* Foreign exchange rates are provided as a convinience only. The actual rate you pay may vary.
Description:
Rural Lodges
There are 16 rural lodges in different indigenous communities throughout the Cotacachi region. Constructed with traditional local materials, they are located right next to the indigenous families´ homes, providing both an authentic experience and sufficient privacy for the visitor.
The lodges are comfortable, each one with space for up to three people, a private bathroom with hot water, and a fireplace. Staying in one of the rural lodges is a unique opportunity to share in the daily traditions of your indigenous hosts, and to initiate an intercultural exchange.
The visitor can also participate in daily activities with their host family, including preparing food, working in the garden, and strolling through the community. It is quite possible to combine the rural homestay with different tour options offered by Runa Tupari.
Additionally, a member of the host family can guide visitors on a walk through their garden, explaining all the plants that more... they grow there and describing the properties, history, and uses for each one. Visitors will get to know specimens of roots and tubers, beans, chili peppers, pumpkins and squashes, corn, tree tomatoes, and quinoa, among other kinds of typical Andean fruits and vegetables.
Professional Native Guides
With the objective of creating new jobs in the county and offering an additional service to our clients, Runa Tupari Native Travel has trained 25 native guides who live within the local communities. The Ministry of Tourism, with the approval of the Ministry of the Environment, licenses these guides and thereby guarantees a quality service. The guides’ knowledge of the local culture and traditions will give additional value and insight to your visit to the Cotacachi region.
Tours and trekking
In addition to accommodation in rural lodges Runa Tupari provides a wide range of tours and treks which offer a mixture of cultural, natural and adventure experiences.
The trips last from one to four days with the objective of satisfying the needs and interests of the tourists through our program of rural tourism with indigenous identity. Runa Tupari guarantees a quality service, authenticity of the host families in the rural lodges, professional native indigenous guides, as well as food and transport.
Amenities
Courtyard, Pets OK, Linens, Towels
Conditions
Price includes taxes, transportation, breakfast and dinner.
Responsible Action
In 2001, UNORCAC (The Union of Peasant and Indigenous Organizations of Cotacachi) and several indigenous communities undertook an initiative in rural community tourism. This initiative is known as Runa Tupari, which means “meeting the indigenous people” in the indigenous language Kichwa. Runa Tupari is a community-based tour operator located in Otavalo, a city famous for its handicrafts market, in the province of Imbabura, 2 hours north of Quito.
An essential component of authentic and sustainable rural community tourism is direct interaction with indigenous communities. As such, Runa Tupari works with indigenous families in the rural communities of Morochos, Santa Bárbara, La Calera and Tunibamba. These families offer visitors lodging, food and an opportunity for cultural exchange. One of the objectives of Runa Tupari is to offer visitors the opportunity to experience a unique lifestyle and to expand their world views. Runa Tupari is dedicated to providing a more human style of tourism, based in authenticity and nature, which allows visitors to experience direct contact with nature and share daily life with local people. As well, a percentage of the price of lodging is invested into the host community.
