Ecuador Amazon holiday, Huaorani ecolodge

Community
Huaorani Ecolodge directly employ local staff, all are given a high level of training both before and during their employment. All other programmes involve local guides and operators.

The Lodge use local produce as a matter of principle, we made all efforts to find local suppliers wherever possible.

Our naturalist guides are bilingual experts and committed conservationists. They always work with a local or indigenous guide, both to provide the visitor with a higher quality experience, as well as to ensure that the people who live in these special areas are benefiting economically from tourism and thus have an incentive to conserve their environment.

The interest and respect which our clients show for these indigenous communities also strengthens values and encourages the survival of traditional knowledge which has suffered erosion and unappreciation for too long.

In other words, we don't see ecotourism as a catchword for enticing unsuspecting conservation - conscious clients, but as an ongoing project for sustainable development in the world's last remaining natural treasures which provides abundant possibilities for cultural interaction beneficial for both sides.

Environment
The fundamental requirement was that this Lodge be different. Low impact and local participation were given priority. As part of the planning process other tourist lodges were analyzed for common faults and for ideas on how Huaorani Ecolodge could improve on the experience of the standard lodge while also reducing impacts.

Wood for the construction of the Lodge came from trees chosen by the Huaorani together with a forest engineer, while the location was determined based on its distance from Quehueri’ono. Huaorani community members were involved in the Lodge’s construction and form the majority of the employees; there are also plans to create complementary low impact small businesses to increase local employment.

Produce is purchased locally. Buildings are lit via solar panels which also power the shortwave radio, refrigerator and water pump. Biodegradable products are used in housekeeping services and bathrooms, and a bio-filter renders all waste products either recyclable or harmless before being discharged into the river. A constant effort is made to improve performance and minimise impacts.

The principle objective of Huaorani Ecolodge is the conservation of nature and respect for tribal peoples and cultures. The project jointly with the local community with which we work are developing a nature reserve of a minimum 3,000 Hectares.
The program is designed to raise awareness about the intrinsic value of cultural or natural attractions, or the necessity to preserve and support endangered peoples in their efforts to survive and protect their environments. All clients are provided with information, both written and aural on history of local cultures and flora and fauna and encouraged to support local communities.

At least 10% of our profits is donated to environmental protection programmes in Ecuador, through our related nonprofit Acción Amazonía and including The Cuyabeno Defense Committee, the Amazon Defense Front, the Amazon Environmental Monitoring Network, the Huaorani Peoples' Organization (ONHAE), the Huaorani Community of Quehueri'ono, the Galápagos Guides Club and others.