DEDICATION
This binnacle is dedicated to the ones who were always there for me, supporting me in every way possible; my family. To my father, mother and brother who always believed on me.
Nothing could have been possible without my friend and teachers. Thank you all for giving me confidence and the best years of my live.
Finally I want to thank the most important person in my live God. Without you I wouldn’t have made it.
1 INTRODUCTION
The theme of this binnacle is related to lagoons and forest of the Imbabura province in the country of Ecuador. The profile of the tourist, relates to 40 years old
Canadian passengers. This binnacle shows a study of new alternatives related to the type and activities of tourist.
The province of Imbabura is a perfect place for this type of activity. It´s a place that has over 20 lagoons, that’s the reason why the province is also known as the province of lagoons. There are many Protected Forest Reserves on the slopes of the mountains, which make it an interesting province to do bird and animal watching.
The touristic infrastructure makes it possible to have easy access to all the areas.
Also it is possible to have one day tours, because of the short distance between the capital Quito and this province.
2 CHAPTER I
PROFILE OF THE CANADIAN TOURIST
There has been a series of travel market trends in Canada in the early 1990
(McDougall, 1999) including those related to age, family structure, and international travel. It particularly highlights the importance of the market of older people (defined as persons over 65 years of age).
The trends are:
• During the last decade, increasing domestic and international travel of older people has outstripped that of other age groups, particularly in regard to international travel.
• Older people tend to make longer trips, especially during the winter and are more likely to travel alone.
• It is more likely that older persons are traveling in low season when they go to an international destination.
• Women aged travelers outnumber men by a ratio of 58% to 42% trips to the
United States, and between 56% and 44% when it comes to travel to international destinations.
3 • The propensity to travel abroad is higher among people aged between 55 and 64 years of age (10%), then decreases to 7% among older people.
• With regard to the inclination to travel, the age groups most likely to make international trips are 55 to 64 years (10%) of the 45 to 54 years (9%) of 15 to 24 years (8%).
• Europe was the destination of greater acceptance for the elderly - UK first (with
22% of trips), followed by Mexico (7%), France (5%), Germany (5%), Netherlands
(4%) and Italy (4%). Moreover, during the decade, the gap widened in the number of trips per 100 inhabitants among young adults (ages 20 to 44 years) and seniors
(45 or more years). During the last decade, international travel, has become less attractive relative to young adults and have become more attractive and affordable for seniors.
• United States was the destination of choice for 85% of Canadians, 15% went abroad.
• Adults who travel alone more often tend to choose a foreign destination (25% approximately).
• Trips abroad were longer for families (about 17 nights abroad, 6 nights in the
United States of America), and even longer for adults traveling alone (18 nights abroad and 9 nights United States of America).
4 • Spending on overseas trips were higher than those of travel to the United States of America (despite the fact that families spend relatively the same amount in either the U.S. or abroad, unlike adults traveling without children tend to spend slightly more per day abroad).
• Activities of interest are similar to travel within Canada or abroad. The participation rate is higher for families than for adults traveling without children.
The only exception is the visit to national parks or historic sites.
• Interest in visiting parks is increasing as Canadians away from their place of residence (10% for interprovincial travel, 20% for travel to the United States of
America, 40% for international travel).
Biography: World Tourism Organization, Division of Sustainable Tourism Development
Madrid, October 2002
5 CHAPTER II
CHOOSING OF ITINERARY
There were three options available to meet the tourist requires for this tour. The choosing has to be based on the access difficulty, durability and tourist infrastructure of the place. The three options presented were:
Tour 1: Protected Forest Piñan and Peribuela
Day 1:
06:00 - 08:00 Meeting point at the University UCT
• Visit Middle of the World Monument in
Cayambe
• Stop at Lake San Pablo.
(CommunityHuaycopungo, mats)
08:00 - 08:30 Breakfast in Cayambe
08:30 - 11:00 Transfer to the community Piñan
6 11:00 - 11:15 Check In at the Hostel San Francisco.
11:15 - 12:00 Free time for accommodation
12:00 - 13:00 Community Recognition
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch at the Hostel San Francisco
14:00 - 17:00 Ride to Piñan Lagoon (optional fishing)
17:00 - 20:00 Free time (use of swimming pool)
20:00 - 21:30 Dinner at the Hotel San Francisco (optional
cultural program)
Day 2:
07:00 - 08:00 Breakfast at the Hostel San Francisco
08:00 - 08:15 Free time for preparation
08:15 - 10:45 Transfer to the Protected Forest of Peribuela.
10:45 - 11:45 Walk around Peribuela Protected Forest.
11:45 - 12:30 Transfer to the city of Cotacachi
12:30 - 14:30 Lunch at the Restaurant“El Turista” in Cotacachi
14:30 - 17:00 Back to Quito
7 Tour 2: Quito - St. Paul Lagoon- CuicochaLagoon - Cuellaje
Day 1:
07: 00 Meeting at University UCT
07: 00 - 07: 15 Boarding of passengers and luggage on the bus
07: 15 - 08: 30 Transfer towards the MitaddelMundo monument in
Cayambe
08: 30 - 08: 40 Visit to the monument
08: 40 - 08: 50 Transfers to the restaurant “Café de la Vaca”
09:00 - 10:00 Breakfast at the restaurant “Café de la Vaca”
10:00 - 10: 30 Continuation towards the community of Cachiviro
on the shores of the St. Paul Lagoon
10: 30 - 10: 45 Visit to the community
10: 45 - 10: 55 Continuation towards the public pier of St. Paul
Lagoon
10: 55 - 11: 10 Visit and explanation of the Lagoon and it´s
surroundings
11: 10 - 11: 40 Transfer to the city of Cotacachi
8 11: 40 - 12: 00 Free time for shopping
12: 00 – 12:15 Continuation to Cuicocha Interpretation Centre
12: 15 - 12: 25 Visit to the Interpretation Centre
12: 25 - 13: 10 Tour to the lagoon by boat
13: 10 - 14: 30 Lunch at restaurant “Mirador” in Cuicocha
14: 30 – 15:15 Transfer towards the Protected Forest “Neblina”
15: 15 - 16: 15 Downhill bike towards the Protected Forest “Alto
Choco”
16: 15 - 16: 45 Transfer towards the hostel “Flor de Montaña” in
Apuela
16: 45 - 17: 00 Check – in and luggage preparation
17: 00 - 17: 10 Continuation to the Hot Springs Resort of Nangulví
17: 10 - 18: 30 Relaxing time at the Hot Springs Resort of Nangulví
18: 30 - 18: 40 Return to the hostel “Flor de Montaña” in Apuela
18: 40 - 20: 00 Free time
9 20: 00 - 21: 30 Dinner at the hostel “Flor de Montaña” in Apuela
with a game of monopoly after dinner
Day 2:
05: 30 Wake up call
06: 00 - 07: 00 Breakfast at the hostel “Flor de Montaña” in Apuela
07: 00 - 07: 15 Free time for preparation
07: 15 - 08: 00 Transfer towards the farm “Rio Lindo” in Cuellaje
08: 00 – 10:30 Trekking around the farm and the ecological
corridor of Cuellaje
10: 30 - 11:15 Transfer to the Coffe factory ACCRI in Apuela
11:15 - 11: 45 Visit to the factory
11: 45 - 11: 50 Return to the hostel “Flor de Montaña” in Apuela
11: 50 - 13: 00 Free time for packing
13: 00 - 14: 00 Lunch at the hostal “Flor de Montaña” in Apuela
14: 00 - 14: 10 Departure
14: 10 - 19: 00 Arrival in Quito
10 Tour 3: Protected Forest and Zuleta Peribuela
Day 1:
06:00 - 08:00 Meeting point at the University UCT
• Visit Middle of the World Monument in
Cayambe
• Stop at Lake San Pablo. (Community
Huaycopungo, mats)
08:00 - 08:30 Transfer to Otavalo
08:30 - 09:30 Breakfast at the Restaurant Green House in
Otavalo
09:30 - 10:00 Free time for shopping at the Otavalo´sPonchos
Mark
10:00 - 12:00 Transfer to the Community of Zuleta
• Visit Lake Yahuarcocha
12:00 - 13:00 Visit to the Community Zuleta (embroidery)
13:00 - 13:10 Transfer to the Hostelry Hacienda Zuleta
13:10 - 14:30 Lunch at Hostelry Hacienda Zuleta
11 14:30 - 17:00 Horse ride to Condor Forest Reserve.
