PRICES INCLUDE:

- Accommodation in cabaña
- All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Guided visits with naturalist and Achuar guides

NOT INCLUDED:

- Achuar Community Contribution: $10.00 per person plus $ 2.50 per night/per pax
- Fuel surcharge USD 42.00 per person
- Quito-Kapawi-Quito transportation
- Consumption of bar and boutique
- Personal expenses
- Tips

IMPORTANT REMARKS:

• Air rates and national park fee subject to change without previous notice.

OPERATION DAYS:

• 8D/7N     Monday – Monday / Friday - Friday
• 5D/4N     Monday – Friday
• 4D/3N     Friday – Monday

TOUR DESCRIPTION

The Kapawi Project began in 1993.  The goal was to commence a new trend in eco-tourism, in partnership with the FINAE, by providing a monthly means of economic support and jobs to the Achuar located in Kapawi as well as in other communities.  In 15 years, all installations will belong entirely to the Achuar Indians.  The lodge accommodates up to 40 visitors and was built in accordance to the Achuar concept of architecture (not a single nail was used!).

Kapawi is a place of multiple choices and is characterized by its flexibility. We do not offer fixed programs, but you can design with your guide and your group, design the most suitable one to meet your interests and physical condition.  In Kapawi you can do many activities and the most of the itineraries will include visits to the Achuar communities, you can share all of a day with the Achuar families, hikes in the rain forest, canoeing in rivers and lakes, swimming, watching piranhas, pinks dolphins, see caimans and other animals of the area, as well as bird watching, where there are 480 species.

Awards and International recognitions received by Kapawi:

• 1998 – Tourism for tomorrow, British Airways
• 2000 – Ecotourism Excellence Award, Conservation International
• 2002 – Ecotourism Award, Skal International
• 2004 - Conservation Category - Sustainable Tourism Award for Conservation (STAC) (Third place).

ACTIVITIES AT KAPAWI

There are three alternatives, according to your physical condition (not your age):

EASY:  Programs that include short hikes in the rainforest (up to 3 hours) on well defined trails, visits to the Achuar communities as well as trips in canoes.  Meals are served in the lodge or light meals are taken for the trip. Typical Achuar meals are also offered in their communities.  During overnight stays in the lodge or in tents.

MODERATE:  Programs that include medium-distance hikes in the rain forest (up to 5 hours), sometimes crossing flooded areas.  Trips in canoes and visits to the Achuar communities are also covered.  Light meals are taken for the journey or typical Achuar dishes are served in their communities.  Overnight stays include the lodge, in the Achuar communities and occasionally in tents.

DIFFICULT:  Demanding hikes of many hours or days in poorly defined and often flooded trails.  Porters will carry food and supplies.  Overnight stays are in tents or in the Achuar communities.  Exploration journeys to virgin areas are occasionally offered.  Trips on inaccessible rivers are done in inflatable rafts. Excellent physical condition is required!

• Hiking.- Easy, moderate or difficult, a long the tropical rain forest  visiting Achuar Communities.
• Bird watching.- It can take 2 hours approximately, generally this activity starts early in the morning, at 6 a.m. approx. There have being seeing more than 500 bird species round the area.
• Kayaking & canoe trips.- this activity can be done a long short rivers as the Capahuari or some lagoons near the lodge. The canoe trips can be taken a long rivers as the Pastaza.
• Fishing.- Catch and release prohibited.
• Camping.- this activity depends on the guests decision. Part of our staff takes the food to the camping area, we will try to give our guests the same services as they were staying at the lodge.
• Achuar Community visits.- This is one of our best activities offered in Kapawi, it is because of the significant cultural contribution to the Achuar people. We give our guests a briefing about the Achuar Culture, their ethics codes and some suggestions about how to behave during this activity.
• Self-guided path.- it can take 45 min approximately round the lodge.
• Caiman watching.- This activity is done during the nights because these reptiles are nocturnal animals.
• Night Hikes.- A very nice activity because it offers the opportunity to see a different perspective of the Rain Forest. 

