Yasuní region, Ecuador Waorani Territory
Six days in Waorani Territory. Follow the Shiripuno River, stay in forest camps and dedicate three days to searching four lagoons for wild anacondas.
Your adventure starts with a conversation.
An expedition built around the search
The first lagoon is just the beginning. This journey gives you time to return your attention to the water, day after day.
Start searching on your first day along the Shiripuno. Continue deeper by canoe, watching the banks and canopy for wildlife before exploring another nearby lagoon.
Then settle into the heart of the expedition: three days exploring four oxbow lagoons around camp with your guides. These former river bends are the focus of your search for wild anacondas.
Explore the search itinerary
Wildlife, on its own terms. Anaconda sightings are never guaranteed. Every day brings a different view of the forest.
Meet your guide
Your friend, travel companion and guide to an Amazon adventure.
CEO, Sumak Allpa Tour
Director, Sumak Allpa Biodiversity Management
Born in the Amazon, Héctor brings 40 years of guiding experience and a background in anthropology. Fluent in English and several local languages, he helps travelers connect with the rainforest and the people who call it home.
His work has also taken him behind the scenes of documentary productions for Discovery Channel, Canal+ and the BBC.
In 2015, Héctor helped organise the local production and worked as a fixer for the series’ Anaconda People of the Amazon episode, broadcast in 2016. The film explores anacondas in Ecuador and the deep relationship between these apex predators and the Waorani people.
An environmental lawyer and activist, Héctor also works to protect the rainforest and defend human rights.
Plan your expeditionSix days in Waorani Territory
The search begins on day one. Days three to five are dedicated to four lagoons around camp, with the sequence shaped by conditions.
Leave El Coca at 8:00 am for a drive of around two hours to the Shiripuno River. After the access checks, travel by canoe for approximately an hour and a half to Gaba’s family campsite. Settle in over lunch, then explore a nearby lagoon in search of anacondas. Return to camp for dinner and your first night in the forest.
Road and canoe transfers · First lagoon search · Forest campAfter an early breakfast, continue by canoe from Gaba’s camp towards Tiro’s family camp. This journey takes around five to six hours, depending on river levels. Watch for birds, monkeys and other wildlife along the way, with opportunities to look for anacondas on the river. The day also includes a search in a nearby lagoon, lunch en route and settling into camp.
River exploration · Lagoon search · Arrive at campDedicate these three days to searching for large anacondas in four different lagoons surrounding the camp. These are oxbow lakes: lagoons formed from former bends of the river. With your guides, spend time exploring these habitats and watching for the animals. The order of visits and time at each lagoon depend on conditions; no particular sighting is guaranteed.
Days 3–5 · Four oxbow lagoons · Dedicated anaconda searchesAfter breakfast at around 6:00 am, leave camp by canoe for the Shiripuno bridge, then continue by road to El Coca. Allow around two hours for each leg, subject to conditions. Prefer to fly back? Ask about the optional return from Bameno to Shell. The team will need to confirm availability, cost and transfer arrangements before you plan onward travel.
Canoe and road return · Optional Bameno–Shell flight by arrangementDays 3–5 form one flexible search program across four lagoons. The order of visits and timings depend on river levels and access conditions.
Waorani Territory
Your search takes place in Waorani Territory, where the forest is also home.
Travel with local guides and stay at family camps along the Shiripuno. The people and their relationship with this landscape give the journey its setting. This expedition is built around wildlife searches; ask your hosts about any additional cultural experiences.
Discover the stories of ObeVisit as a guest. Follow your hosts’ lead and ask before taking photographs.
From the field
Photos and footage supplied by the team. The river, the people and the places behind the expedition.
The cover is an AI concept image. This gallery and the field video use material supplied by the expedition team.
Your home in the forest
Fall asleep close to the forest. Wake up ready for the river.
This is a camping expedition. The itinerary describes tents, mosquito nets, portable beds and mats, with meals at camp or along the route. We’ll help you understand the facilities before you decide.
Share any dietary requirements, questions about comfort or access needs when you get in touch.
Talk through the detailsTravel to El Coca, the optional Bameno–Shell flight and any extra services require separate confirmation. Ask for the final inclusions and price for your dates before booking.
Anacondas are wild animals, so sightings cannot be guaranteed. This itinerary gives the search a central role: lagoon visits on days 1 and 2, followed by three days dedicated to exploring four lagoons around camp. More time in the habitat is part of the experience; it is not a promise of an encounter.
The search starts on the first day. Days 3–5 are set aside for exploring four oxbow lagoons around camp. The program leaves the exact sequence of those visits flexible. River travel and opportunities to observe other wildlife are also part of the journey.
The expedition starts in El Coca, also known as Puerto Francisco de Orellana, Ecuador. The standard return is by canoe to the Shiripuno bridge and then by road to El Coca. For an alternative return, ask about the optional flight from Bameno to Shell before booking onward travel.
Ask us about the optional flight from Bameno to Shell. Availability, cost, transfers to the departure point and any luggage limits need to be confirmed with the team. Request a price that explicitly includes the flight if you would like this option.
Expect simple forest camps rather than a hotel stay. The operator’s itinerary describes tents, mosquito nets, portable beds and mats. Facilities vary between camps; ask us about sleeping arrangements, bathrooms, electricity and any personal needs before deciding.
Expect long canoe transfers, repeated lagoon searches and nights in simple camps. Heat, rain, mud and changing river levels are part of the experience. Ask about access to the lagoons and tell us about your mobility, ages in your group and comfort needs so we can discuss whether the route suits you.
The trip focuses on wildlife searches, with local guides and stays at Waorani family camps. If you would also like to learn about traditional skills or join cultural activities, ask the team which additional experiences your hosts may be able to arrange for your dates.
Bring light long-sleeved clothing, suitable footwear for travel, a dry bag and your camera equipment. Rubber boots, a raincoat and purified water are listed in the operator’s inclusions. We’ll discuss sizing and a full packing list as you plan. Check current travel-health guidance and confirm any documentation required for your departure.
Send your preferred travel month and number of travelers. The team will confirm availability, the current trip price and what is included for your departure. River conditions can affect the route and timing. Your initial inquiry is not a booking and requires no payment.
A bilingual guide and a local guide are included in the supplied itinerary. Let us know that you prefer English when planning your expedition, so the team can confirm the guide arrangements for your dates.
The next chapter is yours
Tell us a little about the journey you have in mind.
We’ll help you explore dates, understand the expedition and work out the details for your group.