AMAZON LOCAL LIVING

$1242 per person

Living in a home stay in Amazon provides a better way of seeing the largest tropical forest in the world, since you will be experiencing the true life with local tribes. You will get connected with all their beliefs that explain why every single part of the jungle is important for their life. You will learn about the meaning of their sacred places such as waterfalls, rivers, mountains, caves, trees, medicinal plants and animals. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS will give you the opportunity to see these places in an active way while doing hiking in the pristine forest, etc. We will help you to discover the bond that exists between the nature and the local people.

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8+ Age

7 Days

Adventure - Amazon Rainforest

Departure

Quito / Ecuador
Included

Activities

Land Transportation

Fees and entrances to parks and museums

Meals detailed in the itinerary
Not Included

Domestic flights

Airport tranfer in & out

International flight

FROM OUR GALLERY

DAY 1: QUITO ARRIVAL DAY

Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 6:00pm. Welcome to Quito! The largest, best-preserved colonial city of America - declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano.

Depending on arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help you to organize a day trip (please request in advance). In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00 hours. At this time we will discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.

Accommodation: Wyndham Garden Quito or similar.

Meals included: none.

DAY 2: AMAZON HOMESTAY

We will enjoy a scenic drive going across the eastern range of the Andes, with views of magestic volcanoes and the lush, green cloud forest. Along the way we will take a stop in the high mountain town of Papallacta to expereince the volcanic hot springs. Later, we will visit The Guango hummingbird reserve and enjoy some time taking pictures of this beautiful colorful birds while drinking some tasty local coffee, later we continue driving to the Amazon Basin and go hiking into a canyon right in the heart of the Llanganates National Park.

Accommodation: Amazon Homestay

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.

DAY 3: EXPLORE THE JUNGLE WITH LOCALS

On our third day, we will experience local life in the jungle with a family, seeing and learning about the processes and products they use for their consumption, as well as learn about important medicinal plants and their uses. We will hike, collect plants, weave with vines and do other activities with the locals here.

Accommodation: Amazon Homestay

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 4: AMAZON LOCAL ADVENTURES

Today we will walk for approximetaly 1 hour to Wuaysayacu, this is a group of lagoons and waterfalls where you can go swimming and explore this area of the pristine jungle. In the afternoon we will go panning for gold and at night we will enjoy stories in front of the bonfire.

Accommodation: Amazon Homestay

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 5: LOCAL LIVING EXPERIENCE

This is probably one of the most exciting days of sharing with the local family since we will venture deeper within their customs and be part of the preparation process of the traditional drink CHICHA that the locals drink with meals or use as a type of alcoholic drink when it is given time to ferment. We will start in the morning, looking for the roots and collect them from the fields, as well as collect some special plants that are going to be used in the preparation of our drinks. Cacao is also an important part of Ecuador. It originates in the Amazon of Ecuador and Colombia. Locals make chocolate products in many ways as a source of income, we will learn the very simple authentic method of producing 100% pure chocolate. At night, we will have a cultural night, enjoying local music and learning about parties and social activities, marriage customs and also the mythical shamanism.

Accommodation: Amazon Homestay

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 6: TRANSFER BACK TO QUITO

This will be our last morning with the family, it is time to say good bye to this unforgettable place and people. Then, there will be a transfer back to Quito.

Accommodation: Wyndham Garden Quito or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast.

DAY 7: DEPARTURE

Today our trip will end and you will have your International departures. Take with you your memories and photos and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a "buen viaje"!

Meals included: Breakfast.

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Accomodation

Destination

Value For Money

Overall

Transport

Meals

What's Included?

Transportation: Private confortable transportation.

Accommodation based in double occupancy: 4 nights in homestay, 2 nights in 3+ star hotel in Quito.

Meals: 6 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches and 4 Dinners.

Activities: Soaking in Papallacta hot springs, participating in daily activities, cultural night and shamanism, exploring local villages, hike to the waterfalls, chocolate making and tasting, weaving baskets with palm leaf.

Gear: Helmets, life jackets, paddles, rubber boots, ropes, harnesses.

Trip Leader: Certified expert AJ leaders and local guides.

Group size: Small group.

What is not included?

My Own Room supplement cost $ 299 USD.

Travel insurance mandatory.

Meals not describe in the itinerary.

Extra meals – food budget $ 80 USD.

Alcoholic drinks.

Personal expenses.

Tips.

IMPORTANT DETAILS

ITINERARY DISCLAIMER: It is our intention to adhere to the itinerary described; however, due to our travel style, on occasions, it may be necessary or desirable to make small changes. Weather conditions and unpredictable local circumstances may lead us to make alterations to the route and/or travel times. Hotels and flight schedules might change according to availability. Any mention of specific wildlife in the itinerary or trip details is not a guarantee that it will be seen during the trip.

