Ecuador kayaking kayak whitewater river rafting adventure trips Small World Adventures

SWA's Ecuador Kayaking Vacations will rock your world. Check out our Ecuador Rivers and Beaches kayaking vacation, it's tropical Ecuador kayaking at its best.

"This was the best week of paddling in my life!" Eugene Buchanan, editor of paddler magazine.

Small World Adventures pioneered commercial kayaking trips in Ecuador during the early 90's and we are continuing the tradition of offering innovative, challenging kayaking adventures in Ecuador, one of the most fascinating regions on earth. We specialize in guiding small groups of paddlers on the thundering rapids of big volume Amazon tributaries and steep upper Andean creeks. Each season we explore new areas and rivers and offer unique trips found no where else.

Tropical Tune Up [class I - III]
Winter Whitewater [class III or IV-]
Torrents [class IV]
Mucha Agua [class IV+ to V-]
Rivers & Beaches [class IV]
Tropical Bettys [class II-III & class IV]
ACA Instructors Course & Instructor Update
ACA Swiftwater Rescue
Private Instruction

You can see some of the high points of the last season on our blog: www.smallworldadventures.blogspot.com when you are done close this window to come back to our site.

Tropical Tune Up

Class I - III
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Learn to paddle in the warm tropical waters of the Oriente (upper Amazon basin) while staying in wonderful riverside cabins and hotels. While you won't be roughing it there still is plenty of excitement on and off the river during these week long adventures. Since we have close access to the whitewater runs as well as to the rainforest you'll have plenty of river time with some left over most days for exploring historic Tena and the rainforest. SWA instructors adapt our teaching format to each students needs and abilities to be sure they learn not only the basics but advance as far as possible can during these classes. The difficulty of these courses are determined by the first people to sign up and can vary between never ever kayaked to paddlers with some experience who want to go to the next level. Few other courses at this level will introduce you to both large and small volume rivers as well as explain and practice specific paddling techniques and safety unique to each.

Learn how to whitewater raft or kayak in Ecuador on the Amazon

Winter Whitewater

Class III or IV-
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This season we are offering two trips of different difficulties that follow the same basic itinerary but run mostly different sections. We have separated them to help ensure that you get to paddle on exactly the kind of water you desire. Many Intermediates think Ecuador is too hard for their present class III skills. In reality Ecuador has awesome class III rivers and SWA knows where they are and when to paddle them, so if you are looking for a more vacation paced schedule we have it. We still are offering the same class IV- trips that paddlers have been enjoying for years as well. Kayakers of either level will enjoy small and large volume runs in the rainforest with lots of surfing and playboating.

Popular whitewater rafting and kayaking vacations

Torrents - Our most popular trip.

Class IV
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Variety is what this, our most popular trip, is all about. You will challenge yourself on steep technical creeks as well as large volume, drop pool rivers with lots of opportunity for playing. At this level of kayaking there are an astonishing number of world class rivers to choose from. We take advantage of the best water levels when selecting runs for each group so don't be surprised if it's the best week of paddling of your life. Most people that have paddled with us say this is an incredibly exciting and challenging week.

Mucha Agua

Class IV+ to V-
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This trip is non-stop action with a focus on steep technical runs with a big volume day or two thrown in as well. If you are looking for easy access to remote, beautiful rivers in a friendly country, this is the trip for you. The itinerary is similar to our Torrents trip.

Rivers & Beaches - Tropical paddling

Class IV
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This is a new trip for SWA and unlike anything offered by anyone else. You'll paddle four solid days in the Quijos valley (our favorite) and then three great days at the beach kayak surfing! We'll share our secret point break where we haven't seen another surfer (board or kayak) in the last 4 years. If you want to maximize your vacation time this is the trip that will do it. Rivers and Beaches is truly a break from winter! This trip was featured in Outside Magazine!

Tropical Bettys

Class II-III & Class IV
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SWA is offering all women's weeks (sorry guys) where the focus is a combination of instruction and fun on the river with time to enjoy the sights and culture. Ecuador has the reputation of only having class IV and harder rivers but these trips are designed with the idea of running some of the more spectacular class II to III and easy IV runs and pushing personal limits by creating challenging moves on rapids of this difficulty. Both trips will have some fun playboating although the class IV- trip will focus on it a bit more. These trips offer much more than just paddling though; soak in a beautiful hot springs, hike in the rainforest, horseback ride, enjoy a massage, take a Spanish class and visit the handicraft market in Quito.

Dates: contact us for available dates

Learn how to Kayak or whitewater rafting

ACA Instructors Course & Instructor Update

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Why wait till spring to take the ACA course on the same cold rivers you always paddle. Get certified early and enjoy some of Ecuador's fun whitewater at the same time. Larry Vermeeren is offering these courses and he has been a ACA instructor and member since 1983 and an ACA ITE (Instructor Trainer Educator) since 1994. Having taught kayaking for RMOC as well as NOC and NOLS in the USA he is well versed in the latest teaching techniques as well as rescue and equipment. Ecuador is a great place to take the course since we have a variety of warm whitewater runs available close at hand. The course is 5 days long and is a mixture of the SWA instructors sharing what they have discovered to work best for teaching kayaking and testing participants teaching ability, technical knowledge, paddling and demonstration skills as well as safety.

Swiftwater Rescue

This non-certified course is great for either the professional guide or recreational paddler. Depending on course interest we can slant the course towards kayaking or rafting.

Two Worlds - kayak both the eastern and western slopes of the Andes!

Class IV

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If you want to paddle on both the eastern and western slopes of the andes this is the trip for you. We spend four days on the best runs in the Quijos valley while staying at Cabanas Tres Rios. Then we head to the western slope and paddle three days on the rivers and creeks around Santa Domingo. This trip was conceived for some of our long time guests who want to see some new terrain but would be good for any strong kayaker looking for adventure.

wave sport, liquid logic, jackson kayaks, dagger, pyranha, necky, riot kayaks

Private Instruction

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Refine the basics or learn advanced play moves from SWA's best instructors. We focus on what you want to improve while paddling the most fun whitewater in Ecuador. If you feel like taking your paddling to another level we love to share our secrets on how to run creeks cleaner and safer or how to hit that extra end at a play spot. Each day of instruction includes lodging, three delicious meals, kayak use, local shuttles and of course an expert instructor.

COST: $245/day