This project has a plan for maintaining an ecotourism contract with OINAE and as a consequence, provides monthly financial help and jobs for the Achuar community as well as for other communities. At the end of a 15-year period, all the facilities will totally belong to the Achuar Indians.

Achuar is the name of one of the four groups of the Jivaro Indian linguistic family (Achuar, Shuar, Aguaruna and Huambisa). Approximately 80,000 persons belong to this group. The Jivaro group is one of the most important homogeneous cultures in existence. At present, the Achuar live in small communities where they obtain their produce from small farms and from hunting, fishing and collecting things in the rainforest. At the beginning of the 1970s, the Achuar were the only Jivaros who had not suffered the loss of their culture as a consequence of their contact with the western world.

 

Capacity: The lodge can accommodate more than 40 travelers and was built in deference to the Achuar concept of architecture -not using even one single nail! All the cabins have a private bath and use solar energy. Water is passed through carbon filters and purified with UV rays. Every cabin is equipped with an umbrella that can be used to move from one area of the lodge to another. A nice library is open all day, and there is a boutique where you can buy souvenirs and the basic supplies you might happen to need (toothbrush, toothpaste, sunscreen, insect repellent, hats, film, etc.).

 

Location: Kapawi is miles from what you think of as civilization. It takes two weeks walking through the jungle on foot to reach the nearest village. This is precisely what makes Kapawi such an especially unique place. The only way to enter or leave Kapawi is by air, and that depends entirely on the weather. It is a good idea to plan on having an extra day after the stay at Kapawi before starting your next trip.

 

Activities: Kapawi is a place that offers many alternatives and is characterized by its flexibility, because it has no scheduled programs. Programs may be planned by the group guide. Most of the itineraries include the activities listed here.

Visit to an Achuar community: You will share a day in their lives. This visit will let you learn more about their codes of ethics and rules of behavior rather than just simply let you see their homes and families.

 

Hikes in the jungle: Easy (up to 3 hours), moderate (up to 5 hours) or difficult (many hours or days) in the tropical forest passing through Achuar communities.

 

Self-guided path: It takes about 45 minutes to walk the circumference of the lodge.

 

Boating: Canoes and kayaks navigate rivers like the Capahuari or lakes in the region. From the boats, you can see pink dolphins.

 

Fishing: All fish caught must be eaten. Piranhas can be seen while fishing.

 

Camping: The tourist may choose the day and the place. A group of employees from the Lodge will take food and camping equipment, so camping in the middle of the tropical forest will be quite comfortable.

 

Nocturnal strolls: This activity is very interesting and you can appreciate a different facet of the forest -its nightlife.

 

Alligator hunting: These trips are at night because these animals are nocturnal.

 

Bird-watching: This activity lasts about two hours and usually begins quite early, around 6 am. Approximately 500 different species of birds have been cataloged here. In fact, one of Kapawi's great attractions is being able to watch birds quite easily since you will come across nearly 400 species in a ten-day period. And most exciting of all, you can see and videotape new species on the islands!

 

Swimming: A refreshing swim is an attraction after a long hike, but swimming is safe only in rivers and quiet lakes and is not always possible because the level of the water is low in the dry season.

The success of these activities depends mainly on the tourist's preferences, interest and physical condition.