Central & Southern Oriente - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 369

knowledge is extraordinary. This is the place to visit for a genuine
cultural experience.

The Federación deOrganizationes Indígenas , FOIN, on the east
bank of Río Pano, south of the footbridge,

6-886-614, organizes local
communities to provide ecocultural guiding services and jungle ex-
cursions. FOIN helped fund and coordinate these efforts through
RICANCIE (see page 363 and listing, below). FOIN can also recom-
mend guides for visits to local caves and petroglyphs. This is a good
option if youwant to support organized indigenous community efforts
for sustainable development, visit locals within their community, and
see their day-to-day lives.

Community-based ecotourism in at least nine Quichua communities
is offered by RICANCIE , an organization of Quichua communities -
see page 363. Visiting local communities and working with locally
trained guides is a great way to support their efforts and have a genu-
ine experience. Packages to visit the communities, which are east of
Tena toward Misahuallí, cost $60 per person per day, all-inclusive,
and should be arranged in Tena. Note that guides typically speak
Quichua and Spanish, but not often English. Contact them at 6-

887-072. They are located at Av. 15 de Noviembre 777, Tena; www.
eduweb.com/schaller/TourInfo.html.

Reportedly one of the best higher-priced community-based
ecotourism packages, including transportation, lodging, guide ser-
vices, and meals, is offered in conjunction with Yachana Lodge , lo-
cated two hours downriver from Misahuallí. Their Quito office is at
Baquedano 385 and Juan León Mera,

/
fax [phone], www.yachana.org, [e-mail]. Though I
haven't visited Yachana Lodge, I look forward to your feedback on the
lodge and its activities.

2-2566-035, 2-2503-275,

In Misahuallí, try Cruceros y Expediciones Dayuma , associated
with Hotel Dayuma (see page 372), or in Quito at

2-2564-924,
[e-mail]. Trips to their private reserve and cabañas are of-
fered, as well as extended trips farther out into the Oriente, starting
in Coca. Ecoselva (on the plaza in Misahualli, [e-mail]) is
also recommended for custom-length multi-day excursions with
knowledgeable guides.

Independent guides are plentiful in Misahuallí, and many are quite
good. The best ones are licensed and are often associated with a
Quito-based tour operator or a local community-based organization.