Itinerary

DAY 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE AMAZON AND THE HUAORANI
This morning, we take a short and scenic flight from Quito to Coca, an Amazon frontier town. We then drive for 2 hours through magnificent jungle scenery until we reach the Shiripuno River. After a safety briefing and lunch, we begin our journey paddling down the river. Our naturalist guide will introduce us to the incredible bird, plant, and wildlife that surround us. When we arrive to our campsite in the late afternoon, we receive a visit from a Huaorani family of the nearby Noneno Community. The family tells us Huaorani stories about creation and describe how the Huaorani people view themselves. We then rehearse traditional Huaorani chants together detailing the creation of the mountains and the jungle. In the evening, our guides prepare a fresh gourmet dinner for us. (L, D)

DAY 2: HUAORANI COMMUNITY VISIT AND SHIRIPUNO RIVER KAYAKING
This morning, we visit a Huaorani settlement (Noneno community) after breakfast. This settlement is comprised of both wooden houses and traditional thatch huts. Here, we learn more about Huaorani customs and ways of life. After exchanging gifts, the Huaoroni teach us to shoot blow guns and throws spears – hunting is the traditional way of life for the Huaorani. We also practice weaving with a palm tree fiber called chambira. We then continue down the Shiripuno by kayaks. As we move downstream, the Shiripuno widens as we are enchanted by the sights and sounds of the forest. Exotic trees and flowers provide ample cover for monkeys, birds, and other wildlife, but our guides are so skilled that we will have no problem spotting a wide variety of species. Our guides will also show us how to use medicinal plants we come across. After a long day, we arrive at our fully-equipped campsite and share the day’s stories over a delicious dinner. (B, L, D)

DAY 3:  KAYAK TO THE SHIRIPUNO LODGE AND NIGHT HIKE
Today, we continue kayaking further down the Shiripuno, delving even deeper into the heart of the rainforest. Our skilled naturalist guide will certainly help us to spot more wildlife in this highly biodiverse section of the Amazon. We also take time to explore giant 500 year old Ceiba trees and their micro-ecosystems. Eventually, we arrive at the Shiripuno Lodge, which provides comfortable accommodations, a hammock-filled social area, and a wooden observation deck. This evening, we embark on a short night hike in search of owls, snakes, rodents, spiders, bats, and frogs. (B, L, D)

DAY 4:  RAINFOREST HIKE AND CANOE THROUGH THE FLOODED FOREST
This morning, we take canoes to a nearby trailhead and embark on a 4 hour rainforest hike. Here, we explore old growth forest, including flooded (varzea) forest and terra firme forest. We will observe a wide vaiety of interesting plant life common to this area such as Ficus, Ceiba, and Parkia trees. Among the mammals we will likely spot are white-lipped peccaries and the woolly monkeys. We also often commonly find jaguar tracks in the earth beneath our boots. However, you will likely be most impressed by the multitude of exotic bird species we encounter. Our hike leads to a hill overlooking the rainforest allowing us to admire the endless green canopy below. Our guides also show us numerous medicinal plants, helping us to understand the Huaorani's practical, medicinal, and spiritual bond with the forest.

In the afternoon after lunch at the lodge, we hike to a cluster of small lakes to explore the flooded forest ecosystem (also a popular fishing site among the Huaorani). Here, we have a good chance to see Black Caimans (a once endangered crocodilian species) and many birds including the Hoatzin - a prehistoric bird unique to this area. With a little luck, it is also possible to spot tapirs – the largest land mammal in South America. Our guides also explain to us the fascinating social structure of leaf-cutter ants as we view a giant colony. In the evening, relax and enjoy your final sunset in the rainforest. (B, L, D)
 
DAY 5: MOTORIZED CANOE AND TRUCK TO COCA
This morning, we take motorized canoes back towards Coca. We will take ample time to stop and observe wildlife along the way - especially monkeys such as spider monkeys, woolly monkeys, and red howler monkeys. We often pass by Huaorani families cooking, and sometimes they invite us to eat yucca with them. We eventually make our way back to the Shiripuno River Bridge, where our truck is waiting to drive us back to the Coca. We stay the night in a hotel and enjoy one last evening in this frontier town before returning to Quito tomorrow. (B, L, D)

DAY 6: FLIGHT TO QUITO
We head to the Coca airport after breakfast to catch our flight back to Quito. (B)

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