Kapawi Eco-lodge and Reserve is located in one of the most remote and well protected parts of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Deep in the nearly two million acres of the Achuar people’s territory, Kapawi is accessible only by air—flying in small planes over an unbroken green expanse of rainforest. Kapawi is an award winning eco-lodge noted for its comfort and quality of service, for its ecological design and sensitivity, and for its abundance of wildlife and rich biodiversity. Located in the territorial lands of an indigenous nation (6,000 people in 64 communities) still living as they have for generations and in intimate harmony with nature, Kapawi provides guests a range and depth of cultural experiences unmatched by any other rainforest lodges.

The Achuar are historically a nation of warriors with a firm commitment to preserve their territory and way of life, and to resist the encroachment of extractive industries and a western style of development. Since Jan 2008 the Achuar people have taken over full responsibility and ownership of the lodge. The Kapawi lodge is an example of an alternative development path and is a key element in the Achuar strategy for protecting their lands. It brings revenue, training and a connection with potential allies from the outside world.

A visit to Kapawi is a truly authentic and unique experience but authenticity need not come at the expense of comfort! 19 fully screened cabins built in traditional Achuar style sit atop stilts over a lagoon full of stunning plant, bird and insect life. Fine dining, fusing international and Ecuadorian cuisine, and a well stocked bar and social area are enjoyed by guests supported by a staff eager to make your stay in Kapawi an unforgettable experience. An Achuar guide and a bi-lingual naturalist guide accompany each group on a wide variety of activities designed to reveal the mysteries and majesty of the rainforest and Achuar culture.

Kapawi Ecolodge & Reserve is built entirely using traditional Achuar architecture and fans out around the edge of a stunning lagoon of plant and bird life. The accommodations consist of 19 comfortable double guest rooms, each with private bath. A large dining room and a separate bar/library are centrally located and form the well used main social and meeting areas of the lodge.

A beautiful raised, wooden boardwalk, that winds its way from the river through the jungle to the lodge itself, ties all of the buildings together and also provides a viewing platform extending out into the lagoon.The boardwalk and the dining room veranda are great places for early morning bird watching while sipping freshly brewed coffee. In the dining room you will be served delicious combinations of Ecuadorian and international dishes, combined with products from the rain forest area. Our staff are always keen to provide you with outstanding service whether you are dining in our dining room, on the veranda overlooking the lagoon or beneath the canopy in the forest. The bar/ library is open all day and is well equipped with games, paperbacks, magazines and a collection of books focusing on rainforest wildlife and indigenous culture. A small boutique provides essential items you may have forgotten (film, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sunscreen lotion, insect repellent, hats, etc.), as well as Achuar handicrafts and Kapawi souvenirs.

After a wonderful day full of new and fascinating experiences, nothing is better than relaxing in a hammock or reclining chair on the bar¹s wide veranda and watching the sunset while listening to the sounds of the jungle and sipping something delicious from our well stocked bar.

South America : Ecuador

Kapawi is located near the Ecuadorian and Peruvian border, in the Southern Ecuadorian Amazon Basin on the Pastaza River, a major tributary of the Amazon. Kapawi is one of the most pristine and isolated points in the Amazon Basin accessed only by air. The closest town is a ten-day walk away. Kapawi is located in one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth, with 10,000 different species of plants and more than 570 different species of birds. Located 240 km from Quito, the Achuar Territory covers 5000 square kilometres, and is home to approximately 6,000 Achaur people.

Our chefs serve a delicious range of international and Ecuadorian cuisne combined with products from the rainforest area. We serve three meals daily and snacks in between. You will dine in our lagoon side dinning room or beneath the forest canopy.

We have a well stocked bar and balconies in every room including the bar and dining room. There are also hammocks for you to relax in on each balcony and a separate hammock house to lie and relax - this is where we build a fire in the evenings, and where we have talks about Achaur culture. We don't have a swimming pool but for those who love to swim with pink dolphins, the lodge is close to the banks of the Capawarhi river.

The lodge offers a multitude of activities, so that with your guides and your group you can design a flexible program to suit your interests and activity level. Most itineraries include a visit to an Achuar community, where you will be invited into a home to experience Achuar hospitality and taste the famous manioc beer. Depending on your fitness levels there are a variety of hikes in the rainforest to learn about the flora, fauna and Achuar cosmology and culture. Your Achuar guide will delight and amaze you with all the different uses of the plants, from food to medicine, to building materials. If you are lucky enough to come across traditional Achuar foods you will have the opportunity to taste lemon ants or palm larvae, not for the faint hearted!

Kapawi lodge is a paradise for bird watchers and amateurs alike, more species of bird are found in the Kapawi area alone than in all of North America. Kapawi is on the banks of the Capahuari river, so you can fish for pirana, or take a traditional Achuar canoe or kayak to explore sleepy streams, thick with jungle foliage, you will feel a million miles from western civilization. For those of you who prefer less effort, slip into a rubber ring or swim and let the current carry you down stream, and there is no need to worry, the only wild life you are likely to encounter while in the river are the magical pink dolphins. Something not to be missed is the alfresco dinning experience in the forest, after a beautiful walk your guides will set up a delicious hot lunch for you in the forest beneath the jungle canopy.