TRANSPORTATION PROCEDURES

Kapawi is located in the most remote area of the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin. We offer different alternatives depending on he number of passengers and/or the logistical facilities at the moment of your arrival.  We offer to passengers the transportation to and from Kapawi in the following routes:

1ST ROUTE
QUITO-COCA- KAPAWI 

Flights from Quito to Coca will be operated by Icaro Airlines. Generally the departure flight is at 08H45 approximately (The flight time are 30 minutes). Then, we will take a flight from Coca (an airport located at the northeastern of Quito) to Kapawi by a Twin Otter, this plane has a capacity for 19 passengers. Then the flight continues to the airstrip located at the Achuar Community Kapawi.                                             

2ND ROUTE
QUITO-SHELL-KAPAWI

Trip Quito–Shell is through Aeromaster air company. Then in Shell (an airport located at the southeastern of Ecuador) take the following flight to Kapawi in an aircraft of the same air company until to arrive to the airstrip located at the Achuar Community Kapawi. This last flight is around 1 hour approximately.

NOTE: Generally we are operating with the second route through Shell

At the moment to arrive at the landing strip at the Kapawi community, the guides and native people will waiting to receive passengers and help them to transport their luggage to the lodge. Continue with an approximately 15-minute hike, followed by a motorized canoe ride through the Capahuari River which takes passengers to the lodge.

Our representative from Operations Department send a letter to confirm the details about the information of the kind of route and the flights itineraries for your excursion.  This information is sent to the hotel where passengers are staying 1 day prior the trip to Kapawi Lodge. All our transportation operations depend of climate conditions and the quantity of passengers traveling.

Passengers will be advised of the final route, times of departures the evening before their excursion to Kapawi. It is very important that we have the information of where to contact the night before your program to Kapawi.

Suggestion: As our operations are basically based on the weather conditions, our recommendation is for you to please consider adding an extra day to your itinerary after visiting Kapawi to make sure you meet your connecting flights to your next destination (Galapagos Islands, international, etc).

WHAT TO BRING:

Since we used small aircrafts to fly to Kapawi, it is imperative to limit your luggage to the basic minimum as listed bellow. The maximum allowed is 25 pounds. Luggage not needed can be stored in your city hotel or in Shell.  It is also better to travel with backpacks instead of suitcases.

• LUGGAGE:  One large backpack or one duffel bag. One small daypack.
• CLOTHING: 3 lightweight -cotton or other fast drying material- long pants.  Avoid blue jeans. 4 or 5 long-sleeved cotton shirts. 1 pair of knee-high cotton socks for each day in the rainforest. Underwear (avoid synthetics). Shorts. 1 light wind-breaker. 1 light sweater or jacket. Brim hat. 1 water-proof poncho (available in the lodge) or a water-proof parka. Bathing suit. Sunglasses with a strap.
• FOOTGEAR: 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes. 1 pair of thongs or Tevas. 1 pair of rubber boots (available in the lodge).
• MEDICINE: Extra eye glasses/contact lenses. Sunblock lotion (at least protection 8).
• Insect repellent. Toilet kit. Personal first aid kit. Antimalaria pills. Tampons or sanitary napkins.
• EQUIPMENT: Plastic water bottle. Flashlight (headlamps models are better). Alkaline batteries. Self sealing plastic bags. Dry bags (available in the lodge). Swiss Army knife.
• Reading material (available in the lodge). Small note-book and pencil. Personal sewing kit. Snacks:  chocolates, candies, etc.
• CAMERAS AND BINOCULARS:  Camera gear. High speed films or fine-grain, high resolution and relatively slow color transparency (this last one to be used with electronic flash. Binoculars.  This is an essential item, even if you are not a birdwatcher.  The best ones are the waterproof models with high light transmission.  An excellent size:  10 X 40.
• Films.

SOME SUGGESTIONS:

Remember that we are guests of a very different culture.  Some of their traditions may appear quite odd to us, but is does not mean that we are in a position to criticize them.  Please, follow the rules imposed by the Achuar communities and respectfully try to learn about this extraordinary culture.

Be careful with photographs or video recordings.  Ask your Achuar guide first if it is possible to take photographs or to make video recordings in Achuar communities.  Avoid close up shots, and never remunerate people with money for a photograph.

The Achuar are very pleased when you buy their handicrafts.  They have a fixed price which is similar in each community.  You can also exchange some of your personal items (flashlights, batteries, etc.) for handicrafts if the Achuar are interested in doing so.