Ecotourism & Adventure !
True ecotourism combines a love of nature and the environment, with a respect for local communities and their traditions. The Colibris invite visitors to enjoy a range of experiences from rural pursuits to adventures deep in the cloud forest.
VIDEO - Enjoy traditional rural pursuits like milking a cow - it´s not as easy as it looks!
Ecotourism
NATURE & ADVENTURE TOURISM
NATURE & ADVENTURE TOURISM
Visitors to Marianitas area can enjoy many natural activities, including hiking and swimming or rafting in local rivers. Marianitas is also a birder´s paradise - with over 300 species of tropical birds including toucans, parrots, many species of tropical tanagers, and over 20 local hummingbirds - the Colibris ´namesake´. Marianitas is only a few miles of the Mindo Important Bird Area, and the famous ´Nono´ birding road, and it is conveniently located close to a number of ecological reserves, including Maquipucuna, Santa Lucía, Tandayapa and Bellavista.
Local birding guides are available and visits can be arranged to these reserves and to nearby ´leks´ (mating grounds) of the famous ´gallo de la peña´ (Andean Cock of the Rock), and Club-winged and Golden Manakins. For a birdlist of the area, email: info@colibrisecuador.org
SPORTS & OTHER DIVERSIONS
Those with interests in sports can join with community members in frequent local games of fútbol (soccer), basketball and Ecuavoley (the local version of volleyball). There are also frequent community festivals and dances, to which all are invited!
RURAL PURSUITS & ´VOLUNTOURISM´
Visitors with interests in rural traditions have the opportunity to learn to milk a cow, ride a mule, make cheese, harvest bananas, mill and distill sugar cane, and many more traditional farming skills. Or learn how to make ´humitas´ (Ecuador´s version of tamales), ´tortillas de yuca´, ´llapingachos´ or other local culinary specialities.
All visitors to the Colibris are also welcome to participate as volunteers in community activities and projects - some popular options are helping to make necklaces and other natural crafts and planting native trees around the village.
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The Colibris are eager to share not only the beauty of their village and the surrounding cloud forest, but also their friendship. They look forward to meeting people from other parts of the world who share their dedication to community-based conservation.
For more information on homestays and ecotourism activities with the Colibris, please contact the Colibris at info@colibrisecuador.org
