{"id":12089,"date":"2017-03-15T10:00:25","date_gmt":"2017-03-15T17:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=12089"},"modified":"2022-01-05T13:41:39","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T21:41:39","slug":"traveling-ecuador-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2017\/03\/15\/traveling-ecuador-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Traveling to Ecuador with Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"

If I told you it’s possible to go boating in paradise for as little as $46 dollars a day would you believe me? It seems crazy, yes, but in Ecuador, it\u2019s completely attainable. That $46 a day included traveling to Ecuador with my personal cataraft, frame and oars, round-trip taxi rides to the Quito airport, and round-trip bus rides to Tena, one of the boating centers. It also included all of my meals\u2014think yummy local cuisine, not instant noodles\u2014a comfortable room in a hostel, as well as shuttles to the fun class III and IV rivers. Kayakers have been traveling around Ecuador for years, but I discovered that it can be done by catarafters, too. I brought my complete whitewater cataraft package\u2014(two) cat tubes, break-down aluminum frame, three oars and all the necessary personal safety gear (PFD, helmet, rescue rope, etc.)\u2014from the USA to Ecuador and spent less than $50 a day. If I can do it, so can you. So pack up your cataraft and let\u2019s go boating! Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n

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What to Bring & How to Bring It:
\n<\/strong>First things first: Do your research. Find out which airlines will allow three checked bags weighing up to 50 pounds each. I\u2019ve had good luck with several of the Latin airlines; unlike our American carriers, they often allow two checked bags, a carry-on bag, and a personal item for free. The third checked bag will be charged, but sometimes you can pay in advance when you book your tickets. Keep in mind though, if you\u2019re flying during peak times (holidays) all this goes out the window. The airline may not allow as much luggage and there may even be an embargo on more than one checked bag. It pays to look around and pick the best dates and airlines for your boating vacation. A neat little bonus for first-class ticket holders: many airlines will allow all three checked bags to be 70 pounds. Sometimes being a member of their frequent flyer program also provides a better baggage allowance. If you can get away with three checked bags, here’s the ideal gear-to-bag break-down.<\/p>\n

First Checked Bag: The Boat<\/strong>
\nHaving the right equipment is vital when traveling internationally with a boat. Traveling with inflatables requires a paradigm shift toward lightweight, high-performance whitewater craft. My personal choice is a cataraft. Cats are typically lighter than rafts and can be dismantled into a small manageable package. My personal cataraft for international travel is 12 feet long with 19-inch diameter tubes; this is a great size for tight, technical, medium-volume rivers in the hands of a skilled boater. You want a boat you\u2019ll feel comfortable rowing in the style of water you like, and that will meet the weight requirements for airline travel. Do your homework; pay attention to the specs of the boat. This will be one of your checked bags, so choose a set of tubes that weigh less than 50 pounds. The complete set of tubes referred to in this article only weigh about 32 pounds. I was able to fit two cataraft tubes, three oar blades, and an NRS low-back seat inside an NRS medium boat bag<\/a> with a total weight of under 50 pounds. About the size of a medium suitcase, which is an easy bag for the airlines to deal with.<\/p>\n

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Second Checked Bag: Frame and Oars<\/strong>
\nThe frame parts and oars are the most difficult items to pack and carry. In the past, I’ve divided these items with the oars (shafts and blades) fitting perfectly into the NRS large paddle bag, but this leaves the frame as an additional package. However, when I traveled to Ecuador this year I was able to fit my break-down aluminum frame and a set of three oar shafts together in one bag. All of that plus a few cam straps weighed in at a perfect 50 pounds. My bag was long and skinny, but it was still acceptable as one piece of baggage.<\/p>\n

Third Checked Bag: Personal Gear<\/strong>
\nI use a large NRS Bill\u2019s Bag to hold all of my personal gear<\/a>. It has been on all my international trips for the last five years. The shoulder straps make it super easy to carry, toss or grab and the durable material can take the harsh abuse from international travel. Inside the Bill\u2019s Bag I stuff a medium dry bag for on-the-water use, a couple throw bags, my helmet, PFD, a mesh drop bag, a K-Pump 200, a small repair kit, a basic wrap kit (minus rope), a small first aid kit, river clothes (including a few H2Core silkweight tops and lightweight pants<\/a>\u00a0for protection from the sun and those pesky tropical bugs, a dry top, dry pants, and extra clothes for travel days or days off the water), and all the cam straps for rigging the cataraft. Also in the Bill’s bag is a small backpacker style air mattress and a light sleeping bag for overnight’ers, toiletries and a pair of NRS Crush shoes. All this weighed in around 40 pounds. If I had wanted to carry a bit more weight I could have added a lightweight tent, but I planned on renting one in Ecuador. Alternatively, to reduce weight, you can always look into what kind of equipment is available for rent in the country you\u2019re going to. If you can rent it there consider leaving yours at home; I rented my tent for the one overnight trip I did on the Rio Hollin.<\/p>\n