Rainforest conservation holiday in Ecuador
| country: | Ecuador |
| location: | Cloud forest |
| departures: | 2008: 14 Sep, 9 Nov 2009: 4 Jan, 1 Mar, 26 Apr, 21 Jun, 16 Aug, 11 Oct, 6 Dec |
| price: | From £799 (21 days) excluding flights, plus local payment US $200 and minimum donation £50. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Lend a hand in Latin America’s Garden of Eden and experience the delights of the Amazon jungle. Straddling the equator, this small nation is richly endowed with snowy Andean peaks towering over emerald-green slopes, and rivers winding through tropical jungles. In the Ecuadorian Chocó bioregion lies Alto Choco Reserve with thousands of acres of cloud forest and pastures, and a wide range of fauna including Andean spectacled bears and dwarf deer. Volunteers will have the chance to work in this beautiful reserve which is located in one of the ten most biologically important zones in the world. Later, travelling around Ecuador offers a fascinating blend of colonial and indigenous cultures, charming towns and villages, colourful local markets, pre-Colombian artefacts and impressive architecture.
The Volunteer Programme
During your stay at the Alto Choco Lodge, swimming in the river and exploring the reserve can all be done in your free time, but volunteers are expected to work hard! You’ll be involved in reforestation programmes, collecting seeds from native trees and growing them in the nursery, or planting larger seedlings in the reserve. You might be working in the botanical garden, rebuilding orchid containers or garden pathways, or marking reserve boundaries to prevent woodcutters from felling trees in the protected area. The organic garden also always needs to be tended as this provides much of the food that you will be helping to cook for yourself during your stay. There are always plenty of outdoor activities to keep you busy!
The Volunteer Programme
During your stay at the Alto Choco Lodge, swimming in the river and exploring the reserve can all be done in your free time, but volunteers are expected to work hard! You’ll be involved in reforestation programmes, collecting seeds from native trees and growing them in the nursery, or planting larger seedlings in the reserve. You might be working in the botanical garden, rebuilding orchid containers or garden pathways, or marking reserve boundaries to prevent woodcutters from felling trees in the protected area. The organic garden also always needs to be tended as this provides much of the food that you will be helping to cook for yourself during your stay. There are always plenty of outdoor activities to keep you busy!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Quito: Arrive in Quito. |
| Day 2: | Quito – Amazon: Head through spectacular Andean scenery into the Amazon. We spend the 3 nights in a secluded jungle lodge on the world’s greatest ecosystem. (BLD) |
| Day 3-4: | Amazon: We have two full days in the Amazon to fully appreciate the diversity of this unique wilderness area. We explore on foot and by canoe, accompanied by a local guide. (BLD) |
| Day 5: | Amazon – Banos: We take a morning bus to Banos, a lovely town situated in an idyllic location on the slopes of Tungurahua volcano. (B) |
| Day 6: | Banos: A full day to explore Banos and the surrounding area. There are a range of different options including hiking, riding horses into the mountains, exploring by mountain bike and relaxing in the hot pools for which the town is famous. (B) |
| Day 7: | Banos – Riobamba: Morning bus journey to Riobamba at the foot of the Chimborazo Alps. The afternoon is free to explore the surrounding mountain scenery. (B) |
| Day 8: | Riobamba - Cuenca: Board the famous ‘Devil’s Nose’ railway for the journey across steep-sided ravines and rocky gorges to Alausi. Continue by bus to the old colonial town of Cuenca, stopping in Ingapirca, Ecuador’s finest Inca ruins. (Note: if the train is not running we will travel by bus instead). (B) |
| Day 9: | Cuenca: Morning walking tour of this beautiful city. Its cobblestone streets, flowering plazas and whitewashed buildings with old wooden doors and ironwork balconies make it a pleasure to explore. (B) |
| Day 10: | Cuenca - Cajas National Park: Over 250 lakes separated by rocky ridges make Cajas NP one of the most beautiful natural spots in Ecuador, with abundant birdlife including the condor and many hummingbirds. We spend the day touring the park by bus and on foot. (B) |
| Day 11: | Cuenca – Quito: Last chance to buy an authentic Panama hat, originally made in Cuenca, before we fly back to Quito. (B) |
| Day 12: | Quito: Quito is one of Latin America’s most historically important cities with a wealth of architectural gems and the dramatic backdrop of the Pichincha volcano. The day is free to explore. (B) |
| Day 13: | Quito – Otavalo: We set off by bus to Otavalo, a traditional Andean town with one of South America’s best markets. The afternoon is free to explore the town. (B) |
| Day 14: | Otavalo - Alto Choco: Saturday is market day in Otavalo and the streets throng with stalls selling the brightly coloured textiles for which the region is famous. In the afternoon you will travel north by public bus to the Alto Choco Reserve. (BD) |
| Day 15-19: | Alto Choco: You spend the week volunteering and relaxing in the lodge amidst the beautiful surroundings. (BLD) |
| Day 20: | Alto Choco – Quito: Say farewell to your hosts and return to Quito. (B) |
| Day 21: | Quito: Tour ends after breakfast. (B) |
Highly Commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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The Alto Choco Reserve is located in the Intag Zone of the Imbabura Province, Northern Ecuador. It is part of the Ecuadorian Chocó bioregion, which is one of the ten most important Biological zones in the world. Working here plays a huge part in preserving and protecting part of the world’s forestry and at the same times fights the atmospheres pollution through reducing carbon dioxide levels during plants photosynthesis. The reserve has a wide range of fauna including Andean (Spectacled) bears, Dwarf deer, and the Cock of the Rock (Rupicola peruviana). There is a great diversity of plants, especially orchids and native forest species such as the Cascarilla, Arrayán and Sisin. All this flora and fauna can be continually protected as long as the cloud forest remains. We thank all volunteers past and present for their support.
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