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Craig and Steph Explore the Cultures of Ecuador

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by: Stephanie & Craig Smith
We experience the varied local cultures of Ecuador, starting with a 5 night homestay with a family of Kichwa farmers in the highlands of Morochos. Then we spend three nights camping with the jungle-dwelling Kichwa Waira Churi family. During a three day paddle down the Shiripuno River, we learn about the Huaorani culture of the Amazon basin. We explore the jungle for two days at the Shiripuno Lodge with our Huaorani guide before heading back to Quito and continuing home.

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Craig and Steph Explore the Cultures of Ecuador

Want to go? Ecuador Adventure, Otavalo Market

I went to: Ecuador, Quito, Casa Aliso, Otavalo, Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve, Cotopaxi, Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Ecuador
Steph, Felipe, Maria, CraigBreakfast at Casa Aliso Pululahua CraterBalancing on the EquatorAt the EquatorGerardoLa Mitad del MundoLa Boca del Lobo, QuitoSurreal Painting, QuitoBlogging at Casa AlisoSeller at the Otavalo MarketWoman Weaves Tortora ReedsMaking a ZampoñaSteph models a woven wool shawl Weaver Jose Carlos de la Torre Weaver Jose Carlos de la Torre and his GranddaughterKehli and AidaAntonio practices with Inti ÑanChaski ÑanCasitaThe yard behind the casitaCayambe VolcanoLago MojandaLoago MojandaFelipe and Craig hiking Fuya FuyaLago MojandaCraig and Steph Climb Fuya FuyaSummiting Fuya FuyaFuya FuyaRosa and KehliDinner - Rosa, Craig, Felipe, Antonio, Aida, KehliFelipeKehliKehli and MaxEthnobotanical GardenFrog at Ethnobotanical GardenKehli and her wah wahAida and RosaCraig and Steph at Lake CuicochaAntonio shows us medicinal plants on the Cuicocha HikeCraig at Lake CuicochaCraig at Lake CuicochaCraig at Lake CuicochaCotacachiFuya Fuya at sunsetAntonio teaches Felipe to play the fluteAida and KehliAida, Rosa, and KehliRosa, Kehli, Craig, Steph, and AidaHummingbirds at Guango LodgeHummingbird at Guango LodgeHummingbird at Guango LodgeCarlos harvests a palm treeCarlos isolates the heart of palmBamboo HutTamia takes Tony for a walkSnail (to scale)Michael holds a kittenFelipe eats dinner with the Waira ChurisLorena the parrot checks out Felipe's cameraCarlosCarlos lights natural copal incenseWaterfallIsrael plays frisbee with CraigWeaving demonstrationsAnna and SachaSteph's injured fingersCraig cleans the laundryEdmundo paints Craig's faceCarlos sets a trapSteph shoots a blow dartCarlos prepares arrows for the blow gunCarlos and MariaCarlos serenades usOur Kichwa wedding re-enactmentCraig drinks the ceremonial drinkCarlos prepares for the ceremonyIsrael, Sacha, Vanessa, Jennifer, and puppy TonyPreparing the kayak gearÑame and Arturo prepare dinner on the beachBeach campsite on the ShiripunoSteph goes tribalOur tent on the beachForest campsiteArturo cooks diinner at our forest campÑame prepares dinnerDinner at the forest campShiripuno LodgeDinner at Shiripuno LodgeBreakfast at Shiripuno LodgeFelipe heading upriverCraig and Arturo on the Mirador hikeFelipe on the Mirador hikeÑame shows us a curare vineCeiba seed podView from MiradorRed palm leavesSpiderThe latest in green accessoriesLeaf cutter antsLeaf cutter antsGato Negro MerlotShiripuno Lodge common areaOur room at Shiripuno LodgeSteph's fishCraig in a Shiripuno Lodge hammockCayman watchScorpionSpiderLeaving Shiripuno LodgeTired crewHuaorani womenHuaorani girlHuaorani womanKaruway shoots a blow dartHuaorani childÑame's familySnake in the roadMacaws in the dumpster at Hotel El AucaFelipe, Craig, Steph, Arturo, and ÑameFlight from Coca to QuitoSteph enjoys a pina colada at Clancy'sFlight from Quito to MiamiCasa AlisoFelipe and Antonio on the Fuya Fuya hikeSteph hiking Fuya FuyaLago MojandaTaita Manuel Flores the ShamanTaita Manuel Flores the ShamanTaita Manuel Flores the ShamanLago CuicochaLago CuicochaLago Cuicocha HikeHiking to the waterfallRiver crossing at the waterfall hikeKayaking the ShiripunoFelipe mans the supply boatArturo and Ñame kayaking at sunsetKayaking the Shiripuno, approaching a Huaorani village Arturo and some Huaorani stow-awaysCraig kayaking the ShiripunoKayaking the ShiripunoFelipe kicks back in his kayakÑame prepares lunchLunch on the beachSetting up camp in the forestArturo with a turtleCaymanÑame and Felipe inspect an injured turtleBreakfast on the beachDwarfed by a huge ceiba treeLunchWelcome to Shiripuno Lodge

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