The Cofán Nation invites you to experience the wonders of their home deep in Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest. Located along the Zabalo River at the heart of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, the Cofán territory provides an escape from the noise of modern life.

Recognized in 2019 by Quiet Parks International as the First Wilderness Quiet Park, the Cofán Zabalo River Wilderness is a unique destination offering a style of tourism unlike any you will have experienced before.

Our tour begins in Quito, Ecuador where we will encounter the sounds of a modern South American city. The UNESCO-recognized Historic Center is steeped in history with traces of the ancient Quitu-Caru buried beneath layers of cobblestoned streets and Spanish-colonial architecture.

From Quito, we will journey east, crossing the continental divide and birth place of the mighty Amazon River. We will embrace listening while en route, allowing time to prepare for our visit with the Cofán and, upon our return, space to process our new found understanding of quiet.

The contrasts offered in this itinerary allow for a deeper exploration of silence and what it means to live in a modern world. 

This trip is available for pre-arranged groups at reduced pricing. Please reach out directly if your travel group is 4 or more people.

Covid-19 Travel Restrictions

It is your responsibility to be aware of Ecuador's COVID-19 travel restrictions. The U.S. Embassy in Quito provides up-to-date information for travelers.

Vaccinations and Medications

For other health and safety information, including vaccinations, please read the CDC recommendations for travel to Ecuador. 

Please consider obtaining a prescription for malaria medications as the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is located in the Sucumbios Province, an area of transmission. 

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

We highly recommend enrolling in STEP, a free service operated by the US State Department to keep you informed about security updates while traveling abroad.

Pack List and Trip Notes

Upon booking, you will receive recommended pack list and specific information important to this tour. 

Refunds & Travel Insurance

Your $1000 deposit will be refunded if we do not fill the trip. This is to encourage you to confirm your participation so that we know how many participants to plan for, minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 participants, not including guides.

Once the complete trip is purchased 45 days prior, we cannot guarantee refunds as we need to place down payments to multiple vendors. 

Therefore, WeTravel recommends that you acquire travel insurance in case something goes wrong. To minimize any loss and to protect yourself during the trip, you can purchase travel insurance from World Nomads. The WeTravel recommendation is to use a company like World Nomads because they have very fair rates for the quality of service they are providing. Click here to get a quote.

Not Your Average American is not a travel agency

Not Your Average American, LLC and her cofounder, Angie Drake, connect interested clients with travel opportunities in South America. However, the company is not a registered seller of travel in the United States. Angie and her company work as a consultancy.

Please read our Terms & Conditions before booking. 

Day 1

Most international flights to Quito arrive in the late afternoon or evening. Your arrival might actually be in the wee hours of the morning of Day 2. Therefore, this first day is travel only.

After passing immigration and customs, we will be waiting to take you to your lodging in or near Quito's historic center.

Day 2

Historic Quito

Wake up and enjoy a slow start to your morning with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. 

Jacquie will pick you up mid-morning for a half-day tour of Historic Quito. You will be free to wander the cobblestone streets later in the afternoon and dine at the restaurant of your choice for your evening meal.

Day 3

San Antonio de Pichincha

Stand astride the Equator at the famed Mitad del Mundo, a modern monument dedicated to the French Geodesic Mission of 1736 before visiting the ancient pucara of Rumicucho, a fortress built by the the ancient Quitu-Cara and later used by the invading Inca. 

The striking differences between the two sites call attention to the sounds of modern-day tourism and the places that most often receive visitors.

Late afternoon, we will return you to the hotel in Quito.

READ MORE ABOUT MITAD DEL MUNDO

READ MORE ABOUT RUMICUCHO

Day 4

Quito to Quijos

With an early morning start, we will begin our journey to Ecuador's Amazon, better known as the Oriente. Along the route, we might spot Andean Spectacled Bears and White-tailed Deer near the Sanctuary of the Virgin at the Papallacta Pass. On a good day, we stop to take pictures of the stunning Antisana Volcano. 

Our first stop will be at Guango Lodge, a birdwatcher's paradise with a shaded, native garden that attracts many species of hummingbirds. We encourage hiking the short trail to the river, looking for orchids and birds along the way before enjoying a delicious lunch served in the cozy dining room. 

After lunch, we will continue on our way to Quijos, where we will be lodging overnight in a small but comfortable lodge. We recommend an early bedtime to be fresh and ready for the next day.

READ MORE ABOUT GUANGO LODGE

Day 5

Quijos

The Quijos Canton lies in the Eastern Foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes. Bordered by three nationally protected reserves, it is home to some of the cleanest water in the country and provides access to fast-running rivers for kayaking and rafting.

Our morning will begin at 4:30 am with a horseback ride into the foothills. We will experience dawn as the sun breaks over the distant mountains including, on a clear day, the active Sangay Volcano.

