Tour Ecuador with Tree Monkeys!
We are returning to #Ecuador to provide updated equipment and training. Your donation provides resources for Indigenous peoples of Latin America guarding the regions' endangered forests. "Indigenous peoples of Latin America are by far the best guardians of the regions' forests..."-UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
Tree climbing is a skill used for generations within these communities. We respect their ancestral knowledge. Tree Monkey project provides equipment and training to evolve forest caretakers to climb taller trees, more safely. We are committed to three or more visits to each community. Our goal is to produce trainers within Indigenous communities to continue tree climbing for sustainable harvesting, forest stewardship, research, eco-tourism, and fun. Thank you for your donation and please let us know if you are interested in joining us on an eco tour.
Day One - Arrival
Ikala Hotel, Quito, Ecuador
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Tree Monkey Project welcomes you to Quito, Ecuador. We will check into the Ikala Hotel for a welcome dinner with traditional Ecuadorian food.
Day Two - Quito
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Our adventure begins with an informational meeting and orientation to being a Socially Conscious Participant.
10:30 AM Presentation by Esperanza Martinez
12:00 AM Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Quito
2:00 PM Lunch in Quito at an Ecuadorian food restaurant
3:00 PM Presentation on the importance of Indigenous culture for
addressing Global Warming and the spiritual importance of the Rainforest.
7:00 PM Optional Dinner together in Quito and overnight at Ikala Hotel
Day Three - Hotel Yutzos, Tena
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12:00 PM Arrive @ Hotel Yutzos in Tena and leave our luggage
1:00 PM Traditional Amazonian lunch meeting with our hosts Lady Tapuy from Tamia Yura and Benjamin Mamallacta from the Mamallacta clan, both of whom have participated in previous Tree Monkey Project workshops.
2:30 PM Presentation on the Tamia Yura projects by Lady Tapuy and Benjamin Mamallacta
4:00 PM Optional visit to the Botanical and Orchid Gardens / Caverns
6:00 PM Traditional dinner at Tamia Yura
8:00 PM Return to Hotel Yutzos.
Day Four - Tree Climbing
Forest Immersion
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This is a forest immersion day. You will have the opportunity to tree climb, swim in the river or enjoy a water fall.
8:00 AM Breakfast @ hotel
8:30 AM To Tamia Yura
9:00 AM Tree climbing withTree Monkey Project
1:00 PM Lunch in Tamia Yura
2:30 PM Continuation of tree climbing activities
6:30 PM Dinner in Tamia Yura or Tena
8:00 PM Return to Hotel Yutzos.
Day Five - Tree Climbing
Forest Immersion
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This a forest immersion day. You have the opportunity to tree climb or meet Don Vicente Mamallacta a Shaman(Yachak) of his community and learn more about the Amazon Kichwa culture, medicinal plants , shamanic ceremonies. Experience rainforest Kichwa art with the renowned artist Elias Mamallacta.
8:00 AM Breakfast @ the hotel
8:30 AM Departure into forest
9:00 AM Tree Climbing activities with Tree Monkey Project
1:00 PM Traditional lunch @ Tamia Yura
6:30 PM Goodbye Dinner in Tena with our hosts and friends.
Day Six - Don Miguel's Cabin
Secoya Territory
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7:00 AM Breakfast @ the hotel
8:00 AM Departure to San Pablo Secoya and Don Miguel’s cabin.
1:00 PM Lunch is on your own, we will stop in the City of Coca or Shushufindi for lunch.
2: 00 PM Back to the road towards San Pablo Secoya.
5:00 PM Approximate arrival at Don Miguel`s Cabin.
5:30 PM Meeting with with Luke Weiss and learn about the Ceibo Alliance and Amazon Frontline) .
Dinner and overnight in Secoya territory at Don Miguel’s Cabin.
Day Seven- Tree Climbing
Forest Immersion
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This is a forest immersion day. You will have the opportunity to tree climb, take a rainforest walk, and learn about medicinal plants.
7:00 AM Breakfast at Don Miguel’s
8:00 AM Tree climbing activities with Tree Monkey Project
12:30 AM Lunch @ Don Miguel’s
2:30 PM Continuation of tree climbing activities
7:00 PM Dinner and overnight in Secoya territory at Don Miguel’s Cabin.
