Entwicklungsprojekt Ecuador

[die Tourbeschreibung ist momentan nur auf Englisch verfügbar]

Day 1 Arrive Quito
Arrive in Quito at any time. There are no planned activities, so check into our hotel and enjoy the city.

Located 2850m (9348 ft) above sea level, the Ecuadorian capital of Quito enjoys a wonderful spring-like climate, despite the fact that it is only 22 km (14 miles) south of the Equator. Nestled in a valley flanked by mountains, on a clear day several snow-capped volcanoes are visible from the city centre. Add to its beautiful location a rich history and well-preserved colonial district, and you begin to understand Quito’s appeal to thousands of tourists every year.

In 1978 UNESCO declared Quito a World Heritage site, and any new development in Quito's old town is now strictly controlled. Life in Quito tends to be peaceful, though the drivers are fond of using their car horns! There are approximately 2,000,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area, but the pace is relaxed and the residents hospitable.

Quito is separated into two basic sections, the old and the new cities. The old city is full of historical buildings and churches. One of the more noteworthy is the Catedral de Quito, located on the Plaza de la Independencia. Built between 1550 and 1562, it was one of the first neoclassical works in Quito. La Compañía de Jésus Church is considered one of the most beautiful in the Americas. The decorations in the Compañía contain approximately one and one-half tons of gold, and construction of the church took 170 years (1605-1775).

The small, rounded hill dominating the old town is El Panecillo or 'the Little Bread Loaf,' a major Quito landmark. From here there are marvellous panoramic views of the entire city and surrounding volcanoes. You can easily take a trolley (streetcar) or a cab between the Old Town and New Town.

Quito’s large foreign population and steady stream of travellers have given it a varied and vibrant nightlife, and salsotecas and other dance clubs abound. For a real Ecuadorian experience though, be sure and drop by a peña if you can; these are great places for meeting locals and dancing, as well as enjoying local cooking.

Just a couple of hours south of Quito is Parque National Cotopaxi, home to Cotopaxi Volcano (5897 m/19342 ft). the beautiful cone-shaped, snow covered volcano is Ecuador’s second highest peak and the highest active volcano in the world. This is a great spot for a days hiking (up to the refuge on the glacier’s edge) or mountain biking (downhill all the way). True enthusiasts attempt the climb to the summit (overnight excursion). Allow yourself an extra day or two in Quito, before or after your trip, if you want to conquer Cotopaxi.

Day 2 Bahía de Caráquez / Rio Muchacho (L,D)
Morning flight to the Ecuadorian coast and travel by bus to Bahía de Caráquez, known as Ecuador’s eco-city. Enjoy an afternoon city tour including panoramic lookout points, the local market and Bahia’s oldest resident Miguelito, the 96 year old Galapagos turtle.

In 1998 the whole coast of Ecuador was affected by the El Niño phenomenon. Bahia was the most severely affected by the torrential rains and mud slides, leaving the town isolated and without basic services and food supplies. Shortly after El Niño, the town was struck by a 7.2 earthquake. Many buildings fell to the ground and almost all were severely damaged.During the reconstruction, local residents with the support of foreign NGOs aimed their efforts towards more sustainable development. As a result in 1999 Bahia was declared an ecocity. This was partly justifiable at the time due to the ecoProjects that existed in recycling of paper and organic waste and reforestation. The declaration meant a conscious decision by the Municipality and local residents to support and consolidate this process on a long term basis.

Since the declaration many new Projects have been created and reinforced by initiatives in environmental education.

Day 3-7 Rio Muchacho Volunteer Project (5B, 5L, 5D)
We will spend 5 days volunteering in the community of Rio Muchacho with time spent helping out on the organic farm, assisting at the primary school and helping with community development Projects. Activities on the farm may include planting and harvesting crops, maintaining vegetable gardens, composting, weeding, nursery work and reforestation. Other activities may include working alongside community members to build/refurbish buildings and homes or spend time interacting with the children at the school through the organization of soccer matches, educational games, arts & crafts, and teaching basic English. In the afternoons we will enjoy a guided tour of the farm, making handicrafts from local materials, horseback riding to see the howler monkeys, swimming at the waterfalls and learning to prepare chocolate from the bean to the dessert.

Rio Muchacho Organic Farm is situated in the river valley of the same name on the mid coast of Ecuador just north of Bahía de Caráquez. The trip to Rio Muchacho is a unique adventure with a rich interaction between environment and culture. It is not only a chance to see rural Ecuador as the locals do but to share, learn, and participate in a different culture.

