Ecuador tailor made adventure holiday

Planet

We have developed this itinerary specifically around the 3 lodges that are included. All three lodges run along a platfrom of environemtnal protection and eduction .

Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve: Bellavista plays an important and significant role in Ecuador’s conservation efforts, protecting over 1000 acres of pristine cloud forest. in 2019 Bellavista became Ecuador’s first Private Protected Area and is now part of the country’s National System of Protected Areas. Supported entirely by ecotourism, every visit helps preserve this remarkable and fragile ecosystem for future generations.

Napo Wildife Center: Located in Ecuador’s biodiverse Yasuní National Park, the Napo Wildlife Center is a world leading example of community-led conservation and sustainable ecotourism. The center helps protect 82 square miles (approximately 21,400 hectares) of pristine Amazon rainforest from extractive industries, while supporting the long-term preservation of this extraordinary ecosystem. It is so much m ore than just a wonderful rainforest lodge; it’s a community-led conservation initiative managed by the Indigenous Kichwa Añangu people. Through sustainable tourism, the lodge supports rainforest protection while helping fund local education, healthcare and community development, preserving both the region’s rich cultural heritage and one of the Amazon’s most remarkable rainforest ecosystems. The Beyond Tourism Co. is committed to supporting them in their endevours.

The trip also includes a stay at the Hacienda El Porvenir, run by Tierra del Volcán, whose goal is to support conservation and knowledge of the local páramo ecosystem. In partnership with the Fundación Páramo , a non-profit organisation that focuses on conservation and ecosystem protection in the region around Cotopaxi, the lodge helps protect over 7,000 hectares of land arorund Cotopaxi National Park. Of the 1000 hectares (2471.05 acres) that El Porvenir owns, around 20% of its land is intended for farming crops, 20% is exclusively dedicated to the reforestation of native species to restore natural habitat, and 60% is used for extensive grazing with low environmental impact; by managing animal load capacities to contribute to the conservation of the paramos (in other words: low numbers of cattle over a large area).

People

Again designed the itinerary to support the included lodgesin theior effort to support their staff and local communities.

Napo WIldife Cetner: Owned and operated by the Kichwa Añangu Community, Napo Wildlife Center is a wonderful example of community-led tourism, where the people who call this remarkable corner of the Amazon home remain at the heart of decisions about tourism, conservation and the protection of their ancestral lands.

Every visit helps support local livelihoods, create opportunities for Añangu families and preserve the community’s rich cultural heritage and traditional knowledge. By staying here, you’ll not only experience the extraordinary beauty of the Amazon rainforest but also contribute to a more sustainable future for the people and environment that make it so special.

Hacienda El Porvenir is a working hacienda where you will be guided by real Ecuadorian cowboys or chagras. They are employed by the ranch but supplement their incomes with tourism activities, which enable them to continue this unique and traditional way of life. El Porvenir also runs reforestation and environmental education projects in nearby communities to engage them in conserving the páramo.

As with every one of our holidays, the various accommodation options you can choose from meet our ethical criteria, which include: employing and providing ongoing training for Ecuadorian staff; buying their food from nearby markets to support farmers and keep tourist money in the local economy; implementing water and energy saving measures; and advising guests how they can reduce their environmental footprint and engage with local people appropriately.