8 Day Amazon Jungle Yoga and Whitewater Rafting Tour in Ecuador
Adventure Tour in Ecuador
Plunge into the raw heart of Ecuador's Upper Amazon — one of the most biodiverse and adrenaline-rich ecosystems on Earth. This 8-day adventure pairs exhilarating Class III–IV whitewater rafting on pristine Amazonian rivers with grounding daily yoga, immersing you in a jungle experience unlike anything else in South America. Guided by experienced local experts, every day balances adventure and recovery, movement and stillness.
Meet the instructors
Highlights
- Raft the wild Hollín River
- Daily Vinyasa yoga in the jungle
- Eco-camp under the Amazon canopy
- Waterfall, cacao and culture - visit spectacular locations
- Suitable for first-time rafters and campers
- Combine the untamed Amazon and High Andeas
- 7 nights accommodation with daily meals
- Intimate group sizes ensure a personalized experience
Skill level
- Beginner
Yoga styles
8 days with instruction in English or Spanish
Accommodation
Orchid Island, Archidona
Your base in the Amazon is Orchid Island — a lodge nestled in primary rainforest, where howler monkeys and toucans are your neighbors. Comfortable, characterful, and completely immersive.
Expedition Camping on the Hollín
For two nights deep in the canyon, you'll camp in some of the most remote and untouched wilderness on Earth. River People provide all the gear — this is comfort in the wild, not roughing it.
Termas de Papallacta
The retreat closes at one of Ecuador's most celebrated destinations — the Termas de Papallacta, a luxury hot spring spa perched in the Andes just 6 kilometers from Antisana, one of the world's highest active volcanoes. A well-earned ending to an extraordinary week.
Program
At the heart of this retreat is a three-day / two-night whitewater camping expedition down the “Pearl of the Amazon,” the Hollín River.
The adventure also includes two days and three nights in Archidona, where you’ll explore breathtaking waterfalls and spend meaningful time learning from indigenous Amazonian communities about their culture and traditions, interact with and observe wildlife, and enjoy a night on the town in Tena.
You’ll close the journey with a relaxing evening soaking in the gorgeous and healing waters of the hot springs at Termas de Papallacta.
While River People pioneered commercial trips down the Hollín River more than 20 years ago, this journey is designed for those ready to embrace true adventure. This will be a remote, expedition-style trip that includes two nights camping deep in the Amazon jungle. Although Vistamar Guest House takes every possible safety precaution, flexibility and an acceptance of some risk are parts of the adventure:
River conditions may require the group to spend an additional night on the river.
In the unlikely event of an emergency, extraction would be conducted by continuing downstream. There will be no heli-vacs. Vistamar Guest House does have a satellite phone to call for assistance, but that does not change the fact that extractions are made by continuing downriver. Vistamar believes in being transparent from the start, and they will provide detailed information about this if you are interested in the trip.
The Hollín features 60 kilometers of class III and IV rapids. No prior whitewater or camping experience is necessary. Vistamar Guest House will provide all camping equipment, safety gear, and expert, world-class guides. All you'll need is a positive attitude and a sense of adventure.
