If you are interested in indigenous cultures, medicinal plants, and/or environmental preservation, this trip is for you. The Huaorani people have lived for thousands of years in the Western Ecuadorian rainforest. This tour allowed me to visit the people & learn about their lifestyle. I saw kind, attentive, gentle parenting. I met people who are finely attuned to their environment. I learned about the stranglehold that the oil industry has on governments & the environment, & on the people who live on land coveted by the oil industry. We saw parrots, tucans, oro pendulas, neon blue Morpho butterflies, hummingbirds, & more. Unfortunately, the Huaorani's highly successful lifestyle which is in harmony with nature is increasingly threatened. Their knowledge of medicinal plants may be lost before it can be passed on. Plants & animals in one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet are being lost. On this trip I experienced the beauty of living in harmony with nature, & the destruction of nature for oil profits. The accomodations at the Huaorani Ecolodge were very comfortable. The food prepared by Huaorani cooks was tasty & abundant. As a solo female traveler I felt safe & secure with Tropic Detour staff from the time I was met at my hotel in Quito until I returned to the hotel 5 days later. This was a meaningful adventure on many levels. Before this trip I carefully read all of these reviews to make sure it was right for me.
