Level: Challenging (Class IV to IV+)
ARA-03

Activities: Whitewater Rafting, Indigenous Encounters, Hiking, Bird Watching, Swimming, Hot Springs

Season: November to March

Accommodations: Camping, Quality Jungle Lodge, and a Resort & Spa

Big rapids, big wilderness and big excitement are what we discover while rafting the headwaters of the mighty Amazon River. For those who can’t get enough of the rush of white water, this trip takes you down the best selection of Class IV rivers in Ecuador. The Upano, Quijos, Jondachi-Hollin, and Jatunyacu offer unforgettable whitewater amongst breathtaking cloud forest and Amazon jungle scenery. This unique trip also includes extended cultural encounters with Shuar Indians (the famous head-shrinkers of the Amazon, therapeutic hotsprings, wildlife encounters, and a trip to the largest indigenous market in the Americas!

Trip highlights:

• The absolute ultimate rafting adventure in Ecuador!
• Cultural encounters with Shuar Indians, the “Amazon head-shrinkers”
• Shaman rituals and traditional activities with Kichwa Indians
• Bird watching, hiking, and wildlife exploration in Amazon rainforest
• Raft in one of the most pristine jungle gorges in the world, where countless waterfalls cascade down lush cliff walls
• Relax at a rejuvenating natural hot springs resort nestled in the cloud forest
• Visit Otavalo, the largest indigenous market in the Americas
• Explore wildlife and plant life in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
• Go with top-notch guides from Ecuador’s 1st rafting company (20+ yrs experience)
• Cultural interaction with Huaorani communities
• Learn how to use a blow gun, weave with tree fibers, and identify medicinal plants
• Hear Huaorani stories and recite traditional chants
• See more than 100 different species of tropical birds, including the prehistoric Hoatzin
• Sightings of the Black Caiman crocodile, a formerly endangered Amazon species
• Encounter other wildlife including monkeys, peccaries, frogs, snakes, paca, and tapir
• Explore micro-ecosystems in a 500-year-old Ceiba tree
• Kayak through the lakes of a flooded forest
• Skilled naturalist guide accompany you every step of your journey

DAY 1: FLY FROM QUITO TO MACAS & RAFTING THE UPPER UPANO

This morning, we get into road from Quito to Macas, a small town in the southern Amazon. After arriving in Macas, we enjoy a welcome lunch and a short trip briefing before beginning our rafting journey. When we first meet the Upano, she is a wide river alternating between verdant valleys and steep boulder passages, with mostly class III rapids and a sprinkling of class IV rapids that get our hearts racing. On this first day of rafting, we get used to paddling as a team, while we take the time to appreciate the stunning rainforest ecology around us.

Shuar Indians can often be seen washing clothes or fishing along the shores of the upper Upano, and their thatched roof homes are dotted sporadically along the riverbanks. The Shuar are infamously known as the “Amazon’s head-shrinkers”.  When we make camp for the night on the riverbanks of the Upano, we will visit a Shuar community nearby. They will likely talk to us about the ancient practice of head-shrinking and how and why it was done. The Shuar believed that shrinking the heads of enemies killed in battle was a way of preventing their victim’s spirits from seeking vengeance, and gave the warrior who possessed the shrunken head greater powers. After our cultural exchange with the Shuar, we enjoy dinner at our campsite and a peaceful night’s sleep along the riverbanks. (L, D)

