JUNGLE TOUR DETAILS



Since this is such a unique experience, please contact us for any specific questions or requests. Generally tours run from Wednesday to Wednesday. Due to the small group sizes we are extremely flexible on what you can do… but here is a sample itinerary to give you an idea…

Flights leave from the Shell/Puyo area. We suggest that you travel from Quito to Banos, (about a 3 hour drive) to spend the night or a couple of days. From Banos to Shell/Puyo is about a 2 hour drive. Since it is a charter we can arrange any time we’d like… but a 9AM leaving time works fine.

1st Day

9AM flight from Shell/Puyo to Bameno. We will travel by small plane for about one hour ten minutes to arrive to the small village of Bameno. We will be greeted by the Huaorani residents at the airstrip. From the airstrip we will board a motorized canoe and head upstream on the Rio Cononaco for about 1 hour. We’ll make camp on a beach on the side of the river. Lunch will be served here at about 1:00PM. After lunch a short walk to the lagoon will be lead by the Huaorani guide and naturalist guide. Dinner will be at 6:30PM.

2nd Day

6:30AM Breakfast. Followed by a nature walk into the forest. Return at midday affording time for a dip in the Rio Cononaco. Lunch is at 1PM. After lunch we will pack up and start heading upstream slowly… enjoying the beautiful scenery and looking for wildlife. After about 1 hour we will reach the main campsite. A short nature walk will be taken and dinner will be served at 6:30PM.

3rd Day

6:30 Breakfast. Followed by a canoe ride and walk to a Salt Lick. We’ll wait silently to see what comes in… with a chance to see macaws, parrots, peccaries. A pack lunch will be served at the lick followed by a 4 hour walk back to camp. Dinner is at 6:30PM. A night excursion by canoe will be arranged with a possibility to see caimans (alligator relatives).

4th Day

6:30 Breakfast. Similar schedule as day 3 only with visit to a completely different salt lick. Dinner at 6:30PM followed by a night walk.

5th Day

6:30 Breakfast. Nature walk for 3 to 5 hours. Return to camp for lunch. Short walk in the afternoon. Dinner at 6:30PM.

6th Day

6:30 Breakfast. Canoe ride and visit to a lagoon. Will be served pack lunch in the forest. Dinner at 6:30PM at the camp.

7th Day

6:30 Breakfast. Pack and load canoe and float down to the 1st campsite. Relax, hike or swim.

8th Day

6:30 Breakfast. Pack and load canoe. Arrive to Bameno. Residents of Bameno will have hammocks, blowguns and other handicrafts for sell. Flight back to Shell/Puyo at 10:00AM.

Costs

7 night/8 day tour = $1,540 per person

Includes

1. Flight from Shell/Puyo-Bameno-Shell/Puyo
2. All meals, starting with lunch on the 1st day and breakfast on the 8th day
3. Bilingual naturalist guide
4. Huaorani guide
5. Local canoe transportation on the Rio Cononaco
6. Entrance fee to the Huaorani Community Bameno

Not included

Transportation from Quito to Shell/Puyo (5 hour drive from Quito)

ENTRANCE BY MOTORIZED CANOE

ITINERARY

First you arrive to Coca by flight ($120 round trip) or bus ($10 one way and 9 hours).  From there you will travel about 2 hours on the Via Auca, a road that brings you to the upper waters of the Rio Shiripuno.  We will travel down the Rio Shiripuno for about 11 hours, which will be divided up into 2 days, camping one night on the side of the river and arriving mid-day on the second day to Otobo’s main campsite.  The Rio Shiripuno and later the Rio Cononaco are small rivers and the chance for seeing wildlife on the way down is excellent.

This tour lasts 7 nights/8 days with most of this time at Otobo’s main campsite.  The canoe ride out is about 15 hours and will also be divided up into 2 days.  There is also the option to canoe in and fly out.  Just let us know and we can tailor-make your adventure!

Prices for Motorized Canoe/Camping Tour (7nights/8 days)

2 to 3 guests - $560 per guest
4 or more guests - $420 per guest

Price includes

All meals, transport Coca-Rio Shiripuno-Coca (car transport), Rio Shiripuno Bridge-Otobo’s campsite-Rio Shiripuno Bridge (motorized canoe transport), bilingual naturalist guide, native Huaorani guide.  All tents, blankets, towels, etc are provided.

Price does not include

Flight or bus fare, Quito-Coca-Quito. Any alcoholic beverages.  $25 Huaorani Entrance fee.