Kayaking School

4 days of basic instruction

Thank you for choosing Caveman where adventure is our passion, we are proud to offer you professional kayak instruction in the incredible Ecuadorian Amazon.

We are pleased to be some of the first Ecuadorian kayak instructors, who for the last 15 years have promoted and taught this exciting sport.

With international certifications such as the ACA, and extensive work experience in Canada and the United States, we specialize in basic, intermediate, and advanced instruction of the discipline. We believe that initial training makes all the difference, and thus have decided to teach all techniques based on the experience of our instructors, who have devised different methods and techniques of teaching according to each person’s needs.

Our instruction is totally personalized, we work in groups of maximum three people per instructor, the numbers varying depending on the level of instruction. According to your need, you can also register individually in one of the group instruction courses listed below: (L1–L2 –L3 –L4 –ROLL –IC –SR1).

This course will cover all the fundamentals so that you can start your kayak career.

L1 Introduction to Kayak

Day 1

Description: We will start by covering everything necessary with respect to equipment and adjusting appropriately to your kayak. Afterward we will go to a river pool to work on kayak entrance and exit, paddling, support, inclinations, posture, T-rescue, and introduction to roll.

• Duration: 9am-3:30pm
• Location: River Tena pools
• Difficulty: Beginner
• Meals: Lunch (vegetarian options)
• Season: Year-round
• Minimum age:14 years (100 pounds)
• Participants: 2
• Price: $80

L2 Transition to Moving Water

Day 2

Description: Signals, general reading of river obstacles, waves, holes, rocks, wood, rapids swimming practice, ferries practice, eddies, and the eskimo roll.

• Prerequisites: L1 or similar experience
• Duration: 9am-3:30pm
• Location: Lower Anzu River
• Difficulty: Beginner
• Meals: Lunch (vegetarian options)
• Season: Year-round
• Minimum age: 14 years (100 pounds)
• Participants: 2
• Price: $80

L3 River Descent in Basic Currents

Day 3

Description: Eskimo roll practice, free time to descend and enjoy the river, during which we will cover special white water tips, water reading and danger identification, eddy entrance and exit, and ferry maneuvering.

• Prerequisites: L2 or similar experience
• Duration: 9am-3:30pm
• Location: Middle Anzu River or Middle Misahualli River
• Difficulty: Beginner
• Meals: Lunch (vegetarian options)
• Season: Year-round
• Minimum age:14 years (100 pounds)
• Participants: 2
• Price: $80

L4 Moderate Level Descent

Day 4

Description: Practice learned material, roll in currents, paddling and advanced moves, emphasis on jet ferries and micro eddies.

• Prerequisites: L3 or similar experience
• Duration: 9am–2pm
• Location: Middle Jatunyacu River or High Anzu River
• Difficulty: Beginner
• Meals: Lunch (vegetarian options)
• Season: Year-round
• Minimum age:14 years (100 pounds)
• Participants: 2
• Price: $80

ROLL1 Eskimo Roll

Day 1

Description: A qualified instructor will teach you paddling positions, the appropriate and coordinated moves your body needs to learn, how to put all the pieces together, and with much patience they will help you carry out the impressive maneuvering of the roll.

• Prerequisites: L2 or similar experience
• Duration: 8:30am-1:30pm
• Location: Pool or river backwater
• Difficulty: Beginner
• Meals: Not included
• Season: Year-round
• Minimum age:14 years (100 pounds)
• Participants: 2
• Price: $80

IC1 Intro to Creeking

Day 1

Description: If you are looking to start to explore the technical streams, this course will help you prepare yourself. Techniques like fast reading, entering micro eddies, jet ferries, and rapid maneuvers, boofing, as well as security and communication techniques, are what we will cover in this intro.

• Prerequisites: L4 or similar experience
• Duration: 9am-3pm
• Location: Middle Misahualli River or Middle Tena River
• Difficulty: Beginner
• Meals: Not included
• Season: Year-round
• Minimum age:14 years (100 pounds)
• Participants: 2
• Price: $80

SR1 Safety and Rescue

Day 1

Description: Introduction to river rescue and safety techniques. Practice in launching rope, aggressive swimming in rapids, and crossing techniques.

• Prerequisites: L3 or similar experience
• Duration: 9am-3pm
• Location: Middle Misahualli River or Middle Tena River
• Difficulty: Beginner
• Meals: Lunch
• Season: Year-round
• Minimum age:14 years (100 pounds)
• Participants: 2
• Price: $70