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Secoya Lodge 4D/3N
- HIGHLIGHTS
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• A privileged look into the way of life of the People of One Thousand Colors
• Yaku Kawsay Underwater world Interpretation Center
• The easiest and most accessible cultural journey in the Amazon
• 3 cabins with private bathrooms
• 1 family cabin with two rooms and private bathroom
• Dinning deck for intimate experiences beside the Aguarico River
DAY 1 Visit the Yaku Kawsay Interpretation Center & enjoy the privilege of discussing Secoya art with Cesar, a world-renowned artist who comes from the very Secoya villages you will be visiting.
DAY 2 Share the amazing dreams of shaman Delfin when he take you on an amazing path through his organic gardens with over 700 species of medicinal plants used by the Secoya
DAY 3 Walk with your guide ancient Secoya hunting trails in the Cuyabeno Reserve
DAY 4 Visit the Handicraft Community Shop
Day 1:
Arrive by plane to the Coca Airport. From here, you take private transport deep into the jungle to Puerto Gregorio by boat on the Napo river and overland from the Napo river to the Aguarico river. From Puerto Gregorio you will continue to Secoya Lodge via motorized canoe.
On our way in at the Napo River we will visit the Quichua community of Providencia that developed the Yaku Kawsay or Underwater World Interpretation Center. This initiative supports the conservation of the Amazonian aquatic ecosystem by providing meaningful education to local communities, schools and travelers like you.
Conceptualized, built, and managed by the men and women of the community, the interpretative center is surprisingly thought provoking and a must-visit en-route to any destination on the lower Ecuadorian Amazon, here we will have a two hour stop and lunch.
As soon as the journey on the Aguarico River begins your naturalist guide will start introducing you to the incredible diversity of plants and animals that call Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve home. Once we reach the lodge, the Secoya community will welcome us with fresh juice and a snack and brief us for the afternoon activities as well as the settling you into your cabin.
We will then take another short canoe ride up the Aguarico River until we reach the Secoya Painting Workshop, where you will get to partake in the community's daily life and rituals. Here you will have the opportunity to learn how the community's artisans make their handicrafts and their famous paintings; have your face painted in traditional style; or watch how Casave, the most important Secoya dish, is made.
The day will end with a traditional meal made from local products. Following dinner, we will listen to our local guide tell us the legends of the Secoya and the rainforest through tranquil bonfire flames or a hammock.
Accommodation in Secoya Lodge Cabins (Lunch/ Dinner)
Day 2:
Wake up to bird songs and a nutritious breakfast of native fruits, coffee, and Yocó, "the coffee of the jungle," a natural caffeine taken from the bark of a tree utilized by the Secoyas. .
Begin the day with a 45-minute canoe ride up the Sushufindi River to visit a beautiful botanical garden. Our naturalist guide will lead us on the garden's trail, conveying the Secoya's ancestral knowledge of the forest's hundreds of unique plants. After learning about the medicinal, hunting and daily uses of native plants, you will enjoy lunch in the garden's interpretation center.
After lunch, you will take a quick kayak training course to prepare for your next adventure, which involves hopping into a personal kayak and paddling down the legendary Shushufindi River. Relax on the water as you spot wildlife, meet local fishermen, and enjoy the magical sounds and aromas wafting from the lush jungle riverbank.
The trip ends at the mouth of the Aguarico River, from where you will head back to the lodge in a canoe. Once back at the lodge, rest in a hammock while enjoying one of the most incredible sunsets in the world before ending the day with an intimate candlelight dinner.
Accommodation in Secoya Lodge Cabins (Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner)
Day 3:
Today is all about the Cuyabeno wildlife Reserve exploration, where the Secoya used to hunt and play and nowadays work as park rangers.
Early morning is the best time of the day for bird-watching, so if you would like to observe the reserve's diversity of birdlife, you can join the group on a walk into the rainforest prior to breakfast in search of birds.
After breakfast we will take a short canoe ride to the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve and depart on a 3 km trek deep into the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve to experience what primary rain forest looks like.
