Numbering less than a thousand, the Cofán people maintain today a largely traditional lifestyle whilst adapting to the pressures of modern life. The Zábalo community, for example, under the leadership of Randy Borman, migrated down the Rio Aguarico partly to escape the encroachment of the oil industry.
With a territory of more than 10,000 hectares of virgin rainforest, Zábalo in conjunction with Surtrek Tour Opoerator has established the following Ecotourism programmes. These provide income, which better enable the Cofán to defend their culture and their environment. The Cofán community of Zábalo migrated down-river about two decades ago to escape the devastating impacts of Texaco's incursion into their territory in the upper Aguarico. Imuya survives today in its pristine condition largely due to the Cofán people, whose resistance, in alliance with Surtrek Tour Operator and other environmentalists in 1993, halted the oil industry's attempts to explore for oil in the area.
It was following the campaign for Imuya that Ecuador's president made a historic decree protecting Imuya from oil exploration because of its enormous ecological fragility and diversity, which also made it a potential destination for Ecotourism.
Amazonian Ecosystems: If you think the Amazon Basin is one vast uniform environment with no variation in climate, soil, forest composition and rainfall, you are in for quite a surprise! Your guide will introduce you to the three main types of ecosystem that are to be found in the area. This programme also gives you a brief look at some of our community projects. If you are looking for a good overview of what the Amazonia is all about and are working with a limited time frame, this is your best option.
Itinerary:
Day 01: Quito - Lago Agrio - Chiritza - Zábalo.
In the morning you will depart from Quito by plane to Lago Agrio. There you will be picked up and taken to Chiritza at the edge of the Aguarico River. Here you will eat. Then you will continue in canoe about 4 hours until you will reach the comunity of Zabalo. You will arrive in the late afternoon. You will enjoy an excellent meal and unwinding in the thatched cabins, which will be your home for the next five nights. Your guide will explain the itinerary and answer any questions you may have. -/L/D
Day 02: The Zábalo River
After breakfast you will navigate by motor canoe on the River Zabalo. On the way you can observe the flora and fauna. You can see monkeys, pink river dolphins and excotic birds like parrots. Box lunch on route. In the afternoon you will return to the lodge and have the possiblity to take a bath in the Aguarico. Dinner and overnight. B/L/D
Day 03: Hike through the rainforest
Today after breakfast you will take a walk through the jungle through terra firme (hill forest). The native guide will explain to you for which the different plants are used: the wood that helps them building their homes, canoes and the hunting weapons; the use of the plants for medicin and the fruits as their nutrition. Dinner and overnight. B/L/D
Day 04: Flood Plain Forest
Today you will head for the flood plain forest, a complete different ecosistem with its own biodiversity. Trees and plants are taller than in the hill forest dominated by palms and trees like the fabaceas. Its the home to caimans, prianhas, anacondas and many other reptiles and anphibian. Dinner and overnight. B/L/D
Day 05: Time to explore the surrounding on your own
This is the day, which you can plan yourself. You can put in your own ideas: maybe you fancy a ride in a small dugout canoe, or perhaps you would rather try your luck at fishing up-river, or who knows, even keep on hiking. Dinner and overnight. B/L/D
Day 06: Back to Quito
All good things come to an end, and today you will have to head back to Quito. However, we hope you will take with you a deeper appreciation of both the fragile ecosystem of the rainforest and its people, not to mention memories of a unique and wonderful adventure. B/-/-
Today after breakfast you will take a walk through the jungle through terra firme (hill forest). The native guide will explain to you for which the different plants are used: the wood that helps them building their homes, canoes and the hunting weapons; the use of the plants for medicin and the fruits as their nutrition. Dinner and overnight. B/L/D
