{"id":5596,"date":"2014-12-05T09:56:46","date_gmt":"2014-12-05T17:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com-2\/?p=5596"},"modified":"2017-10-16T14:42:25","modified_gmt":"2017-10-16T21:42:25","slug":"ecuador-kayaking-vacation-paradise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2014\/12\/05\/ecuador-kayaking-vacation-paradise\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecuador: A Kayaking Vacation Paradise"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190006\/photo-001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-5611 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190006\/photo-001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"photo-001\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190006\/photo-001-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190006\/photo-001-37x50.jpg 37w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190006\/photo-001.jpg 589w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a>We stumbled out of the airport, sleep deprived and more than three hours behind schedule, awkwardly weaving an unwieldy cart loaded with two kayaks, a paddle bag, and a mound of gear through the crowded obstacle course of the baggage claim area. We had left our house in NC about 26 hours earlier, the travel becoming a blur of highway miles, taxi rides, lengthy layovers, plane flights, connections, customs clearance, and a weird detour to the airport in a southern Ecuadorian town we\u2019d never even heard of,\u00a0where we spent two nervous hours in travelers\u2019 limbo on the tarmac before finally flying on to Quito, Ecuador.<\/p>\n<p>As we wheeled our ungainly cart out of the airport and into the Ecuadorian morning sunshine, I spotted a man holding up a hand-scrawled sign with a strange but phonetically approximate rendition of my name. With our kayaks and gear in our possession and our ride to whitewater paradise still waiting for us after all of our delays, it was finally time for vacation to begin!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5604\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5604\" style=\"width: 929px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190012\/IMG_20140117_182412_480.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5604 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190012\/IMG_20140117_182412_480.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_20140117_182412_480\" width=\"929\" height=\"697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190012\/IMG_20140117_182412_480.jpg 929w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190012\/IMG_20140117_182412_480-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190012\/IMG_20140117_182412_480-399x300.jpg 399w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190012\/IMG_20140117_182412_480-50x37.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5604\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caution: Zombie pushing a wide load coming through! Andria navigates the customs area of the Mexico City airport late at night during the beginning of our five-hour layover.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Most of my paddling trips to new destinations have been explorations undertaken behind the wheel with maps in hand and a keen sense of adventure in mind. It\u2019s the image that much of the paddling media promotes\u2014a group of kayakers on a \u201cmission\u201d or an \u201cexpedition\u201d to run some obscure river in a far away land. Their photos and videos are filled with coverage of trying to make it to the river, epic shots of getting their vehicles out of the mud, and other images of trials and misadventures. But what if your purpose for traveling is to take a break from the challenges that you face everyday in the non-paddling world? What if you want to leave all of the drama behind and go on a paddling trip that is truly a vacation? We found just such a destination in Ecuador. Here\u2019s what makes it the perfect spot to get away for some whitewater fun, and some things to consider when setting out on any paddling <em>vacation.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Ease of Travel<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5605\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5605\" style=\"width: 929px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190011\/DSC_0001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5605 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190011\/DSC_0001.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_0001\" width=\"929\" height=\"622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190011\/DSC_0001.jpg 929w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190011\/DSC_0001-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190011\/DSC_0001-448x300.jpg 448w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190011\/DSC_0001-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5605\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">We opted for the taxi ride from the airport over the 13,000-foot pass to Baeza, but you can see that the bus runs the route as well.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The most daunting hurdle on many foreign paddling trips is simply getting from the airport where the rivers are. In Ecuador, travel from the airport to your hotel in Baeza or Tena, the two main paddling towns\u2014or back and forth from one to the other\u2014is as easy as hopping in a cab or on a bus. A two or three hour drive will take you\u00a0from the airport in Quito to Baeza, or\u00a0from Baeza down to Tena. The bus costs about five dollars per person with your kayak, and the taxi is roughly $80 &#8211; $100 for up to four people and four boats. We chose to use taxis for the rides to and from the airport, which we arranged through Hostal la Casa de Rodrigo in Baeza. We used buses for our travels between Baeza and Tena. The biggest epic we got into while traveling from town to town was a flat tire on the bus late at night. Other than that, it was incredibly simple to jet around Ecuador hauling a kayak with a minimum of fuss.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5603\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5603\" style=\"width: 864px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190012\/bus-flat-001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5603 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190012\/bus-flat-001.jpg\" alt=\"bus-flat-001\" width=\"864\" height=\"648\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190012\/bus-flat-001.jpg 864w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190012\/bus-flat-001-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190012\/bus-flat-001-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190012\/bus-flat-001-50x37.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5603\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Waiting for a flat tire to be changed on the bus between Tena and Baeza one night. You\u2019ll be a popular gringo if you get your headlamp out to help the driver see what he\u2019s doing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Ease of Shuttle<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5606\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5606\" style=\"width: 929px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190010\/DSC_0014-001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190010\/DSC_0014-001.