About Us:
The People Behind Coya Jungle Tour
Our Mission:
Authentic Amazon jungle tours
We believe the best way to experience the Amazon is through the eyes of people who call it home. Not through a bus window, not in a group of thirty strangers — but slowly, personally, and honestly.
Our mission is simple: to share the real Amazon with people who are genuinely curious about it, while making sure the local community benefits directly from every visit.
How it started
Simon was travelling across South America after an exchange semester in Mexico in 2021, when he decided to make a stop in Leticia — a small town on the edge of the Amazon. A friend had passed on Joaquim’s number, describing him as a local who could show him the real jungle. No tourist package, no agency — just a guy who grew up there.
That first trip into the rainforest was unlike anything Simon had experienced before. Joaquim knew every sound, every animal,
every trail. It felt less like a tour and more like being shown someone’s home. The idea came naturally — why keep this to
ourselves?
Five years later, Coya Jungle Tour has taken visitors from around the world into the Amazon, always the same way: small groups, real experiences, local people.
What began as a simple meeting grew into a shared vision — to offer real, authentic experiences, not mass tourism. We focus on meaningful journeys, personal connections, and respect for the nature and the people who live here.
Meet the Team
Joaquim
Joaquim was born and raised in Comunidad 7 de Agosto — a small
indigenous village in the heart of the Colombian Amazon, just
outside Leticia. He is a member of the local indigenous tribe Cocama
and has spent his entire life in this jungle.
Every trail, every animal call, every medicinal plant — Joaquim
knows them not from a guidebook, but from a lifetime of living
here. For more than 5 years he has been sharing this knowledge
with visitors from around the world, leading small groups through rainforest and opening doors to a world most tourists
never get to see.
When you walk with Joaquim, you are not following a tour script. You are walking with someone who calls this jungle home.
Simon
Originally from Slovakia, Simon first met Joaquim after his
university exchange program, when he decided to explore South
America and travel to Leticia. It has now been more than 5 years
since they started running Coya Jungle Tour together.
Simon handles the website, client communication and the
organisational side of the business. He is the first point of
contact for anyone planning a visit — making sure every question
is answered before you arrive and that everything runs smoothly
from booking to goodbye.
Life in Comunidad 7 de Agosto
Comunidad 7 de Agosto is a vibrant indigenous community of 460 inhabitants, where the Cocama, Tikuna, and Yagua tribes live side-by-side, each preserving their own unique language and traditions. Our daily life is built around the river and our “chagra.” These are our forest farms where we head out at sunrise to harvest yuca, bananas, plantains, and corn to feed our families and livestock. We also raise animals like pigs and chickens. While we are a community of fishermen and farmers, we also have many talented artisans who keep our heritage alive.
When you join us, you stay in our local lodge right within the community. This is not just a place to sleep. It is the starting point for all our jungle hikes and river expeditions. The surrounding rainforest is full of life. From our village it is possible to see black caimans, pink dolphins, several species of monkeys, and many colorful parrots. By staying here, you directly support our local school and community projects. This helps us ensure that our culture and the jungle we call home remain protected for the future.