| HIGHLIGHTS |
Rafting
• Rafting in a country which has the world's highest
concentrations of rivers per square mile.
• Rafting on rivers that wind their way through
spectacular gorges, canyons, valleys and jungles.
• On the Eastern rivers you leave behind hundreds
of miles of breathtaking world class whitewater that feed
into the mighty Amazon River.
• Rafting with the perfect combination of exciting
rapids, calm pools, and fabulous jungle scenery.
Jungle
• Few hours away from the Capital.
• Explore the Amazon Basin and it’s fabulous
biodiversity.
• Short relaxation after you expedition in the
Andes.
Galapagos
• Visit Darwin’s enchanted Islands.
• Get to see one of the few natural sanctuaries
still left in the planet.
• Visit one of the most undisturbed ecosystems
in the world!
Mountain
Biking
• Join Ecuador's mountain biking pioneers (the
biking Dutchman).
• Easy downhill biking in a mountain country.
• Downhill ride from active volcanoes.
Horse
Back riding
• An unusual way to explore the Cotopaxi Park.
• Get to see some of beautiful Haciendas on horseback.
• Visit on horseback one of the few inhabited
craters in the world.
Bellavista
• Get to know more about what is Cloud Forest.
• A birdwatcher’s paradise.
• A recovery relax extension.
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SUGGESTED
READING |
Rafting
• The Complete Whitewater
Rafter, Jeff Bennett.
• Whitewater Rafting Manual: Tactics and Techniques
for Great River Adventures, Jimmie Johnson.
Jungle
• Tigers in the Night: The
true Story of Juan and Amalia Arcos, naturalist and
lay missionaries in the jungle of Eastern Ecuador, 1922-2003,
Bob Howe.
• Jungle Nomads of Ecuador: The Waorani, John
Man.
• Crisis Under the Canopy, Randy Smith.
• Savages, Joe Kane.
Galapagos
• The Galapagos Islands:
The essential handbook for exploring, enjoying and understanding
Darwin’s Enchanted Islands, Marylee Stephenson.
• The Galapagos Islands: A Natural History Guide,
Pierre Constant, Odyssey Illustrated Guide, sixth edition.
• Evolution Workshop: God and Science on the Galapagos
Islands, Edward J. Larson.
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In
Ecuador the massive Andean mountain range
give birth to scores of rivers. In fact,
Ecuador has one of the world's highest concentrations
of rivers per square mile. These rivers
wind their way through spectacular gorges,
canyons, valleys and jungles, and leave
behind hundreds of miles of breathtaking
world class whitewater that feed into the
mighty Amazon.
Ecuador offers excellent, year-round whitewater
rafting. In addition to their nearly continuous
flows, Ecuadorian rivers, especially those
in the east, have warm, tropical waters
and excellent accessibility. Whether you
are a whitewater rafting enthusiast or a
lover of kayaking, Ecuador is an unrivalled
whitewater destination that you should not
pass up.
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The
jungle rivers of the Amazon side of the
Andes are generally bigger and have more
consistent flows than their west-Andean
counterparts. They are also by far the most
clean and scenic rivers in all Ecuador.
Besides their exceptional whitewater, the
rivers of eastern Ecuador also provide an
opportunity to experience the incredible
Amazon jungle and the rhythm of life of
its native inhabitants.
The Río Napo, in the jungle, is a
fantastic introduction to the rivers of
Ecuador. Flowing off the eastern side of
the Andes it has some of the longest navigable
sections of white water in the country.
Combine this with the sights and sounds
of the forest environment we pass through
and you are guaranteed a day to remember.
We
provide life jackets and helmets. A comprehensive
briefing on the safety and paddling techniques
needed to navigate our way down the river,
will be given. Rafting time is approximately
four hours.
During the trip we will stop by the riverside
for a delicious picnic lunch including fresh
tropical fruits and soft drinks, juice and
water. At the end of the trip we celebrate
a fun day on the river with a cold beer
or soda.
River
Grading: III
Includes:
Professional guides, top of the line rafting
equipment, a delicious lunch plus snacks
and beer, transport from Tena, and a safe,
fun trip!
What to bring:
Swimsuit, shorts, T-shirt, tennis shoes
and/or river sandals, sunglasses (with retention
strap), baseball cap, sunscreen, insect
repellent, towel, dry change of clothes.