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_0014-001\" width=\"929\" height=\"622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190010\/DSC_0014-001.jpg 929w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190010\/DSC_0014-001-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190010\/DSC_0014-001-448x300.jpg 448w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190010\/DSC_0014-001-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5606\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The daily ritual of loading the boats into the taxis for the ride to the river.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Not only is it simple to get from town to town in Ecuador, but\u00a0the ease of transportation extends to getting to and from the river. Both Baeza and Tena have numerous taxis\u2014compact pickup trucks with full back seats that can haul up to five people and five boats. What\u2019s more, the drivers are usually well versed in the locations of the put-ins and take-outs. We did no fumbling with maps and had very few wrong turns as we rode in style to and from the rivers every day. If you have some rudimentary Spanish skills and a local cell phone, you can call a taxi and arrange a ride to the river each morning. The drivers will keep your dry clothes safe in the cab and pick you up at the take-out at a prearranged time. With all of the logistics handled for you, there is nothing left for you to think about except for relaxing and enjoying the river.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Quality Moderate Whitewater<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5610\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5610\" style=\"width: 929px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190007\/DSC_0468.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5610 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190007\/DSC_0468.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_0468\" width=\"929\" height=\"622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190007\/DSC_0468.jpg 929w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190007\/DSC_0468-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190007\/DSC_0468-448x300.jpg 448w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190007\/DSC_0468-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5610\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boofing into one of the larger rapids on the Oyacachi\u2014a solid Class IV. Ecuador is class IV paradise!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>While paddling expeditions to run obscure Class V rivers can be exhilarating, there\u2019s a lot to be said for trips where you don\u2019t get that fight-or-flight knot in your gut every day on the river. After all, it\u2019s supposed to be a vacation. Ecuador has a nearly limitless supply of whitewater in the Class III to IV+ range, allowing intermediate to expert paddlers to get plenty of thrills with relatively few chills and spills. &#8220;Fun factor over fear factor&#8221; is the motto for a trip there, and really for most any paddling vacation where relaxation is more important than pushing your limits. The concentration of quality whitewater around Baeza and Tena is astonishing.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5608\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5608\" style=\"width: 929px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190009\/DSC_0192-001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5608 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190009\/DSC_0192-001.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_0192-001\" width=\"929\" height=\"622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190009\/DSC_0192-001.jpg 929w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190009\/DSC_0192-001-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190009\/DSC_0192-001-448x300.jpg 448w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190009\/DSC_0192-001-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5608\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Andria dropping into one of the signature drops of the beautiful Upper Jondachi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Variety of Whitewater<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">It\u2019s easily possible to paddle big water one day and a quality creek the next while staying in either Tena or Baeza. Densely packed drainages combine with extreme elevation changes and abundant tropical rainfall to create rivers of all shapes and sizes in Ecuador.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5609\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5609\" style=\"width: 929px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190008\/DSC_0059-001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5609 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190008\/DSC_0059-001.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_0059-001\" width=\"929\" height=\"622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190008\/DSC_0059-001.jpg 929w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190008\/DSC_0059-001-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190008\/DSC_0059-001-448x300.jpg 448w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190008\/DSC_0059-001-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5609\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Andria rockets over a big water wave deep in the jungle on the Jatunyacu.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5610\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5610\" style=\"width: 929px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190007\/DSC_0468.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5610\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190007\/DSC_0468.jpg\" alt=\"Land of a thousand boofs on the Upper Rio Misahualli.\" width=\"929\" height=\"622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190007\/DSC_0468.jpg 929w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190007\/DSC_0468-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190007\/DSC_0468-448x300.jpg 448w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190007\/DSC_0468-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5610\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Land of a thousand boofs on the Upper Rio Misahualli.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Ease of Lodging<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5612\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5612\" style=\"width: 864px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190005\/waiting-for-shuttle.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5612 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190005\/waiting-for-shuttle.jpg\" alt=\"waiting-for-shuttle\" width=\"864\" height=\"648\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190005\/waiting-for-shuttle.jpg 864w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190005\/waiting-for-shuttle-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190005\/waiting-for-shuttle-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190005\/waiting-for-shuttle-50x37.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5612\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Waiting for morning shuttle outside the Hostal la Casa de Rodrigo in Baeza.