Rafting on the Jatunyacu River with Rios Ecuador

We left our Jungle home stay in the back of a pick up truck on our way to another adventure...river rafting!

We were met by George and his crew to take the rafts down the river for 27km so it would take most of the day. We were fortunate that the day was sunny and warm so the water wasn't too cold.

Here we are after our safety briefing all ready to go....

I was a bit apprehensive about going on this river but after meeting our guide I relaxed and was eager to begin...

The Jatunyacu River is Class 3 with some Class 4 rapids. It's name means "BIG WATER" in Quicha because it has big waves and lots of rapids. It is the headwaters of one of the two rivers that form the mighty Amazon.

Here we are starting out where the river was slower...

Here are some pics to show our trip down, these were taken with a GoPro camera strapped on our guide's helmut so the view is from the inside of the raft.

Going through one of the rapids, there were over 20 on our way down.

Ohhh, that water is cold!....

Don is wondering if I am going to make it back in???

Well what about him???

He was so happy to be back in that raft!

How many people does it take to get another one aboard the raft???

We stopped at a small beach for a rest...

Here is part of the crew... and our guide, Ivan who had a bad hit with one of the paddles. Here he is applying a poultice made from plants that George found on the river bank.

Nicole and Katie are very happy!

Here are some action shots taken when we were all in the same raft at the beginning of the trip, these were taken by the safety guide who was with us in a kayak as we went down the river.

Halfway down we stopped for a lunch on the riverbank.

The lunch prepared by the crew was delicious!

Fooling around on the bridge, but we had to get off so the horse could come across...

We didn't see a lot of wildlife but we did see an anaconda snake floating by...

Here are a few more shots of our trip....

The reason this is a great river to raft is that between the rapids there are long stretches when we could float and enjoy the scenery from the raft.

And then there were the rapids and the rocks...

All in all it was a great day on the river and an experience which we won't soon forget!

At the end of the trip we helped load the rafts back onto the truck and shared a cervaza with the crew to celebrate the wonderful day we spent together. It was another great adventure!!!

Amazon River Basin

We spent a couple of days in the Amazon River Basin where we took a canoe ride up the river to our accommodations which were in a lovely eco lodge.

Here we all are in our canoe going up one of the tributaries of the Amazon River...

The river was very wide and fast moving..

Our first view of our lodge was impressive as we thought we would be saying in another basic accommodation but this was not the case...

We had wonderful meals, swims in the huge salt water pool and just enjoyed the sights and sounds of living in the jungle...

Both nights we were there the sky opened up with rain, thunder and lightening that went on for hours. As soon as the sun starting going down the jungle sounds were amazing, all types of critters making unique sounds that then joined into one amazing choir!

One day our local guide, Frankie, led the group on a nature hike but I was so sore from the last two days that I stay behind and enjoy the solitude. While I sat there butterflies of all sizes and colors were everywhere as well as really big bugs!

And beautiful flowers everywhere...

The highlight of the stay for me was a visit to a local community called Santa Barbara which is only accessible by canoe and was about 40 more minutes up the river.

We were accompanied by our local guide...

The river further upstream was faster and wilder...

Here we are arriving at the village...

Frankie showed us some traditional ways they hunt for food using traps...

Look at the size of that tree...

We also passed a typical village house with a straw roof...

Santa Barbara has around 120 residents, most of them children as they tend to have large families. There is no electricity or modern conveniences here.

We met the people of the village in their community meeting place and was introduced to the leader who told us that they have elections every two years for a council to run the affairs of the village.

He doesn't look that old, but he has 10 children!

He told us about life here where they grow most all of their own food and sell the excess at the market. They have no interest in bringing in electricity, satellite tv or internet here.

The children go to elementary school here taught half days by a local Quicha teacher who travels by boat to teach them. To attend high school they make the hour trip down the river by canoe every day to the nearest town.

Here is the school...

He then offered us their traditional drink which is made out of yucca, this drink when fermented also becomes their alcohol.

The drink was offered to us in a small ceramic dish that is also made in this region.

We were then treated to a traditional dance by the children of the visit. They were so in step and we really enjoyed it.

After the performance we were all invited to the dance...

                        Don was having a lot of fun!

Next we were invited to sample their traditional dishes with ingredients that they harvested themselves. It was interesting to say the least...

Grubs and hearts of palms baked in banana leaves

Frankie and I eating the grubs!

We all sampled what they had so graciously prepared for us.

They were very welcoming and lovely people...

They even taught us how to use the blow gun...

The children were beautiful...

          These two little guys were tending the fire.

I had a great chat with these three in my limited Spanish.They are 11 and 12 years old and very interested in knowing about me.

Before leaving we got an opportunity to look at their crafts...

A final picture and we said goodbye...

I felt it was a privilege to be able to visit this community with a lifestyle so different than our own. Again, another great experience!