Terra Nova Travel

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Jungle Book - The Best of Ecuador 2015

Indigenous peoples have the right…

• To self-determination...
• To land, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned or occupied...
• To revitalize, use, develop and transmit to future generations their histories, languages, oral traditions...
• To their traditional medicines…including conservation of their vital medicine plants, animals and minerals...
  Excerpt from United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

This little slideshow is a composite of my nine nights in the Napo River region located in the heart of the Ecuadorian jungle. The gateway to the jungle is a town called Coca, about an hour by plane from Quito.

I stayed at three lodges in the area, Napo Wildlife Center, Sacha Lodg and La Selva. While each jungle lodge has its own unique style and claim to fame, they all offer their guests the major attractions, canopy viewing, jungle nature walks, canoe rides, a village visit and an excursion to a parrot clay lick which depends upon particular weather conditions for the best viewing. No matter where you travel in the world, the guide is the most essential part of the experience. Each of the three lodges’ guides brought his own unique personality and strengths to my understanding of life in the jungle.

Jungle Boys

Remi: A member of the Anagu tribe, Remi was the youngest of my three guides. He is a native son and a local boy made good who happens to have family and friends in every port. Although Remi wears Western dress and no longer practices the native customs such as dart blowing, he still speaks the local dialect. His ability to interpret enhanced my encounter with the women of the Anagu Tribe Community Center Women's Coop.

Here are a few Kitchwa words that I added to my lexicon:
Parachu = thank you
Samchun = goodbye
Imasna kangee = How are you?
Benoyo Benjo = fermented wine
Riki = look

Jorge: To the finca born, Jorge hails from a well to do, educated family in Guayaquil. From a very young age, Jorge always felt an alien, “I am not from this planet”. Poet, artist, activist and philosopher , he lives for months at a time with the remote Yasuni tribe. In our many conversations about life on earth, he would frequently preface or end any discussion with “we humans...” In the Yasuni spirit, I went native and ate the live palm beetle larva under his guidance. Check out the video with Jorge lecturing on chicha , “jungle juice”. If you are having trouble viewing the video, you can view or download a copy of it here.

Paul: The biologist and photographer who deserves the title of head guide. He imparts his tremendous reservoir of jungle knowledge in such a manner that all his guests feel enlightened without being overwhelmed. Paul is a keen observer and astutely noticed that I who owned the exact same model of camera as him, was having difficulty operating my camera. Paul patiently explained that in order to capture that perfect shot, the automatic setting needs to be adjusted to accommodate the light!

I invite you to view the slide show and accompany me on my adventure in the Ecuadorian jungle sans the humidity and the mosquitos!

 

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Best of Ecuador 2015

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  Anagu Tribe Community Center Women's Coop
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  Anagu Tribe Community Center Women's Coop
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  A member of the Anagu tribe, Remi was the youngest of my three guides. He is a native son and a local boy who made good and has family and friends in every port. (see photos P110328-110452 ) Although Remi wears Western dress and no longer practices the native customs such as dart blowing, he still speaks the local dialect. His ability to interpret enhanced my encounter with the women of the Anagu Tribe Community Center Women's Coop.
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  Anagu Tribe Community Center Women's Coop
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  Anagu Tribe Community Center Women's Coop
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  Anagu Tribe Community Center Women's Coop
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  Anagu Tribe Community Center Women's Coop
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  Anagu Tribe Community Center Women's Coop
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  Anagu Tribe Community Center Women's Coop
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  Anagu Tribe Community Center Women's Coop
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  Napo Wildlife Center
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  Sacha Lodge
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  Jorge: To the finca born, Jorge hails from a well to do, educated family in Guayaquil. From a very young age, Jorge always felt an alien, “I am not from this planet”. Poet, artist, activist and philosopher , he lives for months at a time with the remote Yasuni tribe. In our many conversations about life on earth, he would frequently preface or end any discussion with “we humans...” In the Yasuni spirit, I went native and ate the live palm beetle larva under his guidance.
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  Jorge
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  Nancy going native. Eating a live Palm Beetle Larva - It's what's for lunch!
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  La Selva
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  Getting the perfect shot
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  Paul: The biologist and photographer who deserves the title of head guide. He imparts his tremendous reservoir of jungle knowledge in such a manner that all his guests feel enlightened without being overwhelmed. Paul is a keen observer and astutely noticed that I who owned the exact same model of camera as him, was having difficulty operating my camera. Paul patiently explained that in order to capture that perfect shot, the automatic setting needs to be adjusted to accommodate the light!
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