Ecuador Semester

New England to Ecuador: Early September

Immersed in the daily life of Kroka Village, we begin forming our community and settling in to our rhythms for work, learning, training, and play. Rising with the sun, we will work on the farm to harvest and preserve food for our journey. During the first week we emphasize community expectations and group formation to build a strong and resilient team, steeped in trust and compassion. We will also sew our own backpacks that will carry our gear later in the semester! All of these skills prepare us to meet the unknown that lies ahead with resilience and capacity for engagement. Packing our bags and waving goodbye to Kroka, we head to warmer climates where the peaks, rainforests and villages await us in South America.

Shaping our Dream Together: Finca Palugo, Ecuador

There is no place in the world quite like Ecuador. Based on a 3rd-generation organic farm in the Andean highlands, we are joined by our Ecuadorian teachers and immersed in a new climate and way of life.

With hearts wide open, Finca Palugo and its community will be part of welcoming and introducing us to the magic of the “Middle of the World!” These first days will be our grounding into a new land and culture. Learning about the history, geography and diversity of Ecuador, our days will be spent working on the farm and experiencing and learning its unique systems. We will live simply, cook our food by the fire and enjoy being on the Finca. The final days of this block will be spent packing and preparing for the journeys that lie ahead.

NORTH: Cultural Immersion, Spanish and Adventure

We will depart from the Finca on fully-loaded mountain bikes heading North through villages and mountain landscapes. In a few days we arrive at our next destination: San Clemente Village.

Nestled on the cold Northern slopes of Imbabura Mountain, the indigenous village of San Clemente has been practicing traditional Andean agriculture and artisanal craftwork for thousands of years. Immersed in the daily life of the village, we will each experience life in the home of our host family where we will participate in the daily household chores and rhythms while speaking Spanish daily with our hosts.

Each day will include a rhythm of morning Spanish classes, afternoon mingas (“work party” in Quichua), and treks to explore the surrounding peaks. We will learn about seasonal planting rhythms and life cycles of traditional crops, practice embroidery, and learn to cook and enjoy simple Andean cuisine. As our bodies grow stronger and our sense of community deeper, we will say goodbye to our host community, tune and prepare our bikes and set off.

This second leg of our biking expedition takes us through the beauty of the Paramo highland ecosystem and its importance to Ecuadorian culture. Riding through pajonales, highland grass landscapes, and thermal waters we eventually find our way back to Palugo farm.

EAST: Avispero Reserve, Rainforest Culture and River Adventure.

A two hour bus ride will take us across the eastern Andean Cordillera and into the Amazon basin. Our first stop will be at the Avispero Rainforest Reserve, where the Palugo family has been dedicated to creating a symbiotic relationship in the forest. This introduction in to the Amazon region provides a space for us to truly live in the forest, understand its unique rhythms and ecosystem. Nestled on the banks of the Quijos river, we will develop river reading skills and learn the dynamics and hydrology of Amazonian waters in preparation for our next leg.

Next, we will venture further into the jungle, towards the powerful Arajuno River where we will practice and deepen our river skills as we descend down its rapids by kayaks, “gnus” and rafts until we reach the Calapucha family in the indigenous village of Shiwakocha. Living amongst this Kichwa family, we will deepen our understanding of Kichwa culture and their way of life in the tropical rainforest.