A Pachamama Journey offers a unique opportunity for profound immersion with Indigenous peoples of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
You’ll be welcomed into the lands of the Achuar people, where you’ll experience their rich cultural traditions and deep connection with the forest. Hosted at remote, indigenous-owned ecolodges and communities, this journey offers an authentic chance to disconnect from modern life, reconnect with nature, and engage in meaningful exchange with your indigenous hosts.
Activities include rainforest hikes, river excursions by canoe and kayak, and opportunities to encounter Amazonian wildlife. You’ll also participate in traditional practices such as wellness in nature, medicinal plant teachings, and healing ceremonies.
More than a travel experience, a Pachamama Journey is a transformative opportunity to discover the Amazon and its guardians—while learning about the vital work of Fundación Pachamama, the Pachamama Alliance, and their partners in supporting Indigenous rights and rainforest protection.
Each Journey is skillfully curated by trained leaders and expert guides on the ground.
All meals from breakfast on Day 2 to breakfast on Day 11
In-country transportation including charted buses and planes.
Mostly communal lodging while in the rainforest.
You will be provided a pair of rubber boots, bedding, mosquito netting and other equipment in the rainforest.
Experienced Ecuadorian & Indigenous Guides for translation.
International flights to and from Quito
Taxi ride to and from Quito airport
Early or Late arrival lodging
Gratuity for your local indigenous and Ecuadorian guides, bus driver, shamanic experiences, souvenirs and other personal purchases.
Additional arrangements required due to any emergency or other situation
Arrival in Quito
Accommodations at Haciena Sierra Alisos
After breakfast and an orientation meeting, head south on a beautiful drive descending the Andes through the Avenue of the Volcanoes stopping in the town of Salasaca for a traditional Andean meal with our indigenous hosts and a purification ritual with a Salasacan elder. Continue through the waterfall-laden Pastaza River canyon to the gateway to the Amazon rainforest.
Dinner and preparation for next day flight into the rainforest.
Accommodation Hotel El Jardin
Early breakfast at the hotel. Drive for 15 minutes to the local airport located in the town of Shell. Take the 1-hour flight deep into the Amazon Basin and the Achuar Territory. Arrival to the community of Sharamentsa in Achuar territory. Visit one of the chief houses for welcoming and talking. Sharamentsa is a very well-organized
community with an ecotourism project, solar electricity in each house and amazing hosts! Depending on the time of arrival to the community, we can have an extra activity in the afternoon such us exploring the Jaguar river bank and swimming in the Pastaza River.
Dinner and overnight.
Early morning (4h30 am), Wayusa Tea Ceremony. This is the moment of the day where families share their dreams, worries and plan about the future. Bath in the river with sunrise. Breakfast. Morning hike to the sacred Kapok tree. Afternoon visit to the Chacra (garden) and try all the amazing food they grow there.
After breakfast, farewells, then start the journey via canoe down the Pastaza River, up the Capahuari River to the Achuar-owned and operated Kapawi Ecolodge.
After settling into the Lodge, lunch and afternoon activities.
Dinner and accommodation in Kapawi
After breakfast, full day visit to Tsekuntsa.
Lunch in the village.
Return to Kapawi in the afternoon for dinner and overnight.
Early morning bird and wildlife watching before breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll take a 1-hour boat ride upstream the Capahuari River to the community of Wayusentsa. Upon arrival, we will hike in the forest with Taish, the local shaman, to learn more about medicinal plants and Achuar spirituality, including a solo meditation in the
forest. The shaman will take us to a sacred waterfall for a purification ceremony before inviting us to participate in an ancient traditional medicine ritual that evening in the community camp.
After enjoying a breakfast made with products from the village families, we will have a dream sharing session with the shaman before saying our farewells and heading back to the Kapawi Lodge for some quiet time to reflect and take in the forest. Lunch at Kapawi.
In the afternoon we’ll go out on the river to swim and float in kayaks or canoes - looking for the legendary pink river dolphin. Free time for journaling, swimming, exploring the area around Kapawi. After dinner, we’ll set out on a night boat ride to enjoy the starts, the sounds of the forest, and look for nocturnal wildlife.
After breakfast, we’ll leave Kapawi around 10 am to canoe up the Capahuari river to the Achuar community of Kusutkau, where we will take a 50-minute flight back to the town of Shell. We will have a quick lunch in Puyo before taking a 3-4 hour bus ride to the mountain thermal spring Spa, Termas de Papallacta,
https://www.termaspapallacta.com.
Free time to enjoy the thermal water pools, rest, reflect, or enjoy one of the Spa treatments available.
Later in the evening, we’ll take time to enjoy a group discussion that will deepen the context and meaning of our journey, having just been with the indigenous people who inspired the work of Fundacion Pachamama and the Pachamama Alliance.
Dinner and accommodation at Termas de Papallacta.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights back home.
