Community-based ecotourism projects and living locally in Kusutkau, Ecuador

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: 1 week or less

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hola, I´m Tsentsak from the Achuar nationality. I live in the Achuar territory in the community Kusutkau. I work in community-based tourism to strengthen our culture and the flora and fauna of our forest. In our community we share different activities such as community tasks, hikes in the forest, ancestral ceremonies, boat rides, ancestral dances and cultural inmersion.
    In our community we live in a tradicional Achuar lifestyle. So in the house we cook in open fire, we bath in the river, we fish and hunt our food. The base of our diet is the chicha (a fermented manioc drink).
    We have a communal house with electricity and WiFi.

    Hola, soy Tsentsak, de la nacionalidad Achuar. Vivo en el territorio Achuar, en la comunidad de Kusukkau. Trabajo en un proyecto de turismo comunitario para proteger nuestra cultura y la flora y fauna de nuestro bosque. En nuestra comunidad compartimos diferentes actividades, como culturales (trabajo comunitario), caminatas en el bosque, ceremonias ancestrales, paseos en barco, bailes ancestrales y una inmersión cultural.

    En nuestra comunidad vivimos con un estilo de vida tradicional Achuar. Cocinamos en el fuego, nos bañamos en el río, pescamos y cazamos nuestra comida. La base de nuestra comida es la chicha (una bebida fermentada de yuca). Tenemos una casa comunal con electricidad y wifi.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Teaching
    Animal Care
    Babysitting and creative play
  • Interests

    Interests

    Winter sports
    Cycling
    Fashion or beauty
    Pets
    Art & design
    Books
    Music
    Languages
    Photography
    Plant care
    Carpentry
    Animals
    Charity work
    Technology
    Sustainability
    Politics / Social justice
    Events & social
    Culture
    Farming
    Yoga / Wellness
    Hiking
    Beach
    Nature
    Mountain
    Team sports
    Adventure sports
    Water sports
    Dancing
    Outdoor activities
    Camping
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    You will learn about Achuar culture and our hospitality. You can learn about our food, language, artisanal crafts, animal, plants, medicine and spirituality.
    We can teach you our language Achuar and share our knowledge about the power of Arutom, the god of nature.
    You will live in close contact with nature, far from city pollution. You can expect beautiful night skies, a lot of animal and plants.

    Aprenderás sobre la cultura Achuar y nuestra hospitalidad. Puedes aprender sobre nuestra gastronomía, idiomas, artesanías, animales, plantas, plantas medicinales y espiritualidad.

    Te podemos enseñar nuestra lengua Achuar y compartir el poder de Arutam, el dios de la naturaleza.

    Vivirás en contacto con la naturaleza, alejado de la contaminación de la ciudad. Puedes esperar preciosos cielos nocturnos y muchos animales y plantas.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    As we work close to a community based tourism project, we would like help to learn English. We give preference to teaching children, but there also some adults interested in learning.
    Depending on the time you stay and on your preferences you can also help with construction, carpentry, fishing, farming and other community works.
    We are also starting to build a volunteer house so we also might need your help with that.
    The minimum stay is 2 weeks, but we prefer if you stay one month or longer.


    Como trabajamos cerca de un proyecto de turismo comunitario, nos gustaría tu ayuda para aprender inglés. Priorizamos que enseñes a los niños en la escuela, aunque también algunos adultos están interesados.

    Dependiendo del tiempo que te quedes y de tus preferencias, también nos puedes ayudar en tareas de construcción, carpintería, pesca, en la chacra u otros trabajos comunitarios. También estamos comenzando a construir una casa de voluntarios, así que agradeceríamos tu ayuda con eso.

    La estadía mínima es de dos semanas, aunque preferiríamos si te puedes quedar al menos un mes o incluso más tiempo.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    Spanish: Intermediate
    English: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    aprender el idioma para contactar con mas turistas del mundo

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We are starting to build a volunteer house, but until it's not finished you can stay in your own room on the local school. We provide mattress, but it's important that you bring your own mosquito net. Our houses don't have tap water or electricity. We get the water from the river and there is WiFi and electricity in the communal house.
    If you can, bring a filter for the water, but if it's not possible, we can boil it or get filtered water from other communities.
    We can offer you our typical food, including vegetarian options: fish, hunted meat, eggs, palmito, local fruits, wild funghi, chicha, manioc, plantain.


    Estamos iniciando un proyecto para construir una casa de voluntarios, aunque mientras tanto te puedes alojar en tu propia habitación habilitada en la escuela local. Te ofrecemos un colchón, aunque es importante que traigas tu propio mosquitero. Nuestras casas no cuentan con electricidad o agua corriente. En la comunidad tomamos el agua del río y solo tenemos electricidad y wifi en la casa comunal. Si puedes, trae tu propio filtro del agua, aunque si no es posible podemos hervir el agua o conseguir agua filtrada de otras comunidades.

    Te podemos ofrecer nuestra comida típica, lo que incluye opciones vegetarianas y veganas: palmito, huevos, pescado, pollo, carne de cacería, plátano, banana, yuca y otras frutas locales.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    It is important to bring:
    -mosquito net
    - mosquito repellent
    - rain boots
    -sleeping bag/sheets
    -light
    - food to share with the community (like rice, pasta, lentils, salt, oil, sugar, cookies, etc)
    -rain coat
    Light clothes
    -basic medicine
    -toilet paper

    To arrive here there are 2 options, depending on the day of the week:
    - you can take a bus from puyo to copataza (4 hours) and then a small boat until kusutkau community (4 hours).
    -yoi can a plane from shell (city close to puyo) to kusutkau community (50 minutes).
    We will arrange everything for your trip once you confirm.

    Es importante traer:
    Mosquitero
    Repelente de mosquitos
    Botas de caucho
    Bolsa de dormir o sábanas
    Linterna
    Comida para compartir con la comunidad: arroz, lentejas, fideos, sal, azúcar, aceite, galletas, etc.
    Poncho de lluvia
    Ropa ligera y fácil de secar
    Papel higiénico
    Medicinas básicas

    Para llegar aquí hay dos opciones. Dependiendo del día de la semana, puedes tomar un autobús de Puyo a Copataza y desde ahí tomar una barca durante 4h hasta la comunidad. La otra opción sería tomar una avioneta desde Shell, una ciudad cercana a Puyo, con una duración de unos 50 minutos hasta la comunidad. Una vez que nos confirmes te ayudaremos con toda la información y gestión de tu viaje.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

Host ref number: 144832995164

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Photos

The image depicts a person standing on a winding path in a lush forest, surrounded by trees and foliage, wearing a vibrant outfit and a colorful hat.
The image depicts a vibrant green parrot perched on a tree branch, showcasing its plumage and beak, set against a lush forest backdrop with dense foliage and a bright sky.
The image depicts four men sitting on a bench, each wearing vibrant clothing and headwear, with a serene background of trees and a building.
The image depicts a man and woman sitting on a bench, with the man wearing a colorful headband and the woman in a beige shirt, set against a wooden building backdrop.
Two men in traditional attire stand on a wooden dock, shaking hands, with a serene river and lush forest in the background under a blue sky with white clouds.
The image depicts a man standing on a wooden porch, wearing a green t-shirt, a red and white striped skirt, and a tiger head necklace, with a wooden building in the background.
Two men sit on stools, holding bowls and a rifle, with a covered outdoor area featuring tables and benches in the background, surrounded by trees.

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