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Shangrila
& Amarongachi Lodges
In
combination with the rafting trip in the
upper Napo River, we can book you accommodation
at the Shangrila and Amarongachi jungle
Lodges.
The cabins of Shangrila
are build at the edge of a cliff in the
jungle, one hundred meters above the Anzu
river. The cabins were built at tree top
level so that the occupants can enjoy the
beautiful sights of the jungle. This place
is perfect for people who wish to stay in
the jungle before and after a rafting trip
in the upper Napo River.
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Amarongachi
is a more basic place in the jungle by the
Jatunyacu River. It is at an altitude of 600
m / 1,968 ft above sea level with a temperature
of 28ºC and relative humidity of 90%.
This place is ideal for youngsters or others
who wish to experience a real adventure in
virgin jungle. You will live in complete harmony
with nature. Of course under very basic conditions
but with the real possibility of seeing wild
animals in their own habitat. Amarongachi
lodge has basic comforts. There are no showers,
you just bathe in the river! |
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A
Trip to the Galapagos Islands is a unique
an unforgettable experience. The archipelago
is world-renowned for its wildlife and beauty.
One of the a few natural sanctuaries still
left in the world.
Andeanface can find
the right boat for your expectations since
we have access to a large selection of quality
cruises. Each of the boats that we use has
been selected to offer the highest levels
of service in their class.
Located on the Equator,
1000 kilometres off the Ecuadorian coast,
the Galapagos consist of six main islands:
San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Isabela, Floreana,
Santiago and Fernandina. There are also
12 smaller Islands, as well as over 40 small
islets.
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The
Galapagos have never been connected with the continent.
Gradually, over many hundred thousands of years,
animals and plants from over the seas developed
there, and as time went by they adapted themselves
to the Galapagos conditions and came to differ
more and more from their continental ancestors.
Thus many of them are unique: a quarter of the
spices of shore fish, half of the plants and almost
all the reptiles are found nowhere else. In many
cases different forms have evolved on the different
islands. |
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Charles
Darwin recognised this speciation within
the archipelago when he visited the Galapagos
on the beagle in 1835 and his observations
played a big role in his formulation of
the theory of evolution, "The Origin
of the Species by means of natural selection",
in 1859. It was to cause a major storm
of controversy and to earn Darwin’s
recognition as the man who "provided
a foundation for the entire structure
of modern biology".
Join
us in the amazing Galapagos Islands to
visit one of the most undisturbed ecosystems
in the world!
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From
Quito, cyclists have access to a large diversity
of rides, ranging from snow-capped Andean
volcanoes and highlands to cloud forest
or jungle. There are hundreds of kilometres
of mostly traffic-free unpaved roads and
trails.
Mountain biking is a great source of fun
and exercise for people of all ages and
abilities. Like any activity, there are
levels of difficulty that range from quite
manageable to very difficult. The last one
is reserved for truly experienced mountain
bikers. On every trip a support vehicle
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There
are several places where we can arrange
some horseback riding in a day of your itinerary.
This can be done at Hacienda Guachala in
the North of Ecuador near Cayambe, at Hacienda
El Porvenir located at the entrance of the
Cotopaxi National Park, or within the Pululahua
crater as a day tour from Quito. Please
contact us for more details.
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Bellavista
Cloud Forest Reseve
Deep
in the heart of the cloud forest, where
clouds and trees blend in a tapestry of
mystery and magic, discover a protected
reserve with an overwhelming profusion of
life. It's a place for adventure, relaxation
and deep contact with nature, home to hundreds
of species of plants, birds and other animals.
This
natural sanctuary of 700 hectares
(over 1800 acres), offers multiple
accommodation options from a four
story, thatched roof, 360 degree glassed
geodesic dome (surrounded by 19 different
kinds of hummingbirds), to a luxurious
bamboo house, or a house alone deep
in the forest!
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The
reserve has 9 kilometres of trails, ranging
from easy to adventurous, which take you through
primary and secondary forest, and to 3 hidden
waterfalls. These misty mysterious forests
provide a home to the endangered spectacled
bear, to mountain lion, tayra and more. Over
320 species of birds have been recorded in
and around the reserve and the Tandayapa Valley,
including some endangered species.
Located less than two hours away from Quito,
on the edge of one of the 25 "biodiversity
hot spots" in the World, the Tumbes-Choco-Magdalena
region was named the first Area of International
Importance for Birds in South America in
1997, making it a fantastic option for nature
lovers.
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