In a beautiful and healthy environment the students will learn the Andean, Amazonian and Pacific Coastal cultural Cosmomology.

We will review in detail how the Ecuadorian cultural views :

• Family Relationships – How does the culture view fundamental aspects of marriage, raising children, traditional role of the elders etc.
• Nature – What is their relationship to the natural world, the folklore surrounding their plants, mountains, lakes, wildlife, the totems.
• Music and Art – What role does music and art play in the everyday life. How does it affect their behavior with each other, their environment and their view of death, marriage and other major life passages.
• Healing Techniques and Medicine – What do they use for medicine, how do they view the body, the aging process, their food and drink and how it is used as both medicine and a preventative tool.
• Religion, Spirituality and the Sacred Ceremonies – What is their view of God, Authority, Death, Birth, and how are their ideas expressed during the ceremonies through dance, music and words.
• Time and Space – what are their measurements of time and space, the space within their dwellings, the outside of their houses, the configuration of their village, the places of worship.
• Evolution in the post modern era – how are they dealing with the changes brought about by the revolution in communication, transportation, and the global village encroachment in their world.

We will explore all of the dimensions of the culture through multