Ecuador Travel Forum

Hi everyone I will be going to ecuador next weekend and was wondering if I could get some feedback.

I was thinking of doing my jungle tour with amarongachi or RICANCIE, i've heard good things for the first but not much about RICANCIE, anyone heard anything or had experience?

I am interested in learning about the indigenous people and also herbal medicine (inc ayahuasca) and having an excellent jungle adventure (hiking swimming etc) I'm leaning toward amarongachi.. my spanish is beginner at best. regarding puyo vs tena for a jungle tour, which would you suggest? I found http://papangu.yuricrea.it/uk/toursuk.html for puyo..

I've heard there is an overnight bus to Tena from Quito as well, if true does anyone know the schedule? Is it worth it to stop in Banos if I go to papallatca? I'm not that into bike riding and that plus hiking seems to be the only appeal to go to banos other than the hot springs which I can get at papallatca. I am thinking of doing one less day either in the jungle or quito to stop in banos.

lastly, has anyone taken dance or cooking lessons in quito? if so can i get some recommendations :)

Itinerary:
5/9/09 arrive 2P Saturday
Quito - stay at amazon inn www.amazoninn.com aka travellers inn
5/10 -Sunday
Tena jungle - maybe stop at papallatca on the way
start jungle tour with http://amarongachi.com/ or http://ricancie.nativeweb.org/
5/11 - Monday
Tena jungle
5/12 - Tuesday
Tena jungle
5/13 - Wednesday
Tena jungle
5/14 - Thursday
Quito-amazon inn - maybe stop at papallatca on the way back
5/15 - Friday
Quito - amazon inn
5/16 -Saturday
Fly home


Thank you in advance!!!!

the jungle trip we did from banos was a completely fake thing, to a completely fake indigenous village. No wildlife to be seen anywhere, apart from some tethered chickens. We couldn't even see the local witch doctor, because he was away on business. But we could have called him on his cell phone.

Well I stayed in Banos for 4 weeks. It´s a beautiful village set within the mountains and below the largest active volcano in the world. I was staying at Mayra´s School because they are the best in town to learn Spanish and they also have luxury apartments. I loved the activies: Canyoning, climbing, water rafting and bridge jump. Horse trekking, and biking.