Kamak Maki

Website: www.museokamakmaki.com
E-mail: info@museokamakmaki.com or shantifreitas@gmail.com
Phone: (593) 08 118 4977
(593) 08 618 3809

Who they are

The Community Ecotourism Centre Kamak Maki is a non-profit entity that has initiated a project specifically focusing on sustainable community tourism with a local Ecuadorian organisation FENAKIN MIES.

Kamak Maki is a family and community project that was born with the idea to develop an interactive centre of the Kichwa culture with respect to its history, myths, beliefs, ancestral knowledge, and relation to the environment. Kamak Maki is a space that promotes co-existence and co-living in the Amazon jungle through community based tourism, without altering social ties or inherent value of the community and its practices. They hope to demonstrate that the conservation of culture is not static and that with planning and adequate control, ancestral knowledge can be remembered in the long term. Currently, the centre is working through the investigation and recuperation of natural and cultural resources to educate its visitors about the importance of cultural preservation.

The guides and workers of Kamak Maki are members of the community of Chichicorumi and are dedicated to the project and to providing an unforgettable experience for each visitor. They count on the necessary team of qualified native guides to carry out a responsible and safe tourism project.

What they offer

Tour of the museum, plants and animals (One hour)
This basic tour is normally done from Misahualli with transportation in canoe but can also be done directly from the road. The visitor or group will receive a native guide for the interactive tour of the ethnocultural museum, medicinal plants and animals. It lasts about 45 minutes to an hour, and ends with the opportunity to take home local crafts or jewelry as a souvenir, or natural medicine made from the plants seen on the tour. It provides the opportunity to learn about the culture through the museum and plants, interact with the animals in their local habitat, and see the beautiful scenery along the Napo River.

Full day tour
This tour is for people who want to learn a bit more about the culture, customs and traditions of the Kichwa people. By spending the entire day with the native guide and other members of the community, you have the chance to take part in a unique experience in the Amazon and take home many memories and new knowledge!

10:00 – Arrival, tour of the ethnocultural museum, medicinal plants and animals of Kamak Maki
12:00 – Lunch of traditional food (such as tilapia fish cooked in leaves)
13:00 – Teaching of panning for gold in the Napo River
14:00 – Demonstration and tasting of the traditional native drink called chicha
15:00 – Hands on class in local crafts and jewelry
16:00 – Goodbye party with dance in traditional dress and games

Note: This tour is also available for half a day by choosing 2-3 of the above activities.

2 to 4 day tour
There are many great and exciting activities to do very close to the community of Chichicorumi. One can do an affordable tour of 2 to 4 days with Kamak Maki that includes accommodation, food, transportation and a personal guide. You can choose from the various activities below to arrange your own adventure packet in the Amazon!

- Tour of Kamak Maki: ethnocultural museum, medicinal plants and animals in their habitat

- Cultural Activities: this includes panning for gold in the river, demonstration and tasting of the local traditional chicha drink, a hands-on class in local crafts, dance in traditional dress, and local games

- Waterfall and natural toboggans: this hike takes about 1 hour each way, where the guide explains about the trees, plants and animals on the path. One arrives at a large beautiful waterfall to swim

- Tubing in the Napo River: with tubes and life jackets, this activity lets you enjoy the beautiful landscape of the jungle and the river, and relax with your friends on a hot day. The activity always has a canoe following alongside for your safety

- Night Hike: with a native guide, the night hike is done near Chichicorumi after dinner. Although the hike isn’t far in distance, with headlamps or flashlights one can see many nocturnal animals, insects and plants in the dark.

- Hiking in the jungle: to get to know more about the jungle, this hike is with a guide to the primary forest. The guide explains plants, animals, and insects along the way. This great experience lets you get to know more about what beauty exists here in Ecuador

- Visit to Misahualli and a Butterfly Garden: in canoe you arrive in the port town of Misahualli where two large rivers meet and you can play with monkeys in the plaza! One can rest and enjoy the beautiful beach of Misahulali and swim on a hot day. Then you visit the Butterfly Garden to see a large variety of species of butterflies from this region.