17:00 - 18:00 Transfer to the community of La Calera in
Cotacachi
18:00 - 19:30 Free time to rest
19:30 - 21:00 Communal Dinner (optional games, dance or
music)
Day 2:
06:00 Wake up call
07:00 - 08:00 Breakfast raffled individual with family
08:00 - 09:00 Free time for preparation of luggage
09:00 - 10:30 Transfer Protected Forest of Peribuela
10:30 - 12:30 Walk around the Protected Forest of Peribuela
12:30 - 14:00 Lunch at refugehouse of Peribuela
14:00 - 16:30 Back to Quito
Based on age, interest and profile of Canadian tourists, I was able to find something that meets the new trends in this market. The route chosen is option number two (San Pablo - Cuicocha - Cuellaje).
12 Studies by “Statistics Canada, “ show that the new trends are focused on an eco- tourist. This means you enjoy nature, visiting parks or reserves, engages with environmental care, participates in community projects and enjoy physical activities. The chosen tour provides all these interests in only two days. When visiting the two lakes mentioned above and a part of the forest crossing the ecological corridor, I am doing the theme that was chosen for my degree (forests and lakes). The other activities complement the profile of Canadian tourists and the average age of 45. In the ponds of St. Paul and Cuicocha, the community will be engaged and that is something the Canadian tourist enjoys. It will highlight the relationship between lagoon and communities. Reviewing the environmental impacts involved. At the ecological corridor that offers Intag, stands out the environmental problems. Currently, there are many projects focused on environmental stewardship and economic development of the area. Canadian tourist value and does not care much distance or price for the benefit of environmental activity. Finally, another crucial point is the physical activity that this tour requires. Most activities are organized for the average age and the length defined is suitable for tourist profile. With the decline in cycling and trekking in the protected forest, they will be satisfied and the tour fulfill. The other two tours, also meet the expectations of Canadian tourist, but the distance and time are factors that helped me choose a route.
13 CHAPTER III
TOUR OPERATION
LAGOONS AND FORESTS OF IMBABURA
Duration: 2 days / 1 night
Nationality: Canadian
Language: English
Interest: Lagoons and Forests
14 ADVERTISING PRESENTATION
15 TOUR SCRIPT
QUITO
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito, is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the
Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains. With a population of 1,704,991 in 2008,
Quito is the second most populous city in Ecuador, after Guayaquil. It is also the capital of the Pichincha province and the seat of Metropolitan District of Quito.
The elevation of the city's at the central square (Plaza de La Independencia or Plaza
Grande is 2,860 m, making Quito the second-highest administrative capital city in the world (after La Paz, Bolivia) and the highest legal capital (ahead of Sucre, also in Bolivia, and Bogotá, Colombia). Comparing it with Ottawa the capital of Canada we are 35 times higher.
The central square of Quito is located about 25 km south of the equator; the city itself extends to within about 1 km of zero latitude. A monument and museum marking the location of the equator is known locally as la “Mitad del Mundo” (the middle of the world). To avoid confusion, as the word Ecuador is Spanish for equator. Quito, along with Krakow, were the first World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO in 1978.
16 Quito's origins date back to the first millennium, when the Quitu tribe occupied the area and eventually formed a commercial center. According to Juan de
Velasco's book Historia del Reino de Quito, the Quitu were conquered by the
Caras tribe, who founded the Kingdom of Quito about 980 A.D. For more than four centuries under the kings (shyris) o Caras and their allies were narrowly defeated in the epic battles of Tiocajas and Tixán, by an army led by Túpac Inca, the son of the Emperor of the Incas. After several decades of consolidation, the Kingdom of
Quito became integrated into the Incan Empire. In 1534 the Caras/Quitu people were conquered by the Spanish.
Quito was founded on November 6th 1534 by a Spanish person known as
Sebastian de Benalcazar. This person was one of the members from the Pizarro mission. After the conquest of Peru in 1533 Pizarro wanted to conquer more land.
He found out that another mission was coming to conquer the northern part of
South America. So he sends Sebastian de Benalcazar to defend and stop this mission. On his way to Piura, Sebastian de Benalcazar heard that there was another big impairer with lots of gold called Quito. He disobeys the orders from Pizarro and went to Quito. When Pizarro found out about this event, he sends a soldier called Almagro to bring him back. Almagro found Benalcazar at the lagoon of
Colta in the Chimborazo province. On august 15th 1534 the city of Quito was founded with the name of “Santiago de Quito,” by Almagro, but the name was then change to “San Francisco de Quito” on august 28th. Benalcazar wanted to
17 establish the city of Quito, so he claims to have lost the establishment papers and with the same name on the 6th of December, Quito was finally founded, with
Sebastian de Benalcazar as fonder.
Quito has a Subtropical highland climate. Because of its elevation and its proximity to the equator, Quito has a fairly constant cool climate, with spring-like weather all year-round. The average temperature at noon is 18.7 °C with a normal night-time low of 9.3 °C. The annual average temperature is 14.0 °C. The city experiences only two seasons: dry and wet. The dry season, June through September (4 months), is referred to as summer; the wet season, October through May (8 months), is referred to as winter. Annual precipitation, depending on location, is approximately 1,010 mm.
TROLEBUS
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit, unlike a tram or streetcar, which normally uses the track as part of the electrical path and thus needs only one wire and pole. In Ecuador this transportation system is working since 1996. The System was brought as a traffic solution. This project is now 15 years old and it has been a total success. There are 113 Trolleybuses operating, 55 bus stops and 5 transfer points. The routes of the trolleybus operate from north to south and the price is $0.25 pro person.
