THE ZAPARA EXPERIENCE

OVERVIEW
ITINERARY
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
THE ZAPARAS

COMUNIDAD ZAPARA. PUYO ECUADOR

Imagine going back in time — not in theory, but in practice. Not twenty million years ago, but to a way of life that has remained mostly untouched. In the heart of the Amazon, the Sápara people continue to live in close relationship with the forest, the river, and the land.

Cuyacocha is one of their communities. Fewer than fifty people live there, spread across just a few families. There are no roads in. You arrive by small plane. There are no stores, no cars, no electricity. The river is the bath. The forest is the pharmacy. Food is hunted, fished, and grown. Homes are built by hand.

Nothing here is for show. The Sápara don’t preserve their culture for tourists. They live it.

Spending time in Cuyacocha isn’t a retreat, and it’s not an escape. It’s not comfortable in the way city life is. But it’s real. And that reality can change the way you see things — not because it’s dramatic or romantic, but because it strips life down to what actually matters.

For six days, you’ll wake with the forest. Walk the same paths Sápara hunters walk. Learn to fish, to gather, to cook, to build. You’ll drink guayusa before sunrise and share dreams in the dark — not as ritual for visitors, but as something the community has done for generations. You’ll plant food in the chacra. You’ll eat what you help harvest. You’ll sleep to the sounds of the jungle and wake to them again.

You’ll be part of the rhythm of daily life. Not watching — doing. Helping. Learning. Listening. The people around you will become familiar: the elder who knows the forest better than any map, the children who run barefoot and sure-footed, the woman showing you how to wrap fish in leaves to cook over flame.

And somewhere in that rhythm — in the walking, the working, the quiet — things start to shift. The pace, the expectations, the need for distraction, they all fall away. You notice more. You need less.

This isn’t a journey back in time. It’s something more honest than that. It’s a return to what’s at the root — of how humans live, of how we relate to the land, and of how we relate to each other. It’s not easy. But it’s real. And for many, that’s exactly what’s missing.

If this calls to you, you’ll know.


DEPARTURE LOCATION	Pickup from your accomodation in Quito
DEPARTURE TIME	Day 1 6:00 am
RETURN TIME	Day 6 6:00 am

Bi-lingual guide (English/Spanish)
Transport Quito - Puyo
Typical village accommodation
All meals
Purified water
First aid
Rubber boots
Bedding
Solar battery (limited)
Personal cleaning supplies

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ITINERARY

DAY 1

We’ll start early in the morning in Quito, where we’ll meet and drive together to Puyo. The road takes about four hours, crossing valleys, rivers, and small towns as we slowly make our way toward the Amazon. In Puyo, we’ll take a small plane and fly for about 40 minutes into the forest. From the air, you’ll start to see how remote this place is. When we land, the families from the community will meet us and help carry our things. We’ll walk to the cabins and get settled. Each person will have a bed with a mosquito net. The cabins are basic, clean, and made by the people who live here. Our first meal will be lunch — usually a fresh catch from the river, prepared by people from the community. Everything you’ll eat here comes from the land or the river nearby. After lunch, we’ll meet for a short introduction and go over what to expect during the week. In the afternoon, we’ll take part in a traditional cleansing with plants and smoke. Then we’ll join the community for some games — like using the blowgun and spear, which are both still used for hunting. You’ll also be able to try on traditional clothing if you want to. Dinner will be prepared by people from the community. After we eat, we’ll go on a short night walk in the jungle to listen and see what’s moving in the dark. Then back to the cabins to rest. The jungle stays awake — but you’ll get used to that.

DAY 1

DAY 2

You’ll wake up at sunrise, just as the forest starts to stir — birds calling, branches shifting, insects coming alive. After breakfast at the lodge, the day begins. We start with a canoe trip down the river, joined by community members who will show you how they fish using traditional techniques. You’ll try it yourself, fishing from the canoe with their guidance. As you move through the water, watch for wildlife. You might see local hunters tracking birds or small animals, using methods passed down through generations. Later, we’ll arrive at a campsite (location to be confirmed) where we’ll set up and cook a traditional meal together. You’ll learn how to make maitos — fish or meat wrapped in leaves and cooked over fire. You’ll take part in every step, from gathering ingredients to preparing and cooking the food. Afterward, we return to the cabañas to rest and clean up. In the afternoon, we visit the community. As you walk through the village, you’ll be welcomed into daily life — cooking, crafting, working alongside the people who live there. You won’t just watch. You’ll help stir food, shape materials, and share chicha while hearing about the traditions that have shaped this place. Dinner at the lodge ends the day. The jungle doesn’t go quiet at night — it just changes. And you fall asleep with its sounds all around you.

