Jungle Exploration The Shayari reserve has a great network of trails that offers our visitors hikes/walks of all levels. We have a short walk around the rescue center, a medium walk to view some of the outdoor habitats and waterfalls and our longest walk (6 hrs. round trip) to Laguna Morete Chocha. We highly recommend bringing rubber boots for all our walks due to the muddy nature of certain sections, especially for the hike to the Laguna. Wildlife/Bird Watching As is noted elsewhere, we have thousands of bird species in the reserve and finding them is part knowledge of their behavior and part luck. Every morning and evening toucans make their way around the forest and are particularly vocal. Parrots, Hummingbirds, Oro Pendola and many other species are residents of the reserve. In March and April, the forest is at its peak bird watching splendor. Further, we are always working with different species in the rescue center, offering visitors “face time” with species usually only viewed from a distance. Canoeing/Piranha Fishing As part of the hike to Laguna Morete Cocha, we offer an opportunity to canoe around the lake in a traditional dugout canoe. Moving out of the forest and viewing it from the water gives visitors a unique view of the thick jungle and opportunities to see species difficult to spot from under the forest canopy. While at the lake, we often fish for piranha, releasing the fish unharmed, but only after a rare chance to see Piranha teeth up-close. Medicinal Plant Tours Our traditional knowledge of the medicinal plants in the forest remains strong. We offer hikes specifically tailored for visitors interested in learning more about Kichwa uses of plants for healing both body and spirit. Further, we enjoy talking about modern applications of this traditional knowledge and how we utilize a unique mix of ancient and modern medicine. Siktapanga: (at left) the leaves of this plant are boiled and the steam is inhaled to cure headaches. Guayusa: (center) a traditional tea is made from the leaves of this plant, which is enjoyed regularly in the morning for energy. It is also used at community gatherings for sharing ancestral stories and is thought to provide protection from snake bites. Barbasco: (at right) The “milk” taken from the roots of this plant has traditional and modern uses. Traditionally, the milk was used as a venom for river fishing. It’s modern use is as a natural pesticide. . Traditional Shaman Ceremony As part of keeping our culture alive and educating the global community about our world view, we allow visitors to participate in a genuine Kichwa ceremony with a local Shaman. We can’t offer this ceremony to all the groups that visit us, so we ask that you inquire well ahead of time so that we can schedule this unique opportunity. . Zip-line/ Jungle Swing Always a favorite with adventurous visitors, we have a secure zip-line jungle swing that carries you about 150 meters through the jungle, reaching a maximum height of 20 meters. And for those not quite ready to take that leap, we have a great big rope swing that’s very exciting. . Traditional Crafts Workshop Our ancestors made good use of the clay-rich soil of this land, crafting bowls, plates, water tanks and more, decorating the pots with natural paints made by mixing water with local plants and minerals. Visitors are welcome to help craft and decorate their own pottery, or simply view our experts working with the clay. In addition to selling our clay crafts, we also offer jewelry and weavings of local fibers. . Folkloric Dance Performance As most native peoples, we have maintained our dance and are actively teaching our children the tradition. Our children enjoy dancing for visitors and visitors report truly enjoying the show--especially the opportunity to see our people in traditional ceremonial dress. Indigenous Hunting Demonstration Although we no longer hunt here at Shayari, we believe its valuable to keep the knowledge of our traditional hunting techniques alive. As such, we have several demonstration sites around the reserve where visitors and our children can learn how to hunt using basic, but effective, strategies. Our demonstration is not intended as a wilderness skills training, but it certainly would be helpful for anyone caught in the wild without the means to acquire food. To Arrange a visit or to inquire about options, please e-mail us at shayaritours@gmail.com and allow for a few days before we respond.