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Published: 24-08-2022
Sometimes the Ecuadorian Amazon can be overlooked by visitors to Ecuador who are eager to get to the Galapagos. However, the Amazon basin is an incredible place for a trip in its own right, with so much to see and do. The diversity of birds and wildlife in the Ecuadorian Amazon is tremendous, and many lodges are accessible. It is easy to organize your time to get the most possible from a trip to the Amazon basin for the time that you are there because the rainforest supports a wide range of diverse and fascinating wildlife that you can only really see in the wild if you travel to places such as the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. As well as impressive jungle flora and fauna, the native, indigenous people of the Ecuadorian Amazon will welcome you into their home and share who will welcome you into their home and share with you their traditional way of life in the Ecuadorian Amazon for the ultimate immersive experience.
Indigenous Amazon Women
Quito
We will begin this cultural immersion experience in the capital Quito, Renowned as one of South America’s most scenic cities. Quito, Ecuador’s bustling capital, offers a beautiful blend of old and new. Here, its iconic Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcases an impressive array of monuments and colonial architecture built on an Inca city's ruins. Bustling markets give way to a flourishing commercial center, while tranquil neighborhoods offer insight into the everyday life of its inhabitants.
Plaza Grande, Quito Old Town
Papallacta Hot Springs
Located by the Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve, Papallacta and the surrounding areas are home to an abundance of flora and fauna. With the Antisana volcano nearby, it offers an array of hiking opportunities. The surrounding landscape is home to the so-called paper trees, the polylepis, which are endemic to the Andes region. The area is also suitable for spotting spectacled bears and the endangered Andean condor, Ecuador’s national animal. The site is most famous for its stunning hot springs, where you will have the chance to soak and absorb the energy of these geothermal waters.
Papallacta Hot Springs
Guango Lodge
Guango Lodge is located near the paramo of Papallacta. Guango has many trails through the temperate Andean Forest and feeding stations for its many hummingbirds. Hummingbirds never fail to delight everyone; any of them will perch for us within perfect photographic range. The hummingbird feeders are unique, with many beautiful birds to see, such as Hermit hummingbirds, Sword-Billed Hummingbirds, three species of Violetears, and Sunangel hummingbirds, to name but a few. There are also exciting trails on the property which were saved from development and are still run by the same family today.
Tourmaline Sunangel
Ecuadorian Amazon
As the world’s largest tropical rainforest, the Amazon is famous for its biodiversity of plants and wildlife. Spreading across nine countries in South America, there are many options for experiencing the Amazon. Ecuador is an excellent choice given its eco-friendly lodges, incredible biodiversity, and a more off-the-beaten-track feel to the Amazon.
Amazon Indigenous Woman
On arrival, there will be a welcoming ceremony; the meaning behind the ceremony derives from staying safe as you venture out into the rainforest. You will be given a head-dress to wear made of plaited leaves and the painting of a symbol with traditional natural paint from the rainforest on your face. These included Pachamama and the rotation symbol. Pachamama derives from the fact that historically, men were hunters and gatherers. Women were in the home, then Pachamama, also known as mother earth, gave wisdom to a lady to start planting trees, growing and harvesting fruit so that the sole role of men could stop being that of hunting and gathering, and for that reason, women evolved. The rotation symbol means every person in the world is making paths wherever they go, and the rotation says that we have to go back home at some point, and all the things you've learned along the way, you share with your family and friends.
Oncilla Wildcat
You will learn about ancient practices and traditions that predate even Inca rule. The process of becoming a shaman or Yachak begins in adolescence. – Young community members endure days alone in the jungle, learning how to wield and work with its plant and animal life. A lot of the activities here happen in the early morning to avoid the blistering heat of the jungle. Wake at dawn to spot parrots feeding next to speckled chachalacas. You will then cruise along the river and spot playful woolly monkeys and capuchins hanging from the forest canopy.
Amazon Hummingbirds
After this completely immersive experience in the Ecuadorian Amazon, you will return home with a different viewpoint on life. The Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest has over 1,400 other animal species, including 200 mammals, 121 reptiles and nearly 600 bird species, 70,000 types of insects and 1,000 species of trees. If you want to come and visit one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and immerse yourself in the traditional way of Amazonian life with an indigenous family, contact us here to book your Cultural immersion in the Ecuadorian Amazon Tour.
