In the middle of the untouched rainforest of the Ecuadorian Amazon basin on the Tiguino river we find our Lodge Bataburo, which offers all the necessary comfort with out losing the adventure spirit. It is located 90 kilometres south east from the town of Coca (Francisco de Orellana). The river Tiguino flows through the Huaorani Territory. Here we find the mystical and wild heart of the primary rainforest. Together with the Organization of the Huaorani villages, the ONHAE, we agreed to build the Bataburo Lodge in their ancestral land.

THE LODGE:

The area surrounding the cabins is untouched primary forest with an extensive system of hiking trails for easy access to the incredibly diverse surroundings.With the help of your Huaorani and Kichwa indigenous guides and an interpreter guide (available in English, German, French and Spanish) you will learn about the rainforests through the eyes of someone who has grown up in the rainforest and learned of its many wonders and secrets.There are no fewer than eleven species of monkeys that live around the cabins, and it is common to catch a glimpse of them. Also in the neighborhood are other mammals as the tapir, peccaries or the capybara; anacondas and caimans on the river shore and a wide diversity of birds as the toucans, macaws, parrots, hoatzin, kingfishers, hummingbirds, and several species of raptor, including the elusive harpy eagle.

FACILITIES:

The accommodations are in double rooms, with mosquito-nets, electricity (110V) and with shared, tiled baths. But also we offer two cabins with private facilities. The dining room is spacious and airy, overlooking the adjacent oxbow lake. It offers as well a bar and a space to relax in hammocks. The kitchen serves hearty local cuisine. Try traditional yucca (manioc), plantains, and several varieties of fruit harvested from nearby rainforest farms. Plates of chicken, beef, or vegetarian food are usually part of the menu. The bounty of the nearby rivers provide us with fresh fish. The cabins are one of the few places in Ecuador where one can experience extremely isolated primary rainforest while maintaining a high level of personal comfort. The complex provides an excellent environment for families with children.

THE HUAORANI:

The Huaorani people are a people shrouded in mystery. They speak a language unrelated to any other (in fact it has yet to be even classified). Additionally, their pottery designs do not resemble those of their past or present neighbors. It is only known through their own folklore that they migrated from "down river" a long time ago. They revere the jaguar and call themselves Huaorani, which means "human beings" or "the people," and refer to everyone else as “cowode” or "non-humans." Up until four decades ago the Huaorani still used stone axes and maintained a thoroughly traditional hunting and gathering lifestyle in their extremely isolated and monkey-rich rainforest haven.

However, in the 1950's all of this changed. First the missionaries came. Then, with the global demand for oil came the demand to find new oil reserves, and as fate has it the world's 2,200 Huaorani live right on top of one of Ecuador's biggest oil deposits.

 

Rates include:

• All meals
• Water way transportation
• All shore excursions with an English speaking naturalist guide

Not included:

• Transportation from / to Quito
• Entrance to parks
• Extra meals and beverages
• Gratuities
• Cancellation/medical insurance