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Just like every other aspect of traveling as a paddler in Ecuador, the lodging options are ridiculously easy. In both Baeza and Tena there are multiple hostels that range in price and quality from the rough equivalent of raft guide housing to very nice family establishments. Almost all of them have some sort of enclosed courtyard where boats and gear can be stored without fear of theft, and a covered space where equipment can be hung to dry. In Baeza we stayed at the comfortable and clean <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Hostal-La-Casa-de-Rodrigo\/207355775970336\">Hostal la Casa de Rodrigo<\/a>, and in Tena we used <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hosteltrail.com\/hostels\/laposada\">La Posada<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hosteldetails.php\/A-Welcome-Break\/Tena\/86594\">Welcome Break<\/a>. The other great thing about staying in these paddler-friendly hostels is that there are always other paddlers there to hook up with for rivers and to share shuttles.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5613\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5613\" style=\"width: 929px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190004\/DSC_0073.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5613 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190004\/DSC_0073.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_0073\" width=\"929\" height=\"622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190004\/DSC_0073.jpg 929w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190004\/DSC_0073-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190004\/DSC_0073-448x300.jpg 448w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190004\/DSC_0073-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5613\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boats stored and gear drying in the courtyard of the Welcome Break in Tena.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Warm Weather<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5614\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5614\" style=\"width: 929px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5614 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190004\/DSC_0093.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_0093\" width=\"929\" height=\"622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190004\/DSC_0093.jpg 929w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190004\/DSC_0093-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190004\/DSC_0093-448x300.jpg 448w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190004\/DSC_0093-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5614\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">All bundled up in my shorty over a thin HydroSkin. Not bad for January!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">If you look at a lot of paddling media, you\u2019ll see tons of photos and videos of boaters waking up to frost on their gear or battling the elements in their drysuits. While quality gear can make nasty weather conditions less painful, there\u2019s something to be said for taking a relaxing vacation from the elements and enjoying some warm weather and warm water while paddling in a shorty. In my month in Ecuador, I didn\u2019t wear anything heavier than a light pair of Hydroskin pants and a drytop with one thin layer under it. I only wore the drytop two or three\u00a0days, and some of those days I was too hot.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Mind Boggling Scenery<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5616\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5616\" style=\"width: 936px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190002\/Oyacachi.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5616 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190002\/Oyacachi.jpg\" alt=\"Oyacachi\" width=\"936\" height=\"702\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190002\/Oyacachi.jpg 936w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190002\/Oyacachi-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190002\/Oyacachi-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190002\/Oyacachi-50x37.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5616\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The breathtaking Oyacachi put-in with clouds and mist. Photo \u00a9Emmanuel Proulx<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The landscape in Ecuador is incredible, with the tallest mountain range of the Americas thrusting up through a lush layer of tropical jungle. One of the reasons that we travel to paddle new rivers is to interact with different amazing landscapes, and Ecuador did not disappoint.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5615\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5615\" style=\"width: 543px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190003\/DSC_0421.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5615 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190003\/DSC_0421.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_0421\" width=\"543\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190003\/DSC_0421.jpg 543w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190003\/DSC_0421-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190003\/DSC_0421-37x50.jpg 37w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 543px) 100vw, 543px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5615\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Immersed in wonder and sunshine in Chaco Canyon on the Rio Quijos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5601\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5601\" style=\"width: 681px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5601 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190013\/don-napo.jpg\" alt=\"don-napo\" width=\"681\" height=\"864\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190013\/don-napo.jpg 681w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190013\/don-napo-236x300.jpg 236w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190013\/don-napo-39x50.jpg 39w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5601\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Local flavor and backcountry dining at Don Napo\u2019s outpost at the Rio Piatua take-out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Variety of Culture, Weather and Scenery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of the most fun parts of a foreign paddling trip is getting to experience other cultures and landscapes. In\u00a0Ecuador,\u00a0you can experience two totally different social and natural environments with a minimum of hassle and danger. Although they are geographically close together, Baeza and Tena have markedly different flavors in terms of weather, culture and scenery. Although there is some risk of theft in Tena. the larger of the two, both are safe places to travel as a gringo.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5617\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5617\" style=\"width: 864px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190001\/view-from-rodrigos-001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5617 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190001\/view-from-rodrigos-001.jpg\" alt=\"view-from-rodrigos-001\" width=\"864\" height=\"648\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190001\/view-from-rodrigos-001.jpg 864w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190001\/view-from-rodrigos-001-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190001\/view-from-rodrigos-001-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190001\/view-from-rodrigos-001-50x37.