Kapawi Lodge

Itinerary

Day 1 Quito/Kapawi Lodge

Between 04h00 to 11h00 transfer to the airport where our representative will give you the boarding passes and the final information of the transportation to the lodge. This flight has a stopover in Shell, to take more petrol to continue with the final flight to Kapawi. The final flight lands on the Kapawi's Achuar Community airstrip where our guides and native staff will be waiting to receive our guests and help them to carry their luggage. Then, passengers will have a short hike (easy pad) of 10 minutes through the village followed by a canoe ride of 15 minutes approximately upstream Capahuari river. In Kapawi an introductory speech will be provided by the resident manager on duty and you can begin to enjoy the Lodge facilities.The Kapawi project was initiated in 1993 by Carlos Perez Perasso, founder of Canodros and leader of the Ecuadorian journalism through El Universo, the major newspaper in Ecuador, through his vision and passion to nature his goal was to commence a new trend in ecotourism, in partnership with the FINAE, Federation of Achuar Indigenous People in Ecuador, by providing a monthly means of economic support and jobs to the Achuars, superior to the relatively limited lifestyle in an area of 5.000 square kilometers with a population of 4,500 people in 56 communities. In 2011, all installations will be transferred at no cost to the Achuars. The lodge accommodates up to 50 visitors with double and triple accommodations and was built in accordance to the Achuar concept of architecture. __Kapawi is the largest community-based project ever developed in Ecuador. It was developed and built in co-ownership with the private enterprise, Canodros S.A.. Kapawi was created to provide a high standard service in one of the remotest and most pristine areas of the south east of Ecuador, away from oil exploitation and other destructive practices.__At the moment up to 70% percent of all the employees that work at the lodge are Achuar. Canodros also buys products and services for the lodge in the nearby communities. Tourists give a contribution of US $10 dollars as an entrance fee. For these communities their main income comes from ecotourism.__Kapawi has also provided a launching platform for the Achuar as it has brought the area to the attention of many people from non governmental organizations that invested money and time to develop projects to reinforce the structure of the FINAE organization and developing different projects parallel to ecotourism such as: health, communications, transportation, and education for the entire Achuar territory.Kapawi is located near the Ecuadorian and peruvian border, in the Southern Ecuadorian Amazon Basin on the Pastaza River, a major tributary of the Amazon. Kapawi is one of the most pristine and isolated points in the Amazon Basin accessed only by air. The closest town is within ten days walking distance. Kapawi is located in one of the areas with the highest biodiversity on Earth, with 10,000 different species of plants and more than 540 different species of birds. Located at a 240 km from Quito, the Achuar Territory has 5000 square kilometers, and with a population of Achuar Population 4500 indigenous approximately.ROOMSThe lagoon varies in water level throughout the year's season and provides the perfect setting for your accommodations.The lodge accommodates up to 50 guests and was built in accordance to the Achuar concept of architecture. We offer 20 double and triple rooms with private bathrooms, sun heated showers and electricity provided by a solar panel system. Every room has a wide terrace. One thing you should kept keep in mind during your stay here at Kapawi is that you are in the jungle. Insects are by far the most numerous form of life in this habitat, even though the rooms are screened through the walls and floors, you may have some unwanted guests in your cabin.Every cabana is illuminated by 4 lamps, the lodge is powered by 6 and 12 volts systems and 110 volts is available in some areas, where personal device batteries can be recharged.Tap water is totally purified, as well as water you find in the glass bottle in your room, and in the plastic container in the dining room. This water has been filtered through a flush back and sand filter, and finally purified with ozone. However, this system is unable to filter very small particles of sediments. This is specially evident during periods of heavy rains or when the water table is very high.The presence of microscopic particles in suspension gives the water a murky aspect, this does not mean it is contaminated with microorganisms.Our library opens the whole day. We offer a wide range of paperbacks, magazines and books. A small boutique provides essential items you may have forgotten (film, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sunscreen lotion, insect repellent, hats, etc.), as well as handicrafts and souvenirs. Our well stocked bar is open until 10h00 pmOur dining room is located at the central part of the complex. With an outstanding service in a beautiful veranda where some meals can be served; it can also be used as a place for early bird watching while you are tasting our freshly brewed coffee. We serve a tasty combination of Ecuadorian and International dishes, combined with products from the rain forest area. Vegetarian diets are also availableENVIRONMENTAL POLICY / Social Responsibility� The lodge was built at the edge of the Kapawi Lagoon. The houses were built on stilts in order to minimize the impact caused to the surrounding vegetation.� Sewage goes through a three-step drainage process and pumped onto the forest floor. The sewage drains into a cesspool and the excess of water runs into a second cesspool and then into the last from which it is pumped onto the forest floor. Yeast is spread on the ground to accelerate decomposition.