18 10TH OF AUGUST AVENUE
This avenue represents an important date on the Colonial History of Ecuador. It´s the day on which an independence process began. In 1808 Napoleon’s France invaded Spain and took over, forcing King Charles IV to abdicate. Although news traveled slowly, by 1809 it was well known across Spain’s American holdings what had happened. An independence movement had been brewing across Latin
America for years, led by Venezuela and Argentina, where the first steps towards independence had already been taken. With the king deposed, many who were once against independence changed their minds. In Quito, Ecuador, a group of prominent citizens petitioned for independence in August, 1809, with bloody results.
On the night of August 10th, 1809, a group of prominent citizens of Quito met at the home of Manuela Cañizares. These included Juan PíoMontúfar, Marquis of
SelvaAlegre, Juan de Dios Morales and others. There had been discussions for some time about how to react to Napoleon’s takeover, and these citizens had decided that the Royal Audience of Quito (an administrative division answerable to the Viceroy of Peru in Lima) no longer held valid power and that the citizens would rule until such time as the King of Spain was restored.
A new government was created with the first Marquis of SelvanAlegre Juan
PioMontufar in charge. This movement lasted only for 77 days. Without food
19 provisions the new government was forced to give up the power. The people in charge of this revolution movement were all send to jail. One year later, a new law was send from the vice kingdom of Lima to murder all participants of the revolution. When the people of Quito found out this, they went to the jails to free them. This caused a chaos in the city and the soldiers scared, started to shot everyone that was there. It´s said that almost 150 people were murdered on this massacre. This happened on the 2nd of August 1810.
AMAZON RIVER DISCOVERY
One of Gonzalo Pizarro's lieutenants, Francisco de Orellana, set off in 1541 to explore east of Quito into the South American interior in search of El Dorado and the "Country of Cinnamon". He was ordered to follow the Coca River and return when the river reached its confluence. After 170 km, the Coca River joined the
Napo River (at a point now known as Puerto Francisco de Orellana), and his men threatened to mutiny if he followed his orders and the expedition turned back. On
26 December 1541, he accepted to change the purpose of the expedition to the conquest of new lands in the name of the King of Spain, and the 49 men built a larger boat in which to navigate downstream. After a journey of 600 km down the
Napo River, constantly threatened by the Omaguas, they reached a further major confluence, at a point near modern Iquitos, and then followed what is now known as the Amazon River for a further 1200 km to its confluence with the Rio Negro
20 (near modern Manaus), which they reached on 3 June 1542. This area around the
Amazon was dominated by the Icamiaba natives, who were mistaken for fierce female warriors by the members of the expedition. Orellana later narrated the belligerent victory of the Icamiaba “women” over the Spanish invaders to Charles
V, Holy Roman Emperor, who, recalling the Amazons of Greek mythology, baptized the river Amazonas, the name by which it is still known in both Spanish and Portuguese. At the time, however, the river was referred to by the expedition as Grande Río ("Great River"), Mar Dulce ("Freshwater Sea") or Río de la Canela
("Cinnamon River"). Orellana claimed that he had found great cinnamon trees there, in other words a source of one of the most important spices reaching Europe from the East. In fact, true cinnamon (Cinnamomumverum) is not native to South
America. Other related cinnamon-containing plants (of the family Lauraceae) do occur and Orellana must have observed some of these. The expedition continued a further 1200 km to the mouth of the Amazon, which it reached on 24 August 1542, demonstrating the practical navigability of the Great River. This was surely one of the most improbably successful voyages in known history.
BULLRING OF QUITO
The bullfighting tradition was brought to Quito from Spain. The bull ring OF
Quito ,”was built in 1960 and has a capacity of 15.000 people. The main event takes place ones a year from the 29th of November to the 06th of December. The best
21 matadors (bullfighters) came to this event to claim the main price. That is why tickets are very expensive it can cost from $40 to $150, depending on the location.
For many people, the sport is cruel, the animal has many disadvantages. There are many manifestations against this introduced tradition. But it has been part of the city fest for many years now and many people enjoy it.
GALO PLAZA LASSO AVENUE
Galo Plaza Lasso (February 17, 1906 – January 28, 1987) was an Ecuadorian politician and statesman who served as the Ecuadorian Ambassador to the U.S,
President of Ecuador from 1948 to 1952, and Secretary General of the Organization of American States from 1968 to 1975. He is the son of former Ecuadorian President
Leonidas Plaza.
Galo Plaza brought a develop mentalist and technocratic emphasis to Ecuadorian government. He invited a wide variety of foreign experts in economic development and in governmental administration to recommend and catalog reforms in both areas.Galo Plaza endorsed such democratic guarantees as freedom of the press and the freedom of opponents to voice their opinions, to assemble for political purposes without fear of being jailed or worse, and to be elected to the legislature without fear of being defrauded or arbitrarily dismissed.
22 As Galo Plaza readily admitted, however, his greatest asset, both politically and economically, was the onset of the nation's banana boom, as diseases plaguing plantations in Central America turned Ecuador into an alternative supplier to the huge United States market. Ecuador's banana exports grew from US$2 million to
US$20 million.
CALDERÓN
Calderon is a small town renowned for its brightly colored bread dough figures
(masapán). The tradition, thought to be pre-Hispanic, was subsumed into
Catholicism under All Saints and the Day of the Dead (Nov 2th), when simple, edible bread figures were brought to the cemetery and placed on top of the graves as an offering to the departed souls. Nowadays this has become a very colorful affair and its popularity has spawned a figurine-making industry.
In town there are a number of good artesian on the main street, Carapungo, which leads uphill from the main square. They´re all open all week: one of the best is
Artesania Carapungo, halfway up this street, which exports its pieces to Europe.
Most have a workshop at the back where you can see the figures being made with an unpalatable mixture of flour, water, colorings, paint and varnish.
23 DAY OF THE DEAD
This day in our culture, is when we remember the souls of lost ones. It has been a tradition even before the catholic religion was brought here. In pre-Spanish times the people believed in after life. This has been represented in many figures, jewels and pottery. Pre-Spanish cultures used to bury their love ones, with all their belongings, believing that the soul would wake up. The tradition was then carried on from generation to generation. Nowadays the believing is still the same. On
November 2nd mostly indigenous people, spend the whole day next to their lost ones. They bring food, music, flowers and alcohol to the grave. This is clearly a tradition that has a mixture of both Indigenous and Spanish background. This we called syncretism and is highlighted in many, festivities, art, music and food.
PANAVIAL
Panavial is an Ecuadorian Company that specializes in the construction of roads, bridges, airports, hydroelectric dams and oil platforms. In the year 1995, the company was made, to help with the improvement of the highway in Ecuador. It’s a private company that works directly with the government. This company has constructed around 512 Km. of road. It is the main company that takes care of the
Panamericana highway. At the moment this company is working with 4 tolls along the north part, from Quito to Tulcán and with 3 tolls on the south side from Quito to Riobamba.
24 The government of Ecuador searching for solution on the statement of highway gave the concession of the Panamericana highway to Panavial until 2018. Panavial has a toll system that goes from $1 for small vehicles to $6 for heavy trucks. The money goes in total to the company until the contract is no longer be valid.
