MISSION AMAZON

Rio Marañón

EXPEDITION:      Mission Amazon

LOCATION:       Rio Marañón (Laguna Quesillococha to Iquitos)

DATE:      October 2015

​DURATION:      8 weeks

​DISTANCE:      ~1,800 km (~1,120 miles)

CRAFT:      Paddleboard - Bolsa board

MILESTONE:      World First – First stand-up paddleboard descent of the Rio Marañón, the Primary the Amazon River

​TEAM & CREW:      Charlie Head (SUP Expedition Paddler), Rocky Contos (River Expedition Leader / SierraRios), Red Bull Media House Production Team, Remote Trauma (Safety, Logistics & Medical Support)

​OBJECTIVES:      World-first whitewater SUP descent; environmental advocacy and international awareness supporting Rocky Contos' fight to stop mega-dams; engaging and uniting isolated riverside communities; documenting the river ecosystem before potential inundation

A person in kayaking gear balancing on a rock in fast-moving white water rapids with large rocks in the background.
A person in kayaking gear balancing on a rock in fast-moving white water rapids with large rocks in the background.
Man standing on a raft with gear on the riverbank, mountains in the background.
Man standing on a raft with gear on the riverbank, mountains in the background.

In 2015, I teamed up with river conservationist Rocky Contos (SierraRios) and Red Bull Media House to tackle the first stand-up paddleboard descent of the Rio Marañón—the principal source of the Amazon River. Paddling roughly 1,800 km from high in the Andes through remote canyons and out to Iquitos over eight weeks, the expedition aimed to highlight plans for massive hydroelectric dams threatening to drown irreplaceable ecosystems and displace ancient riverside communities. The journey drew global attention to the river's protection, connected with the locals defending their valleys, and documented this wild corridor before it was lost.

A person paddleboarding on a river in a canyon, wearing a red helmet and life vest, with mountains in the background.
Two men standing on a large rock by a river in a canyon, with rocky cliffs and sparse vegetation in the background.
Person standing on makeshift raft with supplies, floating on a river in a mountainous landscape.
People walking in a lush outdoor setting, including indigenous individuals, children, and young adults, among tropical trees and plants.
Charlie Head paddleboarding on a rocky river with lush green trees on the riverbank.
Close-up of Charlie Head wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a black t-shirt, outdoors in a Amazon jungle.
Charlie in a hat and shorts paddling a small wooden raft in a body of water. There are bags and other items on the raft.
A person standing on a bamboo raft in a river surrounded by mountains and rocky shores.
A shirtless Charlie wearing a cowboy hat and camouflage shorts standing outdoors against a backdrop of a hill and a cloudy sky.
A man in a gray shirt sits on the grass next to a palm tree, looking up. Another man in a blue shirt and beige pants uses a professional video camera on a tripod to film him in a lush, green, tropical garden.
A man wearing a wetsuit standing on a raft in a river, holding a paddle, with a dog standing on the raft nearby, and rocky cliffs in the background.
Person in water holding a paddle, lying on a stand-up paddleboard with gear, wearing red helmet and life vest, signaling peace signs with both hands.
A man wearing a hat and red floral swim trunks standing in a rural outdoor setting during sunset, holding a long stick, with trees and a clear blue sky in the background.
A man with face paint and traditional attire, holding a staff, conversing with a person in a black t-shirt in a rural area with a group of children and adults, surrounded by lush green trees and wooden buildings.
People engaging in whitewater rafting on a river surrounded by rocky and forested cliffs.
Three people in a blue inflatable raft navigating white water rapids in a river surrounded by rocks and trees.
Filming crew captures scene with children by river in mountainous landscape.
A group of people are gathered outdoors around a large pot over an open fire, with two men using bamboo poles to tend the fire. Others are smiling and watching, with some holding objects, in a rustic setting with mud walls and rocks.
Three people with backpacks exploring a rocky riverbank near turbulent water and rapids.
Person standing inside a large, dark cave with one arm raised, lit by sunlight streaming in from above through an opening in the cave ceiling.
A person in a red life jacket and helmet is navigating a rocky river in a kayak, surrounded by large rocks and steep canyon walls.
A person paddleboarding on a river surrounded by steep rocky canyon walls.
View from inside a large, dark cave looking out at a river with kayakers and people on the sandy shore, surrounded by rocky cliffs and trees under a blue sky.
A person in paddleboarding gear, including a red helmet and life vest, is standing on a paddleboard in a river surrounded by rocky banks and lush green trees.
A black circle with a white play button icon in the center.