Upper Amazon Whitewater & Yoga Retreat
Nov 8th - 15th 2026
Nov 1st - 7th 2027

Where stunning beauty meets adventure and adrenaline!

Some places don't feel like they should exist. The transition between the high Andes and the Upper Amazon is one of them.

Vistamar and River People are inviting you into it — on a 7-day expedition retreat through one of the most remote and biodiverse corners of the planet.

At the heart of the journey is a 3-day whitewater camping expedition down the Hollín River — 60 kilometers of Class III and IV rapids through virgin canyons, ancient trees, and untouched primary rainforest that almost no one has the privilege of seeing. River People have been running this river for over 20 years. There is no better guide into it.

Around the expedition: two days in Archidona exploring breathtaking waterfalls and spending time with Indigenous Amazonian communities whose ancestral knowledge spans millennia. A night out in the river town of Tena. And a closing evening soaking in the restorative waters of Termas de Papallacta — one of South America's most extraordinary hot spring retreats.

Woven throughout: daily yoga, nourishing meals, and comfortable lodging — everything designed to keep you present, energized, and open to what this place has to offer.

This is not a tour.

It's an expedition.

Check out the Itinerary!

What is Included:

4 nights lodging in Archidona at the Monkey Lodge!
1 Night lodging at Termas de Papallacta
Entrance to Papallacta Springs
3-day / 2-night Hollín River expedition, including:
- Expert guides
- All whitewater and safety equipment
- All camping gear
- Transportation
- Three delicious meals per day prepared riverside
- Epic riverside yoga
- Epic riverside excursions
- The most epic trip of a lifetime!
All Breakfasts and Lunches in Archidona
Breakfast at Papallacta
Guided excursion to one of the region’s most spectacular waterfalls
River journey to visit and learn from Indigenous Amazonian communities
Visit to a traditional cacao farm and chocolate factory
Jungle Exploration and wildlife encounters
Multiple waterfall trips
Indigenous community Encounter
All ground transportation, including transfers to and from Quito Airport*

What is not Included:

Air Travel
Individual airport pick/up drop off. There will be one time in our bus that is included.
Alcohol
Spa treatments at Papallacta
Travel Insurance
While the cost of dinners are not included, we will have guided evening outings, which will include transport. We will also accompany and recommend night life options too.
We will also be happy to recommend other restaurant options in case you want to split off and do something different. The Tena area where we will be located offers lots of options and is a very safe place to wonder.

The Expedition Experience

River People pioneered commercial trips on the Hollín River over 20 years ago — and this journey honors that spirit. It's a genuine expedition: 60 kilometers of Class III and IV rapids, two nights camping deep in the Amazon, far from roads and infrastructure. No prior whitewater or camping experience required — we provide all camping equipment, safety gear, and world-class guides. What you bring is a positive attitude and a real appetite for adventure.

We also believe in being upfront about what expedition-style travel means in practice. River conditions may require an extra night on the water. And if an emergency arises, extraction means continuing downstream — we carry a satellite phone, but there are no helicopter evacuations from this canyon. That's the nature of this place, and it's also part of what keeps it pristine. We're happy to go deeper on any of this with anyone seriously considering joining us.

If you're someone who finds that energizing rather than alarming, you're exactly who this trip is for.