Our day can include a variety of different activities of your choosing including horseback riding, kayaking or white-water rafting, hiking in the lush foothills, birdwatching, cow-milking, and cheese making. We will make that decision as a group before the trip begins.

Day 6

Quijos to Cofán Village

Thus far, we have slowly begun to disconnect from an urban landscape to a more rural one. Today, we delve even deeper.

With an early morning start from Quijos, we begin our long day of travel to the Cofán Nation on the Zabalo River.

We will drive for 5.5 hours to Lago Agrio, where we will have lunch in a local restaurant before heading out on an unimproved road to the community of Centro Union, another 2 hours. In Centro Union, we will board a motor boat that will take us down the Rio Aguarico to its confluence with the Rio Zabalo, a 3-hour journey.

Upon our arrival, we will be greeted by the Zabalo River Cofán where we will stay the night in small cabins located within the village. The locale is in the process of being declared one of the first Quiet Stay destinations by Quiet Parks International. 

While we have a plan for the following days with the Cofán, it is important to set aside any preconceived notions of a schedule. We will be invited to participate in Ccaen’tsu Daja, a concept that roughly translates to "Let it be." 

READ MORE ABOUT THE COFÁN

Day 7 

Cofán Village

Our first full day in Zabalo will include an introduction to the village and an afternoon hike into the forests where a Cofán elder will introduce us to the rich wealth of flora available to the community for medicine, food, and materials. 

Day 8

Cofán Village to Camp

Today, we will travel up the Rio Zabalo. This is a large black water stream, and arguably one of the most beautiful waterways in Ecuador. Its personality changes with the height of the water, as does the wildlife. 

It is always a stellar location for birds both big and small. Different seasons allow for a variety of wildlife viewing which can include host troops of monkeys including wooly, howler, capuchin, squirrel, and tamarin.  

However, if the river is low, we will observe different creatures like riverside birds, giant otters, caimans, an occasional anaconda, and sometimes, white-lipped peccary. 

Once we arrive at our private campsite, we will have the opportunity to venture out in the small paddle canoes called quillas. These silent excursions provide the best opportunity to experience what it means to co-exist with nature. 

By staying overnight, we can experience the golden hour, dusk, dawn, and early morning daylight alongside their accompanying sounds. We will listen as the day changes.

Day 9

Camp

A second night of camping will allow us to get to know more of the Rio Zabalo and the headwaters of the Amazon basin. We will spend time fishing and birdwatching, paddling upriver and floating back down. 

(optional return to village in the afternoon)

Day 10

Camp to Cofán Village

In the morning, after enjoying daybreak and breakfast, we will motor back to the village and spend the day visiting families in their homes and partake in the activities of the day like artisan crafts, cooking, and child-raising. 

In the late afternoon, the village will put on their "mobile market" where we will have the opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind Cofan handicrafts and buy souvenirs. 

In the evening, we will enjoy a traditional meal prepared with local products prepared by the Cofán, once again sharing a meal and dinner time conversations with our new friends.

Day 11

Cofán Village to Cosanga

Today, we begin our journey back in the early morning hours. First, upriver to Centro Union (3 hours), and then to Lago Agrio (2.5 hours).

If the road is open, we will return via San Rafael in the afternoon, stopping to see the San Rafael Waterfall and to talk with locals about the impact of the Coca-Sinclair Hydroelectric Project. 

If the San Rafael route is closed, we will return the same way we arrived, via Loreto. 

With either route, we will stay overnight at a favorite eco-lodge known for its excellent hummingbird garden, collection of orchids, and delicious fusion cuisine.

Day 12

Cosanga

We will enjoy a day at the eco-lodge, choosing from among several wonderful options, including an early morning bird walk, kayaking along the river, soaking in their warm water pool, lounging in the hummingbird garden, hiking the forest trails, or walking the unimproved road to visit the Yanayacu Biological Station.

We can also arrange an optional cooking class highlighting Ecuadorian products in new and delicious ways.

Day 13

Cosanga to Pampallacta

In the mid-morning, we will depart Cosanga and head to the famous spa town of Papallacta, Ecuador.

This will be a day of relaxation and contemplation in the hot springs provided at the beautiful grounds of Hostería PampaLlacta. Located near the Cayambe Coca National Park, the surrounding mountains are lush with high altitude forests of paper trees and other native vegetation. 

Lunch will be included. Additional spa services like Shiatsu Massage and dinner in the lodge restaurant will be available at additional cost.

Day 14

Papallacta to the Quito International Airport

Wake up refreshed and well-rested after our day of relaxation and contemplation in  Papallacta. 

We will depart with plenty of time to deliver you to the Quito International Airport for your flight home.