 |
|
ABOUT US
The Kapawi project was initiated in 1993 by Carlos Perez Perasso, founder of Canodros and owner of El Universo, the major newspaper in Ecuador. Mr. Perasso was a man of vision and passion and his goal was to begin a new trend in ecotourism. By initiating and supporting Kapawi Ecolodge, in partnership with the Ecuadorian Achuar Nationality, NAE, the aim was to develop a genuine community based ecotourism project that generated a sustainable economic income and jobs to the Achuar. The Achuar people lead a relatively basic lifestyle in an area of 681.218 hectares in the Amazon jungle with a population of 6,000 people in 64 communities, and Kapawi Ecolodge was created in response to their need for a sustainable economic alternative. In 2005 Canodros created a new company called CEKSA (Complejo Ecoturistico Kapawi. S.A.), which is the new tour operator that will be in charge of running the operations of Kapawi Ecolodge. On the 1st of January 2008, Canodros transferred all the shares, assets and installations of Kapawi Ecolodge to the Achuar people.
The lodge accommodates up to 44 visitors with double and triple accommodation options, and was built in accordance to the Achuar concept of architecture.
Kapawi is the largest community-based project ever developed in Ecuador and was developed and built in co-ownership with the private enterprise; Canodros S.A. Kapawi was created to provide a high standard of tourism excellence in one of the most remote and pristine areas in the south east of Ecuador, away from oil exploitation and other destructive practices.
The project provides various benefits to the Achuar people. At the moment up to 70% percent of all the employees that work at the lodge are Achuar. Canodros also buys products and services for the lodge in the nearby communities. Tourists give a contribution of US $10 dollars as an entrance fee to Achuar territory. For these communities their main income comes from ecotourism.
Kapawi has also provided a launching platform for the Achuar as it has brought the area to the attention of many people from nongovernmental organizations that have invested money and time to develop projects to reinforce the structure of the NAE organization and the development of different projects parallel to ecotourism such as: health, communications, transportation, and education for the entire Achuar territory.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
