuadorian restaurants outside the big cities.  Eating in the local restaurants – especially once you get out of the main cities, means food not prepared with the gringo in mind. Water might not be treated and food prep is not freakishly sanitized the way it is at home.  Your American stomach will find itself in a battle with new bacteria so be prepared for some stomach issues. The saying in Ecuador is “never trust a fart.”  Oh – and you’d best like eggs as you will see them served three meals a day. 

Female Paddlers. Ecuador is a very female friendly place to travel. With that said there are a few things you just need to be prepared for. The boating scene in Ecuador is a pretty strong bro atmosphere.  You will not have a lot of privacy in the hang outs in the main paddling areas.  If you like to do yoga, meditate and read a book in your down time, you will have to work to find that space.  There are also definitely some rules of thumb for female travelers that will help with enjoying your time.

Finally – a plug for supporting the commercial groups that have been running trips in Ecuador for a very long time (Endless River Adventures being one of them).  Yep – you are going to spend more money than if you do it on your own. That goes without saying. The experienced outfitters in Ecuador have spent years investing their time and money in getting to know the rivers up and down, investing in infrastructure, investing in building community relationships, and adding a cultural side to their trips so that you see more than just the paddling.  Word to the wise: If you sign up with a legal outfitter in Ecuador, they are running their trips through an agency, they are working with Ecuadorians, their driver is insured and so is the private vehicle they are using.  If you choose to go commercial, make sure and do your homework and support one of the reputable commercial outfitters invested in Ecuador.  Folks that run commercial trips without the above are running under the radar and would be kicked out of the country if caught.   Supporting one of the commercial groups that have run trips in country for many years is a guarantee that you will have as much of a hassle free great experience as possible in a wonderful country.  It will also help assure that those companies will be there long after the private boaters have moved on to their next winter destination.

#allyouneedisecuador is no exaggeration.  It is a paradise for boating, for exploring, for culture, for new experiences that will wow you.  Don’t miss the opportunity.  We hope to see you in Ecuador this winter!!

PS – have some time free this winter that could be used for an awesome paddling trip? Check out our trip dates to see if one might work with your schedule. This year the airline tickets are mush lower than usual.  Now’s the time!!

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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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Starting to think about what to pack for your winter travel?  Don’t leave without your Astral Rosas! It’s not just that they look good. They do!  Rosas feature granite grip outsoles, three separate strap options and four eye-catching colors – so they are there for you on a hike, day of biking, whitewater, or slipping into your LBD at the end of the day.  And boys – don’t pout, the Rosa has a brother: the Felipe.

So now you know the shoe to not leave home without, have you decided where you will be this winter? Check out our Costa Rica and Ecuador dates for whitewater kayaking, yoga, and just plain escaping south to enjoy the sunshine.

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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.

The post Rivers Don’t Save Themselves: Supporting River Conservation in Ecuador appeared first on Endless River Adventures.

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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