XEROPHYTES PLANTS
A xerophytic organism, is a plant that can survive in an environment with little available water or moisture, usually in environments where potential transpiration exceeds precipitation for all or part the growing season. Plants such as cacti and other succulents are typically found in deserts where rainfall amounts are low standard, but as xerophytic bromeliads can also be found in moist habitats such as tropical forests, the exploration of niches where water supplies are limited or over limited is common for these plants. The plants that live under arctic conditions may also have a need for xerophytic adaptations, as water is not available for absorption when the ground freezes. The characteristic that stand out from these plants are:
··· They often store water in stems or leaves.
··· Water is stored in pockets or below ground level.
··· They reproduce only when it rains
25 NEW INTERNATINAL AIRPORT IN TABABELA
The new airport is located 25 km away from Quito. This project started in 2005 and was meant to end in 2010, but because of many problems the time will be 2011. The project has a cost of 590 million dollars and the company in charge will be Quiport.
Quiport is a hundred percent Private Corporation, formed by major Canadian, U.S. and Brazilian companies, who have bet on a vital project for the development of
Ecuador: Building the New Quito International Airport. The cost of the construction is an agreement, between the Municipality of Quito and Quitopor by a concession system. The concession of the airport was given for 35 years until
2040.
RIO GUAYLLABAMBA QUARRY
The quarry belongs to the company Mezclalista S.A. This company dedicated to the exploitation of construction materials in the quarries located on the banks of
River Guayllabamba has been for over 30 years. They produce concrete and sand for important contractions such as the new airport in Tababela. The concrete plant is located in the town of Calderon.
GUYLLABAMBA ZOO
The Zoo has been open to the public since 1997. Zoological Foundation of Ecuador
(FZE) administers the Quito Zoo in Guayllabamba. It is the largest collection of
26 native fauna open to the public. Most of this comes from the old zoo, which was located in the Military College and several were added from animal trafficking proceeds. The zoo is located 29 km from Quito and has an area of 12 hectares.
There are 24 cages approximately with 180 individuals. The sample includes about
45 species of native fauna, representing various ecoregions of the country from the highlands to the tropical forests, the Coast and Amazon and the Galapagos Islands.
Since its opening there has been a major success by the mass reception of the population (an average of 17000 visitors a month) from the city of Quito, its surroundings and the country in general. The zoo offers the community an educational and recreational visit. Annually about 800 schools visit the campus and the teachers say that is a good way to teach children over fauna in Ecuador.
GUAYLLABAMBA
Shortly after Calderon, the Panamericana begins to climb, finallysweeping over a pass to reveal astounding views on your right of the dry Guayllabamba gorge.
Lower and warmer than Quito, the gorge provides ideal conditions for horticulture, and wherever there's water you see bursts of colorful flowering trees and orchards. Guayllabamba, 32km from Quito, is couched in a vibrant oasis of green and street vendors line the road, their stalls laden with outsized avocados, chirimoyas and fruits. This small town is a favorite weekend spot for the people of
Quito. Until 1997 Guallyabamba had little to recommend it to visitors, but it now
27 boasts one of Ecuador‘s newest zoos, ZoologicoGuayllabamba, off the
Panamericana about ll CUSTERD APPLE The custard apple (Annonaceae) is believed to be a native of the West Indies but it was carried in early times through Central America to southern Mexico. It has long been cultivated and naturalized as far south as Peru and Brazil. The custard apple tree needs a tropical climate but with cooler winters than those of the west coast of Malaya. It flourishes in the coastal lowlands of Ecuador, above 1,500 m. Guyllabamba has the perfect climate to cultivate this tree that is why most of the farms in this town, produce this fruit to sell. The prices are variable depending on size; a perfect custard apple can be sold for $2 each. CUT FLOWER FARMS A quarter of the bouquets of roses sold across the US were first cultivated, cut, and bundled in Ecuador. Ecuador's $350 million flower industry transformed communities across the Cayambe Valley. Thanks in large part to US trade benefits that were in place for 15 years, 70 percent of Ecuador's flowers used to head to the 28 US. Nowadays the main market for the industry is Russia. The Russian consumer is an admirer of the large, colourful flower heads produced by the Ecuadorian grower. Only the 80 – 90 cm stem length and larger flower heads for Russia, but the price is also good. The majority of the cut flower farms in Ecuador are located between 2,000 and 3,000 m, right along the equator and have an average temperature of 19°C during the day and 9°Cin the evening. Industry experts estimate that there are between 4,000 and 4,200 ha of cut flower production in Ecuador, mainly taking place in the northern part of the Ecuadorian sierra around the districts of Quito, Cayambe and Pedro Moncayo. ANDES MOUNTAIN CHAIN The Andes Mountain chain in South America has an ocean/continent type of mountain building. As an oceanic plate is sub ducted beneath a continent, the sediments on the upper surface of the lower plate will be scraped off to produce a wedge of sediment called an accretionary wedge. Where the accretionary wedge is forced directly against the leading edge of continental crust, the subducting plate will be forced down steeply into the asthenosphere where the plate will be partially melted. Steam produced in the process also partially melts the upper mantle. Andesitic magmas are produced from these processes. Mountains will be produced in the continental plate from the compression and uplift of the low 29 density wedge sediments. These mountains rise to very high altitudes and contain highly folded and faulted sedimentary rocks produced from the compressional forces. The upper sections of sedimentary mountain ranges remain poorly consolidated and quickly erode, producing large amounts of sediment for the rivers that drain from them. The intrusions of magma are in the form of large granitic batholiths beneath the volcanic belt. The mountains contain explosive andesitc volcanoes. The explosive volcanoes produce much pyroclastic sediment that is deposited in the mountain areas. The explosive volcanoes frequently form calderas where they develop from eruptions from large, shallow magma chambers. In the Costa, the Andes Mountains consists of coastal lowlands, coastal mountains, and rolling hills that separate river valleys. The widest part of the region stretches 150 kilometers from Cabo San Lorenzo in Manabí Province to the foothills of the Andes Mountains. In the southern part of Guayas Province, east of the Gulf of Guayaquil, the narrow coastal plain is only fifteen to Twenty kilometers wide. The lowlands of the Costa do not exceed 200 meters in elevation, whereas the coastal mountains extend no higher than 1,000 meters. The coastal mountain chain, known as the Cordillera Costanera, divides the region into the Costa Externa, next to the coast, and the Costa Internal, next to the Andes. The Cordillera Costanera reaches from Esmeraldas in the north to Guayaquil in the south. North of Portoviejo in Manabí Province, the Cordillera Costanera loses its character as a mountain chain and becomes a series of hills and small mountains. 