February 10 - 20, 2027
Fall in love with the earth, deep in the heart and lungs of our planet
Over the past few years, many of us have been asking deeper questions, about our place in the world and what truly matters, and have decided to shift our energy into closer alignment with our values. This special Valentine's journey is an invitation to take time deep in the Amazon rainforest to reflect, to be inspired, to listen to the forest and to our hearts, and to fall in love with the Earth herself.
For this journey, we're thrilled to be collaborating with Daughters for the Earth - an organization investing in women who are restoring nature and strengthening their communities. Daughters for the Earth already supports women leaders in the regions we'll be visiting, so we'll see firsthand some of the beautiful work being done to protect the Amazon and her custodians.
Our time together will be healing, transformational, and soul-nourishing, with a generous dose of fun and a touch of adventure. From the heights of the Andes to the species-rich floors of the Amazon Basin, we'll discover Ecuador's natural treasures: swimming in its waterways, hiking with indigenous guides, canoeing down mystical rivers deep in the jungle, taking part in ceremonies with indigenous shamans, and experiencing tribal culture, worldview, and hospitality. We'll savour traditional cuisine and unwind in a volcanic thermal spa in the shadow of Ecuador's magnificent peaks.
Throughout the journey, we'll integrate our shifting perspectives and deepen our transformation through breathwork sessions, with globally renowned breathwork teacher Richard Tryon, The Breath Guy.
We believe the jungle calls each of us at exactly the right moment. If you're hearing the call, please come.
ITENERARY
Day One - 10th February
Arrive in Quito, Ecuador - flights from Europe and the US usually arrive in the afternoon or evening, you will be collected from the airport and taken to your hotel - Go Quito with panoramic views of volcano Pichincha and the city. Before dinner we will meet for our first Breathwork session, then we will have dinner together in the roof of the hotel over looking the lights of the city.
Many people choose to arrive a night or two early to explore Quito or get over jet lag before the trip proper starts. If you would like to do this let us know and we can offer some suggestions. We will also create a whatsapp group a month before the trip starts so you can connect with other people arriving early and plan things together.
Day Two
We drive in our comfortable bus down from Quito through the famous Valley of the Volcanos, from the Andes down to the gateway to the Amazon Basin.
Dropping down through the cloud forest into the edge of the Amazon, we will spend the night in a gorgeous little hotel nestled in gardens on the edge of the rainforest. We will be joined for dinner by Amazonian indigenous leaders who will share with us how they are preserving the forest and their visions for the future.
Days three, four and five – Sharamentsa Achuar Village
After breakfast, a short drive to the airstrip and we fly by 6 seater Cessna or larger Islander planes into the forest. The experience of flying over the forest is truly magical, watching as built-up areas fall away until you see just a blanket of treetops beneath you as far as the eye can see, snake like glistening rivers wind their way through the jungle. As we fly deeper into the mighty Amazon rainforest, the calmer you will feel – we travel deep into the forest many miles from the nearest road into the heart of Achuar ancestral territory.
The Achuar people live along both sides of the border between Ecuador and Peru, a warrior nation who have never been conquered. They call themselves a 'dream culture' in that their lives are guided by dreams and visions. One of the last Jivaroan groups to be contacted, the Achuar have created a couple of tourism projects in their territory to connect with outsiders to teach us about their culture and worldview, to share with us and 're-awaken' those living in the modern world. We will stay in the village of Sharamentsa for three nights.
Our days begin before dawn sharing a traditional dream ceremony with Achuar elders, this is a beautiful liminal space between day and night where we learn about the guidance of our dreams with the help of Achuar elders who will analyse our dreams. Our days will be spent learning about the forest and walking with indigenous leaders as their share their way of life with us. There will be hikes in the forest, visits to sacred trees and waterfalls, swims on beaches in the rivers, our Achuar family sharing their insights, wisdom and lands with us. And of course time for rest and journaling too. We will have a deep sleeps surrounded by the sounds of the forest.
One evening we will meet with our hosts and take part in a cultural exchange. The Achuar have formal ceremonial greetings which they will share with us, as well as traditional music and dances. This is also an opportunity to teach their children, so all the village will gather to watch. They will then invite us to do the same, so if there is anything you would like to share from your culture (perhaps a fun game or a song) this is your opportunity! From beat boxing to miming they love cultural exchange.
