Kapawi Cultural Program

"Kapawi"

"Ecuador"

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.
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.

The Cultural Program (this is only a sample itinerary - the itinerary can be adapted to suit your preferences)

Monday: Flight from Quito to Kapawi, arrival to the Kapawi Community where a guide will explain you about Cultura diversity of this place, here you will meet Quichuas people and Achuar people. After that riding in a canoe to arrive to the Lodge, while the trip you will receive a brief explanation about services and installations of the lodge. Lunch in the Lodge. In the afternoon birdwatchin in Pastaza river. Dinner and optional nocturnal walk to see frogs, insects and nocturnal animals.

Tuesday: At 6h30, optional birdwatching to see parrots and guacamayos in a special place called Saladero. Breakfast, at 9h30 a walk where you will learn about Achuar palm uses. Box lunch in the forest, then you will have a conversation about the rules that you have to follow in Achuar Community and how to prepare the chicha, a typical beverage. At afternoon visit Wachirpas Community to share with an Achuar family to visit the chacra (place where they live and cultivate their products) Return to the hotel. After dinner chat about Achuar Cosmovision, overnight.

Wednesday: At 5h00 Wayusa ceremony, another typical beverage used to interpret dreams. Breakfast, a walking with the practice of hunting traditions. Lunch. In the afternoon visit Kusutkau, where you will have a talk with an Achuar family, here women will go to the chacra and men will do the moment activities. At 17h00 you will install the camp or if you prefer you can spend the night in an Achuar house. At 17h30 enjoy with a shower in the river. Dinner in the community, this meal will be prepared by the natives with typical ingredients (if you don`t want to eat this, you will receive a dinner prepared in the hotel)

Thursday: Return to the hotel, breakfast, walk to a lagoon where you will learn about medicinal and eatable plants. Box lunch and return to the hotel paddling in quillas or canoes during the trip you can stop to fish. Free afternoon to walk around the trail (optional). Typical Achuar dinner. At night a bonfire to exchange Achuar Mythology and histories.

Friday: At 6h30 trip to Capahuari river for birdwatching. At 8h00 breakfast and a practice of Cultural activity using blowgun, learning about make baskets and make up the face with achiote. Departure by canoe until Wayusentsa where you will take a small aircraft to return to Quito.

General Information

Read our customers' feedback about this journey.

Check the Skål International Ecotourism Awards and the Ministry of Tourism Award Kapawi won in 2002 and 2003.

	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
For the cultural program there is an extra fee per day of USD 60 per group for the special cultural guide. If the group is larger than 4, then this fee is not applicable.

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.

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