About Río Muchacho
The area of Río Muchacho was once dense rain forest, some of which has been cleared for cattle farming and cropping. The combination of cropped areas with the remaining humid forest has created a picturesque landscape punctuated with huge umbrella shaped saman and palm trees. The people who now inhabit and farm the area are the Montubio people (coastal farmers).

The Montubios live from and with the land, producing most of their food needs, and cash crops like peanuts, corn, coffee, cocoa, and passion fruit. The families live in small bamboo houses scattered along the river. The main form of transport for the local people is by horse or mule.

They are ingenious people who do marvels with a machete and the natural materials at hand. Although they work very closely with the phases of the moon and tides, the farming practices in the area are conventional and to some degree destructive, as in most parts of the world. Clearing, burning, monocropping and the use of chemicals are common practices, which in tropical areas only guarantee the impoverishment of the soil.

Rio Muchacho Organic Farm was no exception until 1992 when work began to convert it to a non polluting sustainable system. It is now not only being developed as a productive organic farm but as a model for the community. It demonstrates reforestation, permaculture, alternative technologies and organic farming techniques.

This work is further enhanced in the environmental primary school coordinated by the farm. Here the children not only have a more creative, practical education but they learn new techniques for sustainable farming and practice recycling and waste management, vegetable growing, reforestation etc.

Accommodation for the group at Rio Muchacho is in a cabin by the stream or in one of the other creatively built sleeping areas. The best of typical food is prepared from the harvest and cooked over an open fire.

Rio Muchacho Environmental School
As in many parts of the world there is urgent need for education that not only prepares children for future employment but that prepares them to responsibly manage the natural resources that they will be entrusted with.

The Community School
The creation of Rio Muchacho Community Environmental School was in response to the lack of an educational institution and the urgent need for environmental education. Work to create the School began in 1992 and 1993 was the first School year.

The School is constructed on land donated by one of the parents and the construction was a community effort, each family donated materials from their farms such as bamboo, thatch, wood and stone etc. There are two open classrooms, a composting toilet, and a house for the teachers.

The first classroom was built with assistance from Alandaluz Ecological Hotel and the others by the parents.

Unfortunately one of the classrooms was lost in El Niño and the climbing frame during the earthquake (a power pole fell on top of it). The teachers and parents are working to replace these.

Each year there are between 45-55 students, pre-school to 6th grade. There are three teachers who teach several grades each.

Environmental Education at Rio Muchacho
The curriculum is based on the national curriculum but incorporates environmental education. Theoretical classes are given with the use of an audio program. These are complemented with practical work. The children learn about issues affecting their environment e.g. water pollution, deforestation, erosion and harmful agricultural practices. Within the School grounds the children have a tree nursery, and each year they produce fruit and forest trees. The students learn about growing vegetables and practice growing them in the school gardens. Composts are made for use in the vegetable garden and nursery. A lot of emphasis is put on rubbish management and separation; the organic goes either to the compost toilet, the garden compost or the banana circle, the inorganic is incinerated. Every year the children go on field trips to each of their houses. Here they work together implementing a chosen aspect of the Environmental Education.

One limiting factor in the Environmental Education is the prior knowledge of the teachers; the level of awareness in the field is usually very basic or non-existent. The teachers receive training at the beginning of the year but if they change, the process has to be repeated.

There have been many positive repercussions from the creation of the School. The community, once very dispersed, now works together in many Projects. The School has created a centre for the community, a place which is used for meetings, courses, talks as well as fiestas, bingos etc.

The School is registered with the Ministry of Education, which means that the graduates are able to go on to High School. Most have either gone to the closest villages; Canoa or San Vicente or have not continued with their education. The school often receives visits from groups of teachers who come to learn about how to implement environmental education in their own schools.

While the School has been very successful, funding is always a problem.Even though the school is registered, it receives no funding from the government. Parents pay a fixed amount each month, regardless of how many children they have in the School, however they are unable to pay very much. Other funds come from farmers of the area, supporters in Bahia, friends, family, volunteers and tourists.

How You Can Help
If you have access to any school supplies for the environmental school this is always much appreciated.

At the moment items needed include:

*Story books in Spanish (especially if they are environmental or based on human values)
* Environmental Education books for teachers and students
* scissors, puzzles, art supplies and educational toys for 5-7 year olds.
* Tooth brushes, tooth paste and second hand clothes for children

Day 8-9 Baños
Morning flight to Quito and travel by bus through Ecuador’s valley of volcanoes as we journey to Baños, a small town nestled in the hills of the Andes. Enjoy the numerous outdoor activities, including hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. You may also relax in the town’s natural hot baths.

Baños means 'baths' and there are several in and around the town. Some thermal springs come from the base of Tungurahua Volcano (‘little hell' in Quichua), others have melt water running into them from the volcano’s glaciated flanks. Locals swear that the baths are good for your health; it’s definitely worth rising early to watch the dawn creep over the mountains from a hot spring vantage point.

The town is the perfect setting for outdoor pursuits, including horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, climbing and rafting in the surrounding mountains and on the River Patate. Baños is one of the most popular tourist spots in the country and you will find many Ecuadorian families vacationing here. One look at this delightfully green mountain town and you will know why. Surprisingly, it is pleasant and unspoiled.

Day 10-11 Amazon Homestay (2B, 2L, 2D)
Descend into the Amazon jungle region in the morning. The scenery changes dramatically as we leave the mountains behind and enter the lush tropical rainforest of the Amazon. Experience life in the jungle first-hand on a homestay with a local Qiuchua family, and enjoy the hospitality of these wonderful people.

In the 16th century, Spanish conqueror Francisco de Orellana ventured from Quito into the eastern jungle, in search of El Dorado, a mythical stash of Inca gold hidden away in the jungle. While he didn't find gold, he did discover Ecuador's Rio Napo, which along with Peru’s Marañón, combines to create the mighty Amazon. He followed the Napo into the Amazon mainstream and travelled all the way through the dense jungle to the Atlantic Ocean on Brazil’s coast.

Consider the variety of mammals living in Ecuador's Amazon: armadillos, honey bears, sloth, 60 varieties of bats, tapirs, peccaries, jaguar, monkeys, manatees and much more. Birds are the richest group of Amazon vertebrates, at approximately 1000 species. Visitors will see hummingbirds, toucans, macaws and tanagers on land, and darters, herons and gulls on water. If fortunate, you may catch a glimpse of the prehistoric looking Hoatzin, with its brightly coloured feathers and sharp talons.

Over 500 species of trees per acre have been recorded in the jungles of the upper Amazon. If this doesn’t seem particularly astonishing, consider that this is ten times greater than either Europe or North America, and you will begin to appreciate the significance of the conservation of this area and others like it.

The rainforest is also the traditional home of many indigenous communities, whose traditional homelands and way of life are threatened by the encroachment of 20th century industries like mining, petroleum exploitation and large-scale cash-crop farming. Among the most representative are the Siona-Secoya, Cofan, Huaorani, Shuar, Ashuar and Quichua.

We spend two days in the Ecuadorian Amazon, near the Napo River. Our home is with a Quichua family near the community of Cando, where we will learn their traditional beliefs and customs, their many practical uses for the jungle’s wealth of natural products. The family is friendly and over the years they have met countless visitors from around the globe. It is a great opportunity to make new friends, while experiencing a completely different way of doing things—one that may give you a different perspective on life.

Day 12 Papallacta (B)
Travel by bus to Pappallacta where we spend the evening enjoying the natural mineral hot pools with a glass of wine under the stars.

The village of Papallacta sits 60 km (37 miles) southeast of Quito, over the Andes and on the outer rim of the Amazon Basin. This small village, surrounded by cloud forest on the road between the highlands and the Oriente, has arguably the best thermal springs in all of Ecuador. It is the perfect place to spend a relaxing evening soaking in the mineral hot springs, while enjoying the great natural beauty of the area.

Day 13-14 Otavalo/Quito
Visit beautiful Otavalo and its famous handicrafts market, the largest in South America. Villagers from the surrounding countryside come here every week to sell handmade goods, livestock, fruits and vegetables. Return to Quito for our farewell evening.

Otavalo is justly famous both for its friendly people and its Saturday market. The market dates back to pre-Inca times when jungle products were transported from the eastern lowlands and traded for highland goods. Today's market has two different functions: the local market for buying and selling animals, food and other essentials, and the crafts market for the tourists and other interested people.

There are three main market plazas in town, with the overflow spilling out onto the streets linking them. The Plaza de Ponchos is where you will find most handicraft items. You will find colourful woollen goods such as ponchos, gloves, hats, blankets, scarves and sweaters, as well as fine tapestries and a variety of embroidered blouses and shirts, shawls, string bags, and rope sandals. This market gets underway at dawn and continues until early afternoon. Remember, bargaining is expected for every purchase! If you're good you should be able to get at least 20% off of the starting price. The food market sells produce and household goods for the locals, and there is an animal market beginning in the predawn hours on the outskirts of town. Although these are not designed for visitors, they are cultural experiences to see and are definitely worth a visit.

One of the most evident features of the Otavaleños' cultural integrity is their traditional dress. This is not just put on especially for the tourists at the Saturday market, but is worn throughout their daily life.

Day 15 Depart Quito