[FEL-L] [touchthejungle] Tour date

[DV]

OCTOBER 2007 Ecuador Rainforest Tour

Join us for an authentic Ecuador rainforest experience with the native people whose ancestors have lived on this land for more than 400 years, miles from "civilization" and modern conveniences, yet still having comfortable accommodations. This upcoming tour will visit 2 locally owned and operated Ecotourism projects in the El Choco region of NW Ecuador, The Playa de Oro Reserva de Tigrillos and the Kumanii Foundation's Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Center. The El Choco region is listed as one of the world's biodiversity hotspots by Conservation International. http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/tumbes_choco/index.xml The Global Conservation Fund at Conservation International is supporting several initiatives in northwestern Ecuador focused on protecting the remaining intact lowland forests in and around the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve and the Awá Ethnic Reserve.  Both of these projects that you will visit border the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve and focus on preserving the habitat, native wild felines and other wildlife, while providing low-impact ecotourism to help financially sustain the areas. You can read more about these projects at http://www.touchthejungle.org and http://kumanii.org, or read our write up in the 2006 7th edition Lonely Planet Guide to Ecuador on page 276.

The tour dates are Oct 18 - 29, 2007. The tour fee is $800. The tour fee includes private round trip transportation, a native bi-lingual guide for the group at Playa de Oro and Kumanii, all the activities and meals at Playa de Oro and Kumanii, and all lodging for the dates listed. Airfare is not included.

Basic Itinerary:
Thurs Oct 18 -- fly into Quito, Ecuador, by this evening, stay in Quito
Fri Oct 19- in Quito, breakfast included. Various activities available today--Sky Tram, Mitad del Mundo, crafts markets, etc.
Sat Oct 20 - morning travel to Otavala, spending the afternoon in this Indian highland mountain town, home to the largest Indian crafts market in South America, stay at Hostel del Amancer, breakfast included
Sun Oct 21- Morning depart for Playa de Oro, after a 4 hour drive Playa de Oro's boat for a 2 hour ride on the Rio Santiago to the lodge. After lunch take an afternoon hike, all meals included
Mon Oct 22 - Playa de Oro, morning hike to waterfall, afternoon swimming, pan for gold, fish, or other activities, all meals included
Tues Oct 23 - Playa de Oro, morning boat trip to La Cathedral, afternoon village tour and dance performance, all meals included
Weds Oct 24- Depart Playa de Oro after breakfast, meet the Kumanii boat in Borbon. After a 3 hour boat ride on the Rio Cayapas, arrive Kumanii lodge in afternoon, swimming & visit Kumanii wildlife rescue center, all meals included
Thurs Oct 25 - Kumanii, morning visit to Cachi Indian village & performances, afternoon visit African-Ecuadorian village and performances, learn about various Kumanii projects in the area to help the people, wildlife, and habitat.
Fri Oct 26 - Kumanii - All day trip to Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological reserve (sits between Playa de Oro and Kumanii), picnic lunch in reserve, swimming, hiking, and boating today.
Sat Oct 27 - After breakfast depart for Borbon by boat, then by van arriving in Otavala by afternoon. Stay in Otavala, breakfast included
Sun Oct 28- depart AM for Quito, breakfast included
Mon Oct 29-- fly home, breakfast included unless you have very early morning flight

Sign up as soon as possible, as spaces will go quickly,  this is the only group tour being offered for 2007!!!  The deposit to reserve your spot on this tour (which is limited to a total of 8 participants) is half the tour fee, $400, with the final due by September 1.  The deposit is nonrefundable if you decide not to go later. If we have to cancel the trip for any reason, we will refund your deposit.  Tour fees should be made out to Earthways Foundation, and mailed to:
Attn: Tracy Wilson
PO Box 1382
Searcy, AR 72145

If you have any questions or need more details, please contact Tracy Wilson at tracy at touchthejungle.org or visit the website http://www.touchthejungle.org
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