"Phil and Mary's Ecuador trip were truly a unique
experience. Their efforts on the rivers, with the people of Ecuador and
their dedication to making the experience user-friendly and educational
made my trip unforgettable. I'll be back, and soon!"
- Sam Hass OR
TENA VALLEY
Jondachi – Class 5. Our favorite run in Ecuador. Six intimate miles of continuous, challenging but boat-scoutable rapids, with portages, surrounded by giant granite boulders and man-sized ferns in the heart of the jungle. Travel time on this run is one mile an hour. Must have the perfect water level to put on.
Lower Jondachi/Hollin - Super remote! So much so that we hire porters to carry our boats to the put-in. This outstanding stretch of whitewater is the premier Class 3/4 run! It combines the outstanding beauty of the technical Upper Jondachi with the pristine big water drops of the Hollin - without the consequences. You get two fantastic rivers in one day. Read the description of the Lower Misahualli for a taste of what you’ll experience on the Hollin, without the portage!
Misahualli - Middle and Upper - Many stretches,
Class 3+ and up. The higher you go -- both water level and put-in -- the
harder it gets. Small, continuous, intricate rapids in an open canyon. Ideal
intro to creeking!
Hwy Bridge to Tena - Class II decreasing to Class 1. Relaxing,
nice scenery and deliciously warm water!
Lower - Class 4- and up. If very low, Class 3+. Below the
confluences of the Hollin, Jondachi and Tena rivers the Mis changes
character and completely leaves the road to enter the most remote river
canyon we offer. Drop-pool with swirly water exits, playful, one portage,
surrounded by pure, undisturbed jungle, and littered with iridescent
blue morpho butterflies the size of your hand. Dugouts slice through
eddies carrying fisherman upstream. Surreal!
Jatunyacu - Class 3 big-water (sometimes Grand Canyon-like) drop-pool river draining the totally virgin slopes of Cotopaxi Volcano. Much of the play is on the fly. It's definitely worth taking a side hike to dip into an astounding natural laguna that cascades into the river upstream of the put-in and is surrounded by sculpted granite.
Piatua – This is a newly explored run in Ecuador and one of the best class 4 runs in the country. Eight kilometers of crystalline water quality and incredible granite boulders. On par with the Upper Misahualli in technicality, just better and more natural!