The community of Siecoya Remolino is a community of the Siecopai (Secoya in Spanish) culture, set in a 22,000 hectare reserve which they are striving to defend against incursions from colonists and petrol companies. There are only around 900 members of the Secoya in Ecuador. Aware of the value of preserving their environmental heritage, they are developing a project to achieve a sustainable lifestyle that protects their ancestral home and preserves their culture and traditional systems of knowledge. 

They have constructed a visitor center a few minutes further down the Aguarico river from their village that presents details of their culture and history, and features an elevated tower that takes visitors up to the forest canopy to observe the bird life. Set among primary and unspoilt rainforest it is an inspiring place to visit. They also have begun construction on volunteer and tourist accommodation near their village. Other projects include planting cacao in the forest as a sustainable crop, an investigation and cataloguing of forest species, improving the education of their children, the creation of fish ponds to rear local species, and the gathering and recording of traditional legends and mythology,

 Access to the community is by bus (9 hours) to Shushufindi,  or air (30 minutes) and bus (90 minutes) to Coca or Lago Agrio, from Quito. This is followed by a 2 hour ride in a ranchera (open sided bus), and a 40 minute ride downriver in canoe.

Cultural Exchange visitors are welcome for a week or more, as well as long-term volunteers to help in education and other projects in the community.

Click here  for general Volunteer Information

Click here to read our Norms of Conduct for visiting an indigenous community