JOURNEY OF THE ANACONDA with the Shuar of the Sacred Waterfalls

Transcription

1 JOURNEY OF THE ANACONDA with the Shuar of the Sacred Waterfalls June 11-24, 2014 Nunkui, our Mother Rainforest, is inviting you to discover the mysteries of her forest and share in the ancient wisdom of the Shuar culture. Join us on a tour of Ecuador as we pass incredible views of the Andean highlands, explore sacred caves, canoe through the dense rainforest, and visit traditional Shuar villages. WHO WE ARE The group will be led by Natem Anank, a Shuar Uwishin (traditional healer) keeper of the ancient wisdom and of secrets that the jungle holds; along with his son Raúl Nunink, founder of Amigos de la Amazonía, a Shuar activist who has struggled for many years to defend his people. NATEM ANANK RAÚL NUNINK, PRESIDENT OF AMIGOS DE LA AMAZONIA

2 TRIP ITINERARY - THE ADVENTURE BEGINS Please note that this itinerary is flexible based on travelers interests and abilities. DAY ONE: Airport Hotel We all meet at the airport in Quito, Ecuador and go to the hotel together. DAY TWO: Quito Baños Macas From Quito we travel through the Avenue of the Volcanoes with beautiful views of the Guagua Pichincha, Atacazo, Sincholahua, Corazón, Rumiñahui, Los Ilinizas, Cotopaxi and Tungurahua volcanoes. We arrive in Baños to enjoy its curative thermal waters. DAY THREE: Macas Tiwints (Santiago) Macas is the capital of Morona Santiago Province which is predominantly inhabited by Shuar people and lies east of the Andes Mountains in the Upano Valley. From Macas we head to Tiwints and spend the night. DAY FOUR: Tiwints Cave of the Tayus In the morning, we canoe down the Yaup River to visit the Cave of the Tayus. This cave is an sacred ancestral place for the Shuar. It is named for the Tayus birds that once lived within but the destruction of their habitat has forced them to find a home elsewhere. Here we will explore the cave observing various species of bats, stalactites and stalagmites. That night we will sleep on the beach alongside the river and share in Sacred Ceremony.

3 DAY FIVE: Cave of the Tayus Morona From the Cave of the Tayus we have the opportunity to visit Tiwints village and enjoy the traditional life before returning to Macas. TRADITIONAL SHUAR HOUSE DAY SIX: Macas Musap Next we visit a traditional Shuar community called Musap. There we hike for an hour through diverse jungle vegetation until we reach the beautiful Yantsa Waterfalls and set up camp to prepare for a Sacred Ceremony that evening. DAY SEVEN: Musap Shuar Community San Luis Inimkis The next day we travel to San Luis Inimkis community and enjoy an evening of traditional Shuar music, dance, and foods.

4 DAY EIGHT: Macas Puyo Puyo greets us with the aroma of sugar as we visit the market and enjoy a popular cane beverage called el Guarapo. Afterwards we visit the Casa de la Balsa, a large store filled with colorfully painted Amazonian crafts made of Balsa wood. CASA DE BALSA CASA DEL ARBOL (treehouse)

5 Then off to Casa del Árbol, a famous tree house 12 stories high and its surroundings full of interesting surprises. DAY NINE: Puyo Misahualli From Puyo we head out to the small port of Misahualli where you are likely find monkeys casually passing through the streets causing all kinds of mischief. Make sure to hold on to your sun glasses and cameras! NATEM ANANK MAKES A NEW FRIEND DAY TEN: Misahualli From Misahualli we begin our canoe journey on the great Napo River to a Kichwa community. Here we visit the Kamai Maki museum and learn about traditional Kichwa life.

6 We then continue our river journey to visit an Amazon Animal Rescue Center where a guide will teach us about the native animals and plants. Later we continue on and visit another Kichwa community, eventually returning to Misahualli. DAY ELEVEN: Misahualli Otavalo On route to Otavalo we pass through Archidona, Jumandy, Baeza, and Papallacta stopping along the way to enjoy diverse and breathtaking landscapes. DAY TWELVE: Otavalo This is a favorite destination for visitors to Ecuador due to its vibrant colors, large open air market and traditional music. The Otavaleñas are world famous for their weaving, often

7 using the luxuriously soft Alpaca wool. When we have finished our day of bartering with the locals, we will return to Quito. DAY THIRTEEN: Quito La Mitad del Mundo In the morning we will travel to Pululahua, the largest volcanic crater in the world. From the lookout you can see the entire landscape within this great crater. After Pululahua we will visit La Mitad del Mundo (the Middle of the World) named so because it is located on that invisible line that divides the Northern and Southern hemispheres. DAY FOURTEEN: Quito Airport We will say goodbye at the airport and thank you for visiting our beloved country and especially our jungle. Your brothers from the jungle, Natem and Raúl

8 SIGN ME UP! To reserve your place in this authentic and exciting adventure, Raúl Nunink at TOUR DATES, FEES AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION: THE ADVENTURE TAKES PLACE: June 11 24, 2014 COST: $1900 USD plus deposit DEPOSIT: A non-refundable deposit of $300 USD is required to hold your place. The remaining balance must be received in full one month before the trip begins. PAYMENT: You can submit your payment using MasterCard, Visa or Amex via PayPal on the Amigos de la Amazonía website THIS TOUR INCLUDES: Transportation from the airport to the hotel and back Bilingual tour guide: English/Spanish Hotel accommodations/double occupancy, private rooms available for an extra fee Two meals a day All transportation within Ecuador including canoe trips Entry fees to all attractions listed in this itinerary Garden of Natem Sacred ceremonies Tents THIS TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE: Airfare to and from Ecuador, airport taxes and/or fees Snacks or alcoholic beverages Travel or medical insurance Laundry services Perscriptions WHAT TO BRING: The jungle can be quite humid and muddy at times. Following are some recommendations for what to bring: Deet free Insect repellent no chemicals in the pure healthy jungle PLEASE Gloves with rubber palms like thin gardening gloves for when we are in the caves Rubber boots, ponchos, sleeping bags Comfortable shoes and lots of socks Thin long pants that would dry quickly Cotton clothes that breath A copy of your passport, license and credit cards to keep seperately from originals

9 WHAT NOT TO BRING: Anything aerosol, a tent Previous visitors have opted to not carry a great deal of luggage and supplies through the airports. Instead they bought inexpensive sleeping bags, rubber boots, ponchos etc. in Ecuador, then donated them to the Shuar people when they left. SPECIAL REQUESTS: Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions, medical conditions or allergies. We want to take good care of you while we are together! SPECIAL NOTE: This trip offers unique and exclusive experiences in which very few have access to. Any funds remaining after expenses from the trip are paid will be used for Shuar community projects and used towards the Recovery Center for Native Amazonian Species project to be created in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The time to act is now, for tomorrow it will be too late. ~Natem Thank you for your interest in the Shuar of the Sacred Waterfalls. We believe in PEACE, LOVE, UNDERSTANDING & RESPECT.