The Reserve is boasts an impressive number of species living within its boarders. This 603,380 square kilometer area supports 494 species of birds, 450 species of fish, 96 species of amphibians, 91 species of reptiles, and an array of mammals ranging from the giant armadillo, to the majestic jaguar.
Once you fill up on a delicious meal and take a short nap, we will take a canoe upstream to visit Secoya's sustainable farm. The Secoya manage their land in very sustainable and efficient ways, and you will be able to see how the community cultivates banana, corn, a chicken farm, fish pools and more on a small plot of land. By witnessing this incredible productivity, you will begin to realize how valuable the land truly is and the importance of protecting it against big oil and African palm plantations.
After saying goodbye to the friendly farmers, we will head upriver to try and spot monkeys at their resting places after a day of forest hunting. The "monkey sun downer" is a great chance to relax in direct contact with nature while experiencing a spectacular sunset. Don't forget your cameras!
Before eating our famous smoked jungle chicken during the farewell dinner, each visitor will participate in a Secoya Lodge tradition by planting a tree to signify the absolute oneness that exists between humans and nature. Leave a part of yourself in the protected lands of the Secoya forever. We will end the day with a night walk through the forest with flashlights in search of the nocturnal animals of the Amazon.
Accommodation in Secoya Lodge Cabins (Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner)
Day 4:
Kick start your morning with an energizing Yocó before the short canoe ride to a prime bird viewing spot. If you are too sleepy, you can opt for staying in bed. Afterwards, enjoy a fresh breakfast at the lodge and prepare for the intrepid hike to "Cuadrante."
During this exciting hike, a bilingual local guide will teach you about important trees, their history, and any special medicinal or other uses the Secoya have for them. You will also walk through an area where a local NGO is studying the growth trend of trees and learn about their research. Continuing along on the trail, you will learn several survival techniques, including tips for finding fresh water and identifying edible plants.
After a short rest and bag preparation, you will have the opportunity to buy some of the unique handicrafts made by the Secoya artisans. We will then say our final goodbye to the community and begin the return journey to Coca Airport, which starts with a 45-minute motorized canoe ride to Puerto Gregorio, where land transportation will be waiting.
As you leave the lands of the Secoya, note the numerous threats facing the area. The lumber industry, African Palm plantations and oil pipelines are all endangering the rainforest's cultural and natural diversity. Your guide will give you a "Toxic Tour" on the way, explaining these perils in more detail and giving you the chance to ask questions until we arrive at the airport.
Breakfast
These ecotourism programs are the result of partnerships between Waponi's parent company Tropic Journeys in Nature and the indigenous communities that live in protected areas in the Andes highlands and the Ecuadorian Amazon. Waponi means Joy, chevere, cool, everything that is positive and beautiful in life in the Huaorani language, and you are bound to realize why ecotourism is so cool once you return from one of these trips!
When you go with Waponi, you get locally owned Amazon lodges and Adventure campsites, bilingual naturalist guides, specialized itineraries, and the opportunity to travel to the most remote corners of Ecuador while improving the standard of living of the people who live there.
Waponi's low-impact, small-sized community tours do not compromise ones safety, hygiene or comfort. You will always enjoy filling meals made with local ingredients, sleep in cozy lodges or spacious clean tents, and be led by people who have lived off of these lands their entire lives.
Weather
This region's climate is classified as Tropical and Humid, with annual temperatures between 23-25.5° C/ 73-78° F, humidity between 70-90%, and annual rainfall up to 3000 mm/118 in! Though it can rain on any given day, in general the months from November through February are defined as the "dry" season and the months of March through October as the "wet" season; around here, the months of May to July are the wettest.
During a stay as brief as a few days, the odds of seeing larger animals such as monkeys, peccaries, or agoutis are low; to help increase them, try the following tips:
• DRESS in dark clothing, since light colors stand out and give away your presence.
• MOVE slowly and quietly; if you move like a predator, you may be rewarded with a "prey" sighting.
• STOP, listen and look, from the ground up to the canopy. Often a rustle of leaves or a slight movement gives away the presence of a lizard, bird or small mammal.
• BINOCULARS are essential to see high into the canopy and deep into the foliage, though the level of light at any given time makes a huge difference in what can be made out.
• With PATIENCE AND LUCK, you never know what you may discover.
