Indigenous experiences in

BRAZIL

Jaqueira, Bahia

Witness the revival of a Pataxó village

The Pataxó are descendants of the Indigenous mountain people who lived in Bahia when the Portuguese first arrived in Brazil. Their population was decimated in the 20th century, when hundreds were lost during a campaign to reclaim their lands in Monte Pascoal National Park. Their language and traditions have come close to extinction.

In the late 1990s, three remarkable Pataxó sisters began a cultural renovation project in their village of Jaqueira, near Porto Seguro. They re-introduced the Pataxó language, traditional agriculture and started an eco-tourism project to provide community income. Visits are profoundly inspiring, offering genuine interaction and traditional learning with the community. Jaqueira also kickstarted cultural pride among young Pataxó, and in 2022, 21 year-old Indigenous activist Alice Pataxó was nominated as one of the BBC’s ‘Women of the Year’.

More information: pataxoturismo.com.br

Words Alex Robinson

Manaus, Amazonas

Cruise the Rio Negro with a Munduruku guide

Saru Mundurukus grew up hunting and fishing in the rainforest. Now he runs the only Indigenous-owned tour company in the Brazilian Amazon – something he had dreamt of since his twenties. Working as a guide, he saw non-Indigenous Brazilians prospering from rainforest tourism while largely ignoring Indigenous and riverine culture. “The Amazon isn’t a vast wilderness without people,” he says. “Native Amazonians have lived here for millennia in harmony with nature.”

While most Amazon tourism focuses on wildlife and stays in jungle lodges, Saru takes people on cruises to rainforest communities, and from there into little-visited wilds that local people have long loved and fostered. “Sharing this Eden, and our knowledge of how to live with it, gives visitors the chance to see the real Amazon,” he reflects Book tours with Saru through tour operator The Earth Trip, or contact iurys_didier on Instagram.

More information: earthtrip.co.uk

Words Alex Robinson

BELIZE

San Antonio

Make corn tortillas with the San Antonio Women’s Co-op

The San Antonio Women’s Co-op was formed by a group of Maya women. They started it as a way to earn an income, learn new skills and to share their traditional knowledge with visitors and the younger generation. Their aim has always been to ‘empower’ and ‘inspire’ – something that becomes apparent in just a short time in their company.

Visitors can try their hand at ancient pottery-making techniques with a group of Maya artisans, learn about the art of huipil embroidery, or participate in a cooking session, helping to prepare a traditional Maya meal. You will also have a chance to purchase crafts made by the women in the community. Tour operators such as Belize Adventure Tours offer visits; alternatively, search for the Co-op’s Facebook page.

More information: belizeadventuretours.com

Words Lyn Hughes

BOLIVIA

Madidi National Park

Stay with the Quechua-Tacana community in the upper Amazon

Stay with the Quechua-Tacana community in the upper Amazon
In the depths of Madidi National Park – thought to be the world’s most biodiverse protected area – lies the Chalalán eco-lodge, owned and run by the Quechua-Tacana community of San José de Uchupiamonas. This cluster of thatched A-frame cabins, shaded by fruit trees and overlooking a mirrored lagoon, feels gloriously secluded. Visitors can trek along rainforest trails, take boat trips along the serpentine Beni and Tuichi rivers, swim in foliage-fringed lakes and fish for piranhas, all while keeping their eyes peeled for pink dolphins, jaguars, anacondas, parrots and toucans.
As well as funding clinics, education and infrastructure, and providing the people of San José de Uchupiamonas with jobs, this low-impact lodge has had an even wider benefit: helping to protect the park from the threats posed by illegal poachers, loggers, ranchers and miners.

More information: chalalan.com

Words Shafik Meghji

COLOMBIA

Vichada Department

Dive into the Matavén jungle with the Piaroa community

The Orinoco River is a vital force that shapes the ecosystems around it, offering a sanctuary for birds, fish and animal species ranging from river dolphins to caimans. On a trip with The Colombian Project, visitors can immerse themselves in the beauty of the vast Matavén jungle on the Orinoco, and stay in La Urbana with the Piaroa Indigenous community who call this region home. Here you can learn about the Piaroa customs, their way of life and their unique traditions. Activities include exploring the forest and savannahs, canoeing on the river and through flooded jungle, walking in the tepuis and preparing staple recipes such as casaba and mañoco using local ingredients.

There will be an opportunity to learn about the handicrafts of the Piaroa people and to participate in traditional activities and games. This is a unique chance to witness the people of the Matavén jungle’s deep connection with the land, and to find out how they are preserving their cultural and natural heritage for future generations.

More information: colombianproject.com

Words Yvonne Gordon

GUYANA

North Rupununi

Search for giants at Rewa Eco-Lodge

Situated deep in the Guyana rainforest, and accessed only by boat, this eco-lodge was opened in 2005 when the Macushi community realised they needed a sustainable future and shifted from hunting to eco-tourism. Today, they are conservationists, acting as guardians to a healthy population of one of the world’s largest freshwater fish, the arapaima – a true dinosaur of the deep – which visitors come from around the world to see. Nor are these fish the only behemoths here; guests can also admire giant water lilies (Victoria amazonica) and go in search of giant river otters and the goliath bird-eating spider (the world’s largest tarantula). Other activities include fishing, birdwatching, boat trips and visits to Rewa village, where the health centre, schools and church have all been funded through the lodge.

More information: rewaecolodge.com

Words Lyn Hughes

ECUADOR

Immerse yourself in pristine nature at an acclaimed rainforest eco-lodge

Located in the Yasuní National Park, deep In the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest, Sani Lodge is 100% owned and managed by the Kichwa community of Sani Isla. Activities with the knowledgeable local guides include canoe rides, jungle walks, specialist birding and photography tours, and a trip to the local community centre for insights into the Kichwa way of life and what they achieve with the ecotourism revenue from the lodge. With over 550 species of birds, plus monkeys, caimans, manatees and turtles, there is plenty to see; however, tellingly, it is the warm welcome and excellent service that guests usually remark on.

More information: sanilodge.com

Words Lyn Hughes

MEXICO

Chihuahua

Pound the trails of Copper Canyon with Rarámuri guides

Set amid the dramatic landscapes of the Copper Canyon, in Mexico’s northern state of Chihuahua, Experiencias Rarámuri is a community-based tourism project that was founded in 2015. It offers a chance to join guides from two far-flung Rarámuri communities – Bacajipare and Huetosachi – on hikes along networks of precipitous, centuries-old trails, revealing sacred tombs, ancient rock art sites and panoramic viewpoints.

Trips provide valuable insight into Rarámuri mythology and culture. You can also attend cookery, weaving and handicraft-making classes, as well as hear storytelling sessions and join traditional family meals. The latter will likely feature pinole, a nutrient-rich concoction of ground maize, cocoa and cinnamon that powers the reputation of the Rarámuri as impressive long-distance runners.

More information: experienciasraramuri.com

Words Shafik Meghji