Immersion in the Amazon rainforest

Breakfast and workshop presentation - Early morning departure by private transport from Quito to the city of Puyo. You will cross a mountain pass at 4200m altitude, likely shrouded in mist, as you gradually descend towards the foothills of the Amazon. We will stop regularly to admire the breathtaking scenery and views of the entire Amazon basin, or simply enjoy a snack at a typical Amazonian restaurant.

Arrive at your accommodation in the afternoon: a superb resort nestled in the forest awaits you. A haven of peace where woods, nature, monkeys, birds, tranquility, and smiles will soothe you. A lovely evening enjoying a delicious meal will help you recover from jet lag.

Dinner and overnight stay in a lodge in Puyo.

Breakfast and course presentation. This survival course will consist of several modules that will be covered continuously, not consecutively (depending on what arises): Introduction to the equatorial jungle: humidity levels / jungle density / atmospheric pressure under and above the canopy, altitude variations / animals / edible and inedible vegetation / medicinal plants / dangerous vegetation / water currents, ...

Survival techniques include:

Shelter workshop

Fire workshop: which technique to use depending on the tools available?

Water workshop: how to find or collect water / filter / consume.

Knot workshop: the main knots useful in survival situations or in everyday life. First aid workshop: first aid, what to do and what not to do, especially in the jungle / emergency stretcher / splint for fractures or sprains / using plant-based remedies for treatment...

Traps, hunting and fishing workshop.

Topography workshop: map reading / jungle orientation / use of compass or GPS / reading of the stars.

Crossing workshop: river navigation / fording / crossing strong currents. Safety workshop: alert systems / defense (close combat / self-defense - tools - traps - weapons / tracking / shelter).

This is a real-world exercise, which will take precedence over purely theoretical aspects. Starting tonight, your accommodation is no longer guaranteed, forcing you to prepare it. You will therefore travel down the river by dugout canoe to explore its wildlife, with the aim of choosing a location to set up camp for the next five nights.

Night in a bivouac.

You spent your first night in the Amazon rainforest, experiencing varying degrees of tranquility due to the nocturnal noises. You will get used to them and gain confidence, if you haven't already. You will continue your walk in the forest to practice the skills covered in this course. You can choose with your instructor whether to move from this first location where you spent the night or simply remain in the same area.

Night in a bivouac.

Day 3 of the course: you've either regained your smile or you've succumbed to fatigue. Both are part of this training and you'll need to learn to manage them. Learning the techniques will be the best distraction.

Night in a bivouac.

Day 4 of the training course, conserve your energy. This will be the most psychologically challenging day, but what a satisfaction to reach the end!

Night in a bivouac.

Day 5, you made it. You regained your strength because, in the end, the jungle isn't so bad after all. A good walk in the forest will invigorate you.

Night in a bivouac.

You made it. You regained your strength because, in the end, the forest isn't so bad after all. Camp is broken down, and a short walk takes you to the riverbank for a quick but intense transfer to the Waorani village, where a delicious meal awaits, along with handcrafted souvenirs. It will be the perfect opportunity to ask your instructors any last-minute questions and perhaps give the parrot a kiss. Then it's time to say goodbye to the community and head back upriver for 6 to 8 hours, followed by a 1.5-hour 4x4 ride.

Tonight, after a hearty and delicious dinner, you'll sleep at the lodge in Puyo and enjoy a well-deserved shower. A debriefing of this experience will be in order, providing a fitting opportunity to celebrate this training course.

After a hearty breakfast, you'll begin your return journey to Quito. On the way, if you haven't fallen too far behind schedule, you'll make a short stop in Baños for a soak in the hot springs of this high-altitude spa resort (baths not included; allow $3-5). Lunch will follow. Arrival at your hotel in Quito is expected in the late afternoon.

You will have some free time to stroll around the hotel, which is located between the Historic Centre and the Modern and Tourist Centre.

A dinner will be organized at a local restaurant.

Overnight stay at the hotel, where you will appreciate the setting inspired by the worldview of the country's Indians.

Breakfast - Free time to explore Quito's Historic Center, renowned as the largest and richest on the continent. Highlights include the Church of the Society of Jesus, the most gold-covered church in Latin America. You can also visit the Church of San Francisco and the El Alabado Museum, which houses magnificent archaeological artifacts organized according to the worlds of the indigenous worldview. (Lunch, visits, and site entrance fees are not included).

You will collect your belongings from the hotel before being taken to the airport for your return flight to France.