Please pardon the off-topic post, but I'm trying to find some info and felt that perhaps some of you could help.

My college-age son is planning to spend a month living with the Shuar tribe at the Arutam Rainforest Reserve in southeastern Ecuador. He will be teaching English and helping with some construction projects working through a group called Fundecoipa.

Anyone heard of this group or have any info on that region of Ecuador that I need to know. Issues around malaria, etc, that he needs to be prepared for?

Thanks for any help...as you can tell, I'm somewhat anxious about his decision.

........Keith

I don't know about that region.
I only know that Ecuador has had 8 presidents in the last 10 years, 40% of poverty, deep social problems and right now is changing their Constitution to go in the same road that Chaves and Morales.

I see problems there in the near future, just take a look at what is going in Venezuela and Bolivia.

A new gorilla for our South American countries....

L

Maybe someone has hunted in Ecuador and can share his experiences?

If I recall correctly the "Shuar" are also known as the "Jivaro," a tribe known for being able to reduce your hat size from a 8 to a 3. I'd check this out with some care.

I'm not sure how much use it would be, but a personal GPS EPIRB might not be a bad idea for him. I think Breitling even makes a watch w. one built in.

Yes, the Shuar were also called Jivaro and they were noted for their "headshrinking" up until the 1960's. Today they supposedly only shrink sloth heads. This was also the most warlike tribe in South America and the only one, according to what I have read, never to be conquered.

He will be living with a tribe that is trying to develop their natural resources for "ecotourism". He will be teaching english and working in the Aurtam Rainforest Reserve on some restoration projects. He will live with a family for one month during the summer.

Should be an interesting experience for him.

JKeith,

I worked in Ecuador for 4 months in 2005, guiding whitewater trips on both sides of the Andes and was primarily based out of Tena (one of the three main Amazon towns).

I don't know the place he is going but can offer you this:

1) The tourism industry is vibrant. There are MANY foreigners there, quite a few permanently (lots from the US). We hosted lots of young group travelers in the 18-25 range who were on organized learn/volunteer/work trips for a few months.
Counties with growing tourism industries are typically seen as being quite safe in my expereince!!!

2) Crime - it exists, especially in bigger cities but like many other places, avoidable. Most of the incidents with foreigners in Quito for example are after midnight, around the bar strips, invloving drunkness etc...Just don't leave bags unattended and pick pocketing can be common, although I never experience anything like this at all, nor did anyone around me.

3) Look for South American Explorers Club website here and join them for $50. They have a great clubhouse in Quito and reps elsewhere in Ecuador. They have a MINE (really impressive amount!!) of info for travellers, will receive mail for members and allow you to store gear and luggage there for up to to a year, you can drink coffe there, hang out, read, meet people etc! Most paddlers and mountaineers use it as an urban base.

4) People are friendly and helpful, but English outside the cities is not common at all.

5) re-emphasize, there are LOTS of young backpackers there and other tourists, getting around on busses is dead easy and cheap. If your son has his head about him and doesn't venture into dodogy places at night alone in bigger centres, he will be fine. You see groups of girls travelling by themselves, their biggest annoyance being cat calls and whistles from men!

If he is going with an organized group, even easier.
Many young travellers do volunteer work in the jungle.

My advice, get hold of South American Explorers Club and ask them.

yes, they have had 8 presidents in 10 years, there were demonstrations to oust Lucio when I was there, but nothing too crazy at all....let him have some adventure, modern western youth need it!! He'll appreciate it and you for letting him go! (I mean that not in any 'preachy' way as I don't know you or your son, just my 0.02c)

Hope this helped!
Cheers

I greatly appreciate that information. I'm feeling a little more at ease about his adventure. I do wish he were traveling with someone, but feel that once he has made it from Quito to the village he will be living in that things will be fine. I am going to insist he travel with a Sat phone...maybe being an over protective dad, but I'd feel better know he had a means of communication if he needs it.

Again, I appreciate what you have said.

........Keith

Christ, can't you convince him to go and do nice things in some other place, say Monte Carlo?? It would be much nicer. As far as teaching then English, I don't know. The bulk of these people cling to Spanish and there is no convincing them that English is the language of the business world.