Huaorani Amazon Kayaking Expedition,
6 Days

 

Level: Moderate to Challenging
ASKH-06

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.

Trip highlights:

• 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

DAY 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE RAINFOREST

From Quito, we board a morning flight to the Amazon frontier town of Coca. A scenic two-hour drive south brings us to the banks of the Shiripuno River, where our kayaks are waiting for us. After lunch and a safety briefing, we paddle down the Shiripuno River, surrounded by breathtaking jungle scenery. Our guide introduces us to the magnificent plant and wildlife of the Amazon. In the late afternoon, we reach our campsite near the Noneno Community and receive a visit from a Huaorani family. They share with us the stories of creation that define Huaorani cosmology and explain how the Huaorani view their existence. Together, we recite traditional chants that detail the creation of the jungle and the mountains. We enjoy a fresh gourmet dinner together prepared by our guides. (L, D)

DAY 2: HUAORANI COMMUNITY AND PADDLING DOWN THE SHIRIPUNO

After breakfast, we visit the nearby Noneno Community, a Huaorani settlement made up of both traditional thatch huts and wooden houses. From our encounters in the community, we learn more about the Huaorani way of life and customs. We exchange gifts and are taught how to use a blow gun and spear - traditional hunting tools of the Huaorani. After our community visit, we continue paddling down the Shiripuno in our kayaks. Our Huaorani guide accompanies us and shows off some of his paddling, fishing, and jungle skills. Meanwhile, the Shiripuno widens as we move downstream, with small tributaries feeding into the river. We are delighted by the sights of tropical flowers and exotic trees, which give cover to wildlife such as birds, monkeys, and other mammals that our guides help us to find in the foliage. We may also come across medicinal plants that our guides can show us how to use. At the end of the day, we reach our fully equipped campsite and prepare for dinner. (B, L, D)

DAY 3:  SHIRIPUNO LODGE AND NOCTURNAL WILDLIFE HIKE

After breakfast, we continue our journey down the Shiripuno and explore another awe-inspiring section of the jungle. We keep an eye out for more plant and wildlife with the help of our naturalist and Haorani guides, and stop to explore the micro-ecosystem of a giant Ceibo tree, many of which are more than 500 years old. In the afternoon, we reach the comfortable accommodations of the Shiripuno Lodge, with a wooden observation deck and social area with hammocks to relax in. In the early evening, we set out into the rainforest for a short guided hike in search of nocturnal wildlife, such as frogs, snakes, spiders, owls, rodents, and bats.  (B, L, D)

DAY 4:  RAINFOREST HIKE AND FLOODED FOREST EXPLORATION

After an early breakfast, we travel by canoe to reach a nearby trail head and begin a 4-hour-long hike into the rainforest. During our hike, we explore old growth forest, including old varzea (flooded) forest, and terra firme forest. We will appreciate a variety of plant life, including Parkia, Ficus, and Ceiba trees, which are common in this area. As for wildlife, we are likely to spot the common woolly monkey and white-lipped peccary, in addition to numerous other bird species, and jaguar tracks are a common find. Our guides lead us to a hill which overlooks the jungle to appreciate the multicolored canopy from above. They also introduce us to a wide range of medicinal plants, which help us to understand the Huaorani's practical, medicinal, and spiritual relationship with their rainforest environment. After returning to the lodge for lunch, we paddle by canoe to reach a group of small lakes and explore the ecosystem of the flooded forest (which is a popular fishing site with the locals). We are likely to spot birdlife including the Hoatzin, a prehistoric bird unique to this area, along the water banks. We may also spot Black Caiman crocodiles - which were once on the verge of extinction - lurking in the vegetation. We explore giant ant colonies to learn about their social structure, as well as the fascinating interaction between insects, animals, and plants in the jungle. We return to our lodge, where our Huaorani guide teaches us how to work with chambira, a palm tree fiber used locally for a variety of purposes. At the end of the day, we relax in our hammocks before dinner. (B, L, D)

DAY 5: RETURN TO COCA

We make an early start after breakfast to return to Coca by motorized canoe. On the way, we find time to stop to observe wildlife, especially monkeys like the red howler monkey, the spider monkey, and the woolly monkey. We may also stop if we pass by Huaorani families cooking or making handicrafts, who often invite us to eat fresh yucca with them. In the afternoon, will reach the bridge across the Shiripuno River where our vehicle is waiting to take us to back to the frontier town of Coca. We spend the night at a hotel in Coca and enjoy one last evening before our return to Quito. (B, L, D)

DAY 6: FLIGHT TO QUITO

After breakfast, we drive to the Coca airport to board our return flight to Quito. (B)

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.

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

IMPORTANT FACTS:

• TRAVEL TIME: 30-minute flight (Quito-Coca-Quito) and 2-hour drive to river put-in, each way
• SEASON: All year
• PROVINCE: Pastaza
• TERRITORY: Huaorani (678,220 hectares), about 55 miles (90 kilometers) south of Coca
• CLIMATE: Tropical humid forest
• ALTITUDE: 700 feet (220 meters)
• AVERAGE TEMPERATURE: DAY 59-93ºF / 15-34ºC, NIGHT 53-62ºF / 12-17ºC
• DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Moderate to Challenging. This specific program takes place mostly in a remote and undeveloped area. You must be aware of the possible dangers of this type of travel (e.g. limited medical facilities in the area, mountain and river travel, non-standard accommodations), and that these conditions can mean a greater risk of discomfort.
• SUGGESTED ITEMS TO PACK: waterproof binoculars, quick-dry clothing, hat, and mosquito repellent

Equipment

During the camping portions of the trip, we use the following equipment: a portable toilet, solar showers, biodegradable soap, Eureka & Northface tents, Prijon expedition kayaks, lifejackets, dry bags, a dugout canoe with and without outboard motor, and rubber (Wellington) boots.

Safety

Guides are WFR (Wilderness First Responder) certified. We use a complete first aid kid, including an anti-snakebite suction cup. We use GPS equipment for exact positioning, as well as a satellite phone for emergency communications. Our contingency plan includes a helicopter emergency evacuation service (cost is additional, but could be reimbursed by your travelers' or health insurance).

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.