Yucca Tortillas in the Indigenous Community, El Coca, Amazon of Ecuador.

Graffiti in El Coca boardwalk before entering the Amazonas jungle in Ecuador.

Making Yucca Tortillas in the Indigenous Community in El Coca, Amazon of Ecuador was the assignment for this day. We woke up in the morning and went to the boardwalk of El Coca. There we met with our guide, a local indigenous who lived in the community of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Boarding the canoe to go to the indigenous community in El Coca, Amazon, Ecuador.

Canoe ride towards the indigenous community in El Coca, Amazon, Ecuador.

After verifying the plan for today, we rented the boat in order to ride to the community in the Amazonas of Ecuador. This specific indigenous community has no connection by land to the city of El Coca. The only way to arrive there was by boat.

Noy enjoying the canoe ride towards the indigenous community in the jungle of the Amazon near El Coca, Ecuador.

While riding the canoe, we passed the point where the two rivers, the Coca River and the Napo River, meet together and it was not noticeable the different colors of the water. After an hour's ride in the canoe, our guide told us that he is going to park the boat on the bank of the river, where a very small path inside the jungle will bring us to the community. On the bank of the river, we noticed an indigenous girl of the Amazon of Ecuador waiting for us to welcome us.

Walking through the Amazon jungle to reach the indigenous community in El Coca, Amazon, Ecuador.

Views on our jungle walk.

The roots of the Ayahuasca tree in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador.

It was amazing to see how there are no roads, no signs, no navigation or GPS, but still the guide knew to take us exactly to the point on the river where the indigenous girl was waiting for us. We were welcomed with very warm hospitality and we started our walk into the jungle.

Taking a rest in the roots of the Ayahuasca tree in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador.

Tiger cat in El Coca, Amazon jungle of Ecuador.

It took us another hour to get to the community itself. The walk into the jungle was very interesting and of course its important to indicate that you cant do it alone, you need to have a local indigenous guide that knows the way. There are no signs, no indications what is the right way to the community. Walking through the jungle, we were aware of the different animals, flowers, trees, and herbal medicines. There were cacao trees, which are very famous in that area, and some coffee plants.

Green cacao picked on our jungle walk in the Amazon of Ecuador.

Beautiful flower spotted in the Amazon jungle walk in Ecuador.

On the way to the indigenous community, we enjoyed a playful swing. The swing was made the indigenous way from a rope and a piece of wood functioning as a chair. We swang over the river and for a moment we had an adventure of living in the indigenous community of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Carmit enjoying the indigenous-made swing in our Amazon jungle walk near El Coca, Ecuador.

Following the indigenous girl in the jungle, enabled us to arrive at her community. In the community, we met the indigenous family, which taught how to make yucca tortillas from yucca roots. The yucca roots are very famous among the indigenous communities in all South and Central America. It grows in abundance and it functions as the main source of starch. 

Grinding the yucca root to make paste, the indigenous way, in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador.

An indigenous boy from the community in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador.

Drying the grinded yucca paste the indigenous way in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador.

The landscape of making yuccca tortillas with the indigenous community in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador.

I was participating in the full process from picking the roots of the yucca, washing and peeling the yucca, to grinding the yucca to bits and squeezing it dry in order to get the powder of the yucca. The last stage of the process is cooking the dry yucca powder on the fire.  

Cooking the yucca tortillas on the indigenous stove in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador.

Making another yucca tortilla on the stove in the jungle of the Amazon, Ecuador.

Noy making the yucca tortilla in the jungle of the Amazon, Ecuador.

Hugging the indigenous baby boy, part of the family in the community of the Amazon jungle in Ecuador.

It was an amazing adventure to be able to have the yucca tortillas ready to eat and make it in such an ancient way of the indigenous. I enjoyed spending the day with the indigenous family and eating the yucca tortillas and fresh platano chips. 

Yellow Cacao seeds, fresh from our jungle walk in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador, with a typical tea.

Carmit enjoying the canoe ride back to El Coca, Amazon, Ecuador.

We concluded the day by riding the river on the canoe, watching the sunset and enjoying the beautiful scenery. 

Typical dish of ‘encebollado’ in El Coca, Amazon, Ecuador.

Arriving in the city of El Coca in the evening, we decided to enjoy the special dish of the Amazon Ecuador which is “encebollado”. The restaurant located near the boardwalk of the El Coca port, and close to the local market, was full of locals. We ordered the famous dish of encebollado. With that, we concluded a delicious meal with an amazing day. Our dessert was on the way back to our hotel. We got a ‘platano y queso’ street dish, which we especially love. 

Having dessert in the street of El Coca, Amazon, Ecuador, 'platano y questo’, delicious.

Graffiti in El Coca, boardwalk near the port in the Amazon of Ecuador.