2018 TRIP
January 12th: We will access the rainforest from this town, so all our trips into the forest will start here. We get to this town around 6 pm on January 12th.
January 13th: Cajas National Park and environs
January 14th: Ingapirca Ruins
January 15th: Rest. Fly out at 8:15pm. Get to Quito at 9:10pm. Depart a little after midnight and get to JFK on the morning of Jan16th.
The following videos provide some background info on the issues to be covered (watch and reflect on all of them). Same for the readings posted below the photos.
1. To live in Cuenca, Ecuador - Cuenca is a popular destination for US retirees.
2. Documenting life in Yasuni National Park (5 mins) - this park is threatened by the oil industry's exploration and prospecting efforts.
3. Conflict between oil companies and native tribes in the Amazon jungle (10 mins)
4. Amazon deforestation (7 mins) - this is based on Brazil, but the same pressures exist in Ecuador.
5. Chevron hidden tapes (6 mins) and the case against Chevron in the pollution of the Ecuador rainforest (15 mins).
Cuenca Hotel: Morenica del Rosario, Gran Colombia 1065 Entre General Torres, Cuenca, Azuay, 010150 Ecuador
Closest hospital: Hospital Universitario del Río, y Av., Avenida de Las Americas, Cuenca, Ecuador, Phone:+593 7-245-9555
Attorneys: Idrovo & Velastegui Attorneys at Law, Luis Cordero 6-41 and Presidente Cordova, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador, Phone: Office: 593-7-2842225 / Cell: 099-611-0451
Consulate General of the United States: U.S. Consulate General, Calle Santa Ana y Av. José Rodriguez Bonin, Guayaquil, Ecuador, Phone: From abroad: 593-4-371-7000, From other Ecuadorian Provinces: (04) 371-7000, From Guayaquil and other cities within the Province of Guayas: 371-7000
Closest hospital: Hospital Universitario del Río, y Av., Avenida de Las Americas, Cuenca, Ecuador, Phone:+593 7-245-9555
Attorneys: Idrovo & Velastegui Attorneys at Law, Luis Cordero 6-41 and Presidente Cordova, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador, Phone: Office: 593-7-2842225 / Cell: 099-611-0451
Consulate General of the United States: U.S. Consulate General, Calle Santa Ana y Av. José Rodriguez Bonin, Guayaquil, Ecuador, Phone: From abroad: 593-4-371-7000, From other Ecuadorian Provinces: (04) 371-7000, From Guayaquil and other cities within the Province of Guayas: 371-7000
2020 TRIP (CUENCA, ANDES AND AMAZON COMPONENT)
1/8/20 ~ Check out of the Grand Hotel. We will end the day in Cuenca at the Victoria Hotel (~14,000 ft higher than Guayaquil).
Group activities: Cacao farm tour (we’ll make our own hot chocolate), boat and hiking tour of the Churute Mangroves Ecological Reserve, hiking tour of Cajas National Park.
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
1/9/20 ~ Group activities: Cuenca city tour, Panama Hat factory tour, Tomebamba tour, presentation about the impact of American expats in Cuenca by a local expert.
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
1/10/20 ~ Depart Cuenca for Saraguro. Check into Achick Wasy.
Group activities: Stop on the way to Saraguro look for condors, hiking and exploring the area while mingling with native Saraguro families.
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1/11/20 ~ Depart Saraguro for Zamora. Check into Jocotoco Foundation Lodge Copalinga.
Group activities: Hiking and hummingbird-watching at the lodge, presentation about local birds and ecotourism by a Jocotoco Foundation employee.
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1/12/20 ~ Group activities: Hiking at Podocarpus National Park, presentation on environmental issues in the park by a local expert (TBD).
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1/13/20 ~ Depart Zamora for Mindo (early—we’ll need to leave at 4AM to catch our flight to Quito, from which we’ll drive to Mindo). Check into Sachatamia Lodge (or similar).
