Wild, Scenic, and Rivers Galore!
Join us in Ecuador February 21-28, 2026
The Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador awaits you. This trip is extra special because we offer simultaneous trips for paddlers and non-paddlers. This means you can bring your friend, family member, or significant other: while you paddle Class III-IV rivers, you travel companion will explore chocolate plantations, breathtaking hikes, and nature expeditions in the jungle. We partner with local experts and guides to make your experience a cultural immersion with tips form the locals. Our trips are the perfect balance of paddling, excitement, and culture! Let's make memories together!
Check out the exciting itinerary below!
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Trip Prerequisites
We want this trip to fun and safe for everyone. Please check out our recommended guidelines. If you are unsure if this trip is the right fit for you, give us a call or email Dan and we will chat with you. dan@outdoornewengland.com
Paddling Adventure: This trip is for a Class III+Paddler looking to step up to class IV in safe and amazing environment. Participants should be comfortable on III+/IV (Lower Winni, East Branch Pemi, Contoocook or similar).
Non-Paddling Adventure: This trip is for anyone with the ability to hike an easy-moderate trail for 3+ miles.
What's Included:
- Accommodations for 7 nights
- Daily Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- All transportation
- Kayak rental
- Kayak guides and instructors for 6 on-water days. Expect fantastic instruction with no more than 3:1 student to guide ratio.
- Outdoor New England host and guide for the duration of the trip
What's not included:
- Airfare to Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport (UIO)
- Alcohol
- Gratuities
- Baggage fees
- Airport transfers outside of our group timeline
- PFDs, helmets, skirts, paddling clothes, drysuit
- Travel insurance
- Food, activities, or excursions outside of our itinerary
Daily Whitewater Itinerary
Arrive in Quito. Most flights arrive at night, so we will have a hotel room reserved for you nearby the airport.
After breakfast, we will be picked up by our local guides and head straight to the river! We will start with a nice warm up in the Tena valley where you can test your boat and have a feel of our most commercial run, the JATUNYAKU. This is a big water pool drop class III river full of big wave trains, surfs, and holes. This fun, exciting, yet safe stretch is known as one of the best Class III rivers around the world.
Let’s go creeking! Your second day will be in one of the classic runs down here, the upper MISAHUALLI river - a continuous boulder garden run, perfect for learning creeking skills or practicing your technique in a safe environment. This river has sections for everybody going from class II to class IV.
We head into the JONDACHI and HOLLIN river, where we will start in a class III-III+. The JONDACHI is beautifully framed by the jungle. We then head to the confluence with the HOLLIN (III-IV). These rivers are unique because you will be paddling big water and creeking in the same day while experiencing the wild jungle!
We will travel about an hour to the majestic PIATUA. This river is known for its crystal clear water among the boulders. This river has so many channels to play around in, it will be hard to decide where to go! This river is an excellent place to upgrade or practice your boof stroke with out instructors. This river has 4 sections between the class III-IV options.
In the morning we will move our home base to our hotel in the QUIJOS valley. On our way, we will stop and run the COSANGA river - a beautiful creeking river with options for everyone in the crew with sections from class II+ to IV+. This jungle canyon is in a higher altitude than the other runs we have done, putting us in a pristine cloud forest environment. This area is known all around the world for birdwatching, so keep your eyes open for different species!!!
Quijos valley has sections that go from class III to stout class IV and class V, from creeking to big water. We could run the CHACO canyon or the BOMBOM section in the QUIJOS river, depending on how energetic the crew feels. All of the options will be a pool drop run in a beautiful basalt formation canyon with the cloud forest coming down the walls. This will be an unforgettable day that makes you wonder if you are dreaming!!!
This is our last day in Ecuador, and we will close our trip with an amazing run on the OYACACHI, a unique class IV continuous creek with big boofs and big lines. We will test everything we have been doing in the last week. Then we head back to Quitos where we will say, "Adios!"
Non-Paddler Adventure Itinerary
Not a whitewater paddler but want to join in on the fun in the jungle? We have activities just for you! A visit to the Papallacta hot springs & spa, scenic hiking, birdwatching and a visit to the hummingbird sanctuary, an exciting four wheeler tour, horse back riding, whitewater rafting, explore waterfalls and swimming spots, visit the animal rescue center, a delicious visit to the chocolate factory, immersive cultural experiences visiting the local native community, go on a culinary tour... the possibilities are endless! We will make your trip a great experience while the paddlers go kayaking during the day and we meet up later in the day back at the lodge or on the river.
Pricing
$2,699 Early-Bird
$2,799 Regular
Single occupancy in a private room with an ensuite bathroom. Limited private rooms available!
$2,399 Early-Bird
$2,499 Regular
Double occupancy in a room with two beds and an ensuite bathroom.
