From: $1075 USD p/person dbl room

Level: Moderate to Challenging

Activities: Searching for Wildlife, Lake and River Kayaking, Hiking, Bird Watching, Observation Tower, Indigenous Community Encounters

Accommodations: Camping, basic lodge, and tourist hotel

The Amazon Basin is the largest fluvial system and the world’s most
important oxygen producer. The rivers born on the eastern slopes of the
Ecuadorian Andes travel down to the lowland Amazon, which is home to dozens
of indigenous cultures. One of these indigenous groups is the Huaorani, who
live in and around Yasuni, Ecuador’s largest National Park. The Huaorani
have lived as hunters and gatherers in the rainforest for thousands of
years, entirely without contact from the outside world until the end of the
1950s. In fact, to this day, at least one Huaorani clan, the Tagaeri,
continues to shun all outside contact: they are known as the occult tribes
of the Amazon. Numbering approximately 1,200 individuals, the Huaorani
continue to maintain a largely traditional lifestyle in the rainforest,
although oil and lumber companies are encroaching upon their territories and
way of life. This kayaking expedition is about experiencing firsthand one of
the most important and bio-diverse ecosystems on Earth, through the eyes of
the people who have lived here for millennia.

Huaorani’s kayax expeditions, 6 days itinerary

Day 1: Introduction to the rainforest (l, d)
Day 2: Huaorani community and paddling down the shiripuno  (b, l, d)
Day 3: Shiripuno lodge and nocturnal wildlife hike  (b, l, d)
Day 4: Rainforest hike and flooded forest exploration (b, l, d)
Day 5: Return to coca (b, l, d)
Day 6: Flight to quito (b)

NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions and/or
river water levels.

INCLUDED:
Road and river transportation to and from Coca; all camping gear, including sleeping bags, kitchen, social and bathroom tents; all meals as described; expedition kayaks and safety gear; certified professional bilingual guide and indigenous Huaorani guide; entrance fee to Huaorani Territory; two nights camping, two nights basic lodge, and one night tourist class accommodations in Coca. For groups larger than 6, additional dugout canoes are taken for logistical support.

NOT INCLUDED: Flight Quito-Coca-Quito (currently $120, subject to change); guide tips.

Kayak through pristine primary forest to observe Amazon plant and wildlife

Daily cultural interaction with Huaorani communities

Learn how to use a blow gun, work with chambira, and identify medicinal plants

See more than 100 different species of tropical birds, including the prehistoric Hoatzin

Sightings of the Black Caiman crocodile, a formerly endangered Amazon species

Encounters with other Amazon wildlife such as monkeys, frogs, snakes, and insects
Explore micro-ecosystems in a 500-year-old Ceibo tree

Kayak through the lakes of a flooded forest

Professional bilingual and Huaorani guides accompany you every step of your journey

About the food
We do not add to the pressure on the environment by consuming food that the
Huaorani hunt or gather from the forest. The majority of the food is brought
in from Quito, including drinking water. During the trip, we offer gourmet
and local foods freshly cooked by our staff. Breakfast includes granola,
fresh fruit, whole wheat bread, fresh coffee or tea, cereal, marmalade,
pancakes or French toast, yogurt, and eggs of your choice. Box & picnic
lunches include a variety of sandwiches, fruits, cheeses, dried fruits,
juices, and fresh vegetables. Dinner includes fresh soups, pastas, local
dishes, rice, beans, plantains, yucca, meats, fish, mashed potatoes, fresh
salads and vegetables, complemented with wine (two nights), water, and/or
juice.

About this Tour
Clients will receive a conservationist interpretation of the ecology and
actual situation of the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest. Our purpose is to
reinforce and promote the long-term conservation of Huaorani cultural
identity and the nurturing of their environment. Your visit will help
encourage the Huaorani to support responsible ecotourism as a viable,
sustainable alternative to surrendering to the destructive appetites of the
oil industry. Campsites may vary, based on weather conditions. We recycle
and transport out all non-organic garbage.
While it is nice to have a schedule, you may find it more satisfying to let
the forest, the weather, and the Huaorani guides chart the course of this
trip. Although we attempt to stick to the itinerary, changes may occur due
to weather and river conditions, health, or other variables. Being flexible
in the Amazon will allow you to get the most from your experience.