30 The Sierra consists of two major chains of the Andes Mountains, known as the Cordillera Occidental (Westen Chain) and Cordillera Oriental (Eastern Chain), and the intermontane basin or plateau between the two chains. Several transversal mountain spurs, known as nudos, cut across the plateau. The Sierra has at least twenty-two peaks over 4,200 meters in height. Of the two cordilleras, the Cordillera Oriental is wider and generally higher, with peaks averaging over 4,000 meters. The Cordillera Occidental, however, contains the highest point in Ecuador, which is the Mount Chimborazo at 6,267 meters. The Sierra also contains the highest point on the equator, Mount Cayambe at 5,790 meters. The Sierra has at least thirty peaks of volcanic origin, including six still active. These peaks, which vary in width from 80 to 130 kilometers, are located in the area of modern volcanism known as the Avenue of the Volcanos. The most active volcano is Mount Sangay, 5,230 meters high. Although its last major outpouring of lava occurred in 1946, specialists consider Mount Sangay to be in a constant state of eruption because of fires and bubbling lava at its crater. Mount Cotopaxi, at 5,879 meters is the highest active volcano in the world, last erupted in 1877 and listed as “steaming.” It´s crater is 800 meters in diameter. 31 FARM SYSTEM IN ECUADOR The most common form in which the Spanish occupied the land was the encomienda. Settlers were granted land, along with its inhabitants and resources, in return for taking charge of defending the territory, spiritually indoctrinating the native population, and extracting the crown's annual tribute (payable half in gold, half in local products) from the encomienda's Indian population. By the early seventeenth century, there were some 500 encomiendas in Ecuador. Although many consisted of quite sizable haciendas, they were generally much smaller than the estates commonly found elsewhere in South America. A multitude of reforms and regulations did not prevent the encomienda from becoming a system of virtual slavery of the Indians, estimated at about one-half the total Ecuadorian population, who lived on them. In 1589 the president of the audiencia recognized that many Spaniards were accepting grants only to sell them and undertake urban occupations, and he stopped distributing new lands to Spaniards; however, the institution of the encomienda persisted until nearly the end of the colonial period. Outside the encomienda, Indian labor was most commonly exploited through the mita, modeled after the Inca institution of the same name. All able-bodied "free" Indians were required to devote one year of their labor to some public or private Spanish concern, be it constructing a church, road, or public building, or working in a textile mill. Although mitayos were paid for their labor, the amount was 32 extremely meager, often less than debts accumulated through purchases from their employer, thus requiring them to continue working, sometimes indefinitely, after their assigned period of service. In this way, the mita system disintegrated into debt peonage. Debts were commonly passed on to ensuing generations, in which cases the mita was, in effect, slavery. “MITAD DEL MUNDO” MONUMENT The monument (middle of the world) has a historical value of great significance for the country and the county, because to this place came the French geodesic in June 1736. The monument is located 74km away from the capital Quito, in the community San Luis de Guachala. This monument is locally know as the "The Golbe", which is the balloon made of stone with a diameter of 1.80 m., sitting on a large concrete slab. The equator is an imaginary line, that mathematically and imaginary, divides the world into two halves called hemispheres: Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere. This line is also known as Equator, Ecuador Line, Line of Latitude 0 ° -0 ° 0 "or simply Mitad del Mundo. Our ancestors, The Quitus, before the discovery of America called it Inty-Nan (Road of the Sun). For centuries, man wanted to know how the shape of the Earth and even measure it accurately. The concept of roundness of the planet was held by some and opposed by others. 33 In 1736, the Academy of Sciences in Paris with the support of Louis XV, King of France, decided to measure the dimensions of the Earth, based on studies by other scientist. They asked permission to Felipe V, king of Spain at the time, to enter the Indian Colony. The permission was given with two Spanish soldiers to control the process. To the French scientists Bouguer, Godin, La Condamine, joined the illustrious Spanish soldiers Jorge Juan and Antonio de Ulloa. Once on Ecuadorian land, joined the knowledge of Ecuadorian scientist, Pedro Vicente Maldonado, who worked closely to ensure the success of the mission. The research and studies were completed in 1745 and since this event; people began to call Quito “Land of Ecuador,” in allegory to the parallel that divides the globe into two hemispheres. In addition to al scientific discoveries, the Geodesic Mission gave the actual name to the country Ecuador. CAYAMBE VOLCANO Cayambe is a volcano located in the central Cordillera of northern Ecuador. It is the third highest volcano in Ecuador, with Cotopaxi behind. According to topographic measurements of the Military Geographic Institute of Ecuador, the Cayambe has an altitude of about 5790 m above sea level. Cayambe, which corresponds to the remains of an ancient extinct volcano (near its summit there are some gas fumes), is located about 20km north of the town of the same name and its summit is just 3km north of the Ecuador Line . 34 At 4600m high is the refuge Ruales-Oleas-Berge, accessible by car along a road that is usually in poor condition. The refuge was named after the avalanche deaths of three Ecuadorian climbers, accident that has fueled the dangerous reputation of Cayambe. However, despite the large number of cracks that can be found, Cayambe is no more dangerous than other nearby volcanoes such as Cotopaxi or Antisana. From the refuge you can see and easy access to Beautiful Glacier, ideal place for mountaineering practices. The first ascent of Cayambe was made by a British expedition in charge of Englishman Edward Whymper and two Italian mountain guides. The ascent rout is still used today by professional mountain climbers. EUCALYPTUS TREE IN ECUADOR Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) entered Ecuador in 1865, under decree of President Gabriel García Moreno. It was introduced both to produce firewood and building material. The use of gas as fuel, the discovery of new construction techniques and, above all, the international need to find new suppliers of wood for paper changed these initial objectives. Since 1992, Ecuadorian exports of eucalyptus were systematically run by two companies in particular: Alpaca Ecuadorian Company, and the Chilean and U.S. Expoforestal. Alpaca made its plantations in the highlands of Ecuador and Expoforestal buy eucalyptus planted in different places 35 in the mountains to take them to Esmeraldas, where it is converted into "chips of wood”, for export. End of the twenty century there where almost 18,000 hectares of eucalyptus tree planted. This tree is known for the extreme amount of water absorbed, causing odder native plants and trees to disappear. They are also very flammable, because of its dry wood and with 60m high they can cause big fires. In Ecuador the main problem was; the increasingly amount of plantations, causing native flora to disappear. CANTON CAYAMBE The canton covers an area of 1,350 km2, with a population of 69,744 inhabitants, 57.95% being the urban population and 42.05% rural population. The county recorded an average temperature of 12 ° C and a relative humidity of about 80%. The level of rainfall in the city of Cayambe is of 817 mm per year on average. Since the 80's, the investment in flower plantations heading for the U.S. and Europe, has rapidly increase. The different varieties of roses are recognized as the best in the world. The flowers created from the beginning many jobs and farmers used the new revenue to expand onion crops (especially in communities Cangahua and Olmedo) on a cycle that has boosted the cantonal economy. 