Kapawi 4-day Program, Feb 14-17, 2020

Kapawi, Pastaza, Ecuador

KE
Kapawi Ecolodge
  • Email address verified
40 reviews
Dec 2 - 6, 2024
Group size: 2 - 2
Kapawi 4-day Program, Feb 14-17, 2020
Kapawi, Pastaza, Ecuador

Kapawi Ecolodge
  • Email address verified
40 reviews

Dec 2 - 6, 2024
Group size: 2 - 2

About this trip

Immerse yourself in the Amazon Rainforest with Kapawi Eco-lodge's 4-day trip itinerary. Kapawi is located deep in the Achuar indigenous territory, only accessible by air. The highlight of our travel experience is not only the remoteness of our nature sanctuary in the Amazon Rainforest, but the unique Achuar cultural immersion you will experience as our guest. Guests can customize their experience, with activities ranging from wildlife, birdwatching, relaxed or hard-core adventures, hiking and paddling, fishing, and cultural immersion. Guests can also, on special occasions, decide to spend the night in one of the neighboring Achuar communities.

Suggested packing list

Clothing 

  • 3 to 4 pairs of lightweight long pants; quick drying material preferred. Avoid jeans, as weather is hot, humid and wet. 
  • 4 long-sleeved shirts; quick-drying material preferred. 
  • 3 or 4 short sleeved t-shirts. 
  • 1 pair of hiking socks for each day in the rainforest. 
  • 1 light windbreaker, sweater or fleece jacket. 
  • 1-2 brimmed hats (suitable for both sun and rain). 
  • Bathing suits. 
  • 1 rain poncho.

Footwear  

  • 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes. 
  • 1 pair of sandals.

Equipment  

  • Sun block lotion. SPF 45 or higher is recommended.
  • Insect repellent (plenty of, as also useful to spray directly onto clothing). 
  • After bite/itch relief  
  • Anti-malaria pills (please check with physician before).
  • Small flashlight. Headlamp models recommended. 
  • Refillable Water bottle.  
  • Binoculars (optional) 
  • Diarrhea medication, rehydration sachets, probiotics and electrolytes. 
  • 1 quick drying towel 
  • Wet tissues or supplies of small tissue packs 
  • Light snacks/energy bars (just in case) 
  • Black bin liners/or zip lock bags to keep belongings dry 
  • Journal/camera/sunglasses etc 
  • Personal toiletries  

* Please bring US dollars in small bills for purchases made in the communities (handicrafts, others).

What’s included

  • Transportation
    Chartered two-way flight Shell-Kapawi-Shell. Includes a 50-minute flight each way in a small 3-, 5-, or 9-seater plane over the Amazon basin.
  • Accommodation
    Private accommodation.
  • All meals
  • Guides
    Local and naturalist bilingual guides
  • All activities
    Includes hikes, river activities, community visits and overnights.
  • Boots and rain poncho
    We will require shoe size confirmation prior to the travel experience.

What’s not included

  • International airfare
    International flights to and from Ecuador
  • Alcoholic beverages
    Please bring cash for purchases at the bar. Unfortunately we cannot take credit card payments at the ecolodge yet...
  • Souvenirs
    Handicrafts, ceramic, weavings
  • Overland Transportation
    To and from Baños, detailed separately.

Available Packages

Price per person for 2, double bungalow
Sold Out

1 double cabin, 2 twin beds.

Price per person: USD 1,360

Flight Shell-Kapawi-Shell: USD 290 per person 

$1,650

Itinerary

Day 1
The Kapawi experience begins in Quito with transfer Quito-Ambato-Shell

Kapawi visitors usually start their Amazon experience in Quito and drive along the “Avenue of Volcanos” before descending to the Amazon plateau following the Pastaza river. Kapawi Ecolodge is only accessible by air, so visitors fly for about 50 minutes in a chartered small 5-, or 8- seater plane from the town of Shell to the Achuar community of Kusutkau, and then take a small boat downstream the Capahuari river for a 30-minute ride to the ecolodge. 

