PO Box 94034
Seattle WA 98112, USA

www.crookedtrails.com

206-383-9828

Where: Ecuador This program features homestays with two different indigenous communities, the Otavalo people of the highlands and the Huaorani of the Ecuadorian Amazon.  The Otavalo people are known for their handicrafts, music, and the most famous market in Ecuador.  We will stay with families and participate in their daily lives as we learn about weaving, visit the markets, and explore the surrounding countryside.  During our stay with the Huaorani people of the rainforest, we will assist with day-to-day activities of life.  Our hosts will teach us about the different uses of jungle plants and how to use spears and blowguns, as the Huaorani do to get their food.  We will also learn about the struggles of the Huaorani against the oil companies who threaten their land and survival.  Together with our Huaorani guides, we will explore the tropical rainforest by foot and the rivers by dugout canoe.  The Huaorani will introduce you to a whole new world.  You will be amazed at how deep and alive the rainforest is.

When  November

Overview

·          Learn about responsible tourism ethics.

·          Living and learning from local villagers. 

·          Visiting historical and sacred sites.

·          Homestays with local villagers.

·          Jungle explorations

·          Visits to the cloud forests.

Setting Ecuador is among the most rewarding destinations in South America.  Though small in size, it boasts an astonishing array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well-preserved colonial architecture, volcanic landscapes, and dense rainforest.  Named for the equator, which runs through the northern part of the country, Ecuador is a country of short distances and big contrasts.  In a single day you can go from the lush Amazon jungle over the majestic mountain ranges of the Andes to the tropical beaches of the coast.  On this program you will explore both the natural and the ethnic diversity of this remarkable country.