Accommodation

Huaorani Ecolodge, opened in August 2007, provides accommodations for 10 people in a style harmonious with the surrounding environment and the Huaorani culture.

Huaorani Ecolodge is situated in terra firma rainforest (forest that is never flooded) an hour walk from the community of Quehueri'ono, in the northwestern part of the Territory. You are in a comfortable and secure setting consisting of five Huaorani-style, palm-thatched cabins named after the Huao communities along the Shiripuno River, constructed of local wood, within which are fitted luxury modern tents. All cabins have a pair of twin beds, a private bathroom equipped with a shower and flush toilet, and a porch with comfortable chairs. You are provided with environmentally-friendly soaps and shampoos.

The dining area has a bar as well as a shop that sells all those toiletries you forgot and other sundries. The whole area is covered with traditional Huaorani-style palm thatching and comfortably seats 20 people at five tables.

Transport

Transportation from Quito to Shell/Puyo and back is by small bus, from 4-5 hours each way, and the 40-minute chartered flights from Shell/Puyo to Quehueri'ono and back are via either a 3- or 5-seater Cessna.

Transportation around the Lodge is by foot and by poled, dugout canoe. Return to Quito on the alternative program is by dugout canoe, small bus and regular flights from Francisco de Orellana (Coca). Prevailing weather conditions may delay flights, and programs will adapt accordingly.

Meals

4 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners.

Staff

Huaorani local guide

Age Restriction

There is no age restriction for our visit to the Huarani Eco Lodge, but visitors should be in a good state of physical health as the trip will include walking through the jungle and travelling in small dug-out canoes.

Travellers should also have sufficient travel insurance for this trip.

What To Bring

Do not be offended that we ask your weight on the Visitor General Information form since we use small aircraft to fly in and out of the community of Quehueri´ono and there is a combined weight limit for passengers and their baggage. Please limit your baggage to the essentials (see below list) and do not worry should you be asked to leave behind an item or two (e.g., a book), it will be returned at the end of your journey. 

We suggest that you leave all jewelry behind as well as credit cards/traveler’s checks; only cash is accepted at the end of your visit for any extras you may have purchased from the bar/shop or should you decide to purchase artisanry from the Huaorani. Bring two (2) copies of your passport and visa, the original is not needed.

Gifts for the Huaorani are welcome, but preferably of scholarly material for the children and given to the Administrator for distribution through the Conservation in Action Foundation.

LUGGAGE
• 1 backpack-duffel bag
• 1 daypack (make it comfortable, you’ll use it a lot)

CLOTHING
Consider the length of your trip with us (4-9 days), and pack accordingly. Keep in mind that you WILL get dirty (and smelly) in the rainforest, but everyone else will be too.
• 2 pairs of lightweight long pants (NOT jeans)
• 3-4 short-sleeved cotton shirts
• 2 long-sleeved cotton shirts
• 1 pair of cotton socks for each day of trip
• non-synthetic underwear (you decide how many pairs)
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 windbreaker/light jacket (it can get surprisingly chilly at night/early morning)
• 1 bathing suit
• 1 hat with brim
• 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes
• 1 pair of Tevas or other strap-on rubber sandals
• rubber/Wellington boots if your foot size is larger than European 44; American M 10.5 / F 12; British M 10 / F 9.5

SUNDRY EQUIPMENT
• sunglasses with strap
• extra eyeglasses/contact lenses
• sunscreen (strong) (for sale at the Lodge)
• insect repellent (for sale at the Lodge)
• toilet kit
• personal first aid kit
• anti-itch cream, e.g., hydrocortisone
• adrenaline for anaphylactic shock response to bee/wasp sting
• hand sanitizer (for sale at the Lodge)
• flashlight(s) -- a headlamp and handheld one (crank ones are encouraged)
• extra batteries for camera equipment and flashlights
• self-sealing plastic bags/drybag -- for camera equipment/binoculars/important papers (for sale at the Lodge)
• reading material (some available at the Lodge)
• small notebook and pen/pencil
• sewing kit
• sturdy water bottle (for sale at the Lodge)

CAMERA & BINOCULARS
• Avoid tripods! If not using digital, high-speed film is recommended, e.g., 400 ASA, together with a flash (it's dark beneath the rainforest canopy). A wide-angle and a large telephoto lens are useful for birds -- for best results with insects, a lens with macro facility.
• binoculars in the 7 x 30 or 8 x 42 or 10 x 40 range with either a comfortable strap or harness
• anti-fogging cloth (very handy) (for sale at the Lodge)
 

Group Size

1-10

Other Information

Electricity and water at the Huaorani Lodge:
Buildings are lit via solar panels, which also power the shortwave radio, refrigerator and water pump, and can be used to recharge your batteries (using your equipment) on a limited basis.

