The experience with the Huaorani was really unlike any other. Visiting the depths of the Amazon with natives who really knew the territory was unforgettable. I learned so much with the Huaorani, and it truly is knowledge I will take with me wherever I go. Someday, I hope to go back, but for now I enjoy the memories I have of the very exciting time I was lucky enough to share with the Huaorani.

-Sunny Bhatt, USA, Winter, 2007

Truly an unforgettable experience; a trip into the heart of Huaorani territory is like traveling back in time a few thousand years: The jungle was so pristine and the wildlife so amazing. We saw hundreds of species of birds, bats, insects, and reptiles, not to mention the monkeys, which were everywhere. This is an experience unlike any other.

-Robert Lumpkin, USA, Summer, 2008

In a word, my experience with the Huaorani was unforgettable. In several words, it was unique, intimate, educational, eye-opening, breathtaking, special and altogether amazing. In my seven days with the community I saw scenery, wildlife, and culture that most people only read about or see on television. The ride down the Tiguino and Conanaco rivers, into the secluded heart of the jungle, was filled with monkey, macaw, and toucan sightings, and my time in the community was full of elemental, pure fun: I learned how to climb trees like the Huaorani, had mud-fights in the river with kids, silently canoed through a lagoon to see anaconda, practiced throwing spears and shooting blowguns, and learned about a culture that until fifty years ago had never seen a westerner.  And the best part was that the Huaorani were eager to share all of it with me. From the day I met them in Coca, they were friendly, outgoing, and eager to learn about my culture and share theirs with me. I wasn’t merely a visitor; I became a part of a large family that I will never forget. Thank you!

–Michael Boyle, USA, Summer, 2008

I spent nine days living with the Huaorani and experiencing their culture. To have the opportunity to actually share their lifestyle and join in their activities is truly incredible. Hunting, fishing, swimming, dancing- we weren’t just tourists, we actually participated in community life. It was an amazingly personal experience and I’ll never forget the friends we made.

–Olivia Wheeler, USA, Summer, 2008

My experience in Ecuador with the Huaorani of Bameno was without a question the most incredible experience of my life so far. Living with this indigenous Amazonian tribe for nearly a week really gave me a new perspective on culture, values, and life in general. It was incredible to see such an “unmodernized” people, “primitive” by popular American standards, living in such contentment and harmony in the heart of the Amazon. Witnessing their lifestyle and culture, and hearing the story of their fight to preserve their home and traditions, made me question the values of the society I have grown up in, as well as my standards of happiness. Living in the Amazon rainforest for nearly a week and observing that people can live in a natural setting without destroying or polluting it also gave me a strengthened appreciation for nature and its preservation. This experience truly impacted my life for the better.

-Dominic Insogna, USA, Spring, 2009

I’ve been to Ecuador many times, but never had I seen the Amazon from the perspective of indigenous people. Being in the jungle, chasing after peccary, learning about the Huaorani lifestyle was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life. Their ability to find all the resources they need in the rainforest is an incredible feat, which has made me realize how important the forest is to preserve their culture. Besides the culture shock, another aspect that made the trip even better was the welcome we got from all the Huaorani of Bameno. They wanted to learn from us as much as we wanted to learn from them; fun times were inevitable.

-Lorenzo Ramos-Mucci, Venezuela, Spring, 2009

This was by far the most incredible trip I have ever taken. The natural beauty of the Amazon, combined with the friendliness and openness of the Huaorani, made this experience truly life changing. From the first day, when we went jogging into the jungle hunting small pig, to the last, when we spent our final hours playing soccer with the kids, we were immersed in an authentic and enriching environment that is hard to find anywhere else. It is like we had leapt into the pages of National Geographic and found some of the nicest people on earth. I would not trade this experience for any other.

-Matthew Eisen, USA, Spring, 2009

While I was initially wary about the trip into the rainforest with the Huaorani, I came out of my week adventure with some of the best experiences of my entire life (no joke). The trip had everything I wanted in it–treks through the Amazon rainforest, hunting for wild boar, a boat ride through undisturbed primary forest, tropical bird watching. We saw animals doing things I’d thought I would only see on national geographic, from monkeys jumping 25 feet to an anaconda regurgitating its last meal. More importantly, the relationships I developed with the trip planners, the leaders, and even the tribe will last a lifetime. Everyone was extremely open and nice, and made the trip plans flexible enough so that I could do whatever I wanted to do. Whether it was literally hunting/picking our dinner for the day, swimming and bathing in the Amazon, or shooting a blow dart 30 feet, I enjoyed every moment of the trip and would go back in a heartbeat.

-Peter Lu, USA, Summer, 2009

The sincere tolerance and friendliness among the Waorani would force me from the beginning of our 4-day stay with this Indian tribe to be curious and open-minded to the respective individuality of these people. As well, it would definitely hold a mirror to myself.

When the plane dropped us, after a one hour flight, in the middle of the Amazon (Yasuni National Park), I felt somewhat handed over to this tribe. Although I thought I was well prepared and with an open attitude for everything that might come to me, I caught myself very quickly flooded with preconceptions about how we would get along. With not too much Spanish knowledge, it was an anxious beginning. The Waorani helped me very quickly to get rid of this uncomfortable feeling. Due to their openness, they invited me kindly to reflect on life. I’m absolutely sure that it was not their intention to do so, but they just had that effect on me. It needed the right kind of energy to do a homestay in this village.

Central during our stay were the Jungle tours. Mostly we were accompanied by a number of men of the tribe. On other occasions, the children accompanied us as well on these journeys. We learned about the mechanical and medicinal functioning of plants, we spotted little animals, we fished on piranhas, and we plodded on with our boots through the mud, we ate what the forest could give us. Above all, it struck me how the Waorani live up in these forests and how they were even more surprised and excited about their own jungle than myself. They were proud of and enthusiastic with every aspect of it. At first, I didn’t understand the complexity of this jungle at all, but after a few days it started to dawn on me how every square meter jungle has the potential of so much more, ranging from snake poison control, palms to make cords and baskets, leafs to make shampoo, worms and aunts to eat….. The knowledge of the Waorani of these forests is particularly detailed and extended and I had not enough senses to see, to hear, to smell far ahead or to be aware of every small but meaningful change in the environment, like they did.

The Waorani youth affected me probably the most. Although babies seemed to hang all day on the breast and chest of their mothers, from the moment children make their first steps, they take part in all children’s activities. All of them were very tolerant and full of fun with each other. During the day, they ran in and out the water, rolled in the mud and they had no trouble swimming upstream or climbing into the trees. Whatever they did, they were always full of joy and full of life, sweet and tolerant to each other. To us, they were curious and polite, but at no time intrusive. The older children took partially part in adult tasks and showed a great helpfulness and brotherhood, which will persist into their adulthood .

All this was in itself a rich experience. It was nice that I could share this experience with my partner and two teenagers. They were at least as intimidated, impressed and felt embraced by the spontaneity and courtesy of the children and adults there. It put everything in perspective. Yet,  there was more… The Waorani is only one of the tribes in the Amazon forest, but the only tribe that tries to connect with modern civilization. It is a difficult exercise to maintain authenticity and yet be open to so much modern technology. An authenticity that seems primitive on first sight, hides an enormous complexity, but is restricted in health care and education. An Amazon, rich in petroleum, a goldmine and an open door to technology. Forced by the oil companies and the government, it seems an unfair battle and extremely difficult for the Waorani to find such a balance. One thing I learned for sure: the Waorani know for themselves exactly what they want or need.

-Inge, Belgium, Summer, 2016