Amazon Indigenous Communities in Puyo, Capital of Pastaza region, Ecuador.

Kotokocha Amazonian indigenous community in Puyo region of the Amazon of Ecuador.

Puyo, known as El Puyo, is a town seated between the Tena and Banos, in Ecuador. Puyo is the capital of Pastaza province in Ecuador, situated on the Pastaza river, which flows to the Amazon river. Visiting Puyo is the entrance and the connection to tours and habitation in the Amazonas region of Ecuador. 

Panoramic view of the Puyo river merged to the Amazonas river in Pastaza province, Amazonas, Ecuador.

Chilling and enjoying the panoramic view from the top of the hill of the Amazonas region of Ecuador.

Chilling and enjoying the panoramic view from the top of the hill of the Pastaza, Amazonas region of Ecuador.

We spent a week in this amazing area, traveling between different indigenous Amazonas communities and touring the Amazon river. This region of the Amazon in Ecuador is a major hub for commercial, culture and political capital of the region. The indigenous Amazonas communities in this area are organized politically where there is a President of the community and union of workers. We were fortunate to attend event of gathering of all the children and parents in the community, meeting with the Presidents and representative from the Ecuadorian government of Puyo region. We were welcomed very nicely. Each child recieved a kit of presents for education.

Face painting from Amazonas fruit, celebration in Kotokocha indigenous community of Ecuador.

Face painting from Amazonas fruit , celebration in Kotokocha indigenous community of Ecuador.

Face painting from Amazonas fruit , celebration in Kotokocha indigenous community of Ecuador.

Many tourists find Puyo as an easy town to start their trip into the Amazonas jungle and to co-mingle with different tour agencies who specialize in these kind of travels.

Traditional hunting tools and poisonous snake of the Pastaza, Amazon region in Ecuador.

Traditional hunting tools and poisonous snake of the Pastaza, Amazon region in Ecuador.

We took one of those tours to visit the indigenous Amazonas village of Kotokocha. While visiting there, we were hosted by the indigenous family, which performed the traditional dance in front of us. Part of the dancing includes getting dressed with specifically traditional clothing all made from beads and hand-made colorful seeds from the trees. Additionally, the indigenous painted our faces with natural color made from the specific flower. We were witnessing their attitude towards nature, living with animals such as different Toucans. 

Traditional clothing and jewelry made from beads and seeds with natural colors and Anacoda snake bones in the jewelry.

Living with animals in the Kotokocha indigenous community of Ecuador.

Typical poisonous snake in the Amazon region in Ecuador.

One of the family members of the indigenous was qualified with the animals and knows how to catch the poisonous snakes of the Amazon. He demonstrated his skills in front of us. 

Entrance of the Kuri Warmi indigenous community in the Pastaza region, Amazon, of Ecuador.

The next day,  we were visiting a different community, Kuri Warmi. Witnessing this community, living with nature, is a wonderful adventure and memory. We got familiar with the animals and medicinal herbs. This specific community does not eat meat and lives off herbs and natural medicine. We met with Marina, the president of the indigenous Amazonas communities and her family. We were welcomed with a traditional yucca drink and witnessed the paradise zone of where they live.

Family of the Kuri Warmi indigenous community in the Pastaza region, Amazon of Ecuador.

Indigenous Amazonas family hosted with their pet, a capybara, typical animal of the Amazon region in Ecuador, .

Indigenous Amazonas family hosted with their pet, a capybara, typical animal of the Amazon region in Ecuador.

In this area, the plantations of banana, cacao and coffee are very abundant and rich. We took the opportunity to visit a cacao farm and enjoy the rich flavors of the cacao made directly after being picked from the farm. We participated in cooking the seeds, grinding them and producing fresh chocolate. 

Roasting cacao seeds to prepare chocolate in the Amazonas region of Ecuador.

Creating chocolate paste from fresh cacao seeds that were roasted by us in the Amazon region of Ecuador.

On another day, we took a boat ride canoe on the river to enjoy the flora and Amazon basin around, including sightseeing of the Puyo river entering the Amazon river. The sightseeing from the top of the climb was breathtaking. 

Canoe ride on the Puyo river in the Pastaza region of the Amazon in Ecuador.

The amazing panoramic view of the Puyo river merging to the Amazonas river in the Pastaza region, Amazon of Ecuador.

It is highly recommended to visit this area, specifically if you want to be familiar with the Amazon culture and indigenous community.  It is recommended not to do it by yourself, for safety reasons and the fact that some of the communities will not welcome visitors without being guided by a local agency. It is paramount to understand that those indigenous Amazon communities are living differently than the Western world. Therefore, you have to respect their culture, way of living and manners while visiting the area. We enjoyed our visit very much in this Amazonas region and were happy to meet the indigenous communities.

Cave in the jungle of the Amazonas region in Ecuador.

Beautiful sunset in the top of the hill, panoramic view in the Amazon region of Ecuador.