The Choco Jungle
Be part of a unique experience to help fight against the destruction of the lowland rainforest, global warming and biofuels. Learn about the past, present and future of the jungle while enjoying one of the ten bio diverse hotspots in the world.
Go Bird watch in one of the 50 hotspots in the world for bird life and observe wildlife in its natural habitat with high probability of seeing endemic and endangered species
The Chocó Region extends from the south of Panama to the northwest of Ecuador, along the Pacific coast, and up to the western slopes of the Andes. It is one of the most bio diverse places on Earth, yet mostly unknown. Only 5% of this forest is left in Ecuador and less than 50% in Colombia. This paradise has been continuously deforested over the last 50 years. Many excuses are behind its destruction. The jungle was thought to be an endless green desert. In Ecuador a law created in 1969 mandated to clear cut the forest by the settlers, so they could have a title of property, otherwise the government would take back the land and give it to someone who would cut it. Right after that, also, big and small logging companies helped destroy the forest until today.
Finally, the little remnant of the western lowlands is succumbing to the idea of producing agro fuels to replace fossil fuels; thousands of hectares of rainforest are being replaced by African Palm Plantations to produce cheap and unhealthy cooking oil, cosmetics, and the monster of the century, biodiesel. This ultimate forest assassin, is killing the habitat of millions of species while taking away the land used for the people to produce their food, losing their heritage and food sovereignty.
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Tours
in Ecuador and Colombia
A trip to Ecuador or Colombia would not be complete without observing and learning about the magnificent and diverse plants, birds and other wildlife that inhabits one of the Earth’s most lush and vibrant Rainforests. Visit our project which has 400 species of flowers, fruit trees, and orchids. See how the forest regenerates with great effort of a few people, but also see its destruction by many others. Enjoy rivers and waterfalls, jungles, mangroves traditional music, culinary diversity, culture and make your own chocolate. Our tours are recommended by many travel guides including Lonely Planet, Footprint, plus various organizations and Eco tour companies throughout the world.
The tours are guided by Raul Nieto, a rainforest advocate who holds a graduate degree in Field Biology, with over 27 years of experience in the region.
A Jungle Experience in the Ecuadorian Choco Region Puerto Quito / Canande Western Lowland Rainforest
Two Day Tour
Puerto Quito
It is very educational experience to learn about the rainforest’s diverse ecology system, hike a patch of regenerating secondary forest and a piece of primary one, observe birds and other wildlife in its natural environment.
Arrival
You need to arrive the evening before, have dinner, learn about the biodiversity of the rainforest, its varied wildlife and the culture of the region.
Day One
-Breakfast includes fresh local fruits and home grown coffee
-Walk around the botanical garden, the fruit trees and orchids
-Hike to the secondary and primary forests to see their difference.
-Lunch
-Afternoon walk to see the cacao and coffee trees,
-Dinner, night walk to the forest (optional)
Day Two
-Breakfast
-Walk to see the negative human impact on the region mainly due to the introduction of African palm plantations.
-Lunch
-Make and sample your own chocolate from cocoa seeds
Price
It is $100 dollars per person, minimum 2 people. It includes rooms with bathroom, all meals, the guide, walks. It does not include transportation to and from Puerto Quito.
SIX Day Tour
Puerto Quito / Canande Jungle Adventure & Wildlife Watch
This is one of the few options to see a real jungle. To do so, you have to hike for hours into the deep forest; otherwise, most likely you will just see a secondary forest, if roads or rivers are 2 hours or closer away from your destination.
Observe monkeys, toucans, birds and possibly jaguars in their native habitat as well as other mammals. Swim in pristine streams and waterfalls. Hike into the real jungle, away from spoiled tourist areas, camp in tents in our wooden platform.
Day One
-Arrive to Puerto Quito in the afternoon pack for the next day.
-Discuss the area’s history and biodiversity over dinner.
Day Two
– Early get up, to travel two hours by car to Cristobal Colon, located 40km north of Puerto Quito.
