Kayamas Shuar Community

Rafting in Cuyes River

Rafting, kayaking and tubing are extreme sports and adventure tourism. The communities near Gualaquiza offer these activities, as alternatives for the distraction of tourists and work opportunities for local inhabitants. The Cuyes River descends from the Andes and joins the Cuchipamba. This downstream is a tributary of the Bomboiza, which reaches the Zamora. There is a classification of rapids according to their degree of difficulty, for the descent of rivers. It goes from one to six. The waters of the Cuyes, the Cuchipamba and the Bomboiza are Class II. That is, a little turbulent with eddies without danger for the swimmer and navigable. River rafting is a sport and recreational activity that consists of going downstream in an airboat or raft, overcoming the rapids. The boat is dragged by the current, while the crew members control it with their oars. No previous experience is required to practice it. The participant must know how to swim. Other necessary equipment is the helmet and the vest. If the river waters have low temperature, an insulating suit must be used. A variant of rafting is kayaking. A sport kayak is used for the descent. In tubing the individual is placed on top of a tube and is carried away by the current. The people who practice it are not tied down and paddle with their hands. Sailing on an Amazon river is a unique experience, because of the diversity of landscapes it offers. Other options for the visitor are rappelling, canoeing, swimming, long and pleasant walks to observe and photograph flora and fauna. Adventure, gastronomy, nature and culture. It is possible to experience all this in Gualaquiza, a town located at the southern end of Morona Santiago, in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The canton is located between the foothills of the Cordillera Oriental and the Cordillera del Condor. In its territory there is a wide diversity of ecosystems. Its people are very friendly. It has attractions like the Callejón, Petroglifos de El Empalme and the caves and waterfalls La Dolorosa and El Paraíso. Gualaquiza is known by the nickname of "Paradise of the Ecuadorian Amazon".