36 June 29th is celebrated in Cayambe as colorful feast in honor of the patron San Pedro, which match the Inti Raymi indigenous celebration, with parades, ceremonies, which pays tribute to the sun and the harvest, thanking fertility of the Pacha Mama. ECOLOGICAL RESERVE CAYMBE – COCA The Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve covers some 400 000 hectares of land. It enjoys a great deal of biodiversity and the reserve can be easily divided into lowland rainforest and mountain rainforest regions. There are lakes; rivers and hot springs spread across the reserve and the hot springs have made the reserve a very popular weekend destination. There are three particularly high peaks in the reserve. Apart from the Cayambe, which was mentioned earlier, there is also the Sarahurco, which is 3 485 meters above sea level, and the Puntas, which is 4 425 meters above sea level. The newest volcano is Reventador, which is still active and should generally be avoided. The most recent technical studies have determined that the Cayambe - Coca, is the largest protected area with plant and animal diversity in Ecuador. The Ministry of Environment has identified 10 areas of wildlife it according to the Holdridge classification, which explains its diverse climate, biodiversity and landscapes. The diversity of fauna in the area is remarkable in spite of only 50% inventory of 37 existing presumably. The area is home to 900 species of birds identified, 110 of amphibians, 140 reptiles and 200 mammals. IMBABURA PROVINCE Date Created: June 25, 1824. Capital: Ibarra, founded on September 28, 1606 Population: 344 044 Sort Cantons: Ibarra, Antonio Ante, Cotacachi, Otavalo, Pimampiro, San Miguel de Urcuquí. Extension: 4. 611 km2 (like the province of Prince Edward Island) Limits: North: Provinces of Carchi and Esmeraldas - South: Province of Pichincha - East: Province of Sucumbíos -West: Province of Esmeraldas Imbabura is a province of the northern highlands of Ecuador, known as the province of Lagoons, because it has the majority of lakes in the country such as the San Pablo lake and ponds and Yahuarcocha Cuichocha (lake of blood in Quechua.) The provincial capital is the city of Ibarra and major cities are Cotacachi, Otavalo, Atuntaqui and Urcuqui, plus many other points of interest. Imbabura has two 38 subtropical zones, the first warm and dry, known as the Valley of Chota and the warm and humid, known as Valley of Intag. The agricultural sector represents 39% of the total economical activity in the province. The area devoted to crops reaches about 20 thousand hectares and grasses designed to farming 10 thousand. Imbabura is one of the main provinces in the production of dry beans (grown approximately about 7,000 ha) and the first in the soft dry maize production with a cultivated area of about 35,000 hectares. IMBABURA VOLCANO Imbabura (4557m) is an inactive stratovolcano in northern Ecuador, located 60km away from the capital Quito. Although it has not erupted for at least 14,000 years, it is not thought to be entirely extinct. Imbabura is intermittently capped with snow and has no permanent glaciers. Covered in volcanic ash, the slopes of Imbabura are especially fertile. In addition to cloud forests, which are found across the northern Andes to an altitude of 3000 m, the land around Imbabura is extensively farmed. Maize, sugarcane, and beans are all staple crops of the region. Cattle are also an important commodity, and much of the land on and around Imbabura, especially the high-altitude meadows above the tree line, is used for grazing. The Volcano Imbabura is of significant importance to local culture, which involves a spiritual relationship with the land. The mountain is sometimes personified 39 locally as Taita Imbabura, or “Papa” Imbabura. In fact, Imbabura is considered the holy protector of the region. THE LEYEND OF TAITA IMABURA The few who have seen Manuel Taita Imbabura claim it is a majestic old man, light skinned with long beard and long hair. Dress with a shirt, blue trousers, and sometimes wears a white hat and black boots. When times were early and the Gods kissed the ground, fell passionately in love Manuel Maria Isabel Cotacachi and Manuel Imbabura. They met when Manuel went deer hunting. At one time the animals took refuge in the snows of Cotacachi and that was when he saw her and surrendered at her feet. During the day the rainbow carryied their romantic messages, stormy night and lightning were responsible for transmitting the heat loving of the two giants. They had three children, which are the peaks that remain with the mother on the north side of the mountain. They visited each other every night. The proof of this event was seeing on the next morning. Normally he was covered with snow as a sign that they were passionately together. SAN PABLO LAKE Imbakucha basin-Lago San Pablo (2660m) is located in the eastern cordillera Los Andes, one 100 km north of the capital of Ecuador, Quito, in the province of 40 Imbabura, and covers an area of 148 km2. At the basin of the lagoon, there are population groups belonging to Kiwcha nationality, Otavalo and Kayambis, approximately 83% of the population and 17% mestizo population. The indigenous population is distributed Otavalos Kwichas in 22 communities and Kiwchas Kayambis in 16 communities. Precipitation in the basin of Lake San Pablo is not uniform, between 800 to 1250mm annually, with a dry period from June to September and a wet from October to May. The natural vegetation is strongly altered, leaving few remaining native forest, being less fragmented over 3600 meters. Much soils, 51%, are characterized as silt and 49% are sandy soils. The lake faces pollution problems. The fact is; that this tourist attraction in the province of Imbabura, has accumulated inside over 20 meters of waist sedimentation. The lake used to be 60m deep but with 38 communities living next to the lake is rapidly drying out. The environmental municipality of Otavalo, has made many studies on how to solve this problem. Since 2008, the municipality is constricting treatment plants for sewage waters. There are 14 in total with a cost of $4, 5 million. The treated water come out 99% free from impurities and is then send back to the lake. This has given a solution for the residents and the future of the San Pablo Lake. 41 PEGUCHE COMMUNITY Peguche, an indigenous Quichua community in Imbabura province just north of Otavalo, is surrounded by high mountains and inactive volcanoes like Imbabura (5380 mt.) to the South, Cotacachi (5940 mt.) to the North West and Fuya Fuya (4950 mt.) to the South West. Also near Peguche are Pablo and Mojanda Lakes and the Peguche waterfall, a natural park admired by both Ecuadorian and foreign tourists. The production of local arts and crafts is the main economic activity. The natives of this area, "Pegucheños", are pioneers in making and designing textiles and often travel around the world as handcrafts merchants. Their skillful hands have inherited the Pegucheño traditions in weaving, creating marvelous textiles out of a diverse number of materials for tapestries, blankets, sweaters, jackets, purses and many other items. Pegucheño textiles are known worldwide for their excellent quality and attractive designs. Peguche is also the cradle of famous Andean music and dancing groups like Ñanda-Mañachi, Centro Cultural Peguche, Jialli, Mashis, and many others. Like many other Andean communities, the Peguche community celebrates "Inti Raymi", or sun festival. Inti Raymi is the biggest and most famous Andean Ritual. It begins on June 24 when thousands of people visit the sacred places to take the "Baño Sagrado" or sacred bath as part of a purification ceremony. 42 COTACACHI COUNTY Cotacachi (2360m) is located in northern Ecuador, 80 km north of Quito and 25 km south of Ibarra. It is the largest county in the province of Imbabura and its Located at the foot of the volcano that bears the same name. The City Was Founded in colonial times by Fray Pedro de la Peña, and in 1824 upgraded to Canton by Simón Bolívar. It is the musical capital of northern Ecuador and has an institute that prepares teachers in music education. The economy is based in handcrafts (especially the production of leather), food and trade. The name Cotacachi has many meanings. The area ecosystems and native flora and fauna make this canton one of the richest ecological areas in South America. The area is valuable to tourists for bird watching, camping and fishing. The weather in the area varieties from 9 to 25 degrees Celsius and is cooler in the evenings. COTACACHI VOLCANO This volcano is located 25 km west of the city of Ibarra. The Cotacachi volcano is 4939m high and the last volcanic activity was the Pleistocene period. Today Cotacachi is a steep mountain with many attractions for climbing rocks. The composition of this volcano pyroxene and amphibole, give us a clue that it was probably a Strombolian eruptions. Witnessed probably the absence of a boiler shows that its terminals eruptions were violent eruptions and the volcano then 43 erode through the Pleistocene glaciers. CUICOCHA LAGOON This lagoon has an altitude of 3068m. It’s located within the Ecological Reserve Cotacachi-Cayapas and is the most visited site