Upper Amazon Experience
Sunday, November 8th — Arrival Day
- 10:00 Depart Quito (UIO)
- 11:30 Lunch in Baeza — a charming mountain town on the descent from the Andes, your first taste of the transition to come
- 14:00 Arrive in Archidona + check in at Orchid Island
- 16:00 Afternoon Waterfall Adventure — shake off the journey with a first plunge into the Amazon's natural beauty
Monday, November 9th — Into the Amazon
- 07:30 Morning Yoga
- 09:00 Breakfast at Orchid Island
- 10:00 Depart for Misahualli Waterfalls
- 13:00 Lunch in Misahualli
- 14:00 Indigenous Community Encounter — a meaningful afternoon with an Amazonian community whose ancestral knowledge and traditions span thousands of years
- 19:30 Dinner in Tena
- 21:00 Gear Check for the Hollín River Expedition
Tuesday, November 10th — The Adventure Begins
- 07:00 Morning Yoga
- 08:00 Breakfast + Check Out of Orchid Island
- 09:00 Depart for the Hollín River
- 10:00 Visit Hollín Falls — a spectacular introduction to the canyon ahead
- 10:30 20-minute hike down to the river put-in
- 11:00 The expedition begins — on the water and into the wilderness
- 14:00 Riverside lunch with canyon views
- 17:00 Set up camp and settle into the jungle
- 19:30 Dinner on the river
Wednesday, November 11th — Deep in the Canyon
- 08:00 Riverside jungle yoga
- 09:30 Breakfast on the river
- 10:30 Back on the water
- 13:00 Lunch stop in the canyon
- 15:30 Arrive at second camp
- 17:30 Canyon Waterfall Expedition — hike to a hidden waterfall deep in the primary rainforest
- 19:00 Dinner at camp
- 20:30 Night jungle exploration — guided after-dark walk through the living Amazon
Thursday, November 12th — Final Day on the River
- 08:00 Riverside jungle yoga
- 09:30 Breakfast on the river
- 11:00 Final stretch — back on the water
- 13:30 Lunch at the confluence of the Hollín and Jondachi rivers — a wild and beautiful landmark
- 16:00 Come off the river + check in at Orchid Island
- 19:30 Dinner in Archidona — celebrate the expedition!
Friday, November 13th — Rest, Waterfalls & Tena
- 09:00 Post-expedition Morning Yin Yoga — a gentle, restorative practice to ease the body after the river
- 10:30 Breakfast
- 11:30 Grand Canyon Waterfall & Nature Hike — a full day in the jungle with lunch on the trail
- 19:30 Dinner in Tena
Saturday, November 14th — Cacao, Culture & Papallacta
- 07:30 Morning Yoga
- 09:00 Breakfast
- 10:00 Tastayaku Cacao Tour — a guided journey from tree to finished chocolate, celebrating one of the Amazon's most celebrated crops
- 13:00 Lunch in Archidona
- 14:00 Depart for Papallacta — a scenic drive up into the Andes + check in at Termas de Papallacta
- 15:30 Optional guided hike in the Papallacta highland reserve
- 17:00 Soak in the natural hot spring pools (open 24 hours)
- 19:30 Dinner at the spa
Sunday, November 15th — Farewell
- 06:00 Early morning soak — the pools at dawn are something special
- 09:00 Breakfast
- 10:00 Final soak
- 11:00 Check out + depart for Quito (UIO)
Included excursions
- Guided excursion to one of the region’s most spectacular waterfalls
- Visit to a traditional cacao farm and chocolate factory
- A guided trip through primary rain forest to the stunning natural gorge known as the Grand Canyon of the Amazon
- Guided excursion to the village of Mishaulli with wildlife encounters and waterfall explorations
- A canoe trip down the river Napo for a Indigenous community encounter
- Soaking in natural hot springs
- High Andean hike with vistas of the snow capped volcano Antisana
Instructors
Matteo Glaser
Matteo is your friendly co-host and surf guru. He has two decades of surf experience, lifeguard training and years of experience teaching surfing from surf camps in San Diego to private and group lessons here in Ecuador and Peru. He's here to make sure you have a good time and ensure your safety, provide tips, water safety and local condition information, and pinpoint the best conditions and take you to the best breaks the Ecuatorial Pacific has to offer. Like all of our guides, he has completed life guard and cpr training.
Nicole Zornitzer
Having over 30 years of experience in the wellness industry and 23 years’ experience in Corporate America working for the largest global cosmetics company in upper management provided Nicole the opportunity to use her talents in an industry that was more meaningful. In 2020, Nicole founded Niyama Yoga Retreats, an international wellness and adventure retreat business that carefully curates intentionally based travel experiences.
Retreat location
Where the Andes Meet the Amazon
Ecuador's Upper Amazon sits at one of the most extraordinary geographic transitions on Earth — where cool Andean air tumbles down into the most biodiverse jungle on the planet. This is the setting for your retreat.
