Chez Team · video

What this video covers

A three-day expedition to the Cueva de los Tayos in Ecuador begins in the town of Méndez, where the hosts join a local Shuar guide, Jimmy, and three Ecuadorian companions.0:58 The journey requires a seven-kilometer boat transit on a river characterized by distinct black and brown water currents, followed by a strenuous three-hour hike through dense jungle terrain to reach a remote community near the cave entrance.6:48 The site features basic infrastructure, including toilets, showers, and a dining area, which previously served as a base camp for a 170-person National Geographic film crew during a 2022 documentary production featuring Will Smith.18:05 The cave, named for the nocturnal oilbirds that inhabit its depths, is considered a sacred site by the Shuar people, who historically utilized liana-based ladders for descent.3:19 The expedition team prepares climbing gear, including helmets and harnesses, for a planned descent into the cave’s main shaft.1:16 The area experiences high humidity and significant temperature fluctuations, which produce visible vapor at the cave mouth.17:19

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