Group activities: Visit Mitad Del Mundo, hike in Mindo, go tubing/ziplining in Mindo (optional).
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
1/14/20 ~ Depart Mindo for Quito. Check into the Embassy Hotel.
Group activities: Explore Quito’s historic center, ride the Teleférico gondola, visit the Pacari chocolate factory headquarters, explore the historic markets, presentation on Ecuadorian volcanoes and how they impact Ecuadorian life by a local geologist.
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
1/8/20 ~ Check out of the Grand Hotel. We will end the day in Cuenca at the Victoria Hotel (~14,000 ft higher than Guayaquil).
Group activities: Cacao farm tour (we’ll make our own hot chocolate), boat and hiking tour of the Churute Mangroves Ecological Reserve, hiking tour of Cajas National Park.
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
1/9/20 ~ Group activities: Cuenca city tour, Panama Hat factory tour, Tomebamba tour, presentation about the impact of American expats in Cuenca by a local expert.
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
1/10/20 ~ Depart Cuenca for Saraguro. Check into Achick Wasy.
Group activities: Stop on the way to Saraguro look for condors, hiking and exploring the area while mingling with native Saraguro families.
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1/11/20 ~ Depart Saraguro for Zamora. Check into Jocotoco Foundation Lodge Copalinga.
Group activities: Hiking and hummingbird-watching at the lodge, presentation about local birds and ecotourism by a Jocotoco Foundation employee.
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1/12/20 ~ Group activities: Hiking at Podocarpus National Park, presentation on environmental issues in the park by a local expert (TBD).
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1/13/20 ~ Depart Zamora for Mindo (early—we’ll need to leave at 4AM to catch our flight to Quito, from which we’ll drive to Mindo). Check into Sachatamia Lodge (or similar).
Group activities: Visit Mitad Del Mundo, hike in Mindo, go tubing/ziplining in Mindo (optional).
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
1/14/20 ~ Depart Mindo for Quito. Check into the Embassy Hotel.
Group activities: Explore Quito’s historic center, ride the Teleférico gondola, visit the Pacari chocolate factory headquarters, explore the historic markets, presentation on Ecuadorian volcanoes and how they impact Ecuadorian life by a local geologist.
Evening presentation: TBD
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR THE CUENCA AREA
At the end of our Cuenca field tour, students will be able to:
1. Articulate the impact and effects of mining and oil exploration on the region
2. Discuss, in detail, the specific court cases involving Chevron in the area.
3. Describe the factors that are causing deforestation in the area and how they are being addressed
5. Discuss the specific impact of resource exploration on environmental quality and the local communities.
6. Describe the drivers behind loss of habitat and species extinction, and the role of international conventions (CITES) in addressing this.
ASSIGNED READINGS FOR THIS PART OF THE TRIP (Due Nov 22nd)
1. Effects of oil on human health (long paper).
2. Ecuadorian Court fines Chevron $17B for oil pollution (10 mins)
3. Chevron oil pollution in Ecuador (15 mins)
4. Texaco vs Indigenous people of Ecuador (10 mins)
5. Amazon Crude (100 mins) - OPTIONAL
6. Chevron vs. the Amazon (67 mins) - OPTIONAL
7. The tribes vs Chevron (Link TV, 28 mins) - OPTIONAL
8. A 25 year legal battle over oil pollution in Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest (13 mins) OPTIONAL
1. Effects of oil on human health (long paper).
2. Ecuadorian Court fines Chevron $17B for oil pollution (10 mins)
3. Chevron oil pollution in Ecuador (15 mins)
4. Texaco vs Indigenous people of Ecuador (10 mins)
5. Amazon Crude (100 mins) - OPTIONAL
6. Chevron vs. the Amazon (67 mins) - OPTIONAL
7. The tribes vs Chevron (Link TV, 28 mins) - OPTIONAL
8. A 25 year legal battle over oil pollution in Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest (13 mins) OPTIONAL
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