Useful information

IMPORTANT TIPS

• Remember that you are guests of a very different culture. Some of their traditions may appear quite odd to you, but it does not mean that you are in a position to criticize them. Please follow the rules imposed by the communities and respectfully try to learn about these extraordinary cultures.
• Be careful with photographs or video recordings. Ask your local guide first if it is possible to take photographs or video recordings of the communities. Avoid close up shots, and never remunerate people with money for a photograph.
• The Indigenous people are very pleased when you buy their handicrafts. They have a fixed price, which is similar in each community. You can also exchange some of your personal items (flashlights, batteries, etc.) for handicrafts if they are interested in doing so.
• Please do not buy handicrafts made of feathers, animal skins insects, or other parts of wild animals.
• Avoid any physical contact with members of the communities.
• Please do not give money, presents, or sweets to the children. If you have educational material (pens, note-books, colored pencils, etc.) that you would like to donate, please give them to the school manager. This person is in charge of distributing materials to the different schools of the area.
• Please do not enter a house without an invitation.
• The locals are very jealous. If you are a man, you should never look directly at a woman's face.
• Remember that some indigenous tribe's houses have a male-female division. Please do not go into the female area.
• Chicha, the manioc beer, is always offered; refusing it might be considered an insult. If you do not like this drink, you should at least pretend to drink it.
• Drink plenty of liquids during your stay.
• Keep at least one set of dry clothes in the camp.
• Fishing is allowed (catch and then release the fish).
• Please do not take any animals or plants out of the area. Hunting is not permitted.
• Do not leave any trash in the forest. It is better if you pick it up and take it back to the camp, and then out of the reserve.
• Please do not use radio gear without personal headphones.
• Donations to the Indigenous Federations, or to the different sustainable projects or scientific researches can be coordinated through TerraDiversa. Never give money directly to individuals in the communities.
• If you would like to give tips at the end of your trip, we would recommend:
  • To your guide: US$10.oo to US$20.oo or about 10% of your program coast per passenger
  • To the staff that works in the lodge you can leave your tip in the tipping box if there is one. It will be divided amongst the personnel: US$10.oo to US$20.oo or about 10% of your program cost per passenger. Otherwise, one person in the group should coordinate it, by collecting the tips from the whole group, and then explaining to the staff that it should be divided among all personnel of the lodge. This will help to build a team spirit.

SAFETY RULES

1. Do not go out alone. The chances of getting lost are very high. During the hikes, never leave the trails and stay with the group at all times.
2. It is essential to wear rubber boots during the hikes.
3. When walking in the forest, check carefully where you are going to place your hand. Trees may have spines, ants, etc.
4. Don't put your hands in the water when the canoe is moving.
5. Smoke only in designated areas. Never smoke in the canoes or the huts.
6. Always give your hand to the guide when embarking or disembarking from the canoe.
7. Never stand-up whilst the canoe is moving.
8. Always wear a life vest whilst in the canoe.
9. Swimming in the rivers or lakes is permitted, but always ask your guide first if it is safe. Be aware that even though the rivers might seem very calm, the water currents are very strong, therefore it is highly recommended that you never swim alone.
10. Note that very small organisms live in the water, therefore tight swimming suits are recommended, especially if you are a woman.

Activities usually offered

• Hikes on the forest
• Trips on motorized canoes or dugouts
• Trips on paddling canoes and rafts
• Bird watching
• Caiman watching
• Visits to the local communities
• Fishing
• Night walks
• Blowgun practices

PROGRAM BRIEFINGS

• The programs for the following day will usually be explained by your guide at dinner time. If this does not seem to be usual practice, ask your guide for a briefing. This helps you to be better prepared, and to know what to expect for the following day.
• During the briefings you can also review your day with the guide, by going over a check list of what flora and fauna you have seen like birds, mammals, etc.

WHAT TO BRING

Since you will be traveling by different type of transport (airplanes, buses, canoes), it is imperative to limit your luggage to the basic minimum as listed below -list for a 7 days trip-. Unnecessary luggage can be stored in your city hotel. It is also better to travel with backpacks instead of suitcases.

It is important to remember that everything should be put inside dry bags -or good plastic garbage bags-

Luggage

• One large backpack or one duffel bag
• One small daypack

Clothing

• 3 lightweight cotton -or other fast drying material- long pants. Avoid blue jeans
• 4 or 5 long-sleeved cotton shirts
• 1 pair of knee-high cotton socks for each day in the rainforest.
• Underwear (avoid synthetics).
• Shorts
• 1 light windbreaker
• 1 light sweater or jacket
• Sunhat with brim
• 1 waterproof poncho (available in some lodges) or a waterproof parka
• Bathing suit
• Sunglasses with a strap

Footgear

• 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes
• 1 pair of thongs or Tevas
• 1 pair of rubber boots (available in most lodges)

Medicine

• Extra eye glasses/contact lenses
• Sun block lotion (at least protection 8)
• Insect repellent
• Toilet kit
• Personal first aid kit
• Antimalaria pills
• Tampons or sanitary napkins

Equipment

• Plastic water bottle
• Flashlight (headlamp models are better)
• Alkaline batteries
• Self-sealing plastic bags
• Dry bags (available in some lodge)
• Swiss Army knife
• Reading material (available in some lodges)
• Small notebook and pencil
• Personal sewing kit
• Snacks: chocolates, candies, etc.

Cameras and binoculars

• Camera gear
• High-speed films or fine-grain, high resolution and relatively slow color transparency (the latter one to be used with an electronic flash)
• Binoculars. This is an essential item, even if you are not a birdwatcher. The best ones are the waterproof models with high light transmission. An excellent size: 10 X 40
• Films

WHAT TO wear for day excursions

• Rubber boots for the hikes are mandatory
• Day pack
• Wear long trousers and avoid shorts
• Long sleeve shirts
• Insect repellent
• Sun protection
• Rain poncho
• Sun hat or cap. • A bottle of water. • Binoculars • Camera • Flash Light

RECOMMENDED READING

Amazonia

TROPICAL NATURE. Forsyth, Adrian; Miyata, Ken. Macmillan, 1984. The best introductory book for the layman. A NEOTROPICAL COMPANION. Kricher, Jhon C. Princeton University Press, 1989. KEY ENVIRONMENT AMAZONIA. Prance, G.; Lovejoy, T., Ed., Pergamon Press, 1995. Excellent book; quite technical.

Anthropology

AMAZON WORLD´S, Peoples and Cultures of Ecuador´s Amazon Region. Noemi Paymal, Catalina Sosa. Sinchi Sacha Foundation. 1993. SHAMANISM: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy. Eliade, Mircea. Penguin Books, 1989.

Wildlife

BIRDS OF COLOMBIA, Hilty, Steven L., Brown William. Princeton University Press. 1986. The best available field guide. THE BIRDS OF ECUADOR. Greenfield, Paul, et al., CECIA, 1990. Excellent checklist for birders. COMMON BIRDS OF AMAZONIAN ECUADOR, A GUIDE FOR THE WIDE-EYED ECOTOURIST. Chris Canaday & Lou Jost. Ediciones Libri Mundi. 1997. NEOTROPICAL RAINFOREST MAMMALS. Emmons, Louise H., The University of Chicago Press. 1990 A FIELD GUIDE OF THE FAMILIES AND GENERA OF WOODY PLANTS OF NORTH-WEST SOUTH AMERICA. Gentry, Alwyn, H., Conservation International, 1993. Excellent field guide. Not for the lay man.