-Hike mostly virgin forest during 7 hours to our jungle cabin, spot many birds and other wildlife on the way. (Horses carry all supplies)
-Set up tents, build fire, dinner, talk of our day’s experiences, card games, etc.
Day Three
-Walk down the river, swim, enjoy waterfalls, observe the diverse unspoiled nature
-Return to camp, dinner, relax, and get ready for night.
Day Four
-Walk through the jungle, observe animals and examine tracks
-Return to camp, relax, enjoy dinner.
-Discuss observations of the day, get ready for night.
-Night walk
Day Five
-Pack up camp, hike out of the jungle back to Cristobal Colon
-Ride Back to Puerto Quito arriving before dinner live music with the children of our school of traditiona music, DIVERSIDAD DEL CHOCO.
-Prepare dinner, relax, and get ready for night, discussion of the day.
Day Six
-Breakfast includes fresh local fruits and home grown coffee
– Make your own chocolate from cacao seeds
– End of the visit at noon
Price
It is $300 each person, minimum 2 people. This trip is for 2 or more people. It includes all meals, camping equipment, pack horses & guide. Price does not include transportation to and from Puerto Quito.
Choco tours Colombia
FOUR Day Tour
Timbiqui – Cauca
Discover an AfroColombian community getting back on their feet after suffering many years of isolation. Travel by boat through pristine rivers, mangroves. It is a unique tour to a very cultural and sylvatic region of the Pacific Coast of Colombia. Dance to the traditional music; enjoy some of the most delicious dishes, fruits and traditional drinks. Be part of the help this community needs to stand up against all odds. See the most poisonous vertebrate in the planet, the Golden Dart Frog.
Day 1.
-Gather in at Carrera 6ta 3-30 San Antonio, Cali at Itapoa’s headquarters in the morning. Depart from Cali at noon by plane directly to Timbiqui. It is a 40 minute flight.
-Arrive in the afternoon where you will be received with a Marimba group that will show you the traditional music and culture of the area. Learn about the region. Have dinner, local drinks and music at night.
Day 2.
-Take a boat ride to the mangroves and San Miguel de La Mar. Swim and enjoying traditional ways of sea food cooking, bird watching. Return to Timbiqui, dinner, drinks.
Day 3.
-Morning walk to see the Golden Dart Frog in the forest.
-Lunch
-Afternoon boat ride up the river to San Miguel del Rio. Get involved in different activities of the community. Find handcrafts. Local dinner cooked by the woman of the community.
Day 4
-Early breakfast and take the plane back to San Antonio, Cali. Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate made from our own cacao trees and learn about chocolate.
The price
It is $700 USD per person. It includes everything from and to San Antonio except alcoholic drinks aside from the traditional ones offered as part of the tour.
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Customized tours in Colombia and Ecuador
Travel both countries in comfortable 4 x 4 SUV’S with expert guides in bird watching, herpetology and adventure. We offer a great number of destinations in both countries in order to discover natural settings as well as cultural ones. Be part of an incredible experience of exploring Nature and Culture.
Destinations and fees are established after discussing the priorities of the customers in either country or both. We work with expert multilingual guides and local communities.
Our tours include mountain bikes and surfing gear for different destinations and preferences with expert bikers and surfers.
Our highlights are:
ECUADOR
The Volcano Avenue in the Ecuadorian Andes including indigenous markets
Cajas National Park
Chimborazo National Park
Machalilla National Park
Cotopaxi National Park
Quito
Cuenca
Banos
Cotacachi
Magrooves in Muisne and San Lorenzo
The Ecuadorian Amazon
COLOMBIA
The Coffee Region
Learn to Salsa in Cali
Purace Natural Park
San Agustin
Los Farallones Natural Park
Guatape
Popayan
Uramba Natural Park
San Cipriano
Cartagena
Tayrona Natural Park and Sierra Nevada
Mompos
Villa de Neiva
Cano Cristales
Santa Isabel
Santa Fe de Antioquia