DRIVING TIME: 4 to 5 hours driving each way to homestay.

HIKING TIME: from 2 to 4 hours.

SEASON: All-year, (best from November to February).

PROVINCE: Napo.

TERRITORY: Quichua Ethnic Reserve, llanganates National Park.

ALTITUDE: 470m (1100 ft).

AVG. TEMP. :Day 15-34ºC / 59-93ºF - Night 12-17ºC / 53-62ºF

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Moderate to Challenge. This program is located in an undeveloped remote area, the activities are not difficult.

GEAR: Rubber boots.

ACCOMODATION: All prices are based on double-occupancy. If you are traveling solo, you will be matched with another participant of your same sex. If you prefer to have a single room, please contact AJ prior to your departure to arrange your accommodation at an extra cost.

MEALS: Traveling with Adventure Journeys you will have the possibility to experience and taste local food and snacks. Your guide will help you identify typical food and suggest the best places to enjoy it. Some meals are not included in order to give you some flexibility about where, what and with whom to eat. You have the option to share these meals with the group, however there is no obligation to do this. If you have any allergies or food restrictions, please inform AJ prior to your departure.

Vegetarians, Vegans and Gluten Free people are very welcome in our trip, our guides are always ready to coordinate with chefs and restaurants for substitute meals for them, as Ecuador is very well known for its great diversity of gastronomy.

YOUR TRIP LEADERS AND GUIDES: All AJ guides and trip leaders are highly experienced, licensed from the Tourism University to operate in Ecuador and certified as Wilderness Adventure First Aid respondents. They all have approved several extra training courses for kayaking, rafting, biking and horse riding, besides this they all are Ecuadorian and have a fantastic personality. We always carry a complete first aid kit in our trips. In some locations and for some activities, local guides join the trip leaders to provide an added service and make sure we practice sustainable tourism involving local indigenous people in our operation.

In the Galapagos Islands, minimum 4 participants for the AJ trip leader service are required.

SUSTAINABLE ECO AND CULTURAL TOURISM: Clients receive interpretation and education about the ecology and conservation of the Andes, Amazon rain forest and Galapagos Islands, and learn about the factors that threaten it. We aim to promote long-term conservation of both local people cultural identity and the environment. We transport out and recycle all non-organic garbage and we prefer to work with local suppliers. Your visit will encourage the local communities to support responsible eco-tourism as a sustainable alternative for their living.

HEALTH INFORMATION: Please inform AJ of any existing medical conditions (i.e. pregnancy, diabetes, etc). Yellow fever, Hepatitis B vaccination and Malaria Medication are mandatory for this trip. We strongly recommend to ensure that routine immunizations such as tetanus and diphtheria are up to date and to consider Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations. Please ask your doctor for advice.

ABOUT THE KICHWA: The Kichwa indigenous community is the most populous ethnic group in the Ecuadorian Amazon region. The Kichwa people in the Amazon tend to be farmers and supplement their diet with traditional hunting practices and food purchased from outside markets. They are quite adept with the use of medicinal plants and fruit trees along with the planting and harvesting of yucca (manioc), banana, coffee and cocoa.

Preserving Kichwa traditions due to increased exposure to urban Ecuadorian culture over the last several decades has been dificult. Diminishing numbers of Kichwa use traditional dress in favor of western-style clothes. Most working age men and youth speak Spanish fluently in addition to Kichwa, whereas elders and women frequently have only basic Spanish skills and communicate primarily in Kichwa. A gradual erosion of traditional Kichwa culture has occurred over generations. Much of this has been caused by the expansion of the petroleum industry, forces of modernization and globalization in addition to the Kichwa's position on the lower rungs of the socioeconomic ladder in Ecuador. Though sometimes tourism is stated as a source of cultural erosion, most people with intimate exposure to the population claim that the growth of tourism in the region instead has rekindled interest in preserving traditional ways of life. Demonstrating the ways of their elders and ancestors to foreign travelers tends to generate tremendous self pride and motivation to the younger generations to preserve their way of life.

Shamans, beyond medicine men Shamans, elders who are healers and frequently leaders in communities, still practice their mystic ways of magic and spiritual healing. Many young Kichwa are eager to learn about medicinal plants, the names of birds and other wildlife, Kichwa folklore and respect the environment because being an indigenous guide for tourists is simply the best job and lifestyle available to them. Guides hold a respected position in the local population, so their views on preserving the delicate ecology by using traditional methods such as organic farming and hunting with a blow gun instead of a shot gun (only in areas where hunting is permitted) tend to be respected as well.

AMAZON LOCAL LIVING