Toachi and Blanco Rivers, 1 Day

Level: Moderate (Class III-III+)
ARBT-01

These rivers are born high in the Andean volcanoes and thunder their way westwards to the tropical rainforest of Ecuador's coast. The Toachi flows within a spectacular gorge with high lush-green walls. As we exit the gorge the Toachi merges into the Blanco, where water flow increases to produce continuously exhilarating white-capped rapids. The combinations of these two rivers provide the best tropical water rafting west of the Andes year-round!

We depart from Quito towards the coast at 7h00 to the Santo Domingo area. We descend on a dramatic mountain road through the Andes all the way down to the 500 meter level. We reach our put-in and after a safety briefing we begin our whitewater adventure. Depending on water levels we run up to 30 kilometers of the best whitewater west of the Andes! On our way we will learn about the tropical ecosystem and be on the lookout for wildlife such as egrets, cormorants, kingfishers, and may also be able to see the southern river otter. Snacks and a healthy river beach lunch will be served by your guides and support team. We return to Quito, arriving in the late afternoon. (L)

INCLUDED: Private transportation, professional rafting equipment, personal safety gear, wholesome lunch and snacks, and American Canoe Association (ACA) certified raft guides.

IMPORTANT FACTS

• TRAVEL TIME: 2 to 3 hours each way from Quito
• RAFTING TIME: 3-4 hours based on water levels
• SEASON: All year
• ALTITUDE: 600m to 300m
• AVERAGE TEMPERATURE: DAY 18-34 C
• SUGGESTED: Water sandals, waterproof sun block and mosquito repellent.