Welcome Package & Trip Plan Indigenous Roots of Ecuador: Culture in Food Important information to help prepare for an amazing experience! Locations: Andean and Amazon Regions of Ecuador Starting Date: April 19th, 2020 @ San Francisco de Quito Hotel - Quito Ecuador Ending Date: April 30th, 2020 @ International Airport - Quito (if you need a ride from the hotel to the airport, please contact us to arrange pick up time. Extra cost of $50.00) Contact: Maria Jose Obando (+1 639 317 6811) [email protected] Preparing for a Successful Experience This welcome package will help make your planning as stress-free as possible for one of the most amazing adventures you will ever have. This document contains everything you need to know, but if you have any further questions, please give us a call or send us an email and we’ll be happy to help. Culture in Food: Food is one of the few things that can unite people from We don’t limit ourselves to one specific geographical all across the world. No matter where we come from, area. Like you, we want to see the world, and experience food represents something profound about each of our it in a sustainable and environmentally-conscious way. cultures and our ways of life, and we often want to share So when Majo, an Ecuadorian mestiza woman (from that with the people we meet. Ecuadorian food is no Indigenous and Spanish roots) joined our team, it was different. A blended cuisine that has been influenced by only a matter of time before we set our sights on Indigenous people, the Spanish, and peoples of Ecuador. Majo’s dream is to positively contribute to the neighbouring countries, Ecuadorian food flaunts preservation and growth of Indigenous peoples’ culture, colourful and diverse traditional dishes all are sure to language, knowledge, traditions, and lands; and that’s enjoy. This cultural mixture, combined with the richness what this course is all about. Through her enthusiasm of the Ecuadorian environment has changed and and our passion for the outdoors, we are able to offer a developed traditional dishes over time, telling countless different way of doing tourism. Experiencing and stories of a country abundant in culture and history, enjoying some of the incredible destinations Ecuador waiting to share it all with those who visit.Be ready to has to offer, while contributing to Indigenous experience one of the most diverse and unique community tourism and volunteering programs in a gastronomies in the world! sustainable way - benefiting everyone involved. Ecuador is one of the most diverse nations on the planet Why Ecuador? in terms of geography, species of flora and fauna, and culture. It is also committed to the conservation of its At Fireside Adventures, we’ve always strived to be so environmental wealth through sustainable tourism. Its much more than a summer camp or tourism company. visitors can easily tour each of the four regions of We offer unique, worldly experiences to people across Ecuador: the Galapagos, the Pacific Coast, the Andes and the globe, aiming to connect our participants with the Amazon, all accessible within a few hours of each nature and eco-tourism. other. Itinerary DAY 1: QUITO We recommend arriving at least one day prior to the adventure to start to acclimatize. (Information: April 27th at 2:00 pm, 2020). You will be transferred to your accommodation in Quito. Meet at San Francisco de Quito Hotel. Be welcomed by Equator Face's staff. Visit the historical center of Quito - capital of the sun, where we will witness colonial works in the best-preserved historical center of Latin America. We will have a traditional Ecuadorian welcoming dinner to celebrate your arrival. Accommodation: San Francisco de Quito Hotel. Breakfast (not included) Lunch (not included) Dinner (included) DAY 2: QUITO’S HISTORIC CENTER – YAMBOS COMMUNITY Visit the Middle of the World City and Rumiñahui Museum. Learn about how Incas thanked their Sun God for their crops. After lunch, we will go to the TULIPE MUSEUM, which shows the cultural evidences of the Yumbo people. The museum is divided into two parts: the museum, and the ceremonial. We will enjoy a half day walking tour while also practicing some basic Spanish. Accommodation: Molino San Juan Hacienda Breakfast (included) Lunch (included) Dinner (included) DAY 3: MOLINO SAN JUAN Visit San Juan Windmill, a heritage construction built in 1890. Visit Santa Marianita de Jesús chapel Participate in the reparation of Tortillas de Tiesto (Ancestral recipe). Visit artisan roses plantation in the Santo Domingo de Guzmán community. Visit corporate rose plantation located in Tabacundo 7km from the hacienda. Accommodation: Molino San Juan Hacienda Breakfast (included) Lunch (included) Dinner (included) DAY 4: PROYECTO CONDORES – OTAVALO Head off to Cayambe and the Cochasquí archaeological ruins. Be welcomed by our hosts in the Karanqui community, who will provide us with a delicious dinner. The community