of the reserve because of its good accessibility. This lagoon is also known as Tsui – Cocha (Lake of the Gods.) The particularity of this lagoon is at its center, two islets are located that bear the names of Theodore Wolf and Maria José Yero, separated by a channel called "Canal of Dreams." These islands are the products of small eruptions that followed the main eruption. The caldera was created by a massive phreatic eruption about 3100 years ago that generated about 5 cubic kilometres of pyroclastic flow and covered the surrounding area in volcanic ash up to 20 cm deep. The volcano has been dormant since that time. In combination with other eruptions from nearby Imbabura, Mojanda, Cotacachi, and Cayambe, Cuicocha is responsible for the fertile soil of the Otavalo valley. Its current name comes from the Kichwa Indigenous language and signifies: "Lago del Cuy" Guinea Pig Laguna in English. It was given this name due to the shape of the largest island located in the middle of the Laguna (Teodoro Wolf) resembling a Guinea Pig. These animals play a significant part in the everyday life of Ecuadorians, as it reproduces rapidly and needs a minimum of food and care to survive; it makes for an excellent high protein meal especially for populations 44 living in altitude. The lake, which is 200 m deep at its deepest point, is highly alkaline, but still contains little life. As regards the fauna in place we can see species such as the hill guinea pig that gives its name to the lake, rabbits, armadillos, andean foxes, the Chucuri, and lots of birds as doves, pigeons, hummingbirds, sparrows, blackbirds, owls and ducks. There are times that you can see the king of the Andes, the condor, giving a high- flying by. On the flanks the crater there is a self-guided trail 8 km in length called "Maxim Gorky Campuzano." There are more than 400 species of flora, which vary with the altitude at which they are located. You can find medicinal and decorative plants such as cattails, bromeliads, cerote, rosewood, pumamaqui, myrtle, red cedar, rumibarba, calahuala. In addition there are ten varieties of orchids and a bamboo species called suro. During the second day of IntiRaymi (or Sun Festival,) celebrated on June every summer solstice, indigenous Shaman uses Cuicocha as a bath of ritual cleansing and purification. INDIGENOUS BELIEVING In the context of oral tradition, water is the life blood of the pacha-mama (mother earth.) Water is a female person and capable of reproduction. When it comes to 45 irrigation water, which feeds and nourishes the soil, water takes on the male sex. Water is life and is a person who may also be the subject of reproducing as well as animals, plants, people, rocks, soil and other components of the kay-pacha (this world). This concept has led to the formation of a religion itself, which still remains with effect in communities. Fertilize mother earth promotes the generation of respect and appreciation for water as a "person" of the community as a family member who brings joy and purification, with the consequent love and respect for all creatures of the pacha- breast fundamental basis of the experience of the Andean people. COTACAHI – CAYAPAS RESERVE The Ecological Reserve Cotacachi - Cayapas was created on August 29, 1968. It is located between the provinces of Esmeraldas and Imbabura, with an area of 204,420 hectares and rising from an altitude up to 1,600 meters above sea level in the lower area, which recorded an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and 4,939 meters in the high zone, with a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. The weather determined by topography, vain periodically from wet and cold in the high Andes, to the tropical temperate in the low valleys. The annual rainfall is 3,000 to 5,000 mm. The Reserve area is divided administratively into two regions; 46 the area down to the coast in the province of Esmeraldas with the largest area and the upper which is in the province of Imbabura. The floristic composition consists of more than 2,000 species of plants, whereas in the animal kingdom more than 500 species recorded. The fauna species is completed as the spectacled bear, jaguar, ocelot, agouti paca, tutamono and otter. In the upper part due to the impact of human presence, are in small number of deer and mountain lions, also can be seen cervicabra, paramo wolves, sacha guinea pig and rabbit. It has been determined that existing species are different from those found in the Amazon, due to their different backgrounds. A good example is the color black howler monkey that lives in the Andes and the eastern slopes. The reserve faces problems related to mining, extinction of animal species and infrastructure. Artisanal gold mining is an important activity developed by natives of the area of Playa de Oro, Canton Eloy Alfaro, however the large scale exploitation significantly affect the natural balance. The excessive extraction of forest resources is a problem that affects not only the ecological environment, but also reduces the accessibility of the native to the resource. 47 HIGH ANDEAN MONTANE FOREST Flourishes between 2,800 and 3,200 meters above sea level, this limit varies in a hundred or two hundred meters depending on local conditions (wind, desolation). It is an extremely moist environment seen in the distance as the characteristic cloud cover enveloping the tops of the mountains. Excess moisture allows the branches of trees grow an abundant variety of epiphytes such as orchids, mosses and lichens that cover them completely. Also called the Andean forest and high mountain forest, it specifies functions such as regulation of water flow that descends from the moors and the accumulation and management of their nutrients. Trees here grow up to 15-20 meters high; those protect and nourish a wide and important variety of plant and animal species. Floristically, the most found specie is the high bush blueberry, which becomes dominant or codominant in many places. Among the most abundant species of this genus is H. mention obtusifolia, H. goudotiana and H. lanuginosa in the Cordillera Oriental. On the top floor, in the Cordillera Oriental, are typical palo colorado forests (Polylepis boyacensis, P. quadrijuga). Insofar as we ascend in altitude, the Andean forest becomes more open and herbaceous cover increases in importance, with species native to the desert. 48 VALLEY OF INTAG In the southwest of the Imbabura province, in the Cotacachi canton, is one of the most precious treasures of Ecuador, the Valley of Intag (2,200 km2). Intag is located in the western foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes (Cordillera del Toisan) as part of the buffer zone of Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve and the Ecuadorian Choco, considered among the top ten hotspots in the world. The Intag area is still rich in primary cloud forests, and alive with rushing white-water streams and rivers, and small towns and villages. The cloud forests area is in the confluence of two of the worlds hottest of the biological hotspots; the Chocó-Darien Western Ecuadorian, and the Tropical Andes biological Hotspots. Though only the sixth of the largest hotspot, the Tropical Andes is considered the single richest hotspot on the planet, containing approximately 15-17% of the world’s plant species and nearly 20% of its bird diversity. For both groups, the endemism is astonishingly over 40%. This area is located 42 km west of Otavalo. There are some protected areas such as private or community Alto Choco Reserve (2,500 ha), the Intag Cloud Forest Reserve (120 ha), Florida Reserve (350 ha), Neblina Cloud Forest Reserve (1,200 ha), Rosario Cloud Forest Reserve (600 ha), community forests of Junin and The Protected Forest Chontal (6986 ha). The area is under strong pressure from mining companies. Some communities in the area are: Apuela, Peñaherrera, Cuellaje, 49 Vacas Galindo, Plaza Gutiérrez and García Moreno. Most of the flat topography areas are deforested due to forest conversion into agricultural lands. Some areas have natural vegetation in the process of regeneration and there is plenty of bamboo in small private or protected areas by local communities. The organization Ecological Defense and Conservation of Intag (Decoin) led an intense campaign against mining in the Junin area, making even the expulsion of the Japanese company Mitsubishi Materials. In addition, since 2006, the organization is involved in the creation of community reserves and watershed protection. These reserves include the Intag Cloud Forest Reserve, owned by the local network of volunteer rangers Flor de Mayo, on the community of Santa Rosa. On the other hand, coordinate activities with the Women and Environment, who work in the production of handicrafts from natural fibers. Also collaborate with the Association of Agroecological farmers; River Cafe Intag (AACRI) is involved in the marketing of shade-grown coffee, teaching of local people in environmental education and ecotourism. Another organization involved in conservation projects in the area is the Foundation United Brethren, which works with local people in the networking agroecological productive development and management of natural resources. 