Ecuador Holidays - Kapawi Ecolodge and Reserve, home of the Achuar deep in the rainforest of Ecuador

Nelson - Achuar guide - Kapawi - - Ecuador

Imagine yourself above the Andes on a private aircraft, gliding through the Avenue of Volcanoes and enjoying the scenery as it transforms from snow capped mountains to a deep green sea that embraces the horizon. It may seem unreal... be unexpected, but it is however true. The setting where this journey takes you is the Amazonian Rainforest, a living emerald that adorns our world with rare beauty and natural wonders, but that is much more than meets the eye. It presents you with the largest biodiversity in the world. Kapawi will welcome you, teach you and enamour you with its realities and with its mysteries.
Kapawi is located in the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin, 100 miles east of the Andes and is part of the Napo Pleistocene Refuge, a center of high endemism with an amazing diversity of animals, plants and ecosystems: dry and flooded forest, lakes, swamps, an extraordinary system of rivers and the home of the Achuar. The Achuar were born in the forest. They were the last indigenous group in the Ecuadorian rain forest to remain isolated for centuries until the early 1970's. Their traditions are still intact, their land untouched by logging or oil companies, their skies covered by flocks of coloured macaws and they have fought for this conversation. Now they started this project that will lead towards a sustainable development for them, for their future. They want you to be part of it!
It is said that an Achuar is a living encyclopaedia. An Achuar can recognize every of the 500 species of birds found in Kapawi. The same person can distinguish every tree and explain their medical or practical uses. That is why in Kapawi you will be lead by an Achuar guide and a Naturalist guide as well. Both of them will make your experience unforgettable.

Isolation from the rest of the world doesn't mean a lack of comfort, at least not in Kapawi, we offer 20 double rooms, each with its private bathroom, sun-heated showers, and electricity provided by photovoltaic system.

Located on the shore of the Kapawi lake, every room has a wide terrace, where you can observe the daily visitors: ducks, hummingbirds, egrets, parrots, or you can listen to the music of the myriad of frogs singing at night.

We serve a tasty combination of international-Ecuadorian food with emphasis on local products. A wide variety of exotic fruits will be offered. Soft drinks, snacks and hot water for coffee and tea are available all day. A well endowed library is open all day long. Paperbacks, magazines and books are available. A small boutique stocks essential items, as well as handicraft and souvenirs.

Kapawi is a place of multiple choices and is characterized by its flexibility we do not offer fixed programs, but you, with your guide and your group can design the most suitable one to meet your interests and physical condition.

Easy: Programs that include short hikes in the rain forest (up to 3 hours) on well defined trails, visits to the Achuar communities as well as trips in canoes. Overnight stays in the lodge or in tents.
Moderate: Programs that include medium-distance hikes (up 5 hours) sometimes crossing flooded areas. Overnight stays in the lodge, the Achuar communities, and tents.
Difficult: Demanding hikes of many hours or days in poorly defined often flooded trails. Porters will carry food and supplies. Explorations journeys to virgin areas are occasionally offered. Trips dawn inaccessible rivers are done in inflatable rafts. Excellent physical conditional is required!
Most of the itineraries will include visits to the Achuar communities, hikes in the rain forest, canoeing in rivers and lakes as well as bird watching. Also the visit to an Achuar shaman can be arranged. Face painting by Umberto on tourist - Kapawi - Ecuador

Face painting by Umberto on tourist - Kapawi - Ecuador

The Achuar live in perfect harmony with their environment, where all animals and plants have human-like attributes with a soul and an independent life. According to the Achuar every plant or animal has its own language and some elements of this language can be understood by the Achuar.
The rain forest doesn't posses any secrets for these people. They know every type of tree and every species of animals. They know where to fish, how to hunt and when to sow their crops. The forest is their nourishing mother.
The Achuar also believe that when somebody dies, some parts of the body become autonomous and will reincarnate in species animals. Thus, the lungs and the butterflies, the shadow becomes a deer, the heart lives in a bird and the liver is an owl. Therefore, the iwianch are materialized forms of a person's soul. The iwianch animals are never hunted or eaten by the Achuar, since in doing so they would be committing cannibalism.

Any of the Kapawi programs can be combined with a cruise on the Galapagos Explorer II at a special price. Please do not hesitate to contact us for details and prices.


	4d/3n - Friday to Monday		5d/4n - Monday to Friday		8d/7n - Monday to Monday
Duration	SGL (Exclusive)	DBL	SGL (Exclusive)	DBL	SGL (Exclusive)	DBL
USD	$ 961	$ 606	$ 1203	$ 728	$ 1779	$ 1114
EUR	€ 797	€ 502	€ 998	€ 604	€ 1476	€ 924
GBP	£ 538	£ 339	£ 673	£ 407	£ 996	£ 623
Domestic Flights: USD 200 / GBP 112 / EUR 165

(*) Price last updated on 23 February 2004. Current price may vary due to elements out of our control, so please always check by sending us a quotation request .
(**) Flight prices are susceptible to change at any time without prior notice
(***) Single sharing: same rate as double
(****) Half price for children under 15 when accompanied by an adult in the same cabin. Discount applied on double occupancy rate only. Children under 3 years of age pay half price for the transportation rate Quito-Kapawo-Quito
(*****) Special fares for groups sharing a triple bungalow

Price Includes:
All accommodation and meals. All excursions and activities throughout the program by motorised canoes, kayaks, trials and Achuar community visits. Program lectures by noted naturalists and leadership provided by experienced expedition staff. All meals during the excursions, pre-departure informative material and Tropical Forest Handbook. Transportation in the lodge and baggage handling between the airport and the lodge.

Price does not Include:
Charter flight to Kapawi, government departure tax, excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for the staff who served you during the program (guidelines will be provided). Achuar community fee of USD 10 per passenger, soft beverages, alcoholic drinks or souvenirs.

Kapawi Ecolodge and Reserve

"Kapawi"

"Ecuador"