2008 Itinerary
 Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Fly from Raleigh, NC to Miami, FL to Quito, Ecuador. Clear immigration and customs, meet Monica & Martha from Heifer International and our guide, Miguel. Proceed to Hostal Los Alpes. We will meet each evening, before or after dinner, to preview each day, answer questions and provide suggestions on what to wear and bring. Overnight in Hostal Los Alpes in Quito.
Thursday June 19, 2008
Altitude adaptation day in and near Quito. Meet with Heifer Ecuador staff at the offices of Heifer Ecuador. Orientation and assembly of teaching boxes for the workshop at El Cerrito. Travel to Otavalo Market. Begin nightly reports during which groups share daily meteorological and cultural observations. Begin the nightly ritual of composing a daily journal entry and answering questions from students who are following along via the Museum’s Web site. Overnight in Otavalo.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Travel to the ‘county’ of Cotacachi. Visit Cuichocha Lake, which sits at the foot of Volcán Cotacachi, 3,070 meters up in the Andean páramo. Hike up the páramo to Heifer’s Alpacas project. Lunch in community of Morochos with leaders of UNORCAC (Unión de Organizaciones Campesinas de Cotacachi = Union of Farmer Organizations). Travel to Mindo. Nightly Meeting & Reports. Overnight at the Bellavista Cloud Forest Hotel.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Cloud Forest Hike and Birding Excursion in the Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve. We will be on the look out for hummingbirds — Ecuador has more species than any country in the world! Nightly Meeting & Reports. Pootoo & Moth Observations. Overnight in Mindo at the Bellavista Cloud Forest Hotel.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Morning in the Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve. Hummingbird Diversity! Return to Quito. Nightly Meeting & Reports. Overnight at Hostal Los Alpes in Quito.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Fly from Quito to Manta in Manabi Province. Travel to the Heifer UPOCAM Project (Unión Provincial de Organizaciones Campesinas de Manabí = Union of Farmer Organizations in Manabi Province) in El Cerrito. Workshop with teachers & students followed by lunch with the community. Climb up El Cerrito to see innovative agricultural projects and look for Burrowing Owls. Nightly Meeting & Reports. Overnight at Hostal Quinta San Juan in Portoviejo, one of the oldest cities in Ecuador.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Travel to Montecristi, a center of handicrafts. Did you know that ‘Panama’ hats are made in Ecuador? Next stop, Jipijapa (say:Heeppy-hoppah). Meet with UPOCAM leaders at La Naranjita Community, an UPOCAM Project Farm with ponds for fish breeding, a medicinal plant garden, and diversified plantings. Travel to Puerto Lopez on the coast. Nightly Meeting & Reports. Overnight in Puerto Lopez at Hosteria Mandala, located on the edge of Machalilla National Park. This park encompasses dry tropical forest, coastal marine habitats, and humid fog forests on its highest mountains.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Leave early from Puerto Lopez for a boat ride to La Isla de la Plata. Marine mammal observations — will we see Humpback Whales? Coastal bird hike. Back to the mainland. Closing meeting and reflection on the experience. Overnight at the Hosteria Mandala.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Reflection session and brief swim time at Los Frailes Beach. Travel from Puerto Lopez to Guayaquil on the Sun Road. Nightly Meeting. Overnight Guayaquil.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Back to the USA! Fly from Guayaquil, Ecuador to Miami, FL to Raleigh, NC
Maps of Ecuador |
