Cultural Exchange, Language and Sustainable living

Day 1
Welcome

Transfer to Hotel in the New Town
Dinner
Orientation, country and safety information
Night in Quito

Day 2
Visit to old city Quito (World Heritage City).
12.H00 Travel to Bahia Weave your way down the Andes, the tropical cropping land of Santo Domingo area y then the cattle country of the lowlands. Lunch en route
Dinner
Night in Bahia

Day 3
Breakfast
Introduction to Rio Muchacho and the work in the community in Bahia
Travel to Rio Muchacho, by boat and minibus
Lunch and swim at the beach in Canoa en route
Accommodation and rest time
Orientation & short tour

Day 4
Morning- 8H30 -12H00 Spanish classes (3 hours classes with a half hour break )
Afternoon - tour of the farm permaculture and organic farming methods, recycling systems, tropical crops.
After dinner make chocolate from the harvest.

Day 5
Morning- Spanish classes
Afternoon -farm activities.
After dinner video- The power of community- Cuba managing peak oil, though organic agriculture and other alternatives.

Day 6
Morning -Spanish classes
Afternoon- walk to giant fig tree learn local flora and fauna, make tagua key rings (palm seeds called vegetable ivory)

Day 7 free day
Day 8 free day

Day 9
Morning – Farm activities
Afternoon -Principles of organic farming, baño negro ( local clay mineral mask ) make mate (gourd ) spoon

Day 10
Breakfast, depart for Bahia
Ecocity tour: visit lookout points, Galapagos turtle and Ecopapel( paper recycling project )
Lunch
Visit Regional Archaeological Museum
Return to Rio Muchacho

Day 11
Morning-visit the environmental school, activity/ games with the children at the school (students should have an activity ready )
Afternoon- farm activities
After dinner - roast and prepare coffee

Day 12
Hike to the forest to see the monkeys, take a typical lunch wrapped in banana leaves. Swim in water fall on the way back.
Video – Shrimp farming, threatening the environment.

Day 13
Morning- morning -milk cow and make cheese, make rings from palm seed fish river shrimp
Afternoon, T shirt painting and free time. ( opcional: bring a T shirt to paint message from Rio Muchacho )
Meal prepared by the group.
Camp fire by the river.

Day 14
Breakfast
Leave farm and travel to Puerto Porto Velo for trip to Isla Corazon (community tourism project in the mangrove forest)
Lunch
Tour of Bahia in ecotaxis (Tricycles)
Free time
Dinner.
Travel to Quito on night bus

Day 15-
Rest, visit crafts market, produce market, and Equator monument.
Return flight to country of origin.

Alternative Activites for the Program

Classes on sustainability themes, organic agriculture, permaculture, composting, local culture, alternative energy, etc. There lots more videos available and a good sustainability library.

Alternative Weekend Activities

Canoa- surf classes and horse riding on the beach.
Z Beach walking
Bike hire
Snorkeling
Bahia-Trip to tropical dry forest.

PRICE $525 per person minimum group size 10 pax
INCLUDES: All food, accommodation, transport and activities except on the weekends.
NOT INCLUDED: Weekend activities, extra food and drinks, Spanish classes