The 2024 Upper Jondachi Race was held on Friday, January 19th, on a superb, 1-mile Class V race section on the legendary Upper Jondachi River, and the PRIZE CEREMONY was held after the race at the take-out at the Km18 bridge.

On Saturday, January 20th, we picked up where we left off and continued to promote the proposed designation of the Jondachi-Hollin Rivers as a FREE-FLOWING, protected, international wild & scenic watershed corridor with a JONDACHI-HOLLIN RAFT TRIP (24-km / Class IV) and KAYAK DESCENTS on the Middle Jondachi-Hollin (35-km / Class IV-V) and Lower Jondachi (24-km / Class IV).

The state of emergency imposed restrictions on public gatherings, so we had to postpone many activities. The new phase of the event was held on Friday, March 22, 2024, with the Napo watershed forum about the protection and management of the Jondachi-Hollin-Misahualli-Napo River corridor. The watershed forum included a broad representation of local communities and organizations from throughout the watershed corridor. We presented a multi-temporal analysis of deforestation from urban expansion and land use changes in the region using high-resolution satellite images so the participants could see this perspective and have further insights into what is happening. Then, we presented an overview of the proposal for protecting the rivers as a free-flowing, wild & scenic watershed corridor, and shared some of the strategies for managing the resource as well as some financial mechanisms we have identified to provide incentives and benefits to landowners and local communities. The A’i Cofan community of Sinangoe will shared their experience with their efforts to protect the Cofanes, Dorado and Chingual Rivers in their ancestral territory. Indigenous leaders from communities and organizations throughout the watershed corridor shared their perspectives and opinions, before space was opened up to all of the participants to share their thoughts and opinions about how to protect and manage the Jondachi-Hollin-Misahualli-Napo River corridor.

During the weekend of March 23 – 24, 2024, we opened up the event to more participation from the local communities and the general public by promoting all of the natural heritage attractions for waterfalls, hiking, biking, birding, caving, geologic sites, and cultural activities for the entire family and all ages to enjoy throughout the Jondachi-Hollin-Misahualli-Napo ecological corridor.

The main weekend activities were held in Puerto Misahualli and Ahuano. The CULTURAL PROGRAM IN PUERTO MISAHUALLI was a big highlight on Saturday evening, where we brought everyone together to make a strong statement to protect the strategic free-flowing river corridors for freshwater biodiversity and paddle sports tourism. Most participants enjoyed staying in Puerto Misahualli for the downriver races on the Napo River that were held on a 17-kilometer section from Puerto Misahualli to La Punta de Ahuano. In addition to the men’s kayak race, this year there was a separate division for the kids Junior PRO kayak race as well as a women’s kayak race, and a tandem sit-on-top kayak race for couples.

The Jondachi Fest has helped us to keep hydro development from moving forward on the Jondachi River for many years. However, the proposed hydro projects on the Upper and Middle Jondachi are currently up for bid, and another hydro project has been announced in the Misahualli Canyon, in addition to the serious threats from new roads, subsistence-level agricultural expansion, and other inappropriate development and interventions in the river corridor. We have already lost many outstanding rivers to poorly-conceived hydro projects and many other rivers are threatened by mining activities, so it is important to preserve the ecological connectivity throughout the free-flowing Jondachi-Hollin-Misahualli-Napo watershed corridor, and use this as a model for protecting other river corridors.

Your support and participation helps defend the value of these resources and show the importance of paddle sports tourism for the local economy! Thanks for coming down to Ecuador to paddle this winter and for making out for this event. Together we can change the course of inappropriate development and help protect strategic, free-flowing watershed corridors in Ecuador!

DOWNRIVER RACES – Puerto Misahualli – La Punta de Ahuano (17 km)
12h00   Waterfront in Puerto Misahualli. Pre-registration at Hotel Shaw in Puerto Misahualli. Final registration on the waterfront in Puerto Misahualli.

BALSA RAFTS
DUGOUT CANOES – USD $15 per 3-person team
DRAGON BOATS – USD $20 per 6-person team of couples
KAYAKS – All divisiones $5 per person
KIDS JUNIOR PRO (under 15 years)
WOMEN (15+)
MEN (15+)
TANDEM SIT-ON-TOP (mixed couples)

12h00 – 16h00  Prize ceremony and activities in La Punta de Ahuano. Return to Puerto Misahualli and final destinations.