Akangau Jungle Expeditions

Akangau Jungle Expeditions is part of the San Bartolo of Uchuculin Association which was founded at the beginning of 2009 by the Kichwa Community of Uchuculin the Napo Amazon Region.

Misael Cerda, the founder of Akangau Jungle Expeditions, has 7 years experience working as a guide and is passionate about preserving the jungle in which he has lived all his life. He is also passionate about providing authentic jungle tours encapsulating as many aspects of the Kichwa culture from the past and what is still practiced today.

"The difference from other tour operators is that Akangau Jungle Expeditions provides a rich cultural exchange and an opportunity to experience Kichwa Community life. In the last few years we have had the pleasure of receiving tourists from all over the world and teaching them about our indigenous customs. Many people with many different backgrounds have helped us know more about other cultures as well. It has been an enriching and wonderful experience. We continue receiving our guests in the same spirit of friendship."

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Misael has witnessed over the years many tour companies setup business in Tena, some with foreign investment, which has had unfair advantage over the local tour operators. Often these companies have exploited the young Kichwa people by paying low salaries and unfair working conditions. There is also the constant threat of petroleum companies invading and destroying, this beautiful part of the world.

In order to try and change and protect themselves from this sad reality, the families of the Uchuculin community got together to establish San Bartolo of Uchuculin Association. Their mission is to protect their environment at all costs, preserving their Kichwa culture and building a better future for the community, to read more about the association objectives and projects please click here.

The word “Akangau”, according to the legends of the Kichwa ancestors is known as the singing eagle. When the natives from the Napo Runas (Kichwas of the Amazon) hear the sound of this bird they believe that the bird is crying because it knows what is going to happen in the future. These eagles can be seen in the mountains, at lagoons and in Biological Reserves. It makes a special sound to take care of its territory, fighting against intruders, and that’s the reason why the community chose the name "Akangau".

The symbol used by the Akangau Ecotourism Expeditions is of an Omagua man. This man symbolises the ancient Kichwa Culture when men wore their hair long, as a testament to their strength.