Discovery Initiatives feel privileged to be working on a joint programme alongside The Huaorani people to give you an extraordinary experience with them in their ancestral home on the Upper Shiripuno River. This is no ordinary ‘jungle lodge experience’ with ‘soft adventure activities’, but a gritty, authentic jungle and river journey well away from the usual trappings of everyday modern life. However, those willing to make this trip will be richly rewarded.

The Huaorani tribe have inhabited the headwaters of this part of the Amazon for millennia, living as nomadic hunter gatherers with no outside contact until the arrival of missionaries at the end of the 1950’s. Currently numbering approx. 3,000 people, they continue to maintain a largely traditional lifestyle and a fierce reputation as warriors in their 680,000 hectare territory, in spite of the pressures from the exploitations of the oil industry and the encroaching modern world.

The main aim of this unique trip is to allow those who prefer to take the path less travelled, to experience, and explore this pristine wilderness in the company of and through the eyes of your Huaorani guides. Through daily rainforest treks in the forest you will learn about its many wonders and from visiting the local Huaorani communities you will gain an introduction to their unique way of life and customs. Additional activities will range from cooling dips in the river and trying your skills with a traditional eight foot long blowgun to an evening’s stake out in a hide in the hope of seeing a tapir.

The first three nights in the jungle will be spent at the newly constructed lodge, deep in Huao Territory, built as a joint project with The Huaorani people, and the fourth night will be spent camping out on sleeping platforms further downriver.

From £1,960 per person sharing a tent/twin room including international flights to Quito.

Single supplements We do not charge single supplements as long as you are willing to share, even if we are unable to find you a suitable room mate.

Includes This includes international flights with Iberia Airlines, domestic flights, transfers, bilingual naturalist guide, accommodation on a full board basis, camping gear, entrance fee to the Huaorani community, and all activities as outlined.

Excludes Visas, vaccinations, travel insurance, alcoholic drinks, tips/gratuities and items of a personal nature.

Group size The departures are based on groups of minimum 4 people and maximum 10 people travelling together. Should the group size drop below that number, we will let you know well in advance, as there may be a supplement to pay.

Field Expertise

Eweme Yeti

Eweme (meaning ‘fish’ in the Huao Terero language) is one of the lodge’s key local guides. Originally from Enkeriro, he comes from a distinguished family lineage of warriors and came to the community of Quehueri’ono four years ago. With the inception of the eco lodge project, he quickly understood its significance in providing his people with a source of income while maintaining the integrity of The Huaorani culture and territory for future generations. His natural enthusiasm for his subject is contagious, and if not telling stories about his people, Eweme will be reproducing animal calls, pointing out medicinal plants or singing!

Eweme is one of a number of local Huaorani guides all from communities located along the Shiripuno River. Each volunteered to do this invaluable role and is both very knowledgeable as well as committed to helping to protect their people’s way of life through sustainable tourism.

As this is the first trip of its kind then we have no direct client feedback. However if you would like to speak to someone who has travelled to this region in Ecuador and the Amazon with us or indeed on any of our small escorted tours then please contact us for more information.