National Tourist Guide Imbabura Y Carchi: a New

NATIONAL TOURIST GUIDE

IMBABURA Y CARCHI: A NEW ALTERNATIVE OF AGROTOURISM IN ECUADOR

DEGREE INVESTIGATION TO GET THE PROFESSIONAL TITLE OF NATIONAL TOURISM GUIDE

MYRIAM ELIZABETH BARONA MOREJÓN

QUITO – ECUADOR OCTOBER 2016

NATIONAL TOURIST GUIDE

IMBABURA Y CARCHI: A NEW ALTERNATIVE OF AGRO-TOURISM IN ECUADOR

DEGREE WORK FOR OBTAINING THE PROFESSIONAL TITLE OF NATIONAL TOURIST GUIDE

PROPONENT:

MYRIAM ELIZABETH BARONA MOREJÓN

QUITO – ECUADOR OCTOBER 2016

APPROVED BY:

MR. SERGIO LASSO MR. PATRICIO RAZA

TUTOR CAREER COORDINATOR

MR. JUAN C. RIVERA MR. CESAR CACUANGO

PROFESSIONAL GUIDE ENGLISH TEACHER

GRATITUDE

I want to say thanks to God, first and then life for all the difficult times, but especially for the opportunities that have changed my life.

Thanks to my tutor Mr. Sergio Lasso for his guide with patience, dedication and wisdom. To Mr. Diego Torres Garzón, friend, coworker and roll model from whom I have learnt a lot.

Thanks to the people who participated while I was making this Project, my mother, Friends who in-conditionally supported me in their own way, thanks for their advices, prays, good energy and time invested in me to get my aim.

Last but not least, I want to thanks Ecuador for having “The Treasure of Our Fields” and that wonderful people that work in it to make them the muses of agro-tourism.

DEDICATORY

Dedicate ALL my effort and work to my daughter, the happiness of my life “Amelia Alegría" for being my main pillar and inspiration to get my aim.

INDEX

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 1 2. INTRODUCTION ...... 2 2.1. Agro-Tourism in Ecuador ...... 2 2.2. Agro-Tourism in Imbabura ...... 2 2.3. Agro-Tourism in Carchi ...... 2 3. DEFINITION ...... 4 4. JUSTIFICATION ...... 4 5. OBJECTIVES ...... 5 5.1. General objective ...... 5 5.2. Specific objectives...... 5 6. METHODOLOGY ...... 6 6.1. Attraction of the operational zone raising ...... 6 6.1.1. Touristic attraction of pichincha province ...... 6 6.1.1.1. Natural attraction...... 6 6.1.1.2. Cultural attractions ...... 7 6.1.2. Touristic attraction from imbabura province ...... 8 6.1.2.1. Natural attractions: ...... 8 6.1.2.2. Cultural attractions ...... 10 6.1.3. Natural and cultural attraction from carchi ...... 13 6.1.3.1. Natural attractions ...... 13 6.1.3.2. Cultural attractions ...... 13 7. OPERATIONAL ITINERARY ...... 15 8. ROUTE OPTIONS ...... 16 8.1. Option one ...... 16 8.2. Option two ...... 16 8.3. Option three ...... 16 9. ITINERARY: ...... 17 10. OPERATIONAL ITINERARY ...... 18 11. CONCLUSION ...... 20 12. RECOMMENDATION ...... 21 13. BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 22 14. ANNEXES ...... 24

IMBABURA AND CARCHI: A NEW ALTERNATIVE OF AGRO- TOURISM IN ECUADOR

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Imbabura and Carchi are two provinces from the Ecuadorian Andean Region at the north of the zone, historically both have been very important to our country culture, customs, traditions and economy thanks to de indigenous cultures were there before the Spanish colonization as: Imbayas, Caranquis, Awas and finally Incas, who showed a developed agriculture system for the time, resource that helped to their survival and products with other cultures. It is very important to mention that now-a- days many indigenous cultures located in these provinces keep using the agriculture technique as their ancestors.

We must highlight the way these communities have reinforced their resources until making them a tourism spotlight and this way they have kept alive the agriculture techniques, to trade products and the same way to increase their income.

