“Welcome to our website. My father is Ahua. He was a great warrior, he defended our Baihuaeri Waorani territory with spears. Now I must defend our rainforest territory, Ome, with documents, law and tourism, speaking Spanish, welcoming guests, and traveling far away like the harpy eagle. Tourism helps us protect our home by providing an economic alternative to oil, mining and logging. We invite you to visit Bameno to learn about our culture and experience the forest that gives us life.”
— Penti Baihua, Traditional Baihuaeri Leader & Founder of Bameno Community Tours
Tour Information
During your visit to Bameno, you will learn about Waorani culture and community life, in addition to seeing spectacular scenery and a dazzling array of rainforest flora and fauna. Whether you’re an experienced ecologist or a novice, Yasuní’s rich biodiversity promises an enchanting adventure for all nature enthusiasts. Your Waorani guides are keen observers of nature and are legendary for their knowledge about their rainforest environment. They are adept at spotting even the most hidden creatures and minute details of the forest and telling visitors how and where to look.
It is difficult to say which species of wildlife any particular tour group will see, but it is common to see monkeys, river turtles, caimans, scarlet and blue macaws, toucans, hoatzins, parrots and many other species of birds and amphibians. You might also see freshwater dolphins, anacondas, tapirs, capybaras, peccaries, wild boars, otters, and other rainforest animals.
In Bameno, you will be treated to a Waorani cultural presentation, with traditional dance and chants. You will also have an opportunity to buy crafts from the women who make them, and speak with Penti Baihua, a respected Waorani leader, about Waorani culture and the important work that the Baihuaeri Waorani are doing to protect their rainforest territory and culture for future generations, biodiversity, and our climate.
Each tour to Bameno is unique. Activities can vary, depending on the season, weather, and requests of our guests. Your Waorani guide will be happy to accommodate special requests when organizing your itinerary, so feel free to let us know if you are looking for anything specific or if you want to skip an activity that does not appeal to you. Most guests stay Bameno for 2-5 days; the maximum stay is 7 days. This does not include the river journey if you travel to Bameno by motorized canoe. (See “Travelling to Bameno,” on the Tour Preparation page, for information about the river journey and charter flights to Bameno).
The most popular Bameno Community Tours activities include:
- Walks or treks in the rainforest to enjoy the scenery, look for birds and other animals, and learn about plants used by the Baihuaeri Waorani
- Birdwatching (Let us know in advance if you want to try to photograph a special species)
- Visiting the giant ceiba tree
- Night walk in the rainforest to observe nocturnal life
- Motorized canoe ride to enjoy the scenery and observe birds and other wildlife
- Motorized canoe ride after dark to search for caimans
- Paddle canoe ride in a blackwater lagoon to listen to the sounds of the forest, enjoy the scenery, and observe birds and other wildlife
- Bathing in a clay cave hidden in the rainforest
- Visiting a salt lick to observe macaws and other wildlife
- Searching for anacondas (depends on the season and other conditions)
- Watching a Waorani hunter prepare curare and poison darts for his blowgun (Curare is extracted from a rainforest vine and can swiftly paralyze prey)
- Blowgun (cerbetana) demonstration and practice (Waorani hunters use long blowguns to hunt prey high in the rainforest canopy; guests are not allowed to kill animals, but you can practice with a target)
- Learning how the Waorani make fiber from palm leaves they gather in the rainforest, weave hammocks, and make fiber/string bags and other crafts
- Visiting a garden (kaewene) with Waorani women who cultivate manioc and plantain, and learning about how they practice subsistence cultivation
- Learning how Waorani women make chicha (Chicha is a traditional fermented drink made from manioc or peach palm; the manioc is cultivated, and peach palm is gathered, seasonally, from trees planted for the Waorani by their ancestors)
- Listening to Waorani stories, histories, and chants
- Tasting grapes, guavas, and other seasonal fruits fresh from the tree
- Learning how to climb trees like a Waorani (or just watching)
- Making and sampling Waorani rainforest shampoo
- Sharing your culture with the Waorani, so feel free to sing or dance for your hosts
- Talking with Penti and other Waorani about their culture and community conservation initiative, Ome Gompote Kiwigimoni Huaorani (We Defend Our Huaorani Territory), also called “Ome Yasuni”
Accommodations
Guest accommodations will depend on the size of your group. During the river journey, you will sleep in a small tent or cabin. In Bameno, we have a basic cabin for guests, with partitions and single beds for eight persons and additional covered space for tents for larger groups. We also have a campsite near Bameno and a shelter in the forest about two hours upriver for guests who want to camp in the rainforest.
Bedding, shelter and mosquito nets will be provided by us in structures made primarily from natural materials; however, we would advise large groups to bring sleeping bags. Please reach out if you have specific questions regarding accommodations.
In Bameno, we also have toilets and showers for guests, but due to tropical rainforest conditions and our remote location, occasionally these facilities might not be available. You will have unlimited access to clean (bottled) drinking water throughout your stay.
A shared community structure in Bameno serves as a dining hall and place where you can relax at any time and use Wi-Fi and charge electricals when those services are available. We try to provide electricity and WI-FI for at least a few hours every day, but access can vary due to the weather and other conditions.
Pricing
5 Day Tour
Includes:
- Travel to and from Bameno by car and motor canoe, beginning in Coca.
- Meals, filtered water and accommodations.
- A full programme of activities with Waorani guides.
7 Day Tour
Includes:
- Travel to and from Bameno by car and motor canoe, beginning in Coca.
- Meals, filtered water and accommodations.
- A full programme of activities with Waorani guides.
Custom Tour
We welcome requests for custom tours. If you would prefer to travel to Bameno by charter plane, want to look for a specific animal or stay for a different number of days (up to 10 days), please let us know.
We offer discounts for groups
| Group size | 1-3 people | 4-5 people | 6-7 people | 8 people | 9+ people |
| Price per day (not per night, and includes days of travel) | $350 | $325 | $300 | $250 | $200 |
Deposit:
To confirm your tour and allow us to prepare properly, we ask for a 50% non-refundable deposit in advance.
Not Included:
– Translator (we speak Spanish!)
– Soft drinks or alcoholic beverages
– Transport to and from Coca
– Charter flights to or from Bameno (optional)
Bameno Community Tours 