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ESMERALDAS
As you wind down the road from Quilotoa, down, down, down, past Quito, through the cloud forest, your eyes will take in many diverse parts of the country. You won't stop, however, until you reach the bright colors and sensuality of life in the coastal town of Esmeraldas. Here you will experience a new atmosphere with all of your senses, from the taste of fresh fish ceviche to the sounds of marimba music - both of which will make you dance in the streets. The people are friendly and curious, sweet and helpful and you will feel welcomed into this new community by everyone you meet.
You will experience the unique styles of the Afro-Ecuadorian community that has lived here freely since 1533. Listen to the music, dance, witness the life on the streets, see a show, visit a museum, and breathe in the culture.
This is adventurous travel.
There are lots of personal activities for you to indulge in, trips to the beach, dance classes, walking through the park to see local art, and climbing a giant, zig-zagging, orange staircase. At night, you might find a nice dance club, hang out with the locals at the outdoor, bbq style, restaurants located on every street, or you might just sit out on your hotel balcony, listening to the music from the street, and reflect on your experience thus far. |
TAKING ACTION:
1. Work with the students at the Universidad Bellas Artes OR work with the students from the Naval High School teaching theatre skills and playing games.
2. Workshop with Teatro La Catanga, a professional theatre company based in Esmeraldas. Exchange ideas via a translator under the direction of their Artistic Director, Hugo Arias Bone. |
WEEK TWO - ITINERARY:
ESMERALDAS
Day 11: Travel to Esmeraldas
Day 12-15: Teach 2 mornings with Students from the Unidad Educativa Bellas Artes school for the arts or the Naval High School and workshop 1 day with Teatro La Cantanga, spend Saturday or Sunday on the beach in Sua. (The exact dates of these activities will depend on your group - to see GROUP SCHEDULES, click here.)
Day 16: Return to Quito for another overnight, reflect more on your experiences. E-mail home.
Day 17: Travel to Mindo
For a full ITINERARY, click here. |
PROGRAM COST
The price of your entire three week trip depends on your choice for the Second Week destination. Here is the price for Esmeraldas, and what this trip uniquely includes:
ESMERALDAS: $3200
A trip to the coast includes:
Travel to and from
Food (Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Lodging
All You Can Drink Water (Bring your own water bottle for easy filling)
An additional Arts Performance
An overnight trip to Sua (where you can play in a laid back beach town all day long)
All prices include the following in Quilotoa, Mindo, and Quito:
Roundtrip Flight to Quito
Food (Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
All You Can Drink Water (Bring your own water bottle for easy filling)
Lodging
Travel to and from each destination
Cast t-shirt and bandana
Small project donation (for Quilotoa building and medical supplies)
Internet Access Fees (once a week)
Travelers Insurance (to learn about WORLD NOMADS, our insurance provider, click here)
Inner City transport fees (taxis, trolleys, etc.)
Quilotoa Visitor Tax
One Theatre or Art Performance in Quito
FUN DAY in Mindo (we have some fun excursions planned in Mindo)
Exit Tax (You have to pay to leave Ecuador. Don't worry, we'll take care of that too.)
To COMPARE PRICES of this trip with the others, click here. |
PACKING SUGGESTIONS FOR ESMERALDAS:
"In the 109 degree heat..."-excerpt from Flight 360
Oh yes, and it will be H-O-T-T HOT! After experiencing the chill of Quilotoa, you'll be shocked by the humid heat of Esmeraldas, so it's important to drink lots of water and bring the right clothes.
If you've packed well, the bottom layers from Quilotoa will serve very nicely as normal shirts for Esmeraldas, and the long sleeved t-shirts, which were layered on top of each other, will serve nicely as a light over-shirt when it gets cold in the evenings.
Here's what we recommend:
- 7 light t-shirts or tank tops (your DAT shirt is INCLUDED in this number)
- 1 pair of "hardcore sandals"
- 1 bathing suit - don't forget, you'll be spending a day at the beach in Sua
- 1 towel
- Sunscreen! (30-50 or more, you will be on the equator after all)
For the complete packing list, click here. |
LINKS
Ecuador Explorer - Esmeraldas : http://www.ecuadorexplorer.com/html/esmeraldas_province.html
You Tube - Esmeraldas & Sua video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW6Ixi8AweA
Wikipedia - Esmeraldas : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esmeraldas,_Ecuador
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THE NEXT STEP
Return to the main menu and take a look at other WEEK TWO ADVENTURES or go ahead and move on to WEEK THREE, MINDO . To go there now, click here. |
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