Western Slopes to the Pacific Coast - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 240

On Water
There are hundreds of miles in Ecuador for world class
whitewater rafting and kayaking. The two most popular
rivers on the western slopes, particularly due to their
proximity to Quito, are Ríos Toachi and Blanco . The
closest to Quito and therefore the most rafted is the Toachi, offering
solid class III-III+ during the high water season of January to May.
Keep in mind that development in the region has made this river less
than pristine (don't swallow the water!). It's at least a 2½-hour drive
from Quito each way to the put-in and take-out. Paralleling the
Toachi is the Upper Río Blanco, offering solid class III rapids from
January to May. It takes a bit longer for this trip, but the scenery is
spectacular and it is a great overnighter before or after the ride. The
two rivers join farther west to form the Río Blanco.

Several rafting outfitters based in Quito offer rafting trips along the
western slopes. Check around and make sure they are well qualified be-
fore choosing one. One of the best Quito-based outfitters is Yacu Amu
(“Water Spirit” in Quechua), located at Baquedano E5-27 and Juan
León Mera, 2-2236 844, fax [phone], [e-mail], www.

yacuamu.com. Also recommended is Explorandes , at Presidente Wilson
537 and Diego de Almagro, 2-2222-669, fax [phone], explorandes@

ecuadorexplorer.com, www.ecuadorexplorer.com/explorandes. US-operated
ROW Expediciones , PO Box 579, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816,

800-
451-6034, fax [phone], [e-mail], www.rowinc.com, of-
fers high quality andNorthAmerican standards. Their office inQuito
is at Robles 653 and Amazonas, 3rd floor,

2-2239-224, fax 2-2522-
977, [e-mail]. Eco-Adventur has also been recom-
mended, at Calama 339 between Juan LeónMera and Reina Victoria,

2-2520-647, fax [phone], [e-mail].

Eco-Travel
The Puerto-Quito Highway
El Pahuma Orchid Reserve
With a grand opening in January of 2002, El Pahuma Or-
chid Reserve offers a model for future cloud forest conser-
vation in Ecuador. Working with the Ceiba Foundation
for Tropical Conservation (Eugenio de Santillán N34-
248 and Maurián, Quito,

2-2432-240/246, fax [phone], www.
ceiba.org/, [e-mail]), this is a great project to support. In addi-