Service Project at La Escuela, Horsebackriding, and Isla Plata

It’s been an action packed couple of days here in Ecuador. We wrapped up our time at Rio Muchacho with a service project at the local school, class sessions on permaculture and traditional agriculture practices, shrimping in the river, crafts, and horseback riding to the monkey forest. The latter included the traditional food tonga, which is a meal wrapped in banana leaves. As part of the effort to get as close to the source of our food as possible, the group participated in the slaughter and preparation of a couple of chickens, an emotional experience for most.

The horseback riding was a hit and although the hike into the monkey forest didn’t yield any monkey sittings, it was still an adventure trekking through the jungle.

Today, good fun was had on Isla Plata, the “mini-Galapagos,” with great hiking around the island to take in the wildlife and excellent snorkeling in the bays off the shore. The boat ride out was also quite eventful with a top notch arial display from a migrating humpback whale. This playful fellow breached multiple times for us.

Check out the pics below. Next blog post won’t be until end of the week. Enjoy!