Adventure on white water: Marbach kayakers conquer Latin America!

Adventure on white water: Marbach kayakers conquer Latin America!

Aron Herdtfelder and Tobias Weccard, two experienced whitewater paddlers from the Marbach Canoe Club, have started an exciting and adventurous year with a tour through Latin America. The journey began at the turn of the year 2024/2025 and covers some of the most spectacular wild rivers in Mexico, Ecuador and Chile. Loud Marbacher Zeitung Their first stop was the Adventurec kayak camp in Mexico, where they paddled the challenging Alseseca River and took part in the international Alseseca Race.

Paddling the Alseseca offers numerous highlights, including the infamous Big Banana and Seven Sisters stages. The next river on their way was the Oro, which they paddled through an impressive canyon with two ten-meter waterfalls. The river flows into the Gulf of Mexico, which is known for excellent surfing conditions.

Adventure in Ecuador

In Ecuador, Herdtfelder and Weccard explored the Río Quijos, Cosanga, Oyacachi and Yatun Yacu rivers. This tour continues with a stop in Baños, where they paddled other rivers such as the Río Pastaza, Topo and Encanto. The ultimate kayaking excursion in Ecuador, designed for WW 3-4 whitewater riders, offers a variety of challenges and scenic highlights, including the classic “Gorge of the Sacred Falls of the Rio Upano” and the 25th Anniversary Closing Party held in Baños, such as waterproof.net highlights.

The trip in Ecuador extends over a period of ten days, with participants sleeping in typical country accommodation and navigating the river with professional kayak guides. In addition, vehicle transfers are organized between them and the best paddling spots, with the first night spent in the Quito region and the last night in the “Thermas de Papallacta”, located at 3000 meters altitude and with hot thermal springs.

Move to Chile and Colombia

After two weeks in Ecuador, the two paddlers traveled on to Chile, where they took the ferry through a picturesque mountain landscape to Chaitén. The Río Futaleufú, known for its turquoise water and large rapids, awaited them there. They also took part in the Futa Kings Race, a ten kilometer whitewater cross race. The journey took them further to Colombia, to the whitewater region around Cocorná, about 50 kilometers from Medellín.

In Colombia, they took part in a kayak marathon on the Río Suárez, famous for its captivating rapids such as “El Tupinón” and “Chili con Carne”. Tobias took an impressive 20th place after 42 kilometers, while Aron acted as part of the safety crew. The trip ended with the exploration of the “Fonce” and “Suárez” rivers near San Gil, where she vividly experienced numerous impressions and challenges in two weeks.

Aron Herdtfelder reflects on the trip with the words “indescribable” as he talks about the unique natural experiences and challenges. Those interested can follow impressions and experiences of the tour on the Instagram profiles of Aron Herdtfelder and Tobias Weccard.