Why traveling on this Reality Tour is Special

As you can imagine the Esmeraldas jungle (forest) is beautiful and immense. South American Secrets is one of the few socially conscious companies to lead tours into this part of Ecuador. There are many Ecuadorians who will never have the chance to see this incredible part of their own country. If we can't revers the deforestation soon our children and our children's children will not have the chance to see the jungle's majesty or the animals and eco-system it habitats. The Forest is very isolated and feels like a place you would find in Africa. The Afro-Ecuadorian dialect of Spanish still uses many African words, If you close your eyes and listen to the Afro-Ecuadorian speak you will think you are in Africa. It is difficult to say exactly what percent of the population the Afro-Ecuadorians really make-up in Ecuador. Some studies say three percent and other studies say as much as thirty percent. I would argue it is between seven to ten percent. These communities have been so marginalized it is very difficult to get a real accurate census of the Afro-Ecuadorian population. More than accuracy the Ecuadorian government for many years have demonstrated an incredible lack of interest in the culture and infrastructure of these communities.

While their roads, bridges, and infrastructure have been abandoned, their pride, intelligence, and culture remain a sight to see. They are truly South American Secrets' greatest secret. We encourage anyone who would like to see a different world full of nature, music, passion and hope, they should join us on our next trip into the jungle. Those who travel with us on the tour become part of a larger story and a part of a world not every one will see.

About the Roll the Afro-ecuadorian Students have on the Reality Tours

As I have already expressed the tours are about the people.  The students are our educators, our liaisons to the communities, and the ambassadors to their people in the jungle.  It is the South American Secrets afro-ecuadorian students who benefit from the proceeds of the tour.  Every cent raised goes to the students and the communities.  No fee or payment goes to the guides or to South American Secrets.  Over the next few days I will be making new blog postings that go into the background and studies of each of our students.  

About the Esmeraldes Forrest

The Esmeraldas forest is the largest forest or jungle in Ecuador outside of the Amazon. It is also shrinking faster than any other forest in South America. The forest starts in Ecuador and goes right into Colombia. It is full with life. The various communities are connected via rivers that all flow down into the Pacific. The agriculture is as abundant as it is varied in ecological micro-climates. The Esmeraldas forest is the last substantial forest left in Ecuador. All other forests in Ecuador have been destroyed and for this it is important we see its importance and protect it.

About the People in the Jungle

The People in the Esmeraldas Forest are the Chachi , Awa, and the Afro-Ecuadorians. Chachi is a tribe of indigenous Ecuadorians as are the Awa. The Afro Ecuadorians came to Ecuador during the slave trade. It is said a couple of ships capsized and the slaves were able to escape by swimming to shore and running into the jungle. They were permitted to stay in the jungle by the Awa and Chachi. The indigenous communities gave them an area of the jungle to hide and live in and in exchange the then African slaves taught the indigenous the military tactics and weaponry of the Spaniards. With this unified front only the Esmeraldas forest remained unconquered by the Spaniards while the rest of Ecuador fell under spanish rule.

The Good and the Bad

Let's start with the good: the Reality Tour exposes interested travelers to many many different sub-cultures, micro-climates and traditions. Ecuador is an extremely diverse country. It is one of 17 megadiverse countries in the world. In one small area about the size of Colorado you have the Coast, the Andes, and the Jungle. Every few hours of travel you are going into a new world. We enjoy all three of these different regions and micro climates. The tour is called a Reality Tour for a reason, it is designed to be educational. The tour exposes the traveler to sociological, anthropological, ecological, and historical aspects to how globalization has effected the jungle and the people in the jungle. How their customs have changed as the forest life has changed. Most importantly the tour shows the travelers how our own global resources are effected by the negative changes to the forest. We see first hand what the rest of the world only reads about. It puts things in perspective, everyone leaves this tour with much more knowledge than they could have received in a semester of college. Meanwhile 100% of the money the tourist pay to go on this trip goes to the varies communities the travelers visit. Each traveler’s fee pays for one Afro-ecuadorian student to study for a year. All the students are working on graduate or post-graduate studies. The fee is 100% tax deductible. South American Secrets does not take any payment for guiding the tours. It is our mission to expose as many people to this region with the hopes exposure will protect its treasures. We the guides do not take a fee, our mission is to expose the beauty and realty of the jungle to those who would care for it.

Now the bad: In the Jungle, travelers have their comfort levels tested. By no means could we rate the accommodations with stars. If you are a traveler who likes adventure, and you want to test yourself, see a world you can't find outside of the jungle, this trip is for you. If your idea of fun is a vacation in fancy hotels and cocktails on the side of a pool, then this trip is not for you, this trip is more of an educational adventure, not a vacation.

It is important our would be travelers understand there is no communication to the outside world. No phones and no cell phone reception. There is no running water, most people bath in the rivers. Generally there are bathrooms but waste is washed down by pouring buckets of water in toilets. In many places the nearest hospital is 8 hours away form us. Some of what we see is very sad, parts of the Jungle are being cut down, and industries are coming in and poising the land and the waterways. We see first hand the loggers who are doing this and what it is doing to the communities. I would also recommend children under the ages of 12 and seniors with major medical conditions not think about making this trip. All would be travelers should consult their doctors before joining South American Secrets on the Reality Tour.

Things you need to know and do before traveling

1 Check your passport to see that it has more than six months left on it from the date you return from your trip.

2 Consult your doctor about the shots you may need.  As well as choose the type of Marla pills you want to bring.

3 Bring Small denominations of american dollars.  We recommend $100 in ones, $100 in fives, One hundred in tens, and $100 in twenties.  (ecuador uses the american dollar for their currency)

4 Remember to save $45 for the ecuadorian airport exit tax when you are flying home.

5 If you bring a credit card, inform your credit card company you may use it outside of the US.  (many restaurants hotels and shops do except visa, and master card.  Few except American Express, most recongonized credit card in Ecuador is Diners.)

6 If you should decide to bring travelers checks, you need to know there is a fee for cashing them in.  Many places do not take them.

7 Check South American Secrets packing list (see tours)

8 Bring Handy-wipes and or anti-bacteria soap.

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