� Our canoes are equipped with four-stroke outboard engines, which reduce noise and pollution considerably. Electric outboard motors for small and sensitive rivers are also available._� The entire lodge is powered by a hybrid system of solar energy and a diesel generator ._The 75 watts obtained from the solar panel cover 60% of all the lodge energy needs._� Our solar-heated showers provide daily 5 gallons per person of hot water depending on weather conditions.In the year 2011, the Lodge will be given entirely to the Achuars. The amount paid in rent by Canodros to FINAE for the use of their land will total over $600.000 at the end of the 15 year period. Actually there is also a ten dollar fee charged to every visitor and an additional estimated of $150.000 will be contributed to the project.Before Kapawi, most of the Achuars based their external economy on cattle ranching. Today, members of the 58 Achuar communities base a significant percentage of their economy on ecotourism. Up to 45% of their total income comes from direct employments, supplying products to the ecotourist project and handicraft sales, which represents 21%.Rainforest PlantsA tropical rain forest is characterized by its lack of grasses and sedges between the trees, the dense forest, the forest floor, with the reduction of shrub-like plants, herbaceus plants and vines because of the lack of light. A mild irony of nature in the tropics is that, though there are more tree species than anywhere else many are sufficiently similar so that one can meaningfully describe as a typical tropical tree. Leaves of tropical plants are characteristically oval and unlobed and they often possess sharply pointed ends, called drip tips, which help to facilitate the runoff of rainwaterRed, orange and yellow flowers are associated with bird-pollinated plants (particularly by hummingbirds), while blue and lavender flowers are commonly bee-pollinated. Some trees produce conspicuous fragrant white flowers that attract bats or moths at night. Small white and yellow flowers are mostly pollinated by bees, beetles, flies and butterflies. Of course, while various insects are more attracted to particular colors and odors, any flower could be visited by any insect if it has nectar.Rainforest Mammals__As you walk through the rainforest, you may be overwhelmed by the silence that belies the existence of around 200 species of mammals. Understanding that most rainforest mammals are hard to find because they are mostly shy, nocturnal and well camouflaged. If you are searching for these animals, some patience, luck and a good guide will allow you to see quite a few, including monkeys, giant otters and fresh-water dolphins.Rainforest Birds__During the past seven years, 530 species have been recorded in the Kapawi area. This number includes the seasonal migrants from Patagonia or North America. Though everyone wants to see toucans, macaws and parrots, these and many others birds cannot be seen until they fly out across a river or other forest gap or gather in the mornings at our parrot saltlick. However, many hawks, kingfishers, orioles, flycatchers and anis can be easily spotted or you can walk in the forest to look for shy and inconspicuous antbirds, tinamous, manakins, and puffbirds. And once in a while even a harpy eagle or fiery topaz hummingbird may present itself as a rare surprise!Rainforest ReptilesReptiles are relatively abundant but tough to see as they often hold perfectly still when aware of our presence, or silently retreat into the leafy forest floor in order to avoid a confrontation. They have relatively dry scaly skin and waterproof eggs that enable them to utilize many different habitats, and can take in all the water they need from their food. Their slow metabolism allows them to reduce water and food requirements. Distribution and activity is limited because they are 'cold-blooded'; when they need to warm up, they bask in the sun and to cool down they seek shade (useful clues on when and where to look for them!). Around Kapawi you will find land reptiles like snakes, lizards and tortoises as well as aquatic reptiles like caimans (a small cousin of the alligator) and river turtles.Rainforest AmphibiansSome people find amphibians sluggish and slimy while others find them active, beautiful and harmless. However you feel about them personally, frogs and salamanders provide a fascinating glimpse into our evolutionary past; amphibians were the very first vertebrates to live on land and still need water to reproduce. To adapt to life on land with this limitation, they filled a myriad of ecological niches such as streamsides, lagoons, temporary ponds and even the wet forest floor or the water-filled leaves of both arboreal and terrestrial bromeliads. Today, amphibians are diverse and abundant terrestrial vertebrates and are at peak biodiversity in the lowland tropical rainforests. Walks at night will enhance your opportunities to find these animals.Rainforest Insects and other InvertebratesMost people dislike creepy-crawlies; many find insects and spiders repulsive, scary, or simply uninteresting. Your visit to the rainforest will change your point of view! You can appreciate the exquisite color and form of butterflies and moths along with the beauty of invertebrates (creatures without a backbone) and the interrelationship between insects and other rainforest organisms, especially plants. Recent studies of rainforest canopies indicate that there could be as many as 30 million insect species. More than half of every living thing that exists on the planet is an insect (compare to mammals, at a mere 4%). Insects recycle nutrients, maintain soil structure and fertility, pollinate plants, disperse seeds, control populations of other organisms and are a major food source for birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, other insects�even carnivorous plants. However, we know more about rocks on the moon than about forest insects. Even though we may sometimes wish that there were no mosquitos and the like, we have to understand that without them and other insects life on earth would quickly collapse to simple plants and microbes and the rainforest would not exist.