Upon arrival to the ecolodge, you will be taken to the main social and dining area, where we give you an introductory talk about the Ecolodge, the Achuar territory, and the different possibilities for activities, both natural and cultural. After the introductory briefing, you will be shown to your cabins, and lunch will be served in our dining area.

After lunch, you will choose, together with your guides, the best activities for the afternoon. Kapawi offers a wide range of activities in the trails surrounding the ecolodge, and also in the  Capahuari river. We usually start with a hike in the forest, to understand the incredible ecology of the Amazon Rainforest. Some hikes start right from the lodge, while others start near the lodge a few minutes away by motorized boat.

Return to the lodge after the activity for some free time. Swimming in the river right from our dock is always available, as well as relaxing in our social areas by the river or in the main area where our dining area and bar are located. We will have dinner at the lodge at 7.30 pm, and after dinner you can go over the next day's plan and activities together with your guides. Overnight at Kapawi Ecolodge.

Your Organizer


KE
Kapawi Ecolodge
40 reviews
Inaugurated in 1996, Kapawi Ecolodge is an award-winning Achuar indigenous ecotourism enterprise, located in Ecuador's last large tract of Amazon Rainforest in southeastern Ecuador. Kapawi Ecolodge offers a unique and authentic natural and cultural travel experience deep in the Amazon Rainforest, in the lower basin of the Pastaza, Capahuari, and Kusutkau rivers. Kapawi is owned and operated by the local communities, and offers an immersion in nature and culture, and an experience with Achuar communities, forest, and Amazon rivers.

Reviews

The accommodations, food, and guide were excellent. We learned so much about the rainforest environment and the local indigenous culture. We did numerous jungle walks where our guide Edwin taught us about the plants, many of which are medicinal and/or edible and he demonstrated how the vines and bark of some are used by the local Achuar people. We saw numerous birds, monkeys, and pink dolphins. I would recommend this trip to anyone!
By Sally R for Sally Rothwell x2 Kapawi Feb 26 - March 4, 2024 on Mar 07, 2024
NM
We had such a fantastic time at the Kapawi Lodge. Our guide was a genius of the jungle - he provided so many wonderful experiences. The rooms were luxurious and the food top notch. A wonderful expwrience that I hope many people can enjoy.
By Nancy M for Nancy Morgan x2 Kapawi February 12-16, 2024 on Feb 25, 2024
Magical. Loved the whole experience. Going into the communities and sharing stories was a highlight. Pottery with the women. Waterfall and conversations with the Shaman was fantastic. Jungle walks- loved them all. All the birds and wild life we saw, including the boa constrictor...guides were so knowledgeable and wonderful, generous folks
By Maureen Frances C for Maureen Chopra Kapawi Jan 29 - Feb 5, 2024 on Feb 17, 2024
This was truly a trip of a lifetime for our group. We had never been somewhere so remote, so filled with the sights and sounds of undisturbed nature. At the same time the accommodations were beautiful and comfortable and the food was delicious. The guides were knowledgeable about the wildlife, plants and culture, and we greatly enjoyed getting to know them and the other staff and learning from them about the Amazon and the Achuar people. They brought home to us how their territory is unpolluted, and people and wildlife are healthy and thriving, while the Achuar territory and people right across the border in Peru have suffered from oil development and have polluted lands and many sick people. This ecotourism venture is part of their effort to provide an alternative to destructive development. We were very happy to support it and hope that others will too, and have an amazing experience at the same time.
By Paula D for Rachel Conrad x7 Kapawi Ecolodge extra night, Dec 2023 on Feb 10, 2024
My experience with the Kapawi Ecolodge program exceeded all expectations. From the friendly guides, comfortable rooms, and delicious food, to every excursion, every aspect was exceptional. This journey went beyond a vacation; it was perhaps the most meaningful adventure of my life. Guided wildlife tours, nature walks, nighttime excursions, and cultural experiences were not only thrilling but also deeply educational. I can't say enough in admiration I have for Kapawi Ecolodge's commitment to responsible tourism. The Kapawi Ecolodge program is an absolute gem – a transformative experience filled with unforgettable moments.
By Negar M for Negar Hadavi x2 Kapawi Galapagos ticket on Jan 19, 2024
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