Guests will be picked up from their hotel in Quito beginning at 6:00 am. Departing from Quito, guests will be driven along the new “Oriental” highway, passing through Tambillo, Latacunga, Ambato, Baños, before arriving in Shell.
Breakfast will be provided for every passenger. Short stops will be made during the trip for bathroom breaks and photo opportunities.
Once in Shell, guests will be welcomed by our Achuar representatives and will be assisted onto small planes.
The 50-minute flight from Shell will pass over unbroken pristine rainforest, arriving at the airstrip of the local Achuar community.
There you will be welcomed by Kapawi guides, who will escort you on the final leg of your journey, a beautiful 30-minute canoe ride into the majesty and tranquility of the rainforest.
Lunch at Kapawi Ecolodge & Reserve.
After lunch guests will have the opportunity to relax, unpack, and situate themselves with the surroundings.
In the afternoon, we will have a quiet activity where guests can walk along one of the Pastaza River beaches.
Here, our guides will give guests an introductory orientation session with information about the rainforest and the Achuar culture, while enjoying a beautiful sunset.
Dinner.
Day 2
Early in the morning, guests will have the opportunity to find and spot the great variety of birds that the southeast Rainforest of Ecuador offers like Hoatzin, Aninga, Speckled Chachalaca, White Eared Jacamar, Cocoi Heron, Neotropical Cormorant, and the Great Egret.
After breakfast guests can take a walk, approximately 2 hours with stops, where they will learn about medicinal plants of the area and tropical forest ecology.
Lunch at Kapawi Ecolodge & Reserve.
Time to rest.
In the afternoon, guests will be able to explore, via kayak, the Kapawari River and its connecting lagoons, while looking at the local wildlife such as the pink river dolphin.
As the river is quite calm, swimming is completely safe.
At night after dinner, we will explore the Kapawari River in search of nocturnal animals such as monkeys, alligators and birds. All this coupled with a fantastic starry sky Kapawi.
Day 3
Early in the morning, our guides will escort guests on a 30 minute motor boat ride to reach one of the best natural attractions, the Claylick, where guests will see different species of parrots, macaws, and parrots such as the Cobalt-Winged Parakeet, Chestnut- Fronted Macaw, and Yellow Crowned Amazon.
After breakfast, departure to Ishpingo trail beginning with a 30 minute canoe trip to the beginning of the trail.
Guests are kindly asked to be prepared for crossing some log bridges.
This trip is combined with a canoe or kayak trip up the Ishpingo River in order to observe the local wildlife along the river’s shoreline. Lunch will be provided during the trip.
Return to Kapawi for Dinner.
After dinner, guests can partake in a spectacular night walk, observing the many different kinds of insects and amphibians that are found around the hotel.
Day 4
In the morning you can choose from a bird watching activity or go to the Claylick.
After breakfast, guests will take a walk, approximately 2 hours with stops, where they will learn about the benefits and uses of the palms to the Achuar and the important ecological role played by insects and animals in the forest.
Lunch at the hotel.
After lunch, guests will visit one of the Achuar communities that is located close to the lodge.
This is one of our most popular activities offered in Kapawi, because of the significant cultural contribution to the Achuar people.
Guests will have a chance to see a community and its members and purchase some traditional handicrafts.
Dinner at the community provided by Kapawi.
Camping overnight in the community.
Day 5
Early in the morning, guests are offered the unique experience of participating in a traditional ceremony involving the drinking of a local Achuar tea called guayusa.
The ceremony will begin at approximately 4am, where guests will drink the purifying tea around a campfire, while an Achuar man will interpret the dreams of the participants.
Towards the end of the ceremony, everyone will be able to enjoy the sunrise.
Breakfast at Kapawi.
After breakfast, various activities will be offered, including fishing and handicraft making.
After lunch, guests can take kayak and hiking trips to explore the surrounding areas.
Day 6
After breakfast, departure to the Pastaza-Kusutkao Trail.
Guests will arrive at the trail after a one hour motor canoe ride up the Pastaza River.
Guests are kindly asked, once again, to be prepared for crossing log bridges, as the trail can become quite swampy.
At the end of the trail, guests will end at the Kusutkao River, where they will be met with lunch by the Kapawi staff.
After lunch, guests have the option of kayaking back down to Kapawi.
The trip is approximately three hours.
Dinner at Kapawi.
At night after dinner, the guest can choose from a night walk in a different trail or go to a canoe ride.
Day 7
After breakfast, departure to Wayusentsa community.
Guests will take a beautiful two hour in a canoe up the Kapawi River.
Our guides will then bring guests on a thirty minute hike to a beautiful waterfall where they will then be taught about the Achuar’s importance of the waterfall. Lunch at the community (bring from the hotel).
Visit to the Wayusenta Community: this will be an opportunity for guests to learn more about the Achuar way of life. Return to Kapawi for dinner.
Day 8
Early in the morning, our guides will bring guests to specific points near the hotel, in order to locate various species of birds.
Breakfast and preparation for departure.
In the last few hours before departure from the Achuar territory, guests can participate in a blowgun contest to demonstrate who is the best hunter among the guides and guests.
Guests will also be able to learn the art of Achuar face painting and how it relates to their different activities.
Fly to Shell.
Box lunches will be provided.
Return to Quito along the same route as the arrival.
The tour includes:
All meals
Accommodation
Purified water
All guide excursions: bird watching, night canoeing, night guide hikes, swimming & tubing, kayaking & canoeing, fishing, Achuar community visits.