Day 2-4 Kapawi Lodge

A day in Kapawi starts at 6:00, hot drinks and a light snack will wake you up, for a short hike in the forest or an early morning canoe trip for bird watching in the banks of the Capahuari river or to visit the parrots salt lick. Passengers will be back for breakfast at 8:00, then at 9:00 approximately passengers depart for a morning activity which will take them back to the lodge at 13:00 for lunch or you can take the lunch along to enjoy a beautiful picnic in the forest and being back to the lodge at 17:00 approximately. For passengers who decide to have lunch at the lodge they will start their afternoon activity at 15:00. At 19:00 a briefing with the guides will be scheduled every day. Dinner is served at 19:30. At 20:30 passengers will have the opportunity to do a night hike, a caiman watching or to receive a lecture about the rainforest or the Achuar life. The Lodge provides multiple activities in programs that are characterized by their flexibility: we allow you to design day by day, with the rest of your group and your guide, the most suitable program for your interests and desired activity level. Most itineraries include visits to the Achuar communities, hikes in the rain forest, canoeing, bird watching, and other activities. According to your interests and physical condition (but not your age!), we offer three alternative programs: easy, moderate, and difficult. These programs depend mainly on the distance and time you would like to spend on our trails; all other activities can be included in any program.

Day 5 Kapawi Lodge/Quito

You will leave your jungle paradise by boat and head to the Kapawi Communitys airstrip. Fly to Quito.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Kapawi Lodge (3nts)
Departure	Mondays and Fridays
Group Size	No Minimum
Included Highlights	Various jungle activities and spectacular wildlife viewing by boat and rainforest hiking
Meals Included	3B, 3L, 3D
StartFinish	ex Quito
Transport	Bus, Local Flight, Canoe, Hiking, Boat
Brochure Intro	Kapawi is an ecologically and culturally sensitive lodge in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin.

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