 All water used for preparing food, juice and ice is purified via ultra-filtration. Water from all sources in your cabin is potable.

Bar and shop:
The Lodge has a bar and shop open until 22:00, but the hours can be extended as long as it does not disturb other visitors; the Administrator has the authority to stop the sale of drinks or to close the bar if necessary. No alcoholic drinks are served to persons less than 18 years old in accordance with Ecuadorian law. Bar and shop tabs must be paid the night prior to departure and only in US$ cash.

Special diets:
The menus are designed to accommodate a variety of dietary needs, including vegetarian. Visitors with special dietary needs should inform the Lodge at least 30 days prior to their arrival (see attached Visitor General Information form). Any general or specific needs not clearly conveyed to the Lodge cannot be met. Every effort will be made to cater to your needs, subject to availability of products in the region.
 

Operator Remarks

In addition to the general policies that follow, Huaorani Ecolodge (hereafter known as the Lodge) makes detailed pre-trip documents available to its visitors. The pre-trip documents are constantly updated to reflect changes and better prepare visitors for their journey to the Lodge and Huaorani territory. These pre-trip documents must be considered as included in its General Policies. If you do not have a copy of the most recent pre-trip documents appropriate to your trip and country of origin, please request that we send one to you immediately by contacting us using the information provided near the end of this document.

Responsibility of travellers:
Visitors have a responsibility to the Lodge, its staff and other visitors to understand the conditions explicitly and implicitly communicated in the program itinerary, code of conduct, this document and other pre-trip documents, as well as information communicated by guides and staff throughout your tour. You are also responsible for following normal patterns of social behavior and observing all safety requirements without exception, while acting in an appropriate and respectful manner toward staff and all personnel offering tour services.

Beneficiary entitlements:
If a tour is purchased from the Lodge in the name of a third person, that person is also bound by all statements and conditions contained in the aforementioned documents.

Physical condition & health:
Visitors need to be in good health and good physical condition to be able to fully enjoy the Amazon Headwaters with the Huaorani program. The program involves frequent transfers on and off narrow dugout canoes, which requires some physical effort and balance, and most of the excursions are carried out on trails that can be slippery and irregular, especially during the rainy season (May - July).

If you suffer from any medical condition that might impact or be impacted by your travel experience, you should consult your physician before participating in the program and must advise the Lodge of your condition and associated medical needs at least 30 days prior to your arrival. The Lodge reserves the right not to accept visitors based on medical and health grounds.

The Lodge is located in an area where there may be tropical diseases, so it is strongly recommended that you take an appropriate anti-malaria prophylactic and consult a physician about vaccinations. It is your responsibility to seek professional medical advice before traveling and to take all necessary health precautions and preventative measures during the trip, including making sure that you have sufficient supplies of any prescription medicines.

Insurance:
The Lodge strongly urges you to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes trip cancellation/interruption coverage and baggage loss protection. A travel health insurance policy should include medical coverage as well as for emergency evacuation. If you do not have such coverage, the Lodge can recommend a policy.
Visitors without this coverage will be required to cover their own medical evacuation costs under most circumstances. Please be sure to include the appropriate information on the attached Visitor General Information form

Forbidden items:
The Lodge, in conjunction with Ecuador’s international laws, prohibits visitors from carrying, either upon their person or in their baggage, any object or material that may be considered dangerous to the security of other visitors, the staff, or the general public, including but not limited to, explosives, weapons of any kind, and flammable items, while participating in any of the Lodge’s programs.

Illegal substances:
The transport or use of any illegal substance, including illicit drugs, is expressly forbidden while on Lodge programs. Visitors found in possession of illicit substances are subject to arrest and prosecution under national laws. The possession of even small amounts of any illegal substance can lead to charges of trafficking in Ecuador, and an offender may serve over 6 months jail time prior to coming to trial, at which time there is no true presumption of innocence and the burden of proof rests with the defendant.

Introduced species :
You are forbidden to transport biological items, including but not limited to flowers, plants and seeds, into the region or to extract and/or to transport biological items out of the region.

Bookings & payments:
The following amounts are required to confirm bookings at the cut-off times indicated below.

 

Bookings made:

61 days or more prior to departure require:
• a deposit of $200 at time of booking;
• final payment 60 days prior to departure.

60 days or less prior to departure require:
• full payment at time of booking.

NB: All payments must be received by the due date or the reservation is automatically cancelled and deposits forfeited.
No changes in passengers´ names or tour dates are accepted; if any such changes are made, the reservation is considered a new one and the original one cancelled subject to all applicable penalties.

