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Study near Tena in the Jungle!
With Vida Verde & Amarongachi Tours
The Vida Verde Spanish Center has partnered with Amarongachi Tours to bring you this innovative
"Study in the Jungle" program. Amarongachi Tours is a woman-owned business (owned and operated
by Ecuadorian Patricia Corral) whose tours have been recommended by the Lonely Planet, the South
American Handbook, "Le Guide du Routard", and by members of the South American Explorers
(www.saexplorers.org). Amarongachi Tours provide excellent multi-day trips which have been designed
in the true spirit of eco-tourism: tourism that contributes in a positive way to the local
inhabitants and economy, while at the same time minimizing impacts on the environment. Check out some photos of this trip here.
Program Philosophy
We designed both our Study in the Jungle and Study on the Coast programs as a way for students to both
study Spanish AND participate in responsible eco-tourism at the same time. By creating the Study in the Jungle
program option, we have found a richly rewarding and remarkably inexpensive way for students to
experience the Amazon region of Ecuador while taking Spanish classes.
Professors from the school accompany students to serve as teachers and to coordinate activities. Students receive lessons
for 3-4 hours per day and use the remainder of time outside of class for exploration in the form of
hikes, outings, and organized activities.
This 6-day/5-night program takes place in a region of lush, primary tropical rainforest located
on the Jatunyacu and Anzu Rivers in the upper Amazon Basin, approximately 20 kilometers from the
town of Tena. The first part of the trip is spent in the area of Amarongachi on the Jatunyacu
River and the other half at the Shangri La cabaņas on the Anzu River (both are part of
Amarongachi Tours). Amarongachi is the name of one of the local communities and
means "salt of the boa" in the native language (Quichua). The area was so named for the salt
deposits found along the banks of the Jatunyacu river that attract a variety of wildlife,
including boas.
While participating in this program you will have the opportunity to:
Spend 18 hours studying Spanish;
Experience the flora and fauna of the rainforest;
Learn about traditional medicinal plants;
Meet a local indigenous family;
Go tubing down a jungle river;
Pan for gold; and
Swim under a cascading waterfall.
Who Can Participate?
The Study in the Jungle program is open to all students registered at the Vida Verde Spanish
Center. To insure that students get the most out of their visit, we recommend that students
complete at least 2 weeks of study in Quito, or have an intermediate level of Spanish from prior
study before participating in the jungle program.
Guides
Guides for the excursions during the week are Quichuas who were born and raised in this sector of
the rainforest and live in the local communities. No one knows this area of the rainforest
better than they do. Typically during the evenings, guides will tell stories and local history
to anyone and everyone who is interested. This is a fantastic way to both practice Spanish and
learn something about the local culture.
Meals and Lodging
Students are housed in simple wooden cabaņas constructed in traditional fashion with chonta frame
and thatch and bamboo roofs. Each cabaņa has 2 to 3 beds each equipped with mosquito netting.
At the Amarongachi cabaņas there is no electricity and candles provide lighting. The Shangri La
cabaņas are equipped with electric power.
One of the goals of the program is to introduce students to the types of foods typically eaten in
the Ecuadorian Amazon today. Principle staples include yuca (a tuber), platanos (a variety of
banana), rice, eggs, chicken, and fresh tropical fruits, depending on the season, including
papaya, mango, and naranjilla. The daily menu usually consists of a combination of
these staples plus other foods "imported" from Quito to provide variety.
Pricing- Jungle
Prices vary based on group size. A breakdown of the prices can be found if you click the pricing icon to the left. The listed prices include 3 meals per day, lodging, Spanish classes (4 days, 18 hours), round-trip
transport from Tena to cabaņas, and services of local expert guide. Price does NOT include
alcoholic beverages, soft drinks or tips.
Tipping of guides and staff is customary, but not required.
General Itinerary
A generalized itinerary for the program is given below. Please, remember that activities and schedules are subject to change based on student interest and/or weather conditions.
