The Waorani Community

This day you will have to be at the national airport in order to catch your Coca’s flight, you will fly for 35 minutes approximately, over the Eastern Andes Mountain Range, crossing the equator and looking into snow capped volcanoes over 5,790 meters above sea level (18,991 feet) to reach the headwaters of the Amazon Basin near the Napo River at only 250 m.a.s.l (820 feet).

When you arrive to Coca, one of the most prosperous towns in the Ecuadorian Amazon region, our Waorani guide will be waiting for you to travel along the Auca road, learning about the contrast between the oil companies and the pristine way of life of the Waoranis. After two hours drive you will reach the Shiripuno River, where your adventure begins. Here you will board a motorized dugout canoe and travel along the magic jungle, in the afternoon you will arrive to Penty’s property, close to Neoneno, where you will prepare your campsite and then you will have time to enjoy the river, swimming, you can hike around the campsite or you can rest.  Return to the campsite where you will dinner and overnight.

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After breakfast continue with your trip to Caruheno located 5 or 6 hours approximately away from here, in this place the Shiripuno river joins to the Cononaco chico river where it is possible to see the amazing Amazon pink dolphins. On route you can admire the exuberant and amazing rainforest wildlife. Box lunch on route, along the way you will have chance to spot wild life like macaws, parrots, monkeys and if you are lucky tapir, capybaras and giant otters.

In the afternoon you will arrive to Caruheno where you will prepare your campsite. Dinner and overnight.

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Those days you will have full time to enjoy of the jungle in Caruheno.  You can hike through the magic primary forest accompanied by Caruhe, where you will enjoy a scenic view of the Amazon Basin at 310 meters above sea level, the Waorani and naturalist guide will tell you about the wide diversity of wildlife in the rainforest, along this hike you will have the opportunity to see macaws, toucans, monkeys, caimans and others, also you can know about the medicinal plants that local people use in their daily life. Return to the campsite to enjoy of a delicious lunch and in the afternoon you can learn about how to fish for piranha, cat fish and many other species, also you can enjoy of a refreshing bath in the river. Return to the campsite for dinner and overnight.

In Caruheno you will find only one native house built in a Waorani traditional style where Caruhe lives with his wife, there you will have a direct contact with the costumes of this native community and you will learn how the people of this tribe used to live hunting, and using the plants and products that the forest provides them to live, here you will know how they used to get fire, and learn about the ceramic that they made to cook their food, this is one of the most fantastic experiences that you will live sharing with the Waorani.

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After an early breakfast you will return to the area of Penty’s house where you will prepare the campsite.  Here you will visit the community of Cononaco Chico, where you will spend some time experiencing their daily activities with each family learning how to plant, harvest, make handicrafts, prepare the meals and the secrets of their medicinal plants.

Also you will have a fun time with the Waorani women where you will know about their activities, survival in the Amazon jungle, traditions, costumes, etc.

Dinner and overnight in our campsite.

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After breakfast you will continue with your journey back to Coca city, on route you can continue enjoying of the incredible wildlife.  Box lunch on route and in the afternoon, you will arrive to Coca’s city where you can rest and overnight.

Hotel El Auca.  It is a modern and clean hotel located in the Coca’s heart. The hotel is well presented and has a rustic charm. It features a garden courtyard surrounded with diverse plant life. All rooms are clean and simple. Each room has a private bath with hot water, the floor, walls and ceiling are made of wood panels and a fan mounted on the ceiling. The hotel offers a restaurant, serving regional cuisine.

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After breakfast you will have time to rest and enjoy of the hotel facilities. Then you will be transferred to the airport in order to catch your flight back to Quito.

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