Journey 100 miles into the Ecuadorian Amazon to learn from one of the world’s last hunter-gatherer cultures. Join a 10-day expedition with the Huaorani—an experience so rare it may only exist in our lifetime.
Amazon Expedition
This 10-day expedition and immersive field course takes you deep into the Amazon rainforest to learn from some of the world’s most accomplished survival experts—the Huaorani people.
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For thousands of years, the Huaorani have lived, hunted, and thrived in one of the most demanding environments on Earth. Participants will be welcomed into a Huaorani family village, where learning takes place through daily life and hands-on experience. You will spend your days hunting with blowguns and spears, weaving baskets, crafting natural-fiber rope, preparing curare poison, identifying edible and medicinal plants, practicing primitive fire-making, creating pottery, learning traditional fishing techniques using fish poison, and hearing firsthand accounts of life before outside contact.
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For those seeking a deeper personal challenge, there is an optional 2–3 day self-supported survival experience, during which you may establish your own nearby camp and apply the skills learned throughout the expedition.
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This is a rare and extraordinary opportunity to learn directly from a living culture whose knowledge has been refined over millennia—an experience that few will ever have, and one that may not be available to future generations.
Our journey begins in Coca, Ecuador, where participants gather at the airport before loading into our overland transport. From there, we travel several hours along a remote dirt oil road until reaching a small river outpost. Here, we transfer into a motorized canoe—the true gateway to the Amazon.
From this point forward, the expedition moves entirely by river as we navigate remote tributaries of the Amazon and travel deep into Huaorani territory. Along the way, you will have opportunities to observe and photograph exotic wildlife, including monkeys, birds, and other rainforest species, during an extended river journey that can range from 9 to 18 hours.
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This expedition is not designed for the faint of heart. Travel times are dictated by river conditions, currents, and natural obstacles such as log jams. These variables are an integral part of the experience, offering an authentic introduction to the realities of travel and life in the Amazon rainforest—and setting the tone for the adventure that follows.
Upon arrival at the hunting camp, participants will establish camp in a traditional Huaorani palm-leaf shelter and sleep in Hennessy hammocks, fully immersed in the rhythms of life in the rainforest. Each day is spent alongside Huaorani guides, learning ancestral skills through direct participation in daily activities. Instruction is entirely experiential and hands-on, with participants actively engaging in traditional hunting methods, food gathering, tool-making, shelter construction, and other cultural practices that have sustained the Huaorani people for generations.
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After approximately one week in the hunting camp, the expedition continues downriver to the Huaorani village of Bameno. Here, participants are welcomed into the community and take part in traditional dances, songs, and communal celebrations marking the completion of the journey. This final stage offers a rare opportunity to experience Huaorani culture in a village setting and to reflect on the skills, relationships, and insights gained throughout the expedition.
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This expedition represents an exceptional opportunity for cultural exchange and immersive learning—one that few people will ever experience and one that leaves a lasting impression well beyond the journey itself. Spaces for this unique expedition are limited, so secure your place today and embark on a journey that will redefine your understanding of survival, culture, and the natural world.
