5-Day Waorani Expedition

This morning you will arrive in the city of Coca, from which you will travel by car for two hours to the entrance of the reserve. Here, you will get on a canoe and enter the Waorani territory. Along the route, it is possible to see a variety of animals such as colorful toucans and macaws. This ride will be for about three hours and your guides will provide some important information about the tropical rainforest. In the afternoon, you will arrive at the campsite located next to one of the Waorani Families.

Today you will take a short canoe ride and then hike for a couple of hours to a popular hunting spot—the Clay Lick, a mineral rich mud pit. Many animals that live in the region sustain themselves through a diet of seeds and other small plants, but supplement their diets with minerals by the clay. Due to it being such a popular spot for animals, this is a prime area for hunters to catch their prized meal- the peccary, which according to locals is a delicacy. You will spend some time here in hopes of spotting one of the many animals that frequent the zone before returning to the village by foot. Spend the afternoon with the hunters to learn about blowguns, darts, and curare, a natural sedative, which are used in the hunting of monkeys, before winding down for the evening.

In the Early morning, you will start canoeing down the Shiripuno and Cononaco rivers. Keep an eye out for wildlife, as you will have the chance to spot different species of birds, such as macaws, toucans, parrots, kingfishers, herons, hawks, etc. With some luck, you might even see caimans, otters, capybara and even jaguars that like to relax on the river banks. After having lunch on the boat, you will continue to the home of another Waorani family. At night you will go by canoe to look for caimans.

Today is a true adventure into the wild, as you delve even deeper into the enchanting jungle. A canoe ride, short hike, and a paddle will bring you to a black water lagoon, where on sunny days anacondas can be found resting upon the shore. Known for the 2017 BBC documentary filmed here about the anacondas, this area is also a great place to view the oatzin prehistoric bird and species of kingfisher. After a day of exploration, enjoy some down time before delving into the mysteries of local spiritual culture and speaking with the locals. At the lagoon, you will have the opportunity to catch a fish, most likely a piranha, as they are popular in this ecosystem.

Your last day on the tour will take you into the lives of the women of the tribe, as you walk alongside them in their daily tasks. You will have the opportunity to make kene, a fermented beverage of yucca or chonta (depending on the time of year, you may also be able to take part in the harvest of the yucca), to end the adventure you are bid adieu with a colorful and emotion-packed presentation by the tribe through singing and dancing. You will also have the chance to purchase local handicrafts. In buying directly from the tribe, you help contribute to sustaining local families. To leave the Waorani Territory, you will take a short flight to Shell and then travel by car to Quito.