After breakfast we will have our daily group briefing at Sierra Alisos, before heading south along 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 native plants. We will continue with a quick stop in the town of Baños, as we descend to the Amazon basin driving through the waterfall-laden Pastaza River canyon to the gateway to the Amazon rainforest. Dinner and evening conversation about the visit to the Sapara and Achuar. 

Dinner and overnight at El Jardin Hotel, a cozy boutique hotel at the edge of rainforest, https://www.eljardinpuyo.com.

Following breakfast, we will head to the nearby town of Shell where we will take a flight to the Sápara village of Llanchamacocha. Receive a warm welcome with smiles, embraces, followed by an individualized purification ritual. We’ll get settled into our village encampment which we’ll stay at for the next two nights on the banks of the Conambo river. 

We’ll spend time with the leaders and elder grandmother discussing their history, customs, and vision for defending their forest for future generations of all life.  After an introduction and orientation to the Naku project and the inspiring vision the Sápara have for the future, we’ll take a refreshing swim in the Conambo river and settle into their community lodge. 

https://www.naku.com.ec

Early morning dream-sharing, and purification ceremony using time-tested ancient techniques. After breakfast, we’ll hike through the primary forest to learn about the Sápara’s unique physical and spiritual connection to the rainforest, visiting a medicinal plant garden in the primary forest followed by a sacred tobacco ritual and solo meditation. Afternoon river swim before sharing intimate conversation with our Sapara friends, partaking in traditional foods, music, and experiencing Sumak Kawsay (Good Living) together.

After breakfast, we’ll prepare our belongings and return to the community of Llanchamacocha to say our farewells. From here, we will take a 25-minute flight deeper into the Amazon rainforest to the Achuar village of Kusutkau. From here we will a motorized boat down the Capahuari river for about 20 minutes before arriving to the Achuar-owned and operated, Kapawi Ecolodge, https://www.kapawi.com.

Upon arrival, the resident manager will give a welcome briefing before lunch.

In the afternoon, we will hike in the forest, visiting an ancient kapok tree.

Dinner and accommodation.

Early morning Guayusa dream-sharing ritual with the Achuar hosts followed by a boat ride along the Capahuari River before breakfast. After breakfast, we will visit a local family and village for a cultural exchange. We will enjoy a traditional Achuar meal before returning to the lodge in the afternoon. After a restful siesta and some free time, we'll meet to prepare for the next day's ceremony. After dinner, we will have the option to do a night hike in one of the trails around the ecolodge.   

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.