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An
adventurous expedition, off the beaten track, to the western
part of the Huaorani Reserve. We start with a spectacular
flight over the jungle to reach Kiwaro, a remote village
that is only accessible by plane. Our guide has lived
in this village for many years. He knows the language
and culture of the Huaorani people, the tribe that lived
isolated from the rest of the world until about 30 years
ago.
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Day
1 We leave Puyo at 8:00 a.m. and travel for ―
hour by bus to the airport of Shell. After breakfast we
embark in a small aircraft and take a 35-minute flight
over the jungle, covering a distance that takes 3 full
days walking. From the air we can see the typical cabins
of the Huaorani village as small spots in the dense forest.
In the afternoon we visit some families of the community,
and we taste the traditional drink chicha de yuca. After
dinner the guide tells us about the history of the Huaorani
people.
Day 2 After breakfast we take a 4-hour
hike in the rainforest with a Huaorani guide. On the way
we will see various medicinal, edible, poisonous and hallucinogenic
plants. Our guide explains how the Huaorani use these
plants to survive in the jungle. Also he shows us the
liana that is being used to prepare curare, one of the
most active poisons in the world. In the afternoon we
learn how to use the cervatana (blowgun) and lances. On
a short hike the guide shows us different kinds of traps
the Huaorani make to catch birds and animals like monkeys
and tapirs. After dinner we leave with lanterns to look
for caimans and other nocturnal animals.
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Day 3
We leave the village and walk with our backpacks
through the jungle. During the hike we have a chance
to see monkeys, tropical birds like parrots and
toucans, and colourful butterflies. After about
3 hours we reach the Curaray river. From here we
continue by canoe going downstream. In the afternoon
we arrive at the house of a shaman (native healer)
who explains us his way of curing the local people.
He will talk about `normall illnessesī and `supernatural
illnessesī, which are caused by the shamans themselves.
The shaman also can demonstrate the preparation
of ayahuasca, a plant with hallucinogenic powers
which he uses in his rituals. We will spend the
night in tents.
Day 4
After breakfast we continue for 3 hours going
downstream by canoe. Then we walk for 20 minutes
and arrive at another Huaorani community. We will
visit some families of the community and at one
of these families we will have a good chance to
see wild monkeys and different birds. Later we will
leave by canoe and go fishing for piranhas.
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Day 5 In the morning we say goodbey
to our indigenous hosts and prepare for leaving. At noon
the plane will arrive to bring us back to the airport
of Shell. We arrive at Puyo at about 4:00 p.m.
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