Lessons from the Ecuadorian Amazon Jungle

I recently traveled deep into the Ecuadorian Amazon, and the trip reinforced everything I believe about human connection and teamwork. 

We spent time with Basilio, a beloved elder of the Siekō’pai tribe and one of the last living wisdom keepers of his people. 

Seeing how his community functions was a powerful reminder of what team building is in its purest form.

A Different Pace

Getting to Basilio’s community in Remolino is a journey. After flying from Quito, we took a two-hour car ride to a port, then got into a canoe to travel the rest of the way. 

Life there moves at a different pace. There’s no electricity besides some solar power, and the water is collected from the rain. In a world where we can get anything with a click, their way of life is a lesson in intention and collaboration.

The Siekō’pai people have to work together to survive. They don’t have an Amazon delivery truck showing up at their door; they have each other. Everything from building their homes to gathering food is a collective effort. Watching them, I saw a team that was perfectly in sync, operating with a shared purpose that has been passed down for generations.

The Power of Nature

Being so immersed in the jungle, I was reminded of nature’s incredible ability to restore our minds. There’s a concept called “attention restoration theory,” which suggests that our ability to focus is a finite resource that gets easily used up.

Nature, on the other hand, is “softly fascinating.” The gentle patterns of leaves or the flow of a river allow our brains to rest and recharge. Experts believe this is why a walk in a park can boost our cognitive scores by nearly 20%. Being in nature puts our minds at ease, making us more efficient and creative. This is exactly the state of mind we try to create in our team-building events. We focus on getting people outside and into a space where they can truly connect.

To learn more about the science of attention restoration and how nature impacts our brains, you can read the full article here.

A Lesson in Community

The Siekō’pai face incredible challenges, from palm oil companies invading their land to the loss of their traditions. Basilio himself is losing his eyesight to cataracts. In response, our non-profit partners and a global community came together to raise the money for his surgery. This collective effort to support an elder and preserve his wisdom is the ultimate example of a team working together for a shared goal.

Basilio is a master craftsman who weaves traditional hammocks from palm fibers. It’s a process that takes him over a thousand hours per hammock. It’s a skill he is passing down to his children and grandchildren. His work, his community, and his resilience are all tied to his connection with nature and his people.

The wisdom of indigenous communities like the Siekō’pai has deeply influenced my thinking. I write more about this in Lessons from Ancient Wisdom.

Conclusion

My time in the Amazon was a powerful lesson. It showed me that the core principles of effective teamwork, like collaboration, shared purpose, and genuine connection, are universal. The Siekō’pai community embodies these principles not as a corporate strategy, but as a way of life.

This is what inspires my work. I design experiences that take people out of their typical environment and encourage them to connect with each other, their surroundings, and themselves. Whether in a bustling city or a quiet jungle, the foundation of a great team remains the same.