This was my first visit to another country, and to another world, to visit the Achuar, an indigenous group who live deep in the Amazonian rainforest of Ecuador. Their world is one without roads. Many of their houses have no walls. The people live in direct contact with nature and have a great understanding of the rhythms of nature and the beings they share their world with.
Taking off in a small plane over the rainforest
I remember hearing about the destruction of the rainforest when I was little; seeing the videos of the clear cutting. I felt very deeply distressed, even at such a young age, over what I was seeing and felt strongly that there must be a better way to live that was not so destructive.
I was not prepared for the rush of emotions I felt when we got above the rainforest. As we headed in the direction of the Achuar territory we saw less and less buildings and roads, and other markings of the modern world, until all we were able to see for miles and miles was nothing but pristine rainforest.
It was so beautiful, so unreal. I was so thankful to see that so much of the rainforest was intact. I felt a strong sense of thankfulness for its existence and responsibility for protecting it from destruction. Despite the threats to the rainforest, there is still much in tact and there is still hope for its continued existence.
View of pristine rainforest from above, mountains in the distance
A fellow traveler said it looks like fields of broccoli.
We followed the Pastaza River, a tributary of the Amazon River, for about 45 minutes, all the way to the Wachirpas community, where the nearest town was a 10 day walk away.
Much more of the land was covered in water beyond the clear outline of the river, and it was revealed as our angle changed as we flew by and reflections of the suns rays glittered up through the canopy.
Flying high over the rainforest
First view of the Kapawi Ecolodge.
Flying low over the rainforest.
So much variety in all that green.
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