Kapawi: Amazon ecolodge and reserve

One of the most unique and attractive things about the Kapawi Ecolodge & Reserve is its remoteness. This remoteness both adds complexity and challenges to the travel arrangements to reach Kapawi, and also provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a unique part of Ecuador and to see the tropical rainforest from the air, flying in small planes, low over a vast expanse of green. We will endeavour to make your journey to Kapawi as easy and rewarding as possible and to embrace you in Achuar hospitality from the moment your journey begins at Quito airport.

From Quito to Kapawi

The standard travel route to Kapawi is to fly mid-morning from Quito to Shell, a town located on the frontier of the Amazon and a 35 minute flight from Quito. Depending upon the number of guests travelling to Kapawi that day, one of several commuter airliners will be used. This flight takes a southerly route from Quito down the valley of the volcanoes and on a clear day the view is breathtaking. Even on cloudy days you can often see the snow covered peaks of the volcanoes through the clouds.

Once in Shell, you will be met by a Kapawi representative who will assist you as you change to smaller airplanes able to operate on the shorter dirt airstrips in Achuar territory. In Shell, the waiting time is normally from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the number of guests flying into, and returning from, Kapawi. Our representative will arrange a variety of activities for you and snacks or lunch depending on the anticipated waiting time.

The flight from Shell is a 50 minute flight over miles and miles of unbroken pristine rainforest, arriving at the Achuar community of Wachirpas, located on the banks of the Pastaza River. There you will be welcomed by your Kapawi guides who will escort you on the final leg of your journey, a beautiful 30 minute canoe ride into the majesty and tranquillity of this remote part of the world. You will travel up the broad expanse of the Pastaza River, then into the smaller Capahuari River, and moments later arrive at your destination, Kapawi Ecolodge & Reserve.

Returning to Quito

The travel process is reversed and you will normally leave the lodge mid-morning by canoe, then fly by small plane from Achuar territory to Shell and there transfer to the larger airplane for the flight back to Quito. The flight to Quito is planned to arrive by early afternoon. Your entire return journey will provide one final opportunity to experience the beauty of this unique part of the world.

Please note: Our scheduled travel days to and from Kapawi are each Monday and Friday. If you are unable to travel on these days, we may be able to arrange special charter flights to accommodate you. Please check with us at info@kapawi.com.

Note 1: Depending upon weather conditions and/or the availability of specific airplanes, the standard travel route may be changed. At times, for the first leg of your journey we will fly from Quito via Montalvo or use commercial flights to Macas or Coca rather than travelling through Shell. We will endeavour to keep you fully informed of the planned travel itineraries. However, weather conditions in the Amazon are unpredictable and can change quickly so please bear with us as at times we will need to change itineraries on the day of travel or even in-route.

Note 2: In exceptional cases, usually due to weather conditions, we may operate the route from Quito to Shell, or vice-versa, by land using a chartered bus, van or auto service.

Note 3: In the event that weather conditions prevent us from getting all guests into Kapawi on the scheduled day, we will provide accommodations at a comfortable hotel in Puyo ( a 10 minute drive from Shell) and reschedule the flights to Kapawi as early as possible the next morning.

Note 4: No later than the day before your journey to Kapawi begins, we will deliver a packet of information to you at your hotel, or wherever you are staying in Quito, telling you exactly where to be at the Quito airport, and at what time, on the morning of your travel. If you have any questions about the travel itinerary, you can call our operations staff (593 9) 8344 032 (from within Ecuador dial 098 344 032).

Depending on the number of people, we use different aircrafts for example: Beech craft 1900 (19 seater) or Embraer 120 (30 seater), both aircrafts are property of SAEREO. We also use the Dash-8 (37 seater) or Fokker 28 (60 seater), both property of ICARO. We also use commercial flights from Quito-Macas or Quito-Coca. Whichever route we take we always use small aircrafts to land on the airstrips in the jungle either at Kapawi or Wachirpas communities. We use a combination of smaller planes for example, Islander (9 seater), or Cessna 206 (5 seater) or a Helio (5 seater) or Piper (5 seater), or Cessna172 (3 seater).

For your information about the aircrafts that we use please check the information bellow: