Wao Onko is what we call our traditional houses in the Waorani language. With a dirt floor and thatched roof, it represents our connection to our land, our forest, and our culture. It means Home. Nenkepare Waorani Expeditions will make you feel at home deep within the Amazon rainforest, while giving you the adventure of a lifetime. Located on the Shiripuno River, many hours from the nearest dirt road, guests camp at their very own secluded Wao Onko built by the Waorani community of Nenkepare. Nestled below the canopy along the bank of the Shiripuno river, this campsite offers unbelievable views, sounds, and relaxation. We offer a wide variety of nature activities including nature hikes, canoe rides, night walks, and visits to nearby waterfalls, lagoons, and lookouts. We also offer an opportunity to visit with other nearby families and communities along the river, participate in traditional singing and dancing ceremonies, buy authentic artisanal crafts, and learn from some of our great Waorani elders. Nenkepare Waorani Expeditions is a sustainable tourism project created by the Irumenga Yeti families and the Waorani community of Nenkepare. It offers an authentic Waorani experience of the Amazon rainforest unlike any other.

The ancestral lands of the Waorani people are considered to be the most biologically diverse place on earth, stretching across three provinces of the Ecuadorian Amazon. The Waorani have fiercely guarded this territory from outsiders for over a thousand years in complete isolation until the 1960’s. Today, the Taromenani and Tagaeri, two uncontacted groups of Waorani living in voluntary isolation, still remain in the region fighting to protect their rainforest home. Waorani communities like Nenkepare are also continuing the fight to protect our land and way of life through sustainable ecotourism and cultural projects. Booking your off-the-grid Amazon experience through Nenkepare Waorani Expeditions helps protect this important natural environment for the indigenous groups still living in isolation, the future generations of Waorani children, and the health of our planet.

6 Days / 5 Nights ~ $690

Price Breakdown:

• $126 per night at campsite including 3 meals per day. ($630 total)
• $40 Fuel & Canoe Fee (Roundtrip costs to Nenkepare Community from Shiripuno River bridge)
• $20 per person (Nenkepare Community Fee)

* Prices INCLUDE 3 meals per day, personal Waorani guide, cook, local seasonal foods (yuca, plantains, wild fruits), daily activities, and canoe rides. (upon request) *

* Prices DO NOT INCLUDE camping gear, travel to Coca, travel to Shiripuno River bridge, and Spanish translator (if needed). We provide 3 meals each day, but guests must purchase and bring any additional snacks or specialty foods from the outside. Guests must bring their own camping gear as needed, but the campsite includes a large traditional Waorani house and a large open-air platform with thatched roof, which is great for tents and hammocks. *

Campsite Amenities:

• Large traditional Waorani house (Onko) with hardened dirt floor, thatched roof, and campfire.
• Large open-aired raised platform with thatched roof for tents.
• Outhouse with toilet and privacy
• Next to river bank with good place for bathing and swimming
• 2 minute walk to community of Nenkepare

What to Bring:

• Meals are provided, but any additional snacks or special foods must be purchased in town before the canoe trip into the community. There is no refrigeration available, but many fresh fruits and vegatables are still good to bring. Yuca, plantains, and fruit from community gardens are available upon request. Fishing is also an available activity.
• Water. Large 5-gallon containers of water are available at most grocery stores and markets
• Water bottles
• Tent
• Sleeping Pad
• Lightweight sleeping bag or blanket
• Headlamp
• Extra batteries
• Rain jacket or poncho
• Rubber boots (can be purchased at most grocery stores in town)
• Mosquito repellent
• Sunscreen
• Toilet Paper
• Personal hygiene products

How to Get There:

Guests must arrange there own travel to the Shiripuno River bridge along the Via Auca road. The easiest route is to fly or take a bus to the nearest city of Coca, and then take a taxi or bus along the Via Auca road to the Shiripuno River. We will meet you at the bridge to bring you to the campsite by canoe.

View Map of Area

Travel to Coca

Coca is the nearest city located in the Orellana Province. It is the best place to purchase food and any additional gear before entering the Waorani territory. There is usually only one flight each day from Quito to Coca (~$80) and it is about 45 minutes long. Bus transportation is the most common and cheapest form of travel available from anywhere in Ecuador. A bus trip from Quito to Coca is about 6 hours and costs about $15. The views on the bus coming down from the Andes Mountain are beautiful!

Travel to the Shiripuno River

From Coca, the fastest and easiest route to the Shiripuno River is by taxi traveling down the Via Auca. A taxi can take about 2.5 hours from Coca and will cost about $50. A bus from Coca will cost less than $5 and can take up to 3 hours. It is important to arrive at the river before noon.