The Bameno Tourism Program
Welcome to our community. We are proud to present our culture to others and to teach others about our territory. The following is the tourism program that we offer. We reserve the right to change rules when we think necessary. We make our community and the Huaorani territory. IF YOU CANNOT PAY YOU MAY NOT ENTER OUR TERRITORY. This is our law.
Prices
Groups of 3 — 8 tourists:
We prefer small groups in order to ensure the quality of the interaction between the visitors and the community.
Price per person: $700
$100 per day plus a conservation fee of $100 to enter the intangible zone and $100 fee to enter the community of Bameno (days of river travel cost $100 a day as well). Only cash is accepted. One pays Penti Baihua upon meeting the Huaorani in Puerto Francisco de Orellana (La Coca).
Duration:
Five days (the sixth day involved only the flight out of the territory and the guest is not charged $100 for this day
What is Included
- Entrance into the intangible zone and Huaorani territory
- An experienced Huaorani guide
- Transportation by canoe to and from Bameno
- A personal cook
- Potable water
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and some snacks
- Bug nets
- Beds and pillows
- Seat cushions for the canoe
- If necessary, a translator to translate between Spanish and English
Sample Itinerary
- First day: Meet the Huaorani in Coca (it is your responsibility to reach Coca without the help of the Huaorani). Pay Penti Baihua the $700 and the tour begins. Travel by car three hours to the river Tiguino. Travel by motor canoe down said river observing birds and other animals. Arrive at Kemperi Lodge where we will spend the night.
- Second day: Travel on the Tiguino river and the Conanaco river to the community of Baunamo. During the trip we will observe animals such as: turtles, Macaws, Caymans, Toucans, Tapirs and more (sightings of said animals is not guaranteed). During the whole trip one will be able to observe the pristine forest of the Oriente. We will arrive in the community of Baunamo where we will spend the night.
- Third day: We will spend the night with the people of Buanamo. Later, we will continue the canoe trip to Bameno. We will arrive in Bameno in the afternoon and we will take a walk through the forest in order to understand what the forest around Bameno is like. We will spend the night talking with the people of Bameno before bed.
- Fourth day: A walk through a lagoon to observe birds and other animals and in the afternoon, after lunch, we will go fishing in the Conanaco river. After dinner, we will go on a night hike.
- Fifth day: Another walk that will take us along the river for about two hours; we will observe medicinal plants on this hike and we will return to a beach on the river to relax and bathe. At night the community will do a presentation, showing their traditional chants, dances and dress. The sale of hand made crafts such as spears, crowns, necklaces and bags will follow this.
- Sixth day: Fly out of Huaorani territory to Puyo (Note: the cost of the flight is not included in the $700 cost of the trip and flights generally cost $125 per person. Be advised: flights are often times unreliable and it is a good idea to leave yourself two to three “buffer” days after the trip ends in case you have to wait for a flight in Bameno or leave the territory by river to Coca).
Rules
- Personal or foreign guides are not permitted inside of Huaorani territory.
- To take pictures of the elders, tourists need to first ask them for permission and later it would be nice to give a gift to the family of the elder.
- No one may enter the house of a Huaorani without permission.
- No one may throw trash in the community.
- Hunting of any kind is strictly prohibited.
Tour Dates
Stemming from a desire to limit cultural impact from visitors, the Huaorani of Bameno want only five tours a year; tours leave on either a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Dates are as follows:
Spring tour: March 21 to March 26, 2008 (This trip enters by plane from Puyo and leaves by river to Coca, so that tourists can partake in Bameno’s festivals)
Early-Summer tour one: June 4 to June 9, 2008
Early-Summer tour two: June 25 to June 30, 2008
Mid-Summer tour: July 2 to July 7, 2008
Late-Summer tour: August 7 to August 12, 2008
Thank you for you interest and for respecting the community and culture that we are working to protect.
— Penti Baihua and the community of Bameno