The history of the Tsachilas was dramatically marked by the appearance of plagues and diseases brought by the Europeans to America. Their population was almost exterminated by small pocks, a sickness for which indigenous peoples from the "new world" had no antibodies. However, this pre-Hispanic culture managed to survive diseases and a cultural clash and still resides on the West of the Pichincha province in Ecuador. Their home is a tropical cloud forest area crossed by several rivers. The original language of the Tsachilas is Tsafiqui. The name of their culture was "Chi", and from there comes the name of the river "Toachi", which stands for "the way for the Chi".

The Tsachilas are also called "Colorados" (reds) because the men of this culture have painted their hair red for centuries, with a vegetable dye taken from the seed of the "achiote". Thus the name of Ecuador’s third biggest city, which is only 17 km away from where the Tsachilas inhabit: Santo Domingo de los Colorados. Originally both Tsachila men and women used long hair. After the small pocks plague, men cut their hair short with a mineral rock called obsidian and then dyed it red as a symbol of life. This became a tradition held to this day, and Tsachilas also wear a cotton crown over their heads, a symbol of dignity and peace.

Both Tsachila men and women paint black stripes on their bodies. The purpose of these is not purely decorative; they are believed to be a protection from diseases and insects.

According to their beliefs, with the magical and symbolic language of their bodies they keep plagues away and their culture will survive. These singularities of their physical appearance are highlighted with the simplicity of their dress. Women wear "tunans", cloths of colorful stripes around their waists. They also wear colorful ribbons on their hair. All these colors symbolize life. Men use similar cloths but only in black and white or blue and white. Men’s attire is called "manpe tsanpa".

The Tsachilas believe in the spiritual powers of their natural surroundings. Their famous shamans "clean" your body and spirit mixing the power of medicinal plants and invoking the spirits of the forest. They burn specific wood on stones that absorb the heat, spill water over this and breathe in the vapor produced for spirit cleansing purposes. In many of their ceremonies the Shaman (witch doctor and spiritual leader) uses "Nepi", their sacred plant, which has hallucinogenic effects.

To visit a Tsachila community, you take the Quito-Aloag-Santo Domingo road (map >>). From Santo Domingo, you travel 17 km on the road to Quevedo, and then you have to take a side road off the highway up to the Chihuilpe commune. We recommend you hire a guide. Approximately 3000 Tsachilas live within a 10550-hectare reserve at this site. The community organizes visits in which they share their way of life, the elaboration of their colorful clothing, their harvests, weapons for hunting, etc. For a visit of approximately 1 hour, they charge$5. They are open to share their Cosmo vision, history and way of life. To contact Tsapini Calasacón, the leader of the community, call his cell phone 09-750-3320.

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