Intercultural exchange

To the encounter of the indigenes communities | Tourist Charta of good conduct

TO THE ENCOUNTER OF THE INDIGENES COMMUNITIES

The aim of the project of communitarian tourism, initiated by the Women of San Francisco de Cunuguachay Association, is to provide alternative source of income to the traditional rural economy, and to promote exchanges between cultures.
Thus, during your stay at the House of tourism, everyday you will be in contact with natives, by the intermediary of Juliana, the hostess, but also during your walks with the guides of the community, or even by spontaneously offering to participate to the various activities of the community (mingas (i.e. communitarian work),farm work, etc.) Various activities, free or for which there is a fare to pay, are devised in this idea of authentic exchange. They will allow you to go beyond the superficial relation with the market craftsmen, the only natives you will meet on the paths traditionally followed by the tourists in Ecuador. Note that it's better to know the ABC of Spanish to make the contact with the natives easier, because they only speak Quichua and Spanish.

If you are keen on communitarian tourism, we put our favourite addresses and links in Ecuador to your disposal.

 

 

 

TOURIST CHARTA OF GOOD CONDUCT

Communitarian tourism has become very fashionable recently, and if it's a unique occasion to go to meet the populations, it also has disastrous consequences, particularly by the corruption induced by the intrusion of the circulation of currency in the relations with the tourists.
If the community of San Francisco did not fell into that trap, it could still happen if we don't follow some simple and efficient rules. Thus you are asked not to pay the natives to take pictures of them, for their willingness to help, for their invitation to share their meal, etc.. Of course don't take pictures of people who don't want to be photographed! Thank you not to offer money to achieve your aim!
This watchfulness in our behaviour will avoid to transform the spontaneous and warm "buenos dias" ("Good morning") into " regale me plata" ("offer me money") to which you will be confronted in most of the other tourist areas of the country.

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