RIO SANTA ANA

Grade 4 (5) at High Flow

Location and general description (Go to Map of Access)

A pristine, beautiful, and unusually continuous run in a jungle ravine that keeps you guessing all the way down but never lets you down. This is a major tributary on the north side of the Rio Pilaton and one of the most enjoyable runs on the west slope. It joins the Pilaton downstream of Tandapi which lies on the main Quito to Santo Domingo road. This description is for a descent made in high flow, but not in flood. River requires rain and can probably be run at a range of flows during the wet season Jan-May. At other times it is likely to be too low.

Access

Drive from Sto Domingo past La Union and alongside the Pilaton. Take a dirt road across the Pilaton at east side of Tandapi, After the bridge over the Pilaton head up and left on a good dirt road. Continue steeply to the ridge crest and bear left at a school. The road then begins to drop down the other side of the ridge, giving tantalising glimpses only of the Rio Santa Ana far below. Continue down, now heading up the Santa Ana valley, cross a small tributary, and then head uphill to the end of the road just past a farm on the LHS. Leave the car here and proceed on foot for 1.5kms on a good path. Rising up at first, then a slight descent and a slight rise again before a steady descent and a switchback takes you to a footbridge over the Rio Santa Ana. Start paddling from here. Possibilities exist to walk further upstream.

Egress

Just below the confluence of the Rio Sta Ana and the Rio Pilaton, a few kilometres down from Tandapi is a bridge leading off the main highway and crossing the Pilaton. Take out here.

Detailed description

The run starts as a class 3/3+ . On the first descent by Chris Dickinson and Ricardo Alzamora in 2007, a dangerous log barred the river after three rapids, with a leafy portage on the LHS. River is then continuous class 3-4 with no let up and many blind corners. Cliffs alternate from one side of the river to the other, but always there is a line. Pass two further footbridges. The first and ONLY couple of pools on the river appear and warn that you are approaching a steep blocked rapid with some wood (5). A three tier drop on the LHS or a 2 metre boof on RHS are the possible options, along with an inspection, protection or portage on the left bank. Then a third footbridge appears followed immediately by a very fast S bend rapid, just where the tributary enters enters on river left. It is roughly 2kms and one hour of paddling to this point. From here the river continues relentlessly downhill but at a reasonable standard, class 3-4 continuous for another 5 kms. Look out for wood. Another log spanned the river on the first descent, but could be ducked under on RHS. Rapids are fun and quick and the whole section gives quite magnificent paddling. Eventually, high on the left you will see the first of two electricity pylons up on the ridge. This means you are in the last kilometre. You pass a couple of small farms and swing round some tight bends. Towards the confluence the river steepens one final time and a busy class 4 zig zag rapid dumps you into the Pilaton. Total paddling time on first descent was 3 hours. Back to index page

Go to Map of Access

Confluence and take out of Rio Sta Ana (left) and Pilaton (right)	Bridge at the put in for the Rio Santa Ana

Lower Rio Santa Ana	Walking trail to put in for Santa Ana	Chris running the grade 5 drop on Rio Santa Ana

Ricardo on the continuous rapids that tear round blind corners	Chris runs the 3 tiered drop