Day six, seven, and eight – Kapawi Ecolodge
After a delicious breakfast over looking the river. We can see and even buy some stunning traditional handicrafts made by our Achuar family, from traditional jewellery, to woven combs, ceramics - everything comes from the jungle (remember to bring lots of small change in USD – 1, 5, and 10 dollars). These are very special mementos and gifts from our time in the forest but also the best way to support the Achuar women (we have found that people love the handicrafts so perhaps bring at least $200 to spend just in case as there are no ATM's in the forest!).
After our goodbyes we will leap into the first solar powered canoes in the Amazon and journey down the mighty Pastaza river which is a great opportunity to see rainforest birds and river dolphins on our way to our new home Kapawi Ecolodge and Reserve. The lodge is 100% owned by the Achuar nation, with all revenue generated supporting the wider community, preserving their culture and protecting the Amazon rainforest.
The indigenous people of the Amazon believe that human sickness and the degradation of our earth are inextricably linked, sharing the same root causes. By visiting the Achuar people we are joining them in protecting the pristine rainforest essential to the vitality of our planet on the frontlines against climate change.
During our time at Kapawi there will be many fun activities to take part in but over these days we also want to give you time to rest and listen to the forest in your hammocks over looking the lagoon, watching monkeys and magnificent birds. There will be a chance to spend time in the jungle alone on a self guided trail if you wish. So all adventures are optional.
We explore the rivers and secluded streams by canoe and kayak, learning about the wonders of the natural world from our Achuar guides. Early morning bird watching by canoe, and night hikes are truly magical. We will learn about medicinal plants.
We will also spend a day travelling up the Capahuari river to the very traditional Achaur village of Tsuinkintsa and spend time learning about traditional Achaur crafts, the men will learn weaving and the women pottery, we will learn about hunting and gardening and visit a sacred waterfall and have another opportunity to by Achaur crafts.
As people indigenous to this land and born naturalists, our guides have a sixth-sense for the whereabouts of animals, birds & insects at all times. They will scour the forest for wildlife encounters for us, like a newly discovered giant otter den, a sloths tree, or a horned screamers nest, or possibly a harpy eagle sighting! During our time in the forest we learn from the wisdom of the forest herself and her custodians - the Achuar people. They believe that these journeys into nature bring clarity and confidence in your vision and focus for your life. The Achuar will teach us how to see the forest as a pharmacy and place of healing.
Day nine and ten – Papallacta volcanic hot springs
Sadly it is time to leave our forest home this morning, after an early breakfast we will take our final canoe journey up the Capahuari river to the village of Kasutkau where we will fly out of the forest to Tena and travel up into the mountains to stay at a volcanic spa, Papallacta. It's time to bathe in the geothermally heated hot pools and each of you will have a treatment booked in the spa already. You are welcome to book extra treatments during your stay, or just relax in the hot pools. For Wim Hof fans you can leap into icy water or for those of you with lots of energy, this landscape is high Andes and volcano land, utterly stunning for a hike into the mystical polylepis forests.
Day Eleven
Our final day together. After a delicious breakfast you are welcome to book more treatments, or relax in the hot pools. We will have our final integrative breathwork session and then return to Quito airport (45 mins away) for flights home, usually in the afternoon or evening, or stay on to visit Galapagos or the Andes haciendas and highlands.
Meet your guides
Zoë Tryon
Zoë Tryon is a renowned activist, guide, speaker, and artist known for her work with indigenous communities globally. She is the Founder of One of the Tribe Journeys, a travel company that offers, privately led, immersive experiences with indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon and Andes. Through One of the Tribe Zoë has led journalists, filmmakers, celebrities to witness places in the world few will ever see. Zoe works to raise awareness for the issues facing indigenous communities and has acted as a cultural liaison between indigenous and Western leaders since 2006 when she first began living with the Achuar Tribe in the Amazon. Since then Zoe has lived and worked with the Achuar, Shuar, Kichwa, Sapara and Waorani peoples across Ecuador.
Zoë speaks worldwide on how we can apply extraordinary wisdom from tribal cultures to our lives today. She has supported education, health and economic capacity building projects, advocated for environmental and constitutional rights, and worked closely with indigenous partners on the largest environmental lawsuit in history.
She is an ambassador for Fundacion Pachamama and Sacred Headwaters Initiative, and a creative activist for the Creative Visions Foundation.