2. INTRODUCTION

2.1. Agro-tourism in Ecuador

As part of the Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy Plan to Ecuador by the 2020 (PLANDETUR 2020) agro-tourism will be one of the main and strength products which varieties include: farms, houses in the countryside and cultivated fields.

Two main products highlight from the analysis: “Paseo de los sabores… Cacao, Banano, Café” (Flavor ride… Cocoa, Banano and Coffee) and “Ruta de las Flores, plantaciones de flores del Ecuador” 1 (Flower route, ecuadorian flower fields).

Part of the final report of PLANDETUR says “ … Designed routes like Ruta del Cacao, Ruta del Café, Ruta del Banano and Ruta de las Flores will be reinforced and encouraged as the most important for their correct implementation. Farmers have a favorable Outlook to sell their products to visitors.” 2

2.2. Agro-tourism in Imbabura

As far as PLANDETUR 2020 analysis says, Imbabura province isn’t considered as a settle offer in agro-turism, however, in the last years has had important changes that have opened offers to agro-tourism like the case of flower fields, organic coffee from Íntag, some communities and farms that show the process of cultivated fields of different products, besides offers complementary activities for tourists as lodgings, local food, guide hiking, horse riding, etc.

2.3. Agro-tourism in Carchi

Carchi province, has not been developed as an area for agro-tourism, although it counts with ranches which sheep that have better genetic than other areas, huge sugar cane fields, different plantations of potatoes, flowers and fruits, all these can convert this province on a great exponent for agro-tourism.

1 jorgepaguay.wordpress.com. Cit., Estudio Agroturismo en Ecuador

2 jorgepaguay.wordpress.com. Cit., Estudio Agroturismo en Ecuador

In last years some groups have promoted some products in different areas of this province, is the case of Mira where the people of this place is elaborating some liqueur made from oranges of the zone.

3. DEFINITION

Agro-tourism is tourism developed in rural areas where you can visit farms, fields and country houses of small and big production with the aim of knowing agriculture techniques that are used and different products farmers get from them.

4. JUSTIFICATION

Agro-tourism in Imbabura and Carchi provinces has begun to develop in the last few years.

It is a first-hand experience, with different practices of farming production that encourage cultural, social, environment and quality values. This way, visitors won’t take with them just the image from the place, also will get raw and processed products directly by their farmer.

5. OBJECTIVES

5.1. General objective

To give a positive contribution to the people who develop these agro-tourism projects, to their local organization, incomes, knowledge, environment, etc., as the foundation of tourism development in Imbabura and Carchi provinces.

5.2. Specific objectives

To promote tourism in places where agriculture practices and techniques are environment friendly.

To put in knowledge agriculture practices, ancestral and modern.

To become agriculture in an alternative economic resource for the different communities from Imbabura and Carchi provinces.

6. METHODOLOGY

The methods, tools and techniques used for the design of this route are describe bellow:

Maps of both provinces, Carchi and Imbabura, with this maps is possible to establish the zones, distances and attractions on the area, and with this mark a route.

Books and traveling guides to research the areas where the agrotourism is practice in Imbabura and Carchi.

Internet: This was a tool to mark agricultural zones with its products, if they work with tourism or just for their consumption or local sale.

Interviews: agronomists, indigenous community leaders, authorities of local tourism and a local Tour service were interviewed, that was useful to know more about farming sector, techniques, farmers work, positive and negative facts, viability and strength that agriculture has in Imbabura and Carchi provinces.

Field Observation: This was the most important method to elaborate assigned route because we visited, met, understood, felt and valued natural and cultural touristic attractions, social and economic resources as well as necessities of the population from Imbabura and Carchi provinces.

6.1. Attraction of the operational zone raising

6.1.1. Touristic attraction of Pichincha province

6.1.1.1. Natural attraction

Guayllabamba dry forest: This area has been strongly invaded by human presence thanks to be in the new Quito airport zone; around the place we can find cultivated fields, quarries and urban areas. We can find natural forests of acacias, brushwood and bushes, while the rivers inside the area are Guayllabamba, San Pedro and Coyago.

The poorly existent vegetation is very important to keep humidity which is used by the local fauna.

Vegetation is bushy, small and thorny; fauna has few amphibians, reptiles and some birds species, and as far as examples are taken, we have found three different fish species.