50 This whole idea has giving work to the people of Intag and development in the economy the place, but most importantly the environment is recovering its natural stand, before agriculture and mining were there. Ecuador's Intag region has a high percentage of indigenous peoples (39%) and a high level of poverty (88%) making the region amongst the poorest in Ecuador. The local population also has less access to education and health care than in other areas, with 33% lacking any education. NEBLINA CLOUD FOREST RESERVE Since 2003, through generous donations, Rainforest Concern has been able to buy areas of forest to protect in its own name, in an area between the Paso Alto Mountain Range and the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve, known locally as Intag. The intention has been to buy enough land to make the forest connection between these two protected areas to have one continuous corridor. Rainforest Concern has named this area the Neblina Reserve, and to date it comprises of just over 1,272 hectares of montane cloud forest. The Reserve is currently divided into two areas, Neblina North and Neblina South, with an imminent purchase providing the opportunity to link the two. The recent expansion of the Neblina Reserve is part of a Watershed project within the Intag that has helped to establish 36 community watershed reserves. These reserves are owned and managed by the local community and are helping to 51 increase water supplies compromised by deforestation, as well as improving the quality of drinking water. One of the critical components of the Watershed project is to provide the community with training on how to monitor water quality with water testing equipment and conduct ongoing analysis. Partners in the project are developing management plans for the reserves that will help communities to monitor and protect water supplies in addition to protecting the biological diversity within the reserves. ALTO CHOCO FOREST RESERVE The Alto Choco Reserve is located in the Intag Zone of the Imbabura Province, Northern Ecuador. It is part of the South american CHOCO biological region, which is one of the ten biologically most important zones (hotspot) in the world according to international organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and the World Bank. The Reserve has diverse altitudinal levels, ranging from 1.800 to 4.000 m with temperatures that range between 5 and 23º centigrade. The Reserve covers 2.750 hectares, about 1.500 of which are comprised of cloud forest, the remaining areas are secondary forest, paramo and pastures. To the northeast the Reserve borders the Governmental Ecological Reserve Cotacahi-Cayapas which encompasses 204,429 hectares. 52 The reserve has a wide variety of fauna including Andean (spectacled) bears (Tremarctos ornatus), Dwarf deer (Pudu mephistophiles), Andean tapir (Tapirus pinchaque), Giant antpitta (Grallaria gigantea), Plate-billed mountain toucan (Andigena laminirostris) 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 (Cinchona succirubra), Arrayán (Eugenia sp.), and Sisin (Podocarpus sp.) The seasons are not defined but can be described as a very rainy season from february to may, a rainy season from october to january and a dry season from june to september. PARISH OF APUELA Apuela is located northwest of Ecuador in the Intag Cotacachi County, 60Km from the city of Cotacahi in the Imbabura Province. It is found mostly in the middle Andean zone of the western mountains, at the foot of Cotacachi. It sits between 1,600 and 2,000 meters, the climate is temperate, sub-Andean and sub-tropical. The average annual precipitation of rain is from 1000 to 3000 mm and the average temperature is 18 grades Celsius. The main rivers are the Apuela and Toabunche. One of the main attractions is a hill called “Cara del Inca” (Incas Face,) which is known as the guardian and of the town. Another tourist attraction is the Sunday 53 Market, on this day all the farmers bring their products to sell, the town gets really crowded and there is music everywhere. HOT SPRING SPA OF NANGULVI Is a tourism complex centrally located in Intag river valley, 3km away from Apuela. Its agreeable climate and the beauty of the surroundings countryside as well as the quality of the thermal springs, have major contribution factor in making this a premier tourist attraction and one of the most visited in the region. The waters used in the spa are thermal, volcanic in origin and have a temperature between 40 and 70 degrees Celsius. They are said to have curative properties due to the high percentage of essential minerals present in the water. For example, thermal waters help to reduce arterial hypertension, alleviate rheumatism, muscle and deep bone pain and respiratory illnesses. It is recommended only to stay 40 minutes in the pools; pregnant women and people with cardio problems are not allow getting in. 54 CONCLUSIONS The tour was supposed to start at 07:00 am, the driver was 20 minutes before, but two of the tourist arrived some minutes late. This changed my timing of the tour and made it difficult to follow the itinerary. There was also a lot of traffic which made it worst. I had to leave a lot of information behind. The tourists were very friendly and had a good sense of humor. The whole trip was very enjoyable; they knew a lot of information about the cultural aspect of communities. There was a tourist that asked a lot of questions about from the ethnical aspects and that made it difficult to concentrate. One the main concerns in this tour were, one person which was sick. He was felling very dizzy and was not in condition to do all of the activities. I felt worried, because I was thinking of taking him to a hospital. He showed a lot of courage throughout the trip and on the second day he was recovered. The food and accommodation services provided in the tour were of high standards. At I took them to the spring waters of Nangulvi and that was the highlight of the day. The only inconvenient I had on the second day, was with the native guide, who was 30 minutes. The tourist didn´t complain about it, I tried to draw their attention on the delicious breakfast prepared by the family Bolaños. We were safe and sound in Quito at the time I was expecting. 55 SUGGESTIONS ··· The most important thing when you are organizing a tour is the quality and condition of the providers involved. In this case I checked myself, hotel, transport, restaurants and visited places; making sure that everything was the best of the best. This part is going to be the deciding factor, to offer an excellent or poor service. ··· Working as a team is very important for the tour. You should have a friendly relationship with the people involved in the operation of the tour. Especially the driver, who is your main teammate, should be treated better then tourist. He/she is the person who is responsible for the lives of the people in the bus, you should make sure that this person gets enough sleep and a good place to rest. ··· Reservations should be double check at least four days before your tour. It is important to go personally and see that the reservation is written in from of you. ··· It is very important to bring as much information as you can to the tour. You never know what kinds of questions tourist will ask you. A guide is not a encyclopedia, you may forget or not know something, but it is important to check your information and answer the question afterwards. 56 ANNEXES ROUTE MAP TOUR PICTURES 57 58 TOUR PICTURES Downhill experts at Neblina Forest Reserve Coffee Factory in Apuela Packing coffee to take home The Ivans team 59