8 days
Shuar Expedition
Discover Tribes Lost In Time
Shuar Expedition
Join an expedition to discover one of the Amazon’s most legendary and renowned tribes: the Shuar, known as the “headhunters.” Famous for their warrior spirit and fierce nature, the Shuar warriors upheld a unique tradition of shrinking the heads of their enemies as a symbol of their victories. This practice, beyond being a war trophy displayed at traditional festivals, held a deeper purpose: to prevent the spirit of the deceased from seeking revenge on the victorious warrior.
Each warrior who embarked on this dangerous feat had to undergo a meticulous ritual designed to capture the soul of the deceased within the warrior’s shrunken head. This intricate and sacred process of reducing the head to the size of an orange is known as “tsantsa.”
The expedition offers a unique opportunity to delve into the rich cultural tapestry of the Shuar, exploring their history, customs, and the significance of the tsantsa in their traditional practices. Through this experience, you will gain a glimpse into a time where the Shuar spiritual beliefs and warrior traditions were intricately connected.
Includes
- Transfer from Iquitos Airport.
- Land and river transportation throughout the itinerary.
- Public speedboat service.
- Slow peke-peke motorboat (with stationary motor).
- All meals during the trip.
- Purified water.
- Permit from SERNANP (National Service of Natural Protected Areas by the Peruvian Government).
- Authorization from the Candoshis, Kichwas and Shuars Communities visited during the trip.
- Shuar native guide and Amazon Explorer’s tour leader.
- Equipment: mosquito net and bed sheet.
Each participant should bring:
- Their own light camping mat.
- A personal water filter for hiking.
- Rubber boots.
Important
- You must arrive in Iquitos at least one day prior to the start date of the program.
- The start date is subject to the schedule of public river transport operators.
- Speedboats depart from Iquitos very early in the morning.
- Responsibility for Additional Expenses: Amazon Explorer shall not be held responsible for any additional expenses arising from circumstances beyond our control.
- Wildlife Sightings: Wildlife is unpredictable, and sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, exploring a remote area significantly increases the chances of encounters.
- This expedition is open to highly motivated participants with strong adaptability and good physical and mental condition.
- Reservations must be made at least 60 days in advance.
Book your Trip
Tribes Expeditions
Day 1 – 8
- Travel from Iquitos 7:30 am to the river town of Nauta 9:30 am.
- Motorboat up the Marañón River.
- Look for pink dolphins (Inia geoffresis).
- Visit the Candoshis and Quechuas indigenous Communities.
- Motorboat up the Pastaza River to enter the mysterious Shuar territory (800 km or 497 mi).
- Along this river, nights will be spent in villages, in the jungle and tribal communities.
Day 9 – 15
- Arrive to a Shuar Community.
- Learn about their customs and way of life.
- Collect food from their “Chacras” plantations.
- Listen to stories told by the Shuar about their past custom of shrinking human heads or “Tsansa”.
- Learn about their weapons for hunting, blowguns and the preparing of the deadly “Curare”.
- Excursions by canoe.
- Fishing for piranha (Serrasalmus nattereri) and other species.
- Hike in primary rainforest with an indigenous Shuar.
- Identify their medicinal plants.
- Drink water from forest vines “Soga de agua”.
- Observe the wildlife.
- Explore remote lakes.
- Bird watching.
- Nocturnal exploration.
- Buying or bartering of handicrafts and authentic weapons of this indigenous tribe (optional).
- Overnight in a native community or in the jungle.
Day 16 – 20
- Return by motorboat to Iquitos.
- At this time, nights will be spent along the river in local villages.
- Return from the Nauta to Iquitos (2 hr).
