Getting to Know the Huaorani

Helping to protect a unique forest culture

The Huaorani (sometimes written "Waorani") are a timeless people. Their origins are unknown and their language (Huaorani translates as "The People") has no relation to any other known tongue. For thousands of years they have made their home in the lush forests of the Amazon, moving silently through the jungle, living amongst the animals and plants, leaving little trace of their presence.

"The People" still maintain their traditional lifestyle. But unlike some closely related groups, who shun outside influences and can be dangerous to approach, they are no longer nomadic hunters. The Huaorani now lead a more settled and open existence in their territory, located in the humid tropical forests of Western Ecuador.

Huaorani territory takes in some 1.7 million acres, but the presence of western life can be felt even here. The missionaries, the loggers and the oil companies have all had negative impacts on this isolated, but culturally significant people and the health and diversity of its tropical environment. Faced with the destruction of their surroundings and the possible disappearance of their way of life, the Huaorani have chosen to resist. By inviting small numbers of people to share their world for short periods, they intend to keep their culture alive. They have opted for sustainable tourism. Their project is Huaorani Ecolodge, located within the Yasuní Bioshphere Reserve, which is recongnised as one of the most biodivers place s on earth.

Testimonials
"At the Huaorani Ecolodge, I got a good sense of life in the Amazon. While the comfortable Huaorani-style cabins provided unexpected indulgence in the rainforest, I was able to experience many aspects of Huaorani culture and lifestyle. From walking in the forest searching for peccaries and learning to use a blowgun, to identifying edible fruits hanging off the trunks of forest trees, travelling up and down rivers in a dugout canoe poled by native guides, eating yucca and palm fruits, and enjoying the nightly serenades of frogs and cicadas, I learned both the art and the science of the jungle." - Abigail Rome USA