Ecuadorian Amazon

Listen to the forest.

Their story →Get involved →

A Kichwa community guarding more than 4,500 acres of primary forest on the slopes of the Sumaco volcano. They protect it, and they share it on their own terms.

Guardians of the forest. Hosts by choice.

Amarun Pakcha is a Kichwa community in the Ecuadorian Amazon that chose to protect its forest by opening it, carefully, to people who want to learn from it. Waterfalls, petroglyphs, trails and the knowledge of their elders, shared on their terms.

The idea is simple and brave: create work for families and young people at home, and keep the forest standing for the generations who come next.

It is a family effort. Edwin Tanguila, born and raised here, leads the foundation, and his daughter Kelmy is telling its story to the world. Marcos, the community elder, learned the old knowledge from his father. Martha has welcomed visitors since 2011.

Photos: Amarun Pakcha, Edwin Tanguila.

Older than the stories. Carved in stone.

Ancient petroglyphs along the river, on land the community recently secured. Their meaning is still being researched. Their future is now in community hands.

Walk there with Kelmy →
Kelmy Tanguila

Meet Kelmy.

Kelmy Tanguila grew up in this forest. She is Edwin's daughter, and Edwin leads the foundation.

Now she is one of the hardest-working students in the School of Elevation, learning to tell her community's story herself, in her own voice, to people far beyond the forest.

Amarun Pakcha

Their journey so far.

  1. 2011

    Martha starts in community tourism, welcoming the first visitors to the forest.

  2. Today

    4,500+ acres of primary forest protected, guest rooms built by hand, and the petroglyph land secured.

  3. 2027

    The first Elev-Eight small group arrives in March, to listen and learn.

Their big vision. A living forest for their grandchildren.

Picture this forest still standing in fifty years, with the young people of Amarun Pakcha living in it, earning from it and guiding visitors through it. That is the plan. A second guest cabin comes next, then a wildlife corridor joining two halves of the national park.

Every guest, every recipe and every gift brings work home to families and young people, and one more reason to keep the trees standing.

Amarun Pakcha leads. We amplify.

Get involved

Your part in their story.

Every way in builds Amarun Pakcha’s own income.

Come and listen.
The Amazon, 2027.

Eight days in Kichwa territory, for a small group of curious adults. Waiting list open.

See the journey →

Shop their collection.

Gifts of Elevation for the forest: camera traps, bird feeders and paid days on the trails. Each one covers a real cost of caring for the reserve, so the community can put its energy into guests and the next generation. Put someone's name on the card and the real thing goes to Amarun Pakcha. Chip in from £10.

See the collection →

Follow Amarun Pakcha.

Kelmy and the families post forest life as it happens. Every follow carries it further.

Instagram @amarun_pakchaTikTok @amarun.pakcha_ecuadorFacebook