DAYs 2 & 3: RAFTING THE UPANO RIVER IN THE GORGE OF SACRED WATERFALLS

This section of the Amazon is pristine primary forest, and we are guaranteed to see a variety of birdlife. After passing under the Patuca Bridge and entering the stunning Namangosa Canyon Gorge, the Upano River changes her mood and becomes a very fast-moving body of water that propels our raft through class IV-IV+ rapid after rapid. The riverbanks grow into towering lush canyon walls, as water is channeled into a boulder-choked gorge. The Shuar call this the “Gorge of Sacred Waterfalls”, and we will ask them about the mythology surrounding the river canyon during our community visit. Only stunning white waterfalls interrupt the lush green of the canyon walls. Combined with sightings of tropical birds and colorful butterflies, we are left breathless by the natural beauty of the canyon, as well as the thrill of the rapids.
The end of day two finds us at a campsite known as Mina, with another full day of rafting ahead of us. On day three, hiking trails and hidden caves give us spaces to stop and seek wildlife along the riverbanks. We can swim in numerous tributary streams that feed into the Upano, offering different temperatures and volumes of water. On the afternoon of day three, we reach our take-out site, where our vehicle is waiting to drive us back through the countryside. We reach Macas in the evening and spend the third night of our journey here.  (B, L, D both days)

DAY 4: MACAS TO TENA & VISIT SHIRIPUNO INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY

Today, we drive along scenic jungle roads on the edge of Andes to make our way to Tena,  the whitewater capital of Ecuador. Once in Tena, we relax and settle into our riverfront jungle lodge. After lunch, we visit to a Kichwa Indian community. Here, we learn about the Kichwa way of life, culture, and customs. We may also participate in community activities, including the creation of ceramics with indigenous motifs, preparation of Chicha (corn beer), visits to ancient petroglyph sites, and cleansing rituals with a local shaman. The rest of the day is set aside for relaxation and recuperation, as we will need our strength for the days to come. (B, L, D)

DAY 5: RAFTING THE JATUNYACU, ECUADOR’S “BIG WATER”

After enjoying breakfast in our lodge, we drive to Llanganates National Park, which extends from the high Andes down into the Amazon basin and is part of an area declared a Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations. Before we start our rafting adventure we hike to nearby naturally-formed river pools, where we can jump, slide, and swim. Jatunyacu, which means “Big Water”, offers exhilarating white water rapids, big waves, fun holes, and high volumes of water. The river is also renowned for its spectacular jungle scenery, abundant birdlife, crystal-clear water and glimpses into Kichwa communities that live along the shores in small bamboo and wood houses.

We will take a break halfway through to enjoy lunch on the shores of the Jatunyacu before continuing down the river. We may also take a 30-minute hike through a hidden water cave along the riverbanks to find resting bats. Once our rafts arrive at the conjuncture with the Napo River, our car will be waiting for us to make the short drive to return to the comfort of our jungle eco-lodge, where we enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening. (B, L, D)

DAYS 6: RAFTING JONDACHI-HOLLIN, THE “GEM OF THE ANDES”

After breakfast, we head to the Jondachi River, “the Gem of the Andes”. The Jondachi winds through some of the most remote and pristine sections of jungle found in Ecuador. At times, the river is highly technical and demands our utmost attention; at other times, it is wider, granting us time to admire the rainforest around us. The high-rising canyon walls that frame the river are covered in verdant green and brightly-colored flowering plants.

The Jondachi then meets the Hollin River and becomes wider but more powerful. Small, rickety wooden foot bridges cross the canyon, suspended high above the lapping waves, and remind us of simpler ways of life that most of us from traffic-congested cities have never experienced. The rapids are mostly class III-IV rapids, but the “Waffle Maker” rapid (class IV+) is not to be underestimated. The water pulls us in, churns our raft about, and then spits us out, making us feel as if we’ve just been clamped down on by the water. After an exhilarating day, we drive back to our lodge and spend the evening dining and relaxing. (B, L, D)

DAY 7: RAFTING THE QUIJOS & PAPALLACTA HOT SPRINGS

In the morning, we drive eastward for an hour, gaining altitude before we reach our put-in on the Quijos River, located at 7,500 feet (2,300 meters) above sea level within Sumaco National Park. The Quijos River was the site of the 2005 World Rafting Championship. This incredibly biodiverse area was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2000. We begin our journey in a cloudforest that holds a great diversity of birdlife. While we aren’t paddling furiously to get through the next class IV rapid, we take the time to enjoy the sights of rare bird species such as the red-crested cock-of-the-rock, brilliant green quetzals, and multi-colored Inca jays.

