TUKUNARI LODGE

Easy Level             

190 m         

5 days, 4 nigths    

The majority of our time will be focused on looking and searching for wildlife in various ways: on foot during short or long hikes, slowly by motorized canoe for better visibility or quietly paddling up and down lagoons and rivers to remain unnoticed. Given the isolation of the places we will explore and the time required to get there, we recommend a 5 days stay as a minimum, optimally 6 or 7 to fully experience your immersion.      

Day 1: Traveling and arrival to Tukunari Lodge

• Departure around 7:30 AM from Coca (10 AM if you arrive by plane), transfer to the river by private taxi, switch to the canoe, and then head towards Tukunari Lodge for about a 5.5-hour journey. Upon arrival, you’ll get acquainted with the family, receive explanations about the project, the territory, the national park, enjoy the evening meal, and then begin your initiation into the jungle with a first nighttime walk primarily in search of insects, amphibians, and reptiles.

Day 2: Zancudococha lagoon

• Waking up in the early hours of the morning to drink a traditional energizing tea and discuss culture, history, and beliefs with a senior family member, usually the father, an old Shuar Shaman who lives secluded in the forest. Breakfast followed by a 3-hour walk through the dense forest in search of large mammals and primates. Arrival at Zancudococha, where a boat will be waiting for us. The largest lagoon in the Ecuadorian Amazon will welcome us for lunch, swimming, piranha fishing, and a fish meal at a semi-equipped camp belonging to the community. We’ll end the day with a nighttime outing to observe the plentiful and impressive black, white, and dwarf caimans, then make our return in complete darkness through a winding river. Back to the chalets for a long, well-deserved night’s rest.

Day 3: Lagartococha wetlands – Peruvian community

• Breakfast and preparations for departure towards the Peruvian border and the incredible area of Lagartococha. Departure around 9-9:30 AM and arrival at the community platform around 12:30 PM. Expect to see a lot of wildlife of all kinds on this journey, including birds, turtles, monkeys, dolphins, and more. An afternoon outing to a small, authentic community on the Peruvian side where we will prepare

Day 4: Lost in Lagartococha wetlands

• Departure in the early hours of the morning in small rowing canoes for an intense outing of 7 to 9 hours rowing through endless lagoons and a small river untouched by man where animals and aquatic fauna abound. A paradise corner disconnected from everything, giving the impression of traveling back in time. Return in the early afternoon for lunch, preparations, and a leisurely return to Tukunari Lodge. In the late afternoon/early evening, we will have the chance to engage in one last cultural activity, such as making necklaces, sharing stories around the fire, or taking one last walk in the forest.

Day 5: Return towards Coca

• Breakfast, brief recap, quick walk if time allows, departure towards Coca between 9 AM and 9:30 AM. Estimated arrival around 5 PM.