- Visit to Amazoonico Rescue Centre: about one hour downriver on the Napo from Chichicorumi you arrive at Amazoonico, an animal rescue center for wounded or endangered animals with a goal to take care of them and eventually let them back out into the wild. The tour of the centre lasts one hour and you can see many different animals brought here from around the country

- Rafting or kayaking: arriving into Tena, one can do a half day or full day tour of kayaking or rafting. This includes all equipment and a professional guide for your safety, and you can enjoy a great adventure on the river

Student Groups
Kamak Maki would like to receive student groups to visit and take advantage of this great opportunity to learn from staying in an indigenous community in the Amazon jungle region. As it is a centre of investigation and learning, Ecuadorian and foreign students are welcome to visit, see and study here. The itinerary of the tour (from 1 to 4 days) can be made depending on the interests and studies of the student group, choosing from the activities offered by the centre. For student groups, they specifically focus more on learning about the culture, customs, traditions and ancestral knowledge of this region, so it would be an exciting and educational experience for those interested in anthropology, sociology, culture, development and the environment. Please contact Kamak Maki for more information about how we can cater a tour to your groups needs!

Volunteers
Kamak Maki receives with pleasure people who wish to volunteer with their project. In the past, they have received many volunteer groups to help them with a variety of projects (such as the second floor of the museum for accommodation, the dining area and kitchen, and the bus stop at the road). In addition, they have received volunteers who come alone or with their family for 1-3 week projects (painting the museum, planning and gardening, and taking care of the animals). They greatly appreciate the work of volunteers and those who want to share their interests, experiences and knowledge with them and the project.

Therefore, volunteers are welcome at Kamak Maki! One can work with us for the time you would like and in the area that you would like or have knowledge in. Also, they would like to receive groups of volunteers to help them with bigger projects in construction or maintenance of the site. Please contact Kamak Maki if you are interested in volunteering for the current options.

Location

Kamak Maki is located 21 kilometres from the city of Tena, which is 5 hours southeast of the capital city of Quito. Buses from the Quito Quitumbe bus terminal leave about every hour to Tena. Once in Tena, you can take the road to Puerto Napo and then towards Ahuano in bus, taxi, or private car. Also, you can go to Misahualli (30 minutes in car or bus) and then arrive to Chichicorumi in canoe on the Napo River (15 minute canoe ride). If you are coming for a day tour or multiple day tour, they would be happy to pick you up in Tena and bring you to the site.

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What to bring

- A small daypack
- Breathable quick drying clothing
- Sunhat or baseball cap
- Light rain jacket or poncho
- Swimwear
- Rubber boots (better for mud & water than trekking boots)
- Sandals
- Torch
- Sun block
- Insect repellent

Accommodation & Amenities

• Rustic cabins made from local materials of pajatoquilla leaves and wood. The current maximum capacity for accommodation is 20 people
• Shared bathrooms: Toilets are flush, but basic cement structures. There is running water for showers and an area (not fully enclosed) behind the cabins to shower. However, many tourists (and of course locals) still choose to bathe in the river.
  Please note: These services aren’t as reliable as in other countries, so one must be prepared to deal with times when there may be no water or electricity. Normally this doesn’t happen for more than 24 hours, and Kamak Maki will try its best to accommodate in these circumstances (ie bringing water up from the river for the toilets, providing candles etc).
• There is electricity in the cabins. There are also a few outlets in the cabins and also in the kitchen for charging electronics. However, there aren’t many so if there is a big group, they must take turns.
• Authentic homecooked meals from the kitchen made by certified cooks in the community, made with locally grown fruits and vegetables.
• All prices are in US dollars:
  Tour of the museum, plants and animals (One hour): The entrance fee is $2.00 for Ecuadorian adults, and $1:00 for children, students or senior citizens. The price for foreigners is $2.50 for adults and $1.50 for children.
  
  Full day tour: $25.00 per person for groups of 1 to 5 people, and $20.00 per person for groups more than 5 people. This includes all the activities listed above and lunch, but not transportation to and from the site. They do provide discounts for large groups of more than 15 people.
  Note: This tour is also available for half a day by choosing 2-3 of the above activities. The price will vary, depending if you would like lunch included.
  
  2-4 day tour: The prices for these tours change depending on the activities you choose and the number of days of the tour. The basic price for each day of accommodation in their cabins with three meals included is $15.00 per person, not including a personal guide. Each activity is then priced separately taking into account the entrance fee, transportation and safety, but generally costs between $30.00-$40.00 per day per person with everything included. Please contact Kamak Maki to ask about specific pricing for the activities you are interested in, or the discounted price of an arranged tour package.

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