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5617\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">View from the front of Hostal la Casa de Rodrigo in Baeza, with Gina\u2019s (a restaurant and hostel) next door, and the bus stop in the background where you can catch a ride to Tena or Quito.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Baeza is a sleepy mountain town. Three kayaker-friendly hostels are situated in the old village, with hardly anybody else around. The weather is cool and misty, and the rivers are generally a touch harder than the ones down the hill in Tena. There is a bus stop at the corner just across from the hostels that will take you easily to Quito or to Tena when you get tired of what Baeza has to offer.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5618\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5618\" style=\"width: 929px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190000\/IMG_20140122_130440_336.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190000\/IMG_20140122_130440_336.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_20140122_130440_336\" width=\"929\" height=\"697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190000\/IMG_20140122_130440_336.jpg 929w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190000\/IMG_20140122_130440_336-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190000\/IMG_20140122_130440_336-399x300.jpg 399w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190000\/IMG_20140122_130440_336-50x37.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5618\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Downtown Tena viewed from the bus stop two blocks from the kayaker hostels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Tena is a hopping small city filled with loads of options for eating out and enjoying culture and nightlife. The weather is sweaty hot, and the jungle on the surrounding hills is a dense, lush green. The whitewater around Tena has more intermediate options than Baeza, but also a few fun creeks to keep the challenge up if that\u2019s what you want. After paddling, you can get an enormous filet mignon in town for $11, have drinks at a bar on the banks of the river in downtown, or go out for ice cream. When you get tired of the bustle of Tena and want to head back to Baeza to mellow out, the bus stop is only two\u00a0blocks away from the hostels.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5602\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5602\" style=\"width: 648px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190013\/drink.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5602 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190013\/drink.jpg\" alt=\"drink\" width=\"648\" height=\"864\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190013\/drink.jpg 648w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190013\/drink-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31190013\/drink-37x50.jpg 37w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 648px) 100vw, 648px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5602\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tropical drinks with the sun setting over the river in the background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5619\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5619\" style=\"width: 864px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31185959\/ice-cream-stand.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5619\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31185959\/ice-cream-stand.jpg\" alt=\"On the streets of Tena, you can stop for ice cream, beer, or food just about anywhere.\" width=\"864\" height=\"648\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31185959\/ice-cream-stand.jpg 864w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31185959\/ice-cream-stand-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31185959\/ice-cream-stand-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/31185959\/ice-cream-stand-50x37.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5619\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">On the streets of Tena, you can stop for ice cream, beer, or food just about anywhere.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Our month in Ecuador was a departure from our usual style of trip, a step outside the reality of our everyday environment. It was also a safe and easy trip that left us feeling refreshed and relaxed instead of coming home with sore bodies and frazzled nerves. The whitewater was fun without being fear inducing, and the travel was sufficiently simple to allow us the adventure and excitement of new and different experiences without the obstacles usually inherent with being a traveler in a foreign land. It wasn\u2019t just a paddling trip, it was a true paddling vacation\u2014and a lesson in the things to look for on future trips to escape the rigors of the day-to-day. Here\u2019s hoping you find your ultimate vacation-paddling destination as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What if your purpose for traveling is to take a break from the challenges that you face everyday in the non-paddling world? What if you want to leave all of the drama behind and go on a paddling trip that is truly a vacation? We found just such a destination in Ecuador<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":5614,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[336],"tags":[409,59,33],"class_list":["post-5596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-explore","tag-ecuador","tag-travel","tag-whitewater-kayaking","post-grid"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ecuador: A Kayaking Vacation Paradise | Duct Tape Diaries<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Eight great reasons Equador is a kayaking vacation paradise.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2014\/12\/05\/ecuador-kayaking-vacation-paradise\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ecuador: A Kayaking Vacation Paradise | Duct Tape Diaries\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Eight great reasons Equador is a kayaking vacation paradise.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2014\/12\/05\/ecuador-kayaking-vacation-paradise\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Duct Tape Diaries\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nrsweb\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2014-12-05T17:56:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2017-10-16T21:42:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" 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Whether for a day on a backyard kayak run, a week on a wilderness raft trip, or a months-long road trip across an entire continent, there\u2019s nothing that makes him more happy than total immersion in the paddling lifestyle \u2013 when the flow of the river, friends, and the wildness around me compress the world into blissfully pure moments of NOW. He often lives in a van down by the river with his wife Andria and dog Hudson, as they write whitewater guidebooks to help put fuel in the tank. 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