Zainab Salbi
Zainab Salbi is the co-founder of Daughters for Earth and Women for Women International, as well as a Visiting Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics. She is the author of four books, including her bestselling memoir Between Two Worlds: Growing Up in Tyranny, Escaping the Shadow of Saddam, and the host of several shows and podcasts, including PBS #MeToo, NOW WHAT? and a limited-series podcast with Foreign Policy focused on women’s leadership in protecting and restoring nature.
At age 23, she founded Women for Women International, which has helped more than half a million women survivors of war and mobilized over $240 million US dollars in financial aid to help them rebuild their lives. Her current work with Daughters for Earth focuses on mobilizing $100 million US dollars to support women-led projects that address planetary health and drive systemic change at the community and regional level.
She has received numerous honors for her work, including the TIME100 Impact Award in 2023. Oprah Winfrey also recognized her as one of 25 women changing the world in People magazine. Other publications, from Harper’s Bazaar to Foreign Policy, have named her among the top 100 global thinkers and leaders making a positive impact worldwide.
Richard Tryon
Richard Tryon, widely known as ‘The Breath Guy,’ is a leading figure in the Breathwork movement, advocating for its role as the next revolution in health and wellness. As a Breathwork practitioner, researcher, author, and speaker, his mission is to share the life-changing potential of conscious breathing with the world.
Richard spent years traveling across five continents learning from many of the modern day masters of Breathwork and continuously witnessed the transformative effects of when people became aware of their breathing and started to use it as a tool to create physical, mental and emotional benefits for themselves.
Richard has now taught tens of thousands of people across the world in his events, retreats and online. He has worked on employee wellbeing initiatives with government departments and companies such as Google DeepMind, Spotify, Amazon and Unilever
Price: $14,500 USD
Deposit: 50% trip cost
Meeting Point: Quito, Ecuador
Length of trip: 10 nights, 11 days
Group size: minimum 8, Maximum 12
What is included in the price of the trip?
Inland transfers to and from arrival airport
Lodging. Tour cost is per person, based on double occupancy. We do have limited availability for single occupancy, with a supplemental fee
One hour massage at volcanic spa
All meals
School and medical materials for villages
All scheduled entertainment
Donation to organisations working with Daughters for the Earth
Donations to indigenous leaders who come to share with us
All transportation once you land in Ecuador
What is NOT included in the price of the trip?
Airfare to and from Quito
Discretionary additional tips for community projects or indigenous guides
Additional treatments in the spa after the included one hour massage
Alcoholic beverages and incidentals (no alcohol in the communities but some in the hotels) other than meals and snacks provided (Zoe’s jungle snack mix is legendary!)
Reservation information
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Bank to bank wire transactions are preferred but paypal is also available (with additional cost) we can discuss what works best for you and give you the relevant details.
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Your deposit secures your reservation. If you reserve your place on the journey we require a deposit of 50% of the total trip fee, you are of course welcome to pay for the trip in full. If space is available after the 45 day period before the trip starts, you may reserve your trip with payment in full.
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All final payments are due 45 days before the departure date of our trip. We reserve the right to cancel any reservation that is not paid in full by that date.
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Please understand that because we must book non-refundable accommodation and supplies in advance of our trips, we have developed a strict refund policy.
More than 12 weeks before start date: 100% refund
In the following cases of cancellation, we will endeavour to replace you with those on the waiting list. If we are successful in filling your place, we will provide a 94% refund (6% covers admin costs) If we are not successful in filling your place, the following percentages apply.8-12 weeks before start date: 50% refund
4-8 weeks before start date: 25% refund
Less than 4 weeks before start date: No refund
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All prices are per person based on double occupancy. We will make every effort to assign single travellers with an appropriate roommate. For an additional fee you may choose single accommodations where possible.
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We have taken great care to design a trip that is in all its aspects safe and exciting. Each participant must purchase their own travel insurance which covers them for travel to and within Ecuador, all the activities of the programme, delays and cancellations, and general illness and death.
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This trip is very special and can be utterly life altering. To respect this sacred adventure and to protect the integrity of the group and the indigenous people whom we visit we reserve the right to ask you to leave straight away (without refund) if we consider that your behaviour is not in alignment with the 'trip rules' below.
No one should use, ingest, solicit or possess any illegal drugs or substances.
This trip is an opportunity for healing and growth but it is not appropriate for anyone who is currently in active addiction – to drugs, alcohol, food etc – we would love to welcome you once you are in recovery.
Apply to join the trip
If you would like more information, or to apply to join this trip please contact us using this form. We would also be delighted to arrange a call with you to answer any questions, and for us to find our whether you are the right fit for this trip.