Ecuador: A Whitewater Kayaking Paradise
Every winter, whitewater kayakers in colder climates look to escape the snow for a warm weather paddling vacation. Ecuador is one of the most popular destinations, offering simple logistics and a nearly endless variety of warm, beautiful jungle rivers to paddle.
Chaco Canyon, Quijos River. Photo: Lucas Rietmann
Baeza
There are many areas of Ecuador that offer whitewater paddling opportunities, but most kayakers tend to base out of Baeza in the Quijos valley, about 2 hours east of Quito. Baeza is a sleepy little town with a population of about 2,000 on the eastern slope of the Andes mountains. Gina’s Restaurant and the Casa De Rodrigo hotel, across the street, are the hub of the kayaking scene in Baeza.
Lunch break on the Quijos. Photo: Lucas Rietmann
Here, you’ll find affordable accommodations, several restaurants within walking distance and a constantly rotating cast of kayakers from around the world. If you didn’t bring your own equipment, Rodrigo has boats and gear available to rent. When you’re ready to go paddling, simply request a taxi. A network of local drivers with pickup trucks know all of the access points and charge consistent, pre-determined rates depending on the section. Shuttle for runs in the valley will cost between $10 and $40 for a group of 4. Ecuador uses the US dollar, which makes things even easier.
Waiting for a shuttle in Baeza. Photo: Matt Deacon
The Quijos has many high quality whitewater runs, ranging from class III-IV+, and offers reliable paddling at any water level. With some rain, tributaries like the Papallacta (V), Cosanga (III-IV+) and Oyacachi (IV-IV+) deliver even more fun, all within 30 minutes of Baeza. If you’re looking for professional guidance, there are several excellent guiding services in the valley, including Small World Adventures and Boof Sessions.
El Toro rapid, Quijos river. Photo: Matt Deacon
Tena
About 2 hours south of Baeza, the larger city of Tena offers tons of restaurants, hotels and it’s own set of amazing whitewater rivers. Standouts in the Tena area include the Jondachi (III-V), Misahualli(IV-IV+) and Piatua (IV).
Lining up a boof on the Upper Jondachi. Photo: Matt Deacon
Big water in the jungle on the lower Misahualli. Photo: Matt Deacon
The Season
There are boatable flows year round , with the highest levels typically occurring between March and September. Most kayakers book their trips between November and February.
Getting There
From the Quito airport, you can take a taxi to Pifo and then a bus to Baeza. If you’re travelling with boats, and/ or in a group, you can arrange for a truck to pick you up at the airport and bring you to Baeza. For accommodations, boat rentals and airport transportation, I recommend contacting Rodrigo Morales. He operates casa De Rodrigo, speaks excellent english, and has been catering to kayakers for decades.
Get The Guidebook
The Kayaker’s Guide to Ecuador has detailed descriptions of every run, complete with logistics. it is very helpful and a must- buy for anyone planning a paddling trip to Ecuador.