Sunday:
| 8:00 a.m. | Depart Quito on bus from Terminal Terrestre |
| 1:30 p.m. | Arrive in Tena. Lunch at "Cositas Ricas" restaurant. |
| 2:30 p.m. | Depart in pick-up truck to Amarongachi cabaņas. |
| 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Arrive and settle into cabaņas. After resting, we go on a walk where our guide discusses the traditional uses and properties of some of the medicinal plants found along the trail. |
| Evening | Dinner. |
Monday:
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Class |
| 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| Afternoon: | Hike to a small lagoon in the middle of the forest.
Wonderful scenery and a refreshing swim in crystal clear water. Return to cabaņas either in canoe or "tubing" in the Jatunyacu River. |
| 7:00 p.m. | Dinner |
Tuesday:
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Class |
| 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 2:00-6:00 p.m. | Primary rainforest hike. Hike ascends along small tributary to a waterfall.
Refreshing swim possible in basin at waterfall base. Continue ascent to 2 additional waterfalls, each different than the last. Return to cabaņas via path through primary rainforest. Guide provides explanation of rainforest ecosystem, flora and fauna found along the way.
Obligatory Tarzan swing on hanging vines. Hike traverses hilly terrain and
is moderately strenuous. Hike along tributary can be slippery. Expect to get thoroughly wet on this hike! |
| 5:00-6:00 p.m. | Dinner |
| 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Travel in pick-up truck by night to Shangri La cabaņas on the Anzu River for the second half of the adventure. |
Wednesday:
| Early morning | Awake at Shangri La cabaņas which are situated at the top of
a steep cliff. Students step out their door to a breathtaking view of the Rio Anzu and surrounding
rainforest some 100 meters below. In the early morning hours, it's possible to observe macaws who come to lick salt
from nearby rocks. On clear days, one can observe volcanoes in the distance including El Sangay, Los Altares, and Tungurahua. |
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:30-12:30 | After breakfast, a morning hike in primary rainforest to a series of
jungle canyons. Along the way, there are good opportunities for viewing wildlife including
butterflys, bats, migratory birds, insects, and wildflowers. |
| 12:30-1:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 2:00-6:30 p.m. | Class |
| 7:00 p.m. | Dinner |
Thursday:
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:30-1:00 p.m. | Class |
| 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 2:00-5:30 p.m. | Rafting trip. Travel upriver in pick-up truck and then float back down in inner tubes.
Trip is "tranquilo" (no raging rapids) and takes approximately 1.5 hours. Along the way, we make
a stop at a small village and visit with a local family. Explanation of typical foods, agriculture, and home construction.
Students also have the opportunity to try "chicha", a staple beverage made from fermented yuca. |
| 7:00 p.m. | Dinner |
| Evening: | Closing dinner |
Friday:
| 7:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 7:45 a.m. | Depart Shangri La and return to Quito. |
What to Bring
As you would expect, the jungle is hot, humid, and rainy. Therefore, light clothing that dries
quickly is recommended (synthetic materials typically perform better than cotton in this regard).
ORIGINAL PASSPORT! (There is a security checkpoint en route and they do not accept copies!)
Shorts and long pants (avoid cotton jeans if possible)
T-shirts and long-sleeved shirts
Raincoat or poncho
Bathing suit
Insect repellent
Sunblock (VERY important)
Cap to protect head from sun
Flashlight
Binoculars for viewing wildlife (optional)
Trash bags for keeping things dry
We provide rubber boots (up to size 12 American, 44 European) and life jackets for tubing
Other Information
What is Primary Rainforest?
Primary forest refers to forest that has never been cleared or cut down for purposes such as
logging, agriculture, or settlement. Other names for primary forest include "virgin" forest
and "old-growth" forest. Forest that was once cleared and has grown back is referred to as
secondary forest. As one would expect, secondary forest typically has lower biodiversity than
primary. The hikes and excursions that you will participate in during the Study in the Jungle program
take place in primary rainforest.
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