amazon kichwa cuisine

Food is a gateway to culture — and at Wild Mandari, every meal is part of your journey into the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

We don’t just feed our guests — we welcome them into a deeper connection with the land and people of Yasuní. Through locally sourced ingredients, traditional Kichwa recipes, and sustainable practices, every dish tells a story.

A Taste of the Amazon: Food as a Cultural Experience

A small black pot is placed over a wood fire burning logs, with smoke rising. In the background, there are two decorated clay pots and green plants.

Our meals are prepared daily by local Kichwa cooks, using fresh, seasonal ingredients from the rainforest, rivers, and surrounding communities.

We prioritize local sourcing at fair prices, purchasing directly from Kichwa families and small producers in Coca. This approach supports our community, reduces our environmental footprint, and ensures you enjoy authentic, nourishing Amazonian meals.

Dining in the Jungle, Kichwa Style

Two people sitting at a table eating breadfruit. The man on the left is wearing a black cap backward and a red T-shirt, and the woman on the right is in a tank top. They are opening and preparing breadfruit with bowls of peeled fruit and seeds on a yellow tablecloth. The background shows a wooden structure and greenery outside.

The Dining House

All meals are served in our open-air, thatched dining house, just steps from the jungle. Built from natural materials, it’s a peaceful space to gather, unwind, and share stories with other travelers.

Expect family-style seating, fresh air, and the soothing sounds of the forest as your backdrop — birdsong, frogs, monkeys, and rustling leaves included.

What We Serve

We serve hearty, home-style meals inspired by Kichwa traditions and adapted to travelers’ needs.

Breakfast
Tropical fruit, fresh bread, eggs, Amazonian coffee, and juices

Lunch
Rice, yuca, plantain, fish or chicken, and vegetable stews

Dinner
Rotating dishes using seasonal, local ingredients

Snacks & Beverages
Light snacks, herbal teas, and fresh fruit available between excursions

All meals are made with care and reflect what’s fresh and available that day.

Dietary Needs Welcome

We proudly cater to guests with special dietary preferences, including:

  • Vegetarian

  • Vegan

  • Gluten-free

  • Other allergy-sensitive or medical diets

Please let us know your needs when filling out your booking form, so we can prepare accordingly and source the right ingredients in advance.

Water & Drinks

  • Filtered water is always available for refill — bring your reusable bottle

  • Coffee and herbal teas are served throughout the day

  • A group of nine people sitting at a long dinner table in a rustic, wooden restaurant, enjoying a meal with bowls of soup in front of each person.
  • A cozy, dimly lit open-air wooden restaurant or bar with tables and chairs, illuminated by small warm lights, and a thatched roof ceiling.
  • Delicous meals in the Amazon Rainfrest. A bowl of creamy garlic soup with a piece of green leaf garnish, surrounded by fresh fruits on a leafy green surface.
  • Deliciuos meals in the Amazon Rainforest. A black bowl with fresh salad. Behind it are whole pineapple and white cacao fruit.
  • Fresh local products. A pineapple inside a woven basket, surrounded by a cluster of green bananas, on a wooden surface with a wooden wall in the background.
  • A wooden mortar and pestle grinding a yuca, or manioc in a wooden bowl.
  • Close-up of woven green palm leaves.
  • A frying pan with cacao beans being roasted over an open flame on a rustic grill.
  • A variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and traditional ingredients including guavas, lemons, a small bowl of dark beans or coffee beans, a glass of yellow juice, yellow and green peppers, a bowl of brown nuts or seeds, and a dark liquid in a small bowl.