Guayllabamba river: River from Pichincha province is the hydrographic axle of the valley with the same name with its main affluent: San Pedro, Pita and Pisque. From the South, the river takes the internal water from the valley and gets narrow in a big canyon that breaks the occidental mountain chain and falls to the coast to flow into Esmeraldas river. Its water has origin in little stream that come from Cotopaxi, Sincholagua and Rumiñahui volcanoes.

Cayambe Volcano: Its high is 5790 over sea level, its last eruption was in 1786, is active, located in the north of the Ecuadorian mountain chain, to 60 km at northeast from Quito. Cayambe is a compound volcano, formed by many domes, showing a lot of hills. 6 Over one of its glaciers, equatorial line passes through, getting a 4530 over sea level high in the highest spot of its track.

6.1.1.2. Cultural attractions

Calderon and marzipan figures: Marzipan figures are tradicional in Calderon, located 15 km to north from Quito, even when they are very popular in Day of Deaths, their shapes are related to other topics and make the place a touristic attraction.

Their origin keeps the analogy with “guaguas de pan” (bread child), that probably is related to the farming ritual and dead ritual. For the ancestors, these figures mean a life extension and dead denying that was just a step to the spiritual world.

Hacienda Guachalá: One of the oldest country houses of Ecuador, with buildings from 1580, with places that keep secrets and stories; between the most important there is the chapel from 1580, built over an old Inca Temple, the oldest building in the country house, inside of which a mural from 1757 was found. Colonial Yard has been preserved almost the same since XVI century, in the center there is a fountain that was used as a solar clock many years ago. The big

church was built in 1938 by Neptalí Bonifaz, is one of the most modern buildings of the country house.

Solar clock Quitsato: Is the first and only monument in “Mitad del mundo” (Half of the World) that is located in the exact point of the equatorial line or latitude cero. It is a big solar clock of 52m diameter, made with a great stone mosaic that points the different solstice and equinox lines, as well as the day hours; these are marks through the projection of the shadow made by a big pillar of 10m high located in the exact center of this big round platform.

San Pedro of Cayambe: Gets its name from the volcano that passes through the equatorial line.

Cayambe festivities are very important and known in Ecuador, start in the middle of June and finish and the beginning of July; in San Pedro festivity known as “Inti Raymi”, the harvest is celebrated. On June 29th the most important of the festivities is celebrated where 30.000 dancers use the central square. Besides, this place is visited for its gastronomy with toffee milk, leaf cheese and biscuits.

Hacienda La Compañía: This country house belonged to “Compañía de Jesús” until Carlos III expelled to Jesuits. Since five generations ago to now-a- days, it belongs to Jarrín family who have known to diversify the use of this patrimony, besides they offer typical meals, also have a flower business.

It was built in 1910 under neoclassic French standard, opposite to the chapel from XVIII century.

6.1.2. Touristic attraction from Imbabura province

6.1.2.1. Natural attractions:

San Pablo lake: Its origin is glacier and is fed by Little waterfalls that flow into the lake, is 35 meters Deep in the sides and 48 meters in the center, its temperature is 11°C 3. The flora has chilcas, eucalyptus, guanto. The fauna has: preñadillas, ducks, herons, sparrow hawks, owls, doves and brujo birds. The

3 Imbabura Instituto Geofísico, (s.a), en: www.igepn.edu.ec

shores of the lake are surrounded by large reed, chilca, eucalyptus and Andean crops like corn, chocho and broad bean.

We can practice activities as shore boat ride, aquatic ski and jet-ski, kayak and swimming.

It is famous for the sport competition of crossing by swimming, celebrated every September for Yamor festivities.

It is important to mention that the lake flows into Peguche waterfall where purification rituals are practiced in June. Local people come to the waterfall to take a bath in cold water to clean bad energy.

Imbabura Volcano: is a kind of a volcano building known as compound volcano characterized for showing a main part in cone shape surrounded by small hills. The main hill is called Taita Imbabura and the small ones are called Loma Artesón and Huarmi Imbabura. The top of Taita Imbabura is 4621 over sea level high. It is a potential active volcano, its last eruption was 14.000 years ago.

