Wuaorani Kayak Adventure

Day 1: Entrance into Yasuni and Paddling the Shiripuno River 

Our expedition begins in the city at the heart of the Amazon: Coca. After meeting up with the group we will travel by car for two hours to the Shiripuno River. Then we will kayak for about five hours down the river, looking out for wildlife that dot the riverside and water below us. With some luck we might see troops of squirrel monkeys as well as colorful birds such as toucans, macaws, flycatchers, and others. Our guides will teach us about the different species of plants that grow on the side of the river and their meaning to the local people. In the late afternoon we will arrive at the campsite and have a delicious dinner.

Day 2: Anaconda Lagoon

Today we take a short hike into a pristine forest where we will explore black water lagoon by kayak. Being their natural habitat, on sunny days anacondas can be found resting upon the shore. The anaconda “Ove in Wuao Language” holds special importance to the local Wuaorani people who believe it be a very powerful animal embodying the spirit of a god. Here we will also have the chance to go fishing for piranha, which are an important staple in the local diet. If you are very lucky you may even be able to catch a catfish!

Later we go back to the campsite for lunch and some rest, and in the late afternoon, we will go for a walk and search for insects and amphibians.

Day 3: Early paddling exploration to view wildlife

Rising to the mist that gently grazes the rivers surface, we start our day with a delicious and nutritious breakfast before paddling along the river. Keep an eye out for more wildlife species that tend to make their way out at this time of day. If we are lucky, we will be able to spot a variety of birds such us trogons, quetzals, eagles, hawks, tanagers, macaws, parrots, kingfishers, and others.  We may also have the pleasure of happening upon tapir as this nocturnal animal likes to take a bath in the river every morning before going to sleep. 

We will go back to the Campsite by canoe and have lunch, this afternoon we will join the Wuaorani women and take a short walk to their yucca crops. There we will help them harvest important products to make a traditional drink called Kene in Wuaorani. If it is the right season, we will also pick some fruits such us, lemons, naranjilla, pineapple, plantains and banana. This night we will go on search for caimans, as it is easier to spot them for the reflection of the flashlight on their eyes.

Day 4: Hike To The Animal's Clay Lick And Lesson On Hunting Practices

Today we hike to the Clay Lick, a mineral rich mud pit. Many animals that live in the region sustain themselves through a diet of seeds and other small plants but supplement their diets with minerals by the clay. Due to it being such a popular spot for animals this is a prime area for hunters to catch their prized meal- the peccary, which according to locals is a delicacy. We will spend some time here in hopes of spotting one of the many animals that frequent the zone before returning to the campsite. Spend the afternoon with the family as we learn about blowguns, darts, and curare, a natural sedative, which are used in the hunting of monkeys before winding down for the evening.

Day 5: Departure

Today after an early breakfast, we will take a canoe for 3 hours to reach back to the Shiripuno bridge, where we will take a car ride to go back to Coca, end of services.