Upon arrival to Shell at 9 am, our flight coordinator will welcome you and assist you as we get ready for the 50-minute flight to the Achuar community of Kusutkau. You will be handed your rubber boots which are needed for hiking at Kapawi.
Upon landing in the community of Kusutkau, you will be greeted by your guide, and from Kusutkau you will take a 20-30 minute boat ride down the Capahuari River to the ecolodge. You will arrive at Kapawi's main dock, and our resident Manager will take you to the main social and dining area, where he will give an introductory talk about the ecolodge, provide some recommendations, and take you to your bungalow. Lunch will be served in our dining area at 1 pm.
The activity at Kapawi for the afternoon will include a short introductory hike in the forest. This hike is roughly 2-kilometers long, and it includes several stops, where the naturalist and local guides explain the ecology of the Amazon Tropical Rainforest. It is an easy hike that can take up to 2 hours.
After the introductory hike and before dinner, you will have several options to choose from. Swimming or paddling in the river right from our dock is always available, as well as relaxing in our social areas by the river or in the main area where our dining area and bar are located.
Dinner at the lodge is served at 7.15 pm, and after dinner you will go over the next day's plan and activities together with our guide.
Weather is a factor when flying in the Amazon Rainforest. On very few occasions, weather can cause flight delays when traveling to Kapawi from Shell, or from Kapawi to Shell. We permanently monitor several weather forecast platforms and tracking systems.
Due to the nature of our flights to and from Kapawi, we recommend avoiding any immediate travel plans the day after the Kapawi experience. We suggest leaving a free day after Kapawi, especially if you have international flights or a flight to the Galapagos Islands planned after visiting us.
Lunch
Dinner
Local bilingual guide
Use of rubber boots & rain poncho
Contribution to the Achuar community fund
Transfer to Shell
Flight: Shell-Kusutkau
Alcoholic beverages, sparkling beverages (sodas, sparkling water).
Below is a description of all the different experiences you can have while at Kapawi.
Every day, you will have an optional early activity, which usually involves time in the river (birdwatching and looking for wildlife). The early activity is usually between 6-8 am, followed by breakfast at the lodge.
After breakfast we can include a full-day or a half-day activity. The activities vary every day between time in the forest, kayaking and paddling in a river, or visiting a community. You plan these activities the night before together with your guides. For example, you can choose from several 1-6 hour hikes, or full day visit to a local community up to 1.5 hours by boat from the lodge.
- Kayaking the smaller Kusutkau river requires paddling upstream a flowing river, and is usually an activity that requires medium kayaking experience.
- Kayaking the wider and bigger Capahuari river is an easy activity that can range from 1 hour to 3-4 hours in the river enjoying the scenery and looking for wildlife (birds, primates, and pink river dolphins, among other possibilities.
- The Capahuari and Pastaza rivers can be explored with our motorized boats.
- Our self guided trail has been designed to allow easy hiking right from the lodge inside primary Amazon Rainforest.
- A visit to a local community allows a close interaction with an Achuar family to learn and experience the Achuar way of life.
- Local food tasting is another great experience of the Achuar culture. "Maitos" wrapped with native leaves and used for cooking fish, heart of palm, native cocoa beans, chicken, and even grubs collected in the forest, and served with manioc, plantain, squash, and other products from the local gardens. The experience includes visiting a local garden and helping in the harvest of local products.
Other optional daily activities
Night hikes and boat rides
Night activities offer a very different experience of the rainforest. Some species of amphibians, reptiles, insects, and mammals are active at night. We offer boat rides, hikes, and sometimes more adventurous experiences (night kayaking) for our clients.
Wayusa tea ceremonies
Our Achuar Wayus House by the river allows for different activities during the day and night. It is a great place to relax, observe wildlife, listen to the sounds of the forest, meditate, or even practice yoga, overlooking the Capahuari river. Every afternoon we light a fire and the house is always open. The Achuar culture involves a daily routine of drinking wayusa tea every morning before dawn and before starting the day's activities. We offer this optional activity every day, together with the local staff.
Achuar myths and traditions
Also offered at the Achuar Wayus House, after dinner your Achuar guide will offer a conversation about the Achuar culture, always including telling an Achuar story, myth, tradition, or just sharing about the Achuar way of life.
Or just hanging out​
You don't have to leave the lodge to enjoy the Amazon Rainforest and the Achuar culture.
One of the unique highlights of traveling 7 nights to Kapawi Ecolodge is the opportunity to experience the Achuar culture by visiting our neighboring communities and their families. Our community immersions can full-day experiences, and can include community overnight stays. A community immersion offers the visitor the opportunity to visit an Achuar family in their home, and carrying out a cultural activity with them. These activities can include: learning about the Achuar way of life, visit their farming gardens (called chacras) to learn about local agriculture and medicinal plants, learning about weavings and pottery, practicing with a blow gun (used for hunting), and even hikes in the forest lead by the Achuar host, and fishing.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Local bilingual guide
Use of rubber boots & rain poncho
Use of kayaks
Alcoholic beverages, sparkling beverages (sodas, sparkling water).
We will offer the usual early activity options at Kapawi, followed by breakfast at the lodge. We will get ready and will leave the lodge after breakfast and around 10 am, taking a boat ride upstream to the community of Kusutkau. We will take the flight to Shell around 10.30 am, landing in Shell around 11.30 am.
