Exclusive Hotels and Haciendas of Ecuador

After a wonderful time in Hacienda Manteles, I was more than ready for the next adventure, in Kapawi Ecolodge and Reserve, the most isolated and awarded lodge in the planet, located directly in the Amazon rainforest in the heart of the Achuar territory some 700,000 hectares of pristine primary rainforest! To get to the ecolodge is itself an Idiana Jone´s type of journey. From Shell airport, in a small village just outside of Puyo using a small passenger plane into Kapawi. As soon as we were airborne, a green ocean opened in front of us. We flew over the tree tops following the Pastaza river with an aerial view of the surrounding communities. We land in the middle of the jungle where the Achuar community of Kapawi was there to receive us. ¨Makate¨ was what was said to us from an Achuar warrior donned with tribal tattoos and face paint which clearly signified the strength and self confidence of the Achuar warriors. After a short walk to the river, where properly equipped canoes were waiting for us, we began to navigate downstream for about an hour and then into a small tributary river with very calm waters and famous for its fresh water pink dolphins. Once we arrived, there were several Achuar waiting for us at the riverfront complete with the cultural face paint and feather crowns.

The lodge was designed by using Achuar techniques and modern world comfort necessities, resembling a tiny piece of paradise in the middle of the rainforest. My room had beautiful comfy beds, an inspiring view of the forest, and a luxurious terrace overlooking the landscape equipped with lounge furniture and hammocks. The meals were impressively elaborate, mixing the traditional foods of the area such as Yuca with the most up-to-date culinary delicacies. There was a meeting where an English-speaking guide explained a little bit about the lodge and the excursion options which was very informative. I was able to go bird-watching early in the morning along the river, visit an indigenous Achuar community in the afternoon, and in the night go on a night tour where I saw all types of nocturnal creatures.

Kapawi is the perfect place to have a true rainforest experience where everybody from the adventure seekers to the laid back travelers can comfortably visit the Amazon basin.

                                                                       - Harry Whitman, Chicago, USA