Kayaking down the Mangozisa river

The Mangozisa river is a class 2+ river, excellent for kayaking and exploring the wonderful rain forest surrounding it. This trip combines the amazing experience at Miasal in 3 days, plus 2 days kayaking with one night camping by the river. The kayaking part ends on the 5th day at the point where the Mangozisa meets the Morona river in the border with Peru. Then we must return to Cuenca or Macas by car.

Day 1: Macas - Miasal – Lodge
The earliest possible, we will take the small aircraft for a fascinating 20 min flight above the rain forest canopy. This journey will allow us to observe the Amazon topography, its mountains, rivers and waterfalls. Once we land at the local landing strip, we will be welcome by our Shuar hostess and taken on rustic canoes (with no engines) down the river Mangozisa and then up the Tsuirim river until we reach our lodge area.   
The lodge facilities are simple, without electricity, but are very comfortable and charming. There is a big social area with many hammocks for rest and relax looking at the river and natural surrounding.
In the afternoon we will do a walk to the “mission”, where the local school is located, as well as being the meeting center for socio-political and religious issues of the community.

Day 2: Hike to the Thermal Waters
Today we walk up stream following the Tsuirim river. The trail passes through large areas of primary forest where we could observe giant trees as kapoks, strangling trees, drago blood among others. We must cross the river a couple of times and then finally after 2 ½ hours of a moderate hike we arrive to a privileged spot. At the Thermal Waters we will find a natural source of hot sulphure water right next to a waterfall of cold water. So it is a perfect place to stop and enjoy the healing hot and cold bath. After a pic-nic lunch we return to the lodge.  

Day 3: Shuar house
After aprox 2 hours walking along a jungle trail used by locals, we arrive to the home of a Shuar family. Here we have the chance to know more about their life style and culture through very interesting long conversation with the house chief who normally speaks only Shuar, so mostly translated by a young local that speaks both Shuar and Spanish. As part of the tradition we will drink and share with all participants the fermented “chicha” made of yucca. We will enjoy a typical Shuar lunch made of river fish or any meat from a hunted animal, combined with green bananas and yucca. After lunch and chatting we will go outside their house to observe the plants growing in their gardens and then try luck by shutting the blow gun used for hunting.
After this amazing experience, we will return to the lodge down the Mangozisa river on canoes.     

Day 4 & 5: Kayaking down the Mangozisa river
2 days of kayaking with one night camping by the river. The kayaking part ends on the 5th day at the point where the Mangozisa meets the Morona river in the border with Peru. Then we must return to Cuenca or Macas by car.