11th annual edition of the Jondachi Fest
January 17 – 19, 2025 (Upper Basin)
February 21 – 23, 2025 (Lower Basin)
JONDACHI FEST 2025 OVERVIEW
The goal of the 11th annual Jondachi Fest event is to motivate local communities and authorities to make a commitment to preserve the quality and integrity of the Jondachi, Hollin, Misahualli and Napo River corridor intact and free-flowing for the conservation of freshwater biodiversity and sustainable economic alternatives. Your participation helps promote the protection of this unique and outstanding Andean Amazon river corridor.
If you are not a kayak or rafting enthusiast, please consider visiting other natural heritage attractions for waterfalls, hiking, biking, birding, caving, geologic sites, and cultural activities that are suitable for the entire family and all ages to enjoy throughout the Jondachi-Hollin-Misahualli-Napo ecological corridor.
EXPLORE TOURISM ATTRACTIONS IN THE JONDACHI-HOLLIN-MISAHUALLI-NAPO CORRIDOR
The Jondachi Fest has helped 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!
Jondachi Fest 2025
I.- Upper Basin Activities
Monday, January 13 – Thursday, January 16, 2025
Practice runs for Class V kayak race on the legendary Upper Jondachi River
08h00 – 17h00: Meeting points in Tena and Baeza
Friday, January 17, 2025
08h00 – 17h00: Upper Jondachi River
Race overview and orientation
Upper Jondachi Race Registration open
Safety Kayak Registration openExplore tourism attractions in the Jondachi-Hollin-Misahualli-Napo watershed corridor
08h00 – 17h00: TOURISM ATTRACTIONS
Saturday, January 18, 2025
08h30 – 17h00: Middle and Lower Jondachi and Hollin Rivers
Reservations for Rafting Jondachi-Hollin (Special price: $45/person!)
Explore tourism attractions in the Jondachi-Hollin-Misahualli-Napo watershed corridor
08h00 – 17h00: TOURISM ATTRACTIONS
Sunday, January 19, 2025
08h00 – 17h00: TOURISM ATTRACTIONS
Due to the widespread protests against the construction of a new maximum-security prison in the town of Archidona, which succeeded in getting that poorly-conceived project relocated to an area on the coast, but led to the suspension of classes and activities through most of December 2024, we have rescheduled the Lower Basin activities of the Jondachi Fest for the weekend of February 21-23, 2025 in Ecuador, in order to accommodate the planned activities leading up to the event with students from seven schools throughout the Jondachi-Hollin-Misahualli-Napo river corridor.
II. – Lower Basin Activities
Friday, February 21, 2025
Saturday, February 22, 2025
08h00 – 17h00: TOURISM ATTRACTIONS
PROGRAM IN PUERTO MISAHUALLI
09h00 – 17h00 Results of water quality monitoring and conservation initiatives
RIVER GINKANA (MULTISPORT TEAM GAMES) IN PUERTO MISAHUALLI – USD $10 per team of 4 students
09h00 – 12h00 Pre-registration at schools.
RIOS VIVOS IN MOTION
RAFTING FOR BEGINNERS IN PUERTO MISAHUALLI – USD $5 per person
10h00 / 14h00 / 16h00 – Registration on the waterfront in Puerto Misahualli
PROGRAM IN AHUANO
KID’S PAINTING CONTEST
09h00 – 12h00 Covered pavilion in Ahuano
RIOS VIVOS AHUANO
14h00 – 17h00 Visits to local attractions in Ahuano
RIOS VIVOS CINE
19h00 – 21h00 Film presentation in covered pavilion in Ahuano
Sunday, February 23, 2025
08h00 – 17h00: TOURISM ATTRACTIONS
PROGRAM IN PUERTO MISAHUALLI – LA PUNTA DE AHUANO
12K-TRIATHLON IN AHUANO – USD $5 per team of 3 students
09h00 – Registration in UEF Ottorino Todescato (Ahuano)
RAFTING FOR BEGINNERS IN PUERTO MISAHUALLI – USD $5 per person
10h00 – Registration on the waterfront in Puerto Misahualli
DOWNRIVER RACES – Puerto Misahualli – La Punta de Ahuano (17 km)
10h30 Waterfront in Puerto Misahualli. Pre-registration at Hotel Shaw in Puerto Misahualli. Final registration on the waterfront in Puerto Misahualli.
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 ($10 per couple)