Unión de Organizaciones Campesinas de Cotacachi

Rural development with an intercultural identity


UNORCAC (an organization representing the rural and indigenous people in the canton of Cotacachi) is an intercultural organization that represents 44 indigenous as well as mestizo and Afro-Ecuadorian rural communities. The objective of the organization is to improve living conditions of its members through development projects and programs such as agro-ecological production, reforestation, environmental conservancy, legal assessment, indigenous healthcare, intercultural bilingual education, cultural revival and rural tourism.

 

UNORCAC hopes to contribute to the construction of a more fair and egalitarian intercultural society, reducing poverty levels, empowering people for self-management, expanding the democratic participation of the communities and strengthening their ancestral wisdom and social organization.

UNORCAC, together with the indigenous communities, founded the community service agency called RUNA TUPARI NATIVE TRAVEL, a phrase that in the native language, Quichua, means, "meeting the Indians."

In order to develop authentic and sustainable rural community tourism , it is necessary to interact directly with the indigenous communities. We want the tourist to experience a unique lifestyle as well as an expanded world vision. This encounter will allow the visitor to experience direct contact with nature, share daily life with local people and have the opportunity to learn from them. In other words, a more human style of tourism, where authenticity and nature are the foundations.

UNORCAC, the indigenous communities it represents together with the Native Guides Association and the Rural Lodges Association are co-owners of the agency. This means that RUNA TUPARI directly helps rural development with intercultural identity, in a balanced fashion.

RUNA TUPARI NATIVE TRAVEL guarantees you will have experiences with a point of view different from any other. With this objective in mind, we offer accommodations in our rural lodges located within the communities. Here the tourist may share the indigenous culture, enjoy a new environment, experience a different lifestyle, and take pleasure in the nearness of nature and traditional living.

We also offer different kinds of excursions, that involve treks, community visits, horse-riding, (downhill) biking, Andean climbing and hikes in Intag's Cloud Forest, among many others, all of them guided by native guides.


RUNA TUPARI NATIVE TRAVEL and the indigenous communities of the Cotacachi County
cordially invite all of you. Make your reservations in our office in Otavalo or contact us.
Plaza de los Ponchos, Sucre y Quiroga , Otavalo
Telefax: (593 6) 2925985, Or 593 9 7286756 (cell phone)