Peter Eisner's Rafting/Kayaking Extravaganza--and, the #5 reason we love Ecuador!

Peter Eisner's December 2009 Rafting/Kayaking Extravaganza




Here's Peter happily boofing his way down the Piatua

Peter E. has been a long-time guest of Small World Adventures, and this year he decided to bring some friends and family along with him. We had a mixed group of kayakers and rafters, and so put together what we thought was the ideal tropical vacation. This week had a little bit of everything: there was rafting, kayaking, live Andean music on the porch of SWA's kick ass riverside lodge, fresh squeezed Maracuya and Rum drinks for happy hour, orchids, hummingbirds, rainforest walks, monkeys, sloths, and much more. All and all it was one helluva vacation!


Here's the entire gang after a day of paddling the Upper Mishaulli for the kayakers and a day of jungle hiking for the rafters. Unfortunately, now I have to neglect the rafters in the rest of this blog. Don is busy putting together a YouTube video of the rafters and I'll put the link up on this blog as soon as he is finished!

The kayakers joined the rafters for runs on the Borja section of the Quijos, the Lower Quijos, and El Chaco Canyon. Then, while the rafters were paddling the Jatunyacu and doing some jungle explorations, the kayakers went off to the Piatua river. Here's Peter and Doug at the put in.

Roger, choosing the correct slot in "Sabado Gigante."


Roger and Doug making their way down one of the many boulder gardens of the Rio Piatua.

A friend we met at lunch

Another friend we met at the take-out of El Chaco. He's a fully grown frog about the size of my thumb nail (maybe a little smaller). Apparently, 7 new species of frogs were discovered in Ecuador in 2008/2009. Of the newly discovered species, 6 were found in eastern Ecuador (where we do most of our kayaking). The Oriente (Eastern Ecuador) is one of the most biodiverse, but least studied, parts of the country. We are pretty damn lucky that our backyard is full of amazing whitewater and amazing biodiversity. If you are into checking out birds and critters on your kayaking vacation, there are amazing opportunities for it here in Ecuador!

And now, for reason #5 that we love Ecuador...Gringos have a geat excuse to wear silly outfits like tall socks, striped long johns, and plaid shorts! You boys are looking hot!

Thanks Peter for being such a great group organizer, and thanks to everyone else for following Peter's lead!

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