by Darlene Archer

Anyone can join the growing ranks of the adventure paddler. What was once considered eccentric and unthinkable has now become vogue and mainstream. Travelers are streaming into foreign locales in search of exotic whitewater-massive endless surf waves and steep remote magical waterfalls. Once again, world exploration is on the rise.

Adventure paddling enthusiast Dixie~Maree Prickett says it all: “There is nothing I love more than traveling with my kayak. Adventures are endless-from the airport to the river and everything in between.”

For those of you who missed the opportunity to travel abroad this past winter to warmer, tropical paddling destinations, don’t let it happen again. Now is the time to start planning for your next adventure-it just might change your life.

Increased accessibility has enabled a radical increase in travelers. Specialized travel agencies, direct flights, and Internet technology have expanded the booking process and simplified the overall experience, explains Kathy King of Holiday Travel in Waynesville, N.C. Outfitters have welcomed the changes. Gecko Expeditions, a small outfitter in operation for just five years, has tripled its business in Costa Rica. And the Nantahala Outdoor Center, pioneers of many current destinations, has witnessed dramatic increases in adventure travel over the last twenty years. In fact, this year NOC saw its biggest jump in beginner paddlers learning basic skills in Jamaica.

Many remote countries offer opportunity to view amazing and unique wildlife from the seat of your kayak. For those with more money than time, the convenience of four star hotels, seamless transportation, and cocktails at the take-out are a perfect match. Quaint hostels, rustic river shuttles, and irresistible local cuisine may be more tempting for the economically conscious. The key is to match a destination with the attitude, interests, and skill level within your budget. Joining or forming a group and customizing the details is encouraged by most outfitters in today’s outdoor industry.

Costa Rica continues to be a longtime favorite because of its well-developed tourism base. Warm waters and a rainy season ending in late October beckon novice to intermediate paddlers looking to cut their teeth on pristine rivers in the jungle. And who could pass up spending the evening watching the sunset on a Pacific beach?

Paddlers seeking to ramp up the intensity and culture travel further south to Ecuador. Challenging whitewater surrounded by lush rainforests filled with wildlife can be found near the town of Tena, where the taxi drivers know the put-ins and the take-outs.

With headwaters in the snow-capped Andes, Chile may well be the crown jewel of South American whitewater. Many paddlers claim Chile’s unspoiled and unbridled beauty is everything you can ask for in a paddling destination. The festive hospitality of the locals and the majestic powers of the rivers will steal your heart.

“Traveling just changes your whole perspective on life,” says world traveler and world-class paddler Andrew Holcombe, who recently expeditioned in Africa.

Don’t let another cold winter keep you off the river. Experience a journey of exploration and adventure soon. It does not matter where you visit, only that you go.

Darlene Archer is a kayak instructor with the Nantahala Outdoor Center. She paddles creeks and rivers throughout the southern Appalachians.