Etiquette when staying with an indigenous community

12/5/2017 7:42:27 PM

I finally stayed in two different communities and talked to many other tourists I met in the Amazon.
I think what’s important to know before and during the stay is (very generalized of course):

  • leave small gifts, things that they can’t get in the community, I was asked if I could give them (or send later) stuff like:
    • food (they mostly have very simple food, like fruits, rice and fish, my guide loved protein bars and sweets I had with me)
    • batteries
    • camping equipment: headlights, mosquito nets, lighters etc.
    • clothes
    • hygiene products
  • they never call themselves / don’t like to be called indigenious, the ones I met identify just as Brazilians
  • having mentioned that, their behavior is different in many matters, for example, they don’t hug / kiss when meeting a new person (I got some very weird looks when I instinctively tried to do it, being accustomed to Brazilian customs)
  • I met only one girl speaking English, and their Portuguese was difficult to understand for me sometimes (very weird accent and a many simplified words), but the communities receiving more tourists normally have someone speaking English and/or Spanish
  • if you’re a vegetarian or have other diet restrictions, make sure to let them know before or bring your own food, pretty much all their diet is fish and chicken based
  • be careful with alcohol – they like to drink a lot, I was invited to one birthday party in the community, we drank a lot of cheap, homemade alcohol which made me really sick later… although I guess this one is more of common sense
  • all the “accommodation” was extremely simple, so if you need anything more than a hammock to sleep, bucket of water as a shower and a hole in the ground as a toilet, bring it with you

I know most of my points seem common sense, but I met some people complaining about or not prepared for them.

8/31/2017 12:59:33 AM

Learn to like fish. They are modern today in most ways. Buy some hand made goods before leaving. Plywood shack to sleep in with roof. Many speak english.

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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