DAY 2

DAY 3

The day begins early — at 3:00 AM — with a Sápara guayusa ceremony. We gather in the dark to drink the warm, bitter tea made from guayusa leaves, known for its strength and natural caffeine. The ceremony is a time to share dreams, reflect, and prepare for the day ahead. Among the Sápara, dreams are tied to the hunt, to decisions, to the rhythm of life. Drinking guayusa on an empty stomach sharpens the senses and helps the mind remember. At this hour, the forest is wide awake. Animals are out feeding. The air is full of sound — birds, frogs, insects, monkeys. It’s one of the most alive times of day. After the ceremony, we step into the forest with Sápara hunters. You’ll learn how they move, how they listen, how they track. Hunting is knowledge passed from one generation to the next. It connects fasting, dreaming, and moving with care through the forest. Whether or not anything is caught, the learning is in the experience. Along the way, we stop to taste chontacuros — roasted larvae, high in protein, a traditional and valued food in this region. Back at the lodge, we gather around whatever was brought back. If there’s a catch, it’s cooked and shared. If not, there’s still food, and plenty to reflect on. The afternoon is for rest. You’ll also have the chance to take part in a face painting ritual using natural pigments. The patterns carry meaning specific to each person and each moment. It’s a way to mark the day and the connection to the land. Later, you’ll have time to walk, relax, or spend time with others in the community. As the sun sets, we gather to drink a traditional fermented yuca beverage. People sit together, talk, laugh, share stories. When night falls, you return to your cabaña. The sounds of the jungle continue, slower now, steady. You fall asleep with them all around you.

DAY 3

DAY 4

You’ll start the day with breakfast at the lodge, then head out on foot toward the chacra — the community farm. This is where much of the food comes from. You’ll join in the work: harvesting, learning about the crops, and hearing how the Sápara grow food in a way that respects the land. Along the way, you’ll taste fruits straight from the trees — papaya, guanábana, passionfruit — whatever’s in season. You’ll also have the chance to plant something yourself, adding to the future harvest and learning about the rhythms of growth in the forest. Back at camp, lunch is prepared with what was gathered. In the afternoon, you choose between two activities — both rooted in the daily life of the community: Artisan Crafts Work alongside local artisans to make something by hand — a basket, a piece of jewelry, or another item using traditional techniques passed down through generations. Jungle Construction Join a small team to help build something practical using materials from the forest. It might be a bed, a shelf, or even part of a canoe. The tools are basic, but the knowledge runs deep. As the sun sets and the sounds of the forest shift, we gather for dinner — made with the ingredients harvested earlier in the day. Afterward, the night is yours to relax, talk, or simply listen to the jungle.

DAY 4

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Things you should know

Comfort will look different here.

There are no hot showers, no air conditioning, and no phone signal. The jungle doesn’t offer luxury — but it offers something else: honesty, clarity, and connection. You’ll adjust quickly, and what once felt like a challenge may start to feel like freedom.

Language barriers may exist — and that’s okay.

You’ll have a translator with you throughout the experience, but connection doesn’t rely on perfect words. It happens through gestures, shared work, presence. You’ll be surprised by how much can be understood without saying much at all.

You’ll be off the grid.

There’s no phone signal, no Wi-Fi, and no charging stations in the community. Bring a power bank if you need one — but more importantly, prepare to disconnect. It might feel strange at first. Then it starts to feel like relief.

You’ll eat what’s available.

Meals are prepared from what’s grown, caught, or harvested locally. That means fresh, seasonal food — often simple, sometimes unfamiliar. If you have dietary restrictions, let us know in advance. Flexibility is key.

You’ll eat what’s available.

You will get mosquito bites.

Even with repellent and long sleeves, expect bites. It’s just part of being in the forest. Come prepared, and try not to let it get to you — your focus will shift quickly to everything else going on around you.

Showering happens in the river.

There’s no bathroom with tiles and hot water. You’ll bathe in the same river the community uses, surrounded by forest. It’s refreshing, clean, and surprisingly beautiful once you settle into the rhythm of it.

Going to the bathroom means going into the forest.

We’ll guide you on how to do this in a clean, respectful way, using biodegradable wipes and practices that minimize impact. It may feel unusual at first, but it quickly becomes part of daily life here.

Plans can change.

The forest sets the pace, not the clock. While we follow a planned itinerary, flexibility is key. Weather, river conditions, or community needs may lead to changes — and when they do, we adjust with care, always keeping everyone’s well-being and the spirit of the experience in mind.

Your presence has an impact.

Being here means entering someone else’s home — a sacred space shaped by generations of connection to the land. Every action carries weight. Respect the people, the place, and the forest that sustains them. This isn’t just a visit — it’s a shared moment in a living culture.

You may be challenged.

Life in the jungle isn’t always easy. You might feel tired, uncomfortable, or out of your element. That’s okay. Those moments often hold the most meaning. Let them teach you something.

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The Zaparas

Cuyacocha is a small Indigenous Zapara community located in the province of Pastaza, in the Amazon region of Ecuador, near the border with Peru. It is part of the territory recognized as ancestral land of the Zapara Nation. The only way to reach the community is by small aircraft from the town of Puyo. There are no roads or river access.

The community has fewer than 50 inhabitants, made up of a few extended families. There is no electricity, internet, phone signal, or shops. Water is taken from the river, and food comes from hunting, fishing, and small-scale agriculture. The homes are built with materials from the forest, mostly wood and palm leaves.

The Zapara people were once a larger population spread across Ecuador and Peru, but due to colonization and the rubber boom, their numbers were drastically reduced. Today, the Zapara Nation is recognized by the Ecuadorian state as one of the Indigenous nationalities, and its language — Zapara — is classified as critically endangered by UNESCO. Only a few elders still speak it fluently.

Cuyacocha does not have tourism infrastructure. The experience is hosted directly by members of the community, and visitors stay in basic cabins built by local families. All logistics — food, transport, guidance — are handled in coordination with the people who live there.

THE ZAPARA EXPERIENCE

COMUNIDAD ZAPARA. PUYO ECUADOR

BOOK NOW

ITINERARY

BOOK NOW

Things you should know

BOOK NOW

The Zaparas

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