Ecuador is one of the world’s premier rafting and kayaking destinations. Perhaps nowhere else on the planet is there such a concentration of whitewater goodness as where the Andes Mountains meet the Amazon basin and the plains of the Pacific. All trips can be organized out of Quito, and the towns of Tena and Baños also have several operators that specialize in whitewater. The Tena area perhaps offers the most diversity and is where kayakers tend to hang out for the longest period. From Quito, both the spectacular Upano and the trips to the western slope rivers of Rio Blanco and Rio Toachi make it the most highly visited starting point for day trips.
Below are several highly reputable rafting and kayaking companies that can assist you in organizing day trips and up to week-long expeditions.
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Whitewater rafting in Ecuador.
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Adventure Life Ecuador Tours – offers active whitewater Ecuador Tours, multi-sport adventures, and land-based Galapagos tours. Explore the Andes on an active Ecuador adventure. Small group tours and custom travel planning on Ecuador Tours.
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Rafting outside of Tena. Photo
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Huasquila Amazon Lodge is your door to Ecuador’s Amazon, located between the Andean mountain chain and the Amazon region, only 4 hours from Quito (by private car) within the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve, Huasquila offers six luxury cabins built in local Kichwa style. Each cabin has a private bathroom, hot water, wide interior spaces and a balcony with superb views of the Amazon. Enjoy delicious meals, bar service and exciting jungle tours, caving expeditions, excursions to petroglyphs, animal rescue center, horse trekking, kayaking and rafting with native Kichwa guides. Great service & activities, all accompanied with a friendly family atmosphere.
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Adventurous kayaker taking the plunge Ecuadorian style.
Photo thanks to Kayak Ecuador |
Ríos Ecuador – who better to lead you through the rivers of the Amazon than the original rafting pioneers of the Tena region – Ecuador’s rafting mecca. Join the Ríos team as they navigate Ecuador’s hundreds of miles of world-class whitewater. Ríos Ecuador has become recognized as the country’s top rafting and kayaking tour provider.
Updated Feb 5, 2018 by Jason Halberstadt