The Napo Runas Quichua - The Spirit of the Rainforest

"Huacamayos"

"Ecuador"

The Huacamayos mountains are almost unknown, even in Ecuador, but we uncovered a gem. Twelve Quichua communities joined forces to develop an ecotourism project that offers superb high rainforest, cloud-forest and culture. The Huacamayos forest is located in the eastern foothills of the Andes, between Archidona and Tena. This area embraces nearly 30.000 hectares and is one of the last remainders of transitional forest, including lowland tropical rainforest and cloudforest, making it one of the places with the greatest diversity on the planet (including 76 species of hummingbirds!). The programs that this community offers, are addressed to create in the visitor a conscience to protect the varied and unique species flora and fauna. All this, together with the spectacular beauty of the landscape, makes Huacamayos an attractive destination for scientists and ecotourists. Furthermore, the Huacamayos hosts archaeological remains, once used by the old Napo Runas for rituals, which nowadays are still performed by the shaman. There are 200 petroglyphs that keep in silence the knowledge and practices of the Huacamayos and provide testimony to the richness and power of their ancient culture. The people of the Huacamayos offer the visitor opportunities to discover the relation between the natural surroundings and spiritual life that this area’s habitants have maintained for centuries.

This programme appeals to the visitor with a desire to learn of the Napo Runas' rituals and the wonderful walks that lead you to discover the ancient designs engraved in stone that offer a gateway to how these people perceive the universe.

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1:
We pick you up at your hotel for the breathtaking drive over the Andes via Papallacta and Baeza to the small riverside community of Aacllac. En route we stop to visit the Jondachi Petroglyph. Around lunch, we arrive at the community and accommodate ourselves in the community guest cabins. After lunch, we are introduced to the Huacamayos forest, their traditions and history. We visit a working "chacra" (garden) where our native guide explains everything. Eventually, there is time to bathe in the river before dinner. To close the day, we are demonstrated the practical uses of termite nests and plant paraffin (copal) and have a chat with the shaman about the medicinal plants that are used in ceremonies and curations.

DAY 2:
After breakfast, we drive over the Andes to the community of the High Tena. Here we walk the trail of the Pashimbi river until we reach the waterfall. Our native guide explains about the flora and fauna while having a snack. We enjoy lunch in the community before returning to Aacllac for dinner. Tonight's talk is about the community’s myths and legends.

DAY 3:
After breakfast, we walk through the forest where take part in a cleansing ceremony. The native guide will explain how important this event is for the community. We continue walking through the Pasu Urcu forest, cross the Rio Tena in a canoe. Later the guide explains us the relationship between the communities’ customs and the flora and fauna. Before lunch, we visit Don Pedro Cedra's farm where we enjoy a snack. Our guide tells us about the corps plantations in the area After a box lunch in "La Piedra", we walk to the "Lamedero de las palomas". On this track, we enjoy the observation of birds and medicinal plants like the "cascarilla". We finally return to the community guest cabins with enough time to bathe in the river before dinner.

DAY 4:
After breakfast, the women of the community show us how they work the pottery. We travel down the Tena river by canoe. After lunch, we return to Quito.

General Information

What to do at Huacamayos (the activities for the program you choose depend on how many days you'll stay in the community, activities to be arranged when you’re at the cabañas): typical dances, music and story telling from Quichua people; learn about uses of medicinal plants, drink natural herbal teas picked from medicinal garden; participate on elaborating traditional ceramic and handcrafts; excursions to primary forest, visit mysterious caves, hiking, etc.

a) Petroglyphs and Urculalu
This programmes will appeal to the visitor with a desire to learn of the Napo Runas’ rituals and the wonderful walks that will lead you to discover the ancient designs engraved in stone that offer a gateway to how these people perceive the universe.

b) Pasu Urcu
Amongst other things, in this trip we will take a beautiful walk along the Monte Pasu Urcu trail and also discover the natural repellent that the Napo Runas use against mosquitoes through the practical uses of termite nests and plant paraffin (copal).

c) Discovering the pottery of Santa Rita
The pottery of Santa Rita is elaborated by the Huacamayos women through the same millenary techniques that their ancestors used based on the cooking of the pieces on fire. This programme shows us how the people of the Huacamayos have managed to live in harmony with past, present and future.

d) Hummingbirds and waterfalls of Alto Tena
Getting to the beautiful waterfall of the Pashimbi’s River, which falls 30 metres, means that we will walk through a path surrounded by wide vegetation and rocks. In this trip we will observe birds and also medicinal plants.

e) The mystery of the Petroglyphs
The designs that we will see in the Sardinas de Jondachi Petroglyph will captivate our imagination and will allow us to experience the people of the Huacamayos spirit life.

Rated: Easy to Moderate

3 days/2 nights
Per person	1	2	3-4	5-9
USD	$ 966	$ 582	$ 459	$ 373
EUR	€ 802	€ 483	€ 380	€ 309
GBP	£ 541	£ 326	£ 257	£ 209

(*) 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 .

4 days/3 nights
Per person	1	2	3-4	5-9
USD	$ 1111	$ 694	$ 560	$ 477
EUR	€ 922	€ 576	€ 465	€ 396
GBP	£ 622	£ 388	£ 313	£ 267

(*) 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 .

5 days/4 nights
Per person	1	2	3-4	5-9
USD	$ 1287	$ 826	$ 682	$ 581
EUR	€ 1068	€ 685	€ 566	€ 482
GBP	£ 721	£ 462	£ 382	£ 325

(*) 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 .

Price Includes:
Transportation Quito-community-Quito, accommodation and meals as specified, naturalist bilingual guide and local guide.

Price does not Include:
Tips, alcoholic beverages and extra personal expenses.

Ecuador Selections