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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. |
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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.
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