$2,299 Early-Bird per person
$2,399 Regular per person
Double occupancy in a shared bed and an ensuite bathroom. This option is only available to a pair booking at the same time.
Booking Terms & Conditions for Destination Trips
Kayak in the Jungle, Ecuador
February 21-28 , 2026
BOOKING PROCEDURE
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Apply through the form on our website, read the terms & conditions
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Submit your non-refundable deposit within 5 business days of application approval. A link will be provided to you by our trip planners
INCLUDED
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7 nights accommodation total
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All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner while on the trip after pick up from the airport
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Group Airport transfer on start and end dates of retreat. If you arrive earlier or later than the group time, you will be responsible for transfer costs
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All transportation as listed in the itinerary
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Kayak guides and instructors for 6 on-water days. Expect fantastic instruction with no more than 3:1 student to guide ratio.
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Outdoor New England host and guide for the duration of the trip
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Pre-departure skill refresher (in-person at Colby Sawyer College in NH)
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Kayak rental for all on-water days listed in the itinerary
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Transfer of personal paddle in our group paddle bag at the airport
EXCLUDED
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Airfare
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Gratuities
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Alcohol
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Baggage fees
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Airport transfers outside of our group timeline
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PFDs, helmets, skirts, paddling clothes, drysuit
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Travel insurance
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Food, activities, or excursions outside of our itinerary
COST
Please note: $500 deposit must be paid by October 10, 2025 to secure Early-bird Rates. All prices are in USD.
Single occupancy in a private room with an ensuite bathroom.:
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$2,699.00 Early-Bird
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$2,799.00 Regular
Double occupancy in a room with two beds and an ensuite bathroom.
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$2,399.00 Early-Bird
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$2,499.00 Regular
Shared double occupancy in a room with 1 bed and an ensuite bathroom. This option must be booked by 2 people at the same time.
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$2,299.00 Early-Bird
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$2,399.00 Regular
PAYMENTS
Payments can be accepted through cash, personal check, or credit card. Credit card payments will incur fees.
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$500.00 USD non-refundable deposit due within 5 days after application. If your deposit is not received within 5 days, your spot will be passed onto the next person.
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Early-bird Rates: $500 non-refundable deposit must be paid by October 10, 2025 to secure Early-bird Rates.
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Half of the remaining balance for your trip is due December 10, 2026
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Remaining balance is due January 20, 2026
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Late payments will incur a late fee of $25.
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Full Payments not received by January 20, 2026 will forfeit your spot on the retreat and a cancellation fee and percentage will be retained.
CANCELLATION BY YOU
(a) You may cancel your retreat reservation at any time provided that the cancellation is made by the person submitting the booking form and has communicated to us in writing. Cancellation will take effect the day such notification is received by us. As holding your registration incurred costs to book guides, rooms, and meals, we will retain your deposit and, in addition, may apply cancellation charges up to the maximum shown below:
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90+ Days before 1st day of Trip: Cancellation charge $500 non-refundable deposit and associated fees.
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30-89 Days before 1st day of Trip: Cancellation charge 50% of paid balance and associated fees.
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0-29 Days or Less before 1st day of Trip: Cancellation charge 75% of paid balance and associated fees.
(b) Once the retreat has commenced, no refund or part refund or unused portion of your payment will be repaid in the event of cancellation by you. If the reason for cancellation is covered under the terms of an Insurance Policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges.
AMENDMENTS BY US
It is unlikely that we will make any changes to the retreat, as we plan the arrangements over a year in advance. Occasionally, minor changes may have to be made (to itineraries, venue accommodation, other amenities), which we reserve the right to do at any time. Changes are normally minor and we will advise you as soon as possible. If a significant change becomes necessary, we will inform you as soon as reasonably possible.
CANCELLATION BY US
We reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel the retreat.
(a) In the event of an act of nature or other event that impacts our ability to travel in the selected time to Italy, an assessment will be made, and the retreat may be rescheduled. In the event of rescheduling, your payments will be applied to the new dates. We are not responsible for flights and transportation nor will transportation be refunded.
(b) In the event we cancel the retreat due to lack of attendance, we will offer a refund of full monies paid for the tuition of the retreat. We are not responsible for flights and transportation nor will transportation be refunded.
PASSPORTS, VISAS AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
(a) You are responsible for ensuring that you have a valid passport, any necessary visas and any required vaccinations or other health requirements prior to arrival. Please consult with the CDC and WHO websites on inoculation recommendations and with your personal doctor. There is a Yellow Fever Vaccination requirement to enter Ecuador.
(b) International health insurance is strongly recommended. In the event of an emergency, you must be able to financially cover all costs out of pocket while abroad.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POLICIES
By submitting your application and non-refundable deposit, you acknowledge and agree to these Booking Terms & Conditions.