Day Nine - Hospedage Termas de Papallact
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6:30 AM Breakfast
7:30 AM Depart Secoya territory for Papallacta’s hot springs
2:30 PM Lunch in Papallacta
3:00 PM Enjoy the relaxing hot springs in a paradisiac natural place
7:00 PM Dinner is on your own or we can make a group reservation and over night at Hospedaje Termas de Papallacta.
Day Eight - Tree Climbing
Forest Immersion
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This is a forest immersion day. You will have the opportunity to tree climb, take a rainforest walk, and learn about medicinal plants.
7:00 AM Breakfast at Don Miguel’s
8:00 AM Tree climbing activities with Tree Monkey Project
12:30 AM Lunch back at Don Miguel’s
2:30 PM Continuation of tree climbing activities
7:00 PM Dinner and overnight in Secoya territory at Don Miguel’s Cabin.
Day Ten - Ikala Hotel
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7:00 AM Breakfast
11:00AM Departure to Quito
12:30 PM Lunch break in Quito
2:00 PM Visit to the Capilla del Hombre (The Chapel of the Human Being). A museum with exquisite murals by the great Ecuadorian painter Oswaldo Guayasamin.
4:00 PM Back to Ikala Hotel
5:00 PM Wrap up meeting and feedback at the hotel
7:00 PM Celebration dinner for our last night together in Ecuador and overnight at the Ikala Hotel.
In the beginning...
In October of 2015 James Reed started our pilot project providing technical tree climbing training to families of the Kichwa and Secoya cultures within the Amazon forest of Ecuador. We are thankful to Lady, the secretary for conservation of the Tamia Yura property, where we held the first course for the Kichwa and to Jonathan Miller Weisberger, who guided, interpreted and assisted in our first climbing trainings. Click on an image below to experience the journey.
 Our journey beginsOur journey begins on the Amazon river. Water is life. |  Our guide navigatesIt takes a plane, automobile, boat, and mule to get there. |  Future climberA young member of the Kichwa community wants us to stop talking and start climbing. |
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 Thank You!Donations are essential to providing the equipment required for safe tree climbing. Thank you for your donation. |  Ladi welcomes us.Ladi, secretary for the conservation property, Tamia Yura, welcomes us. |  Attaching the rope to harnessSafety comes first. All climbers are checked and follow safety procedures. Photo taken during our 2014 training introduction. |
 Ascending into the treeA Kichwa man begins his first ascent during our 2014 introduction to tree climbing. |  Safety gear requiredA young Kichwa member tries on climbing gear. We provide and donate climbing gear to the community. |  Knot tying practiceThe Kichwa practicing knot tying during our 2015 training. |
 Secoya EldersElders understand the fine art of lounging, 45 feet up in the canopy during the 2015 Secoya training introduction. |  Captain Monkey trainsthe next generation of climbers. |  Knot tyingA Kichwa student utilizing her training in the field. |
 The Big ShotWe use this to get the rope in the tree. |  Kichwa women preppingWe require and provide safety gear for all climbers. |  The new viewA view from the canopy down to the crew. |
 Carlos gives a thumbs up to tree climbing.Carlos Cerda Grefa is using his skills to trim trees and help researchers from the local university. |  Walter preppingWe check all systems before ascending. |  Ladi enjoying the viewNature provides and soothes. |
 Benjamin and Carlos taking notesTree Monkey Project believes in sustainable training and strives to have local leaders become trainers. |  We made it!A happy climber is a successful day. |  2015 Graduation Photo |
 2016 Graduation Photo |  Generations of knowledgeWould you like to know more? Let us know if you are interested in an eco tour to Ecuador. |  Huge Cieba TreeIt is important to explore and respect the diversity of our forests. |
 Girlfriend KissesSonja displays the "Girlfriend Kisses" flower for us. Can you guess how it received the name? |  CichaAssistant Trainer, Jonathon Miller Weisberg, sips a bowl of chicha. It is good manners to finish the whole bowl in one sitting. |  YES!We are looking forward to returning in 2022. |
 Thank youYour donation directly benefits Indigenous climbers and the forests they protect. |
Tree Monkey Project is a fiscally sponsored project of MarinLink, a California nonprofit corporation exempt from federal tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service 20-0879422.
Tree Monkey Project