The Hollín River
Deep in the Napo Province, the Hollín carves through remote canyons and untouched primary rainforest that few people ever have the privilege of seeing. You'll run 60 kilometers of Class III and IV whitewater through a wilderness that feels genuinely apart from the modern world.
Archidona and the Napo Region
Based in and around Archidona, you'll have access to stunning waterfalls, rich wildlife, and Indigenous Amazonian communities whose ancestral connection to this land spans thousands of years. The nearby river town of Tena offers a taste of local life in the heart of Ecuador's Amazon.
Termas de Papallacta
Perched high in the Andes on your way home, the legendary Termas de Papallacta hot springs offer one of South America's most restorative settings — a perfect close to an extraordinary week.
Feel free to mix and match sections depending on how much space the location block gives you — the Hollín and Archidona entries are the most important ones to keep.
Food
What's Included
Breakfast and lunch are included throughout the entire retreat — fresh, nourishing, and designed to keep you energized for whatever the day brings. During the Hollín River expedition, all meals are provided and prepared riverside, right in the heart of the canyon.
Evenings and Dinner
Dinners are not included in the retreat cost, but you won't be left to figure it out alone. Each evening includes guided outings with transport, and the Vistamar team will be on hand with personal recommendations for where to eat, what to try, and where the night might take you. Prefer to split off and explore on your own? We're happy to point you in the right direction.
The Tena Area
The town of Tena is the culinary and social heart of Ecuador's Amazon region — safe, welcoming, and full of great options, from riverside restaurants serving fresh local cuisine to lively spots for a night out. It's a place worth exploring.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Raw food
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Pescatarian
- Seafood
Exclusive Gifts
Vistamar Guest House has prepared a few special surprises for you, including unique experiences and thoughtful extras to make your journey even more memorable.
Amazonian Gift Basket
Things to do (optional)
At your own cost
- Guided evening dinners in Tena and Archidona — transport included, and we'll lead the outing
- Nightlife exploration — we'll point you to the best local spots
- Independent restaurant outings — Vistamar is happy to recommend options if you'd like to split off and explore on your own. The Tena area is vibrant, safe, and full of great choices
- Additional waterfall hikes and swimming holes
- Artisan markets and local craft shopping
- Bird watching excursions with local expert guides
Spa treatments
At your own cost
- Massages and bodywork treatments at Termas de Papallacta
- Additional spa treatments and wellness experiences at Papallacta
What's included
- 4 nights lodging at Orchid Island Lodge, Archidona
- 1 night lodging at Termas de Papallacta
- Entrance to the Papallacta thermal springs
- Daily yoga sessions throughout the retreat
- 3-day / 2-night Hollín River whitewater expedition
- All whitewater safety equipment and camping gear
- Expert whitewater guides
- 3 delicious meals per day prepared riverside
- Guided excursion to a spectacular local waterfall
- River journey to visit and learn from Indigenous Amazonian communities
- Traditional cacao farm and chocolate factory visit
- Jungle exploration and wildlife encounters
- Expert naturalist guidance throughout
- All breakfasts and lunches in Archidona
- Breakfast at Papallacta
- Farewell dinner
- All ground transportation, including airport transfers to/from Quito*
Included Exclusive Gifts
Amazonian Gift Basket
We will share with you a hand selected arrangement of products from the Amazon!
What's not included
- International and domestic airfare
- Quito airport transfers outside of the included group shuttle
- Alcoholic beverages
- Spa treatments at Termas de Papallacta (entrance and lodging included)
- Dinners in Archidona (except farewell dinner) — we'll organize and lead every dinner outing and transportation to and from the restaurant is included
- Travel insurance
- Personal gear and clothing
- Gratuities for guides and staff
- Any personal expenses
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer included
Mariscal Sucre International Airport
107 km away from your destination
Arrival by airplane
The retreat will include one pick up and drop off from the Quito (UIO) airport, which the times are listed on the itinerary. Vistamar Guest House is happy to accommodate any other arrival times by sending a trusted transport for you but you will be responsible for the cost, which will depend on where you meet the team. Please feel free to get in touch for more details.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
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