The Huaorani's Expedition (LFSKH-08)

	Duration: 8 days Departing: Daily
	Itinerary Day 1 Transfer In Day 2 - 6 Amazon Rain Forest (Huaorani's territory) Day 7 Fly from Coca to Quito Day 8 Transfer out
	Package Descriptions

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Upon your arrival to the capital of Ecuador, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your charming hotel in Quito, where you will receive your full itinerary and information about Ecuador and your trip.

Day 2

We fly to Coca and transfer by vehicle for about three hours until we reach the banks of the Shiripuno River, where a canoe and our Huaorani guide will be waiting for us. We then enjoy a river canoe trip to our first campsite. If river conditions are right, we will continue by canoe all the way to the Huaorani village of Ñoneno where we’ll set up our camp. After a refreshing swim in the Shiripuno River in the afternoon, we will be introduced to the community before dinner. (L, D)

Day 3

Today we will begin kayaking in the river in search of the many of the species who inhabit the rainforest. Later on, we will have our first meeting with the community representatives. They will officially welcome us and talk about their rainforest world, history and social situation. They will be interested to know your personal reasons for visiting them. After lunch, we will hike into the hilly terra firma rainforest in the company of our bi-lingual naturalist guide and our local guide, who will introduce us to a wide range of medicinal plants. We arrive back at the campsite before sunset, ready for dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 4

We set off into the rainforest in search of local wildlife. While jaguars certainly roam the area, they are very elusive felines. If we are lucky, we may see their footprints along the trail. We will have the opportunity to learn more about the Huaorani's practical and spiritual relationship with their rainforest environment. In the afternoon, we visit community members in their homes to talk and learn about their traditional handicrafts. (B, L, D)

Day 5

After breakfast, we bid goodbye to the community and head downriver in our kayaks. We will make camp on a river beach and in the afternoon visit an ox-bow lake. There’s a good chance we will spot the unique hoatzin flapping in the riverbank’s bushes, or maybe a Cayman (small crocodile) lurking amid the vegetation. (B, L, D)

Day 6

We make an early start to enjoy the glorious sunrise while we continue to paddle down the Shiripuno. We take short wildlife hikes throughout the day to spot some of the common species of monkeys, including the Red Howler Monkey, the Spider Monkey and the Woolly Monkey. And, if we are lucky, we might see a giant river otter, one of the two species of otters, which live in the Shirupuno River. Continuing downstream, the river is eventually crossed by a road bridge. Here we disembark and head overland in vehicles to the frontier town of Coca where we will arrive at our hotel for a relaxing evening. (B, L, D)

Day 7

After breakfast we will transfer to the airport of Coca for our flight back to Quito. Accommodation (B)

Day 8

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home (B).

Important Facts

Province: Pastaza
Altitude: + - 220 m.
Life zone: Tropical Humid Forest
Territory: Huaorani (678.220 hectares)
Community: Ñoneno (about 50 individuals)
Distance: About 90 kms. south of Coca.
Accommodation: Camping
Average temperature: Day 15-34 °C / Night: 12-17 °C
Season: All year
Travel time: 30 minutes flights Quito-Coca. 3 hour drive to put in the river.
Degree of difficulty: Moderate to Challenging. This specific program runs 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 accommodation), and that conditions can mean a greater risk of discomfort, sickness, theft, natural disaster, etc.

Equipment

During the trip we use the following equipment: solar showers, a portable toilet, Eureka & Northface tents, Prijon expedition kayaks, a dugout canoe with outboard motor, life jackets, a complete first aid kid including an anti-snake bite electric pistol, and all camping and kitchen equipment.

About the food

We do not add to the pressure on the environment by consuming food that the Huaorani hunt and gather from the forest. The majority of the food for the tourist operation is brought from Quito, including drinking water.

During the trip we offer gourmet and local food cooked fresh by out staff. Normally breakfast will include: granola, fresh fruit, whole wheat bread, fresh coffee or tea, cereal, marmalade, pancakes or French toasts, yogurt and eggs at your choice.

For lunch or box lunch, we offer a different variety of sandwiches, fruits, cheese, raisins, peanuts, dried fruits, juices and fresh vegetables.

For dinner we prepare: delicious soups every day, with main gourmet courses like, spaghetti al pesto, fettuccini, risotto, and local dishes such us rice with beans, plantains, yucca, mixed with a variety of meats, or fresh local fish from the river, mash potatoes and fresh salads and vegetables, all complemented with red or white wine, water or juices.

About this Tour

Our program involves the exploration of both primary and secondary rainforest in the company of the Huaoranis and our own bilingual kayak expedition leaders.

Clients will have the possibility of observing Amazon wildlife during the hikes and while paddling the river, and will receive a conservationist interpretation of the ecology and actual situation of the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest.

Your visit will help encourage the Huaorani to support responsible ecotourism as a viable, sustainable alternative, as opposed to surrendering to the destructive appetites of the oil industry.

And most of all, your visit will provide an important income which will reinforce and promote the long-term conservation of their cultural identity and the nurturing of their environment.

In summary, this program is a very special experience, which will take you to one of the most ecologically important areas on the planet, accompanied and guided by a unique rainforest culture. Although we do not provide such city comforts as hot water and private showers, we do provide an intimate encounter with nature at its most exuberant, and the chance to witness life in the rainforest through the eyes of people who have lived there for millennia.

Note: While it is nice to have a schedule, you will find it more satisfying if we let the forest, the weather and our Huaorani guides lead the way… This itinerary should only serve as a guideline. Possible changes due to weather or river conditions may preclude us from reaching the community of Ñoneno. This itinerary is designed according to our experiences, but conditions can change without prior notice, and therefore guides are entitled to modify or change the itinerary for the best interest and safety of the group. Being flexible in the Amazon will allow you to get most from your experience.