Discount policy for children
There is a 50% discount on the Lodge’s price of the tour for children 12 years of age and under.

Cancellations and delays:

When offered by the Lodge, any refunds, substitutions or replacements encompass the full extent of the offer with the understanding that, by accepting any such offer, the affected visitor(s) waive(s) any further right to substitution, refund or additional compensation of any kind. Visitors are asked to sign an agreement to this effect at the time any substitution, refund or additional offer is made.

Despite operating with excellent ground, air and water transportation services, forces of nature (e.g., inclement weather or fluctuating river levels) can cause delays in the arrival or departure of visitors.

No expenses related to the partial or total loss of bookings for programs that you have with other operators are the responsibility of the Lodge. It is suggested that you leave adequate time between bookings to allow for delays.

Cancellations/delays due to forces of nature on the way to the Lodge
If you are unable to arrive at the Lodge at the scheduled time due to forces of nature and are obliged to spend a night in Shell, the Lodge provides you with suitable accommodations, meals and activities free of charge.

Cancellations/delays due to forces of nature when leaving the Lodge
If you are not able to leave the Lodge due to forces of nature, the night’s lodging and meals are covered by the Lodge.

Cancellation due to cancelled, delayed or missed flights of another operator inside or outside of Ecuador
No refunds.

Cancellations due to the death
Due to the death of an immediate family member (husband, wife, daughter, son, mother, father), 50% of monies is refunded or 100% of monies is credited towards a future tour.
NB: This is valid up to 60 days prior to departure upon presentation of death certificate.

Cancellations due to illness or injury
• If a medical certificate is provided, 50% of payments is charged as penalty and 50% is credited towards a future tour.
• Without a medical certificate, 100% of all monies is charged as a cancellation penalty.
NB: Medical certificates should include the registration number of your M.D. This is valid up to 60 days prior to departure.

cancellation policy
The following cancellation penalties are applied at the cut-off times indicated below:

 

121 days or more prior to departure:
• Deposit is non-refundable but can be applied to a future tour (a future tour is any departure, subject to availability, within 12 months of the original departure date. Tour credits are not transferable and therefore must be used by the original passenger. The applicable rate will be the one for the new tour date).

120 to 61 days prior to departure:
• All deposits are non-refundable.

60 days prior to departure:
• Full payment is applied as a cancellation penalty.

Substitution:
The Lodge reserves the right to substitute lodges and/or other travel services including, but not limited to, accommodations and excursions, if it deems it necessary to do so due to force majeure, or lack of participants booked for a specific departure date, in addition to other reasons. In such cases, the Lodge may place affected visitors at another lodge of similar category in the Ecuadorian Amazon. If there is a difference in the price between the Lodge and the substituted lodge, that difference will be refunded to the affected visitors. The Lodge may, on occasion, offer affected visitors a substitute program that includes some land-based accommodation and excursions, on the Ecuadorian mainland, with or without additional refund depending on the circumstance.

If affected visitors accept any substitution, the offered substitution will encompass the full extent of the offer with the understanding that by accepting any such offer the visitor waives any further right to substitution, refund or additional compensation of any kind. Affected visitors will be asked to sign an agreement to this effect at the time of substitution. If affected visitors choose not to accept the substitution offered, the Lodge reserves the right to cancel their trip (or the remainder of the trip). In such cases, a pro-rata refund based on any program/night not used (in accordance with the net excursion price the Lodge was paid for the trip, exclusive of any commissions offered by the Lodge, or mark-ups that may have been added by its tour sellers) will represent the full extent of the refund.

On the very rare occasion that the Lodge should deem it necessary to cancel an excursion and is not able to arrive at any suitable substitution options, it reserves the right to cancel the excursion in full and offer affected passengers one of the following options:

• A refund of the full net amount the Lodge was paid for the excursion (exclusive of any commissions offered by the Lodge, or any mark-ups added by tour companies, which assume the cost of such mark-ups as a risk of doing business) including the refund of any unused services such as airfare between the Huaorani territory and Shell.

• A replacement trip to be offered at a later date.

Inability to perform:
The Lodge is not liable for the inability to make the journey to Huaorani territory for reasons of: strikes or industrial action; fire; explosion; air accidents; mechanical failure of airplanes, vans, motorized canoes; war; riot; acts of terrorism; civil insurrection; and other circumstances beyond its control.

The Lodge may, due to circumstances of force majeure, or unexpected events, vary the time of day of its departures, or alter its tour programs and itineraries without advance notice for the above-mentioned reasons, as well as changing weather and forces of nature, the safety of its visitors and staff, and technical reasons. Under the aforementioned conditions, the Lodge is under no obligation whatsoever to provide substitution, replacement of services or refunds to any of its visitors so affected.