I know the title may have some of you confused, but stick with me because our day and a half with the Waoroni had some of the best moments of our whole trip!

Our venture into the Waoroni territory started early on Sunday morning at 6 AM. We ate a quick breakfast and carried our trash bag covered backpacks to the main lodge through the heavy rain that passed over us. We hopped on a bus and drove an hour until we got to a connivence store. We stocked up on a few snacks and essentials and made our way to our boat launching point. Once we got there, it took a few trips back and forth from the bus to the river bank to get all our food and supplies we needed. Once we gathered everything, we hopped in our canoes for the start to a long day on the river.

The sun was super strong as we went down, so I was happy that I wore pants and a long sleeve to cover up. The first few hours of our ride were super smooth, I mostly just watched us fly down the river and read my new book. 

We stopped along the river bank for lunch and then continued our travel. We got to the cabin at around 5:30 PM and unloaded the canoes filled with our bags and supplies. We then took a look around the area, picked beds, and spent the time before dinner playing UNO, learning the cup song, and trying not to get eaten alive by bugs. After dinner, we hit the hay after a long day of travel.

The next morning started early with the sounds of new animals and rainfall waking me up at 6. I headed down to get some fresh coffee and take in our amazing view. We ate breakfast and then were introduced to Ellie, our guide and Tod from Iyrania’s Daughter. She spoke to us about how this place came to be, how important it is to share the culture and language of this group, and what it means to be proud of your heritage. 

We were then introduced to who we’d be spending our day with: the president, some local kids (this will come in handy later ;)), some fellow tribe members, and more. They all were so welcoming and excited for us to see everything!

We set off on our first stop of the day to see where they hunt for food and how they climb on the vines and trees. It was truly amazing to see how skilled each of them are and how high they can climb! We had our hand at swinging on vines as well! After we headed to one of the most amazing places I’ve ever seen in my life. They took us to a sacred tree that has been standing for hundreds of years; its roots take over what felt lie the whole forest, big enough to hide in and take shelter for the night. 

After our morning excursions, we headed back before the rain hit us and took a break for lunch. Before we ate, we had our turn fishing in the river. Emi, Maddie, and I helped look for crickets in the sand to use for bait. Our group ended up taking 3 fishes back to cook up for lunch!

After lunch, we headed to one of the families houses and got to meet everyone. We had our chance to throw the spears they use for hunting. Though the rain stayed heavy, it didn’t stop us from having another chance to play soccer! The game was so much fun even in the mud. We ended the match back in the house where we saw the most wild animals they have as pets! Monkeys, a Parrot, and even a part anteater-part pig-part dog! Our last stop before heading home to clean up was a dip in the river where we had chicken fights with each other!

We freshened up from our long day, went over our dance we wanted to show them, and then eat yet another delicious meal. Then we boated over back to the house we were at earlier; it was so dark out you could see the night sky so perfectly! 

The ceremony started with our guests introducing what the night entailed, including dancing, singing, and even a wedding or two! The men started with a traditional dance and song, then the women with their dance and song, and finally it was time for our naming ceremony.

The Waoroni name given to me is Kawo. She was a a great leader who was the most skilled with the  blow darter. She often lead a group of males in her family because she did a better job. she also was the best at making the beer they drink that’s made from plants. 

After receiving our name, they announced they would proceed with the weddings. As they walked over, I was taken aback when I got picked to be married to one of the local boys Amoa. It’s as such a special moment and one I won’t forget. Then two other people form our group got married in a soul tie ceremony. 

We then had the opportunity to share our dances- the cup song, the Macarena, and the cotton eye Joe! They liked it so much they joined in and we taught them how to dance them! We ended the night by buying some local handmade crafts and saying our farewells. Amoa, my new husband, gifted me this beautiful necklace!

As the night came to a close, we took a step back to reflect on such a one-of-a-kind experience we had that day. We all felt so grateful to take part in the Waoroni culture and learn so much from them all.

The next morning, we packed up, eat breakfast, and said our last goodbyes before starting our trek upstream. The boat ride back took around 8 hours, but it was filled with singing, naps, and all together a great time. 

As our trip came to an end, we spent of last night at the lodge exploring Tena. It was such a lively city filled with great food and shops.

Our last morning we ate one last meal and said goodbye to our great hosts! We took a slow ride back to Quito, stopping at a Hummingbird Reserve, Cloud Forest, Waterfall, and an endangered tree forest. There are simply too many memories to recount and moments that made this trip so special. As we took off from the Quito airport back home, word cannot explain how grateful I am to have been a part of this expereince. I am so grateful for the friends I made, the memories that last a lifetime, and to call Ecuador a second home. I can safely say that I’ll be back hopefully soon! Adios Ecuador!