The Hummingbird and The Caracara:
A Legend of the Achuar-Background
Information
Sustainable Ecosystems Enduring
Cultures (SEEC-Ecuador)
Maria Zambrano, M.A.
Getting to the Achuar Community
Unless one is willing
and able to walk ten
days through the
Amazon rainforest,
one must take a small
six passenger plane
from Shell to a landing
strip. The somewhat
bumpy ride lasts about
two hours.
After the plane ride,
visitors take a quiet
boat ride for about an
hour to the Kapawi
Ecolodge and Reserve
in the heart of the
Amazon rain forest.
The Achuar live close to
water sources; the Pastaza
River is a main tributary of
the Amazon and was the
closest to the Kapawi
Ecolodge and Reserve
where we stayed.
Our guides constantly
emphasized the
importance of preserving
this home to almost 70%
of all forms of life on our
planet.
Canoeing and/or rafting
trips along the Pastaza
River during the day or
night are invigorating and
informative.
The biodiversity is
amazing as one sees
caimans, macaws,
hummingbirds, speckled
chachalacas, pink
dolphins, and so many
other animals in their
natural habitat.
The Rufous hummingbird is but
one of the hundreds of birds in the
Amazon rainforest of Ecuador.
The caracara is a bird of
prey; its beauty does not
compare to that of the
hummingbird but it is
important to the ecosystem
nonetheless.
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Approximately 8000 Achuar
live in the heart of Amazon
river basin in 68
communities, along the
eastern borders of Ecuador
and Peru.
“Shuar” means person and
“acha” means aguaje palm;
Achuar means people of the
aguaje palm. This palm
grows abundantly in the
Amazon lowlands
They receive 60% of their
income from direct
employment at Kapawi and
from supplying products and
services to ecotourism.
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According to the Achuar
beliefs, “every plant and
animal in the rainforest
has its own soul and life,
almost a human spirit.”
They are extremely
knowledgeable about the
medicinal value of each
plant.
Luis was also very good
at the art of story telling.
The Achuar guide and his
bilingual partner
explain the use of this
poisonous mushroom
to teach ten year old
girls the motions for
making pottery.
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Our most patient
Achuar guide, Luis,
used natural dyes to
paint our faces with
traditional designs.
Women and men wear
different designs.
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Kapawi was built by
Achuar craftsmen
utilizing traditional
techniques and
materials and
ecologically sound
technology. Water is
heated by solar
panels.
In addition to ecotourism,
the Achuar hunt, fish and
raise manioc, sweet
potato, and other crops.
Approximately 21%of their
income is from handicrafts
such as pottery and
jewelry. Pottery and
jewelry is usually made by
the women; hunting tools
are usually made by
males.
¡Gracias!
Makete! The opportunity to visit an
Achuar family was most special!
Thank you!