In the afternoon, we head to Papallacta Hot Springs. Here, we soak our tired muscles in therapeutic alkaline-rich waters while nestled in a fantastic cloud forest setting. The mixing of geothermal waters and an Andean river creates over a dozen different pools ranging in temperatures from frigid to steaming. Furthermore, optional spa services such as massages, aromatherapy, and other treatments can be arranged. We will stay the night at the Papallacta Hotsprings Resort & Spa. (B, L, D)

DAY 8: PAPALLACTA HOT SPRINGS & OTAVALO INDIAN MARKET

In the morning, we enjoy another rejuvenating dip in the soothing hotsprings of Papallacta. The locals believe that the mineral waters, heated naturally by geothermal activity, have special healing properties. You’re sure to become a believer in their powers as well. We then continue on to the equator to explore the pre-Inca Quitsato monument. This site is shaped as a star of eight points, representing pre-colonial and Incan indigenous beliefs that 0º latitude was the center of time and measurement. An excellent interpretation center explains the science and ancient significance behind this fascinating place and how Ecuador’s geographic position and location on the equator influences the country’s many cultures, climates, and biological diversity.

In the afternoon, we visit the largest indigenous market in the Americas. Your senses will be delighted with delicious aromas, vivid bright colors and mesmerizing Andean music. Here, local indigenous artisans and craftsmen sell their handmade wares, including textiles, paintings, leather goods, jewelry and much more. We return to Quito in the evening. (B, L) 

INCLUDED: Accommodations in jungle lodges and Papallacta Hot Springs Resort & Spa; private ground transportation; all camping gear including sleeping bags, kitchen, social and bathroom tents; all meals as described; all rafting and safety equipment; professional certified bilingual rafting and naturalists guide(s)

NOT INCLUDED: Hotel and restaurant beverages, and tips

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

RAFTING TIME	3-6 hours per day, depending on water level
SEASON	November to March
ALTITUDE	1,600 to 10,000 feet (500 to 3,000 meters)
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE – CLOUD FOREST	DAY 60-86ºF / 16-30ºC
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE – AMAZON	DAY 68-95ºF / 20-35ºC, NIGHT 64-71ºF / 18-22ºC
SUGGESTED ITEMS TO PACK	River trunks, thermal layer, water sandals, cap, flashlight, waterproof sunblock, and mosquito repellent.
WHITEWATER CLASSIFICATION	Class I – easy, Class II – novice, Class III – intermediate, Class IV – advanced, Class V – expert

Equipment
During the camping portions of the trip, we use the following equipment: Eureka & Northface tents, top-of-the-line rafts and kayaks, a portable toilet, lifejackets, dry bags, splash jackets.

Safety
Guides are WFR (Wilderness First Responder) certified. We use a complete first aid kid, including an anti-snakebite suction cup. We use GPS equipment for exact positioning, as well as SPOT satellite rescue system for emergency communications where cell phones don’t work. Our contingency plan includes a helicopter emergency evacuation service (cost is additional, but could be reimbursed by your travelers’ or health insurance).

About the food
The majority of the food is brought in from Quito, including drinking water. During the trip, we offer gourmet and local foods freshly cooked by our staff. Breakfast includes granola, fresh fruit, whole wheat bread, fresh coffee or tea, cereal, marmalade, pancakes or french toast, yogurt, and eggs of your choice. Box & picnic lunches include a variety of sandwiches, fruits, cheeses, dried fruits, juices, and fresh vegetables. Dinner includes fresh soups, pastas, local dishes, rice, beans, plantains, yucca, meats, fish, mashed potatoes, fresh salads and vegetables, complemented with wine, water, and/or juice.

About this Tour
Campsites may vary, based on weather conditions. We recycle and transport out all non-organic garbage. Although we attempt to stick to the itinerary, changes may occur due to weather and river conditions, health or other variables. Alternate river runs are available and may be substituted for those on the itinerary due to river water levels. Being flexible will allow you to get the most from your experience.