leader will talk about the impact of western culture on their traditions, knowledge, language and Indigenous identity. He will also share his knowledge about the interpretation of dreams and the position of the stars. Accommodation: Karanqui Families Breakfast (included) Lunch (included) Dinner (included) DAY 5: TREN DE LA LIBERTAD – OTAVALO COMMUNITY – MOROCHOS COMMUNITY. Take the Libertad train to the town of Salinas - Ibarra. Salinas is populated by Afro-Ecuadorian communities, who will welcome us with a traditional dance and delicious gastronomy. Visit the museum of the Afro - Ecuadorian people. In the afternoon, we will return to our accommodation with Otavalo families. Accommodation: Families in Otavalo Breakfast (included) Lunch (included) Dinner (included) DAY 6: PAPALLACTA – SAN RAFAEL – SHAYARI Start the journey to the Amazon of Ecuador, making short stops in Papallacta and the waterfall of San Rafael (the highest in the country). Visit the Kichwa Sayari community. Have a talk with the community where they will share their knowledge on medicinal plants with us. Cultural night with the community Accommodation: Families of the Shayari Community Breakfast: (included) Lunch: (included) Dinner: (included) DAY 7 - 8: SHAYARI Walk along the paths to the Moretecocha lagoon while observing and learning about endemic wildlife. Canoe ride through the lagoon. Visit the Shayari interpretation center and demonstration of handicrafts (mud, seeds and toquilla straw fibers). Participate in traditional games with the community. Walk along the paths of the Shaman and Supay waterfalls. Nocturnal hike Head off to the Natural Jatun Yaku Huasi. Accommodation: Jatun Yaki Huasi Breakfast (included) Lunch (included) Dinner (included) DAY 9-11: JATUN YAKU Adventure down the rapids of the Jatun Yaku river. Learn about plants in danger of extinction in the Amazon rainforest like the spiritual vine of the Ayahuasca or Yage. On the Jatun Yaku hiking trails you can identify edible and medicinal plants. Visit Indigenous communities located near the Jatun Yaku River. Accommodation: Jatun Yaku Huasi Lodge Breakfast (included) Lunch (not included) Dinner (included) DAY 12: COTOPAXI Visit the Panzaleos Indigenous community. Stop in the "Boliche National Park" place where we will have an amazing view of the "Cotopaxi Volcano" . Transportation to the International Airport of Quito. Breakfast (included) Lunch (included) TRANSPORTATION ON COURSE: 24/7 Transportation service. Participants will have a group van where they will be transported to all places included in this program Fireside has taken a pledge to reduce our carbon footprint. This means that performing some activities, participants will take self-propelled methods like hiking, paddling and walking. Information about Ecuador Geographic location: Ecuador is located in South America, about 7,120 km from Vancouver. Ecuador borders Colombia to the north, Peru to the south and east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. If you want to know more about Ecuador's geography, please click on the following link: C L I C K H E R E Population: Ecuador has a population of 16,144,363 inhabitants (71.9% Mestizos, 7% Indigenous, 6.1% White Ecuadorians and 7.2% Afro-Ecuadorians). To know more about Ecuador’s population, please click on the following link: C L I C K H E R E Capital City: Quito, declared the First Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, is located at 2,850 meters above sea level in a valley surrounded by mountains. It is the second highest capital in the world. The Historic Center of Quito is one of the largest and best preserved in Latin America. Its history is reflected in its churches, museums and cultural centres. To learn more about Quito, please click on the following link: C L I C K H E R E Time Zone: ECT – Ecuador Time – UTC -5 Water: Although water in Ecuador is potable, we suggest drinking bottled water throughout the duration of your adventure. We will assist you with access to drinking water. Issue 27 | 234 Language: The Ecuadorian constitution recognizes Spanish as the official language. Additionally, 14 more ancestral languages are widely spoken by different Indigenous populations. Quichua is spoken the most with 1,161,800 speakers, followed by Shuar (42,300), Cha’palaachi (5,870), Achuar (3,520), Awapit (2,100), Wao Terero (1,650) and Tsáfiqui (1,870). There are many other Indigenous languages at risk of disappearing, such as Cofan (640), Siona (260), Redwood (85), Emberá (52) and Zaparo (3). The most spoken immigrant languages are German, Chinese, French, Portuguese and English. For more information on languages, please click on the following link: C L I C K H E R E Climate: Ecuador has two seasons: the wet season, from December to May, which is hot and rainy; and the dry season, from June to November, which has cooler temperatures. The average temperature in the Andean Region is between 13 ºC and 21 ºC.