Some suggestions:
•DRESS is informal. Footwear is recommended for any time you are out of your cabin; the rubber boots provided are best for the trails as there can be substantial mud (and ant columns). Depending on how sensitive you are to heat and insect bites, lightweight long- or short-sleeve cotton shirts and trousers or shorts are appropriate for the trails or canoe trips.
•PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS Avoid tripods! If not using digital, high-speed film is recommended, e.g., 400 ASA, together with a flash (it's dark beneath the rainforest canopy). A wide-angle and a large telephoto lens are useful for birds; for best results with insects, a lens with macro facility is handy. Have some plastic bags available to protect your equipment and an anti-fogging cloth.
•BINOCULARS are essential to fully appreciate the birdlife don't forget to bring yours.
Once you book you will get our full pre-departure information package with many other details.
CODE OF CONDUCT
•Be open to different appreciations of what is "normal". For example, punctuality is not a rainforest concept, so please be flexible and patient while visiting the local communities.
•Only take photos of people with permission and don't be offended if they refuse.
•Do not be ostentatious with wealth and material possessions.
•Do not share alcohol or give away cigarettes at the community.
•Do buy locally-made handicrafts as this is an important source of income for the community, especially for women, but don't buy those made from feathers or animal parts. There's no need to haggle, everything tends to be inexpensive by Western standards.
•Gifts are welcome, but preferably of scholarly material for the children and given to the Administrator for distribution through the Conservation in Action Foundation.
•Be polite and respectful with the locals. Use por favor, gracias, buenos días, i.e., treat them the same way in which you wish to be treated.
•Use the garbage system properly and please hang on to any trash you generate like plastics, dead batteries etc. until you get back to Quito.
•Ration the use of resources, e.g., keep your showers short, don't run water when brushing teeth/shaving.
•Please tell your guide if you don't wish to partake of the food or drink during your visits to the local communities.
•During your walks, never extract or disturb the vegetation, and for your own safety never stray off the trails.
•Please follow your guides' instructions; they know the surrounding area and are here to look out for your safety.
FOR THE LONG RUN
These ecotourism programs are the result of partnerships between Waponi's parent company Tropic Journeys in Nature and the indigenous communities that live in protected areas in the Andes highlands and the Ecuadorian Amazon. Waponi means Joy, chevere, cool, everything that is positive and beautiful in life in the Huaorani language, and you are bound to realize why ecotourism is so cool once you return from one of these trips!
When you go with Waponi, you get locally owned Amazon lodges and Adventure campsites, bilingual naturalist guides, specialized itineraries, and the opportunity to travel to the most remote corners of Ecuador while improving the standard of living of the people who live there.
Waponi's low-impact, small-sized community tours do not compromise ones safety, hygiene or comfort. You will always enjoy filling meals made with local ingredients, sleep in cozy lodges or spacious clean tents, and be led by people who have lived off of these lands their entire lives.
Waponi is a Long Run Supporter.
This means that we share the Zeitz Foundation's drive to support sustainable, ecologically and socially responsible projects around the world, and have demonstrated our commitment by signing The Long Run Charter, a declaration of intent and commitment to promote more sustainable lifestyle choices to build a better future.
To find out more, visit:
Foundation on:
@ZeitzFoundation
/zeitzfoundation
Join the effort to preserve forests, culture and a way of life that is open and willing to share secrets of local cultures throughout Ecuador's diverse ecosystems.
Secoya Lodge |
Departures |
Price per person (4d/3n) |
Double or Twin |
$480 |
Rates Includes |
Rates do not include |
Accommodation, |
Transportation Quito - Coca - Quito (flight or bus), alcoholic and not alcoholic beverage, tips, personal expenses. |
| 2012 | 4D/3N Starts on Thursday |
| Months | Secoya |
| January | 13 al 16 |
| February | 17 al 20 |
| March | 16 al 19 |
| April | 13 al 16 |
| May | 11 al 14 |
| June | 15 al 18 |
| July | 20 al 23 |
| August | 24 al 27 |
| September | 14 al 17 |
| October | 12 al 15 |
| November | 16 al 19 |
| December | 14 al 17 |
