South Expeditions' patent-pending Cataquilla dual-hull sea kayak will allow children, the elderly, and handicapped individuals to experience the joys of sea kayaking in the Galapagos and beyond.

(TRAVPR.COM) ECUADOR - March 30th, 2011 - QUITO, ECUADOR – March 31, 2011 – Galapagos Endurance, a tour operator offering exclusive custom-designed adventure travel programs in the Galapagos Islands, has introduced a revolutionary sea kayaking system that is poised to open up Galapagos sea kayaking to a broad new audience. Galapagos Endurance’s ‘Cataquilla’ sea kayak is a patent pending dual-hull design that allows two or four kayakers to enjoy greater stability, easier paddling, simple maneuverability and a greater sense of on-the-water safety than is offered by traditional sea kayaks.

Sea kayaking is one of the most popular ways to explore the Galapagos Islands because of the maneuverability, speed, and low environmental impact of kayaks, but they can also be intimidating and difficult for young children, elderly, or handicapped individuals to use on their own. The Cataquilla’s superior stability, ease of entry, and canoe-like paddling allows anyone to confidently kayak the waters of the Galapagos with the help of a partner. Even paraplegics, who are generally unable to pilot sea kayaks, are able to use the cataquilla because it does not require the user to stabilize the kayak with their hips.

The name Cataquilla is derived from cata meaning double hull, and quilla, a type of canoe used by the natives of the Ecuadorian rainforests. The guides from Galapagos Endurance designed the Cataquilla to meet the needs of multigenerational family travelers that would otherwise be unable to experience sea kayaking in the Galapagos. The patent pending design utilizes horizontal struts that connect two normal single or double person kayaks, and substitutes traditional dual bladed sea kayak paddles with single bladed raft paddles.

Galapagos Endurance specializes in designing and operating completely custom tour programs for their distribution partners, enabling their partners to provide exclusive travel experiences for their clients in the Galapagos Islands. Juan Rodriguez, founder of Galapagos Endurance, has been conceiving, planning and operating high-quality custom trips throughout the Galapagos and South America for over 18 years. Juan has always preferred to work with North American tour operators and travel companies, which allow him to focus on creating amazing, exclusive experiences (like the Cataquilla) that meet the high standards of his partners and their clientele.

Galapagos Endurance is part of South Expeditions, a leading travel group with over 18 years of experience arranging a wide array of high-end customized trips and excursions for individuals, families and groups in Latin America. Their three companies, Travel Ecuador, Chile Expeditions and Galapagos Endurance are committed to designing and providing unique and wonderful experiences that will create lasting memories for their guests.

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