Cotacachi Volcano: The complex Cotacachi-Cuicocha volcano is located in the Occidental part of the Andean mountain chain. Has its own stratum – main volcano (Cotacachi) surrounded by 4 eruptive centers: Muyurcu, Loma Negra, Piribuela, and Cuicocha. The activity is about 0.6 million years old and it last eruption was 2900 years ago.

Yaguarcocha Lake: its origin is glacial, means “Blood lake” because in this place was settled the fight between Incas and Caranquis.

Ii is surrounded by the international José Tobar racetrack, where the national and international competitions are played.

It is 2200 over sea level high, its temperature is about 16°C and is 12.000 years old.

Its flora has: acacias, agave, eucalyptus, large reed, between others.

Its fauna has: tilapia, falcons and reptiles as lizards.

Among the activities are: canoe rides, aquatic ski, jet-ski, swimming competitions.

Chota Valley: An Africa piece placed in the Andean mountain chain, is known as “Coangue or from Death”. Its population is about 2000 inhabitants, with tropical, dry, hot and healthy climate and its own flora and fauna.

It is located between Tahuando and Mira rivers where native vegetation is barely, the representative plant is the hawthorn that produce small Green spots in the valley, sugar cane fields, beans and asparagus.

Sugar cane fields: In XV century there were coca and cotton fields, the first owners of country houses worked with indigenous in grape, cotton, olives and sugar cane fields.

The seeding is about stem pieces that should be about 6 to 9 months old. They recommend to seed east to west to get more solar light. The plant ripens between 12 to 14 months.

6.1.2.2. Cultural attractions

Vega Roses Plantation: This place has different varieties of roses, they exported them to different countries around the world. One of the biggest markets for them is United States.

This place is open for visitors, so they can observe the process from pruning to packaging.

It is possible to observe plantations of some varieties of roses and to have an explanation of the characteristics of roses for exportation, and the differences with the ones that are for the national market.

San Luis of Otavalo: This city is located 110 kilometers at north of Quito, capital of Ecuador; settled in a wide valley 2.565 over sea level high. Its population is about 108.500 inhabitants.

"Ecuadorian crafts Capital" thanks to the variety and quality of the products from the world famous indigenous market they offer to visitors. 4

The origin of OTAVALO Word has many interpretations. Based on Chaima language (Caribe-Antillano), Otavalo comes from OTO-VA-L-O that means “ancestors place”. From Cara language comes from Pansaleo OTAGUALÓ, GUALÓ or TAGUALO we could say it means “home”. With the foundation on Chibcha language OTE-GUA-LO it means “big lake in the highs”, and last, in the indigenous zone, the translation is “as everybody’s blanket” and in SARANCE language is “people that lives standing up”.

Ponchos Market: Every Saturday, at the sunrise, men come to this place wearing White pants and long braids, women come with embroidery blouses, long skirt, blue pashmina, golden necklaces and red beats bracelets to start selling. The fair gets to the surrounding streets.

The visitor finds a long corridor of tapestry, pashminas, hand-made thick sweaters, Vinnie, gloves, ponchos, embroidery blouses, the famous indigenous belts, alpargatas, shigras, dresses, scarves and more, all made of wool, cotton or acrylic.

Animal market: it Works in Yanayacu zone in a piece of land to the west of the city. It starts early in the morning, since 4am until 11am and is the place where bunnies, guinea pigs, dogs, cats, some birds, pigs, etc. are trade. Prices change from tent to tent, “you must budget” is the phrase every dealer says in this place.

Atuntaqui: Is located 10 minutes away from Otavalo, by the highway Panamericana to the north. Its name comes from the indigenous voices Hatun- Taqui that means “big drum”.

Its population is about 20.000 inhabitants.

Place is known as “Fashion Industrial Center”, considered as the biggest in textile industry and produces 80% of the population jobs for its many textiles industries.

4 Cantón Otavalo, (s.a.), en: www.ame.gob.ec

San Antonio of Ibarra: a small town located five minutes away from the south of Ibarra where Wood cavers and sculptors live and have given fame to the city since the legendary Daniel Reyes installed his first workshop at the end of XIX century.

We can see in many houses an adaptation to build workshops to work on wood, shapes or furniture, original designs or Luis XV style.

La Esperanza: Its inhabitants work in agriculture. Some of its buildings look frozen in time.

La Magdalena country house: at the beginning it belonged to Jesuit community, since their expulsion, the property belongs to Freile family that after few generations had the house almost abandoned.

Indigenous from the place took the decision of plan a touristic Project pointed to agriculture and asked a two million dollars loan to get the place.

In 2012 local authorities with the indigenous in charge of the country house made working the Project of naming the place as patrimony.

At the moment it has bovine cattle, potato, corn, bean, and babaco fields.

Karanki Community: located 3000 over sea level, its people work in agriculture and cattle since 2002 as part of a community project that offers lodgings, hiking, horses riding, among other attractions.

Women keep the colorful embroidery tradition that is offered to visitors.

Afro-Ecuadorians from Chota valley: they arrived to Ecuador in XVII century brought by Jesuits and mercedarios for working as slaves in the country houses and sugar cane fields. They put up with high temperatures and long work hours.

We don’t have the real information about the first slaves’ surnames, just names. Either they didn’t have them or weren’t considered important, many of them where named for the place where they worked like Chalá or Tomalá.

From this place, many noted athletic men of Ecuador come.

6.1.3. Natural and cultural attraction from Carchi

6.1.3.1. Natural attractions

Mira river: the wide of this rive is about 5 meters, the water is too fast flowing and is used by the close settled communities for agriculture. The slopes are small, with waves and flat, the vegetation is barely.

6.1.3.2. Cultural attractions

Mascarilla: Here crafts are made thanks to a Belgium volunteer’s initiative who trained the youth of the town in this art; however women showed to be more interested in learning and development. A lot of people work in this activity now-a-days.

A workshop on the main Street of Mascarilla makes these crafts. Same place where are sold, also in fairs and local, regional and national exhibitions. Besides, these crafts are exported to Canadá.

The clay is gotten from mountains close to the town; the material is ground or stopped on to break it. After this action the clay is sieve and mixed with water to start the process of the mask and other craft topics. Once the crafts are made, are let them to get dry for three or four days under shadow. When they are very dry are burnt in a wood oven for five or six hours, then, cold again, are painted and polish the figure.

Mira: Mira is located in Carchi province at the southwest, settled in a natural viewpoint called “Balcón de los Andes” (Andean Balcony), has variety or micro climates, thanks that the bended soil goes from 1000 to 3500 meters over the sea level, giving high, middle and low temperatures.

Its population is 12180 inhabitants separated in three ethnic groups: mestizos (mixed people), afro-Ecuatorianos and indigenous (Awa).

UYAMAFARMS country house: located in Mira.

It has oranges and avocado fields, these products are delivered all around the country and even some other countries too.

Many techniques are used for agriculture, fertilization and watering, this place doesn’t waste anything; the products that don’t accomplish the standards are used to make avocado oil.

“Everything is useful” is the phrase of the people from this place when they talk about their harvest.

7. OPERATIONAL ITINERARY

KIT NAME : “The Treasure of Ours Fields” Imbabura & Carchi

LASTING: Two days and one night.

WORKING HOURS : Eight hours the first day, and six hours the second.

ACTIVITIES: Agro-tourism

SELECTED SERVICES: Land Touristic Transportation National Tourism Guide Hotel y café María Isolina Vega Roses Plantation Karanki Community Hotel La Giralda Cultivated fields UYAMAFARMS Restaurant El Palenque

8. ROUTE OPTIONS

8.1. Option one Day 1: Quito – Mercado de animales – Íntag – Cotacachi Day 2: Cotacachi – Mira – Quito

8.2. Option two Day 1: Quito – Magdalena – Ibarra Day 2: Ibarra – San Gabriel – Quito

8.3. Option three Day 1: Quito – Plantación de rosas – Magdalena –Ibarra Day 2: Ibarra – Mira – Salinas – Quito

Selected Route Evaluation: In the review and investigation of the routes, visits and time through field observation and conversations with the Project tutor, Mister Sergio Lasso, we determinate the best option to the guides is the option number three.

9. ITINERARY:

DAY 1: QUITO – IBARRA:

7:00 Pick up at UDET and briefing

8:30 Breakfast in Cayambe

10:00 Visit rose plantation

13:00 Lunch at Magdalena community

14:00 Visit Magdalena Farm

17:30 Check in at “La Giralda Hotel”

19:00 Briefing

19:15 Dinner

DAY 2: IBARRA – MIRA – QUITO:

8:00 Breakfast and briefing

9:00 Check out hotel

10:00 Visit UYAMA FARMS

12:30 Lunch at Salinas Community

14:30 Drive back to Quito

17:30 Arrive to Quito at UDET

END OF SERVICES

10. OPERATIONAL ITINERARY

11. CONCLUSIONS

After having collected the information, its analysis and its verification, and after the field observation, these are the achieved conclusions:

1. First of all, agro-tourism in the mentioned provinces has a great potential. These type of experiential activities is growing in appreciation by the travelers, for this allows them to interact directly with the local people, learn about the nutritional and cultural value of the products and discover different colors, flavors, textures and scents.

2. On the other hand, it is noticeable that Imbabura Provinces, count on a high amount of attractions, which are very useful to the development of the discipline of tourism. Additionally, agro-tourism indeed promotes economical growing in the areas of operations, not only because of the booked accommodation, food and beverage and transportation services, but also because, the visitors could purchase the agricultural raw or processed products and learn about them, generating this way a positive image for the brand, the community or the enterprise.

12. RECOMMENDATIONS

Likewise, after the collection of information, its analysis and verification, and after the field observation, these are the proposed recommendations: 1. It is necessary that public, private, community and social and solidary economy sectors, work together, based on the leadership and initiative of the local and national tourism authorities. Also, a survey to identify adequately the agricultural entrepreneurships that have tourism engagement potential, is suggested.

Such potential is characterized by:

Excellence on the harvested product. The great variety of food products with specific values in comparison to the same product in other areas of the Ecuadorian Andes (i.e. flavor, texture, scent and appearance). The agricultural good practices, with high benefit for the environment, human health, economical equity amongst the production and commercialization involved agents, solidarity, cultural and ancestral values promotion. The creativity on the products processing ways, giving them this way an added value. For example: the various ways of consuming the local products like potatoes, corn, avocado, etc. The community or agricultural producer to participate on tourism activities. Tourism attractions of other nature that might be complementary to the visit of the locality.

2. It is recommended to the institution authorities and professors to encourage their students to carry out field researches in alike places that comply with the previously mentioned characteristics to promote new routes and motivate the development of agro-tourism in Ecuador.

13. BIBLIOGRAPHY a. Paguay, J (2011). Estudio agroturismo en Ecuador, en: www.jorgepaguay.wordpress.com b. Bosque seco Guayllabamba (s.a.), en: https://areasprotegidasdmq.wordpress.com c. Figuras masapan, (s.a.), en: www.turismo.gob.ec d. Hacienda Guachalá, (s.a.), en: www.guachala.com e. Quitsato la Mitad del Mundo, (s.a.), en: www.quitsato.org f. Cayambe, (s.a.), en: https://es.wikipedia.org g. Hacienda la Compañia, (s.a.), en: www.traveller.es h. Lago San Pablo, (s.a.), en: www.touribarra.gob.ec i. Imbabura Instituto Geofísico, (s.a.), en: www.igepn.edu.ec j. Laguna de Yaguarcocha, (s.a.), en: www.touribarra.gob.ec k. Valle del Chota, (s.a.), en: www.touribarra.gob.ec l. Cantón Otavalo, (s.a.), en: www.ame.gob.ec m. Historia del Cantón Otavalo, (s.a), en: www.otavalo.gob.ec n. La Plaza de los ponchos es comercio y tradición, (s.a.), en: www.eltiempo.com.ec o. Atuntaqui, (s.a.), en: www.ec.viajandox.com p. San Antonio de Ibarra, (s.a.), en: www.touribarra.gob.ec q. Rio Mira, (s.a.), en: www.carchi.gob.ec r. Mascarilla, (s.a.), en: www.carchi.gob.ec

s. Cantón Mira, (s.a.), en: www.mira.ec

14. ANNEXES

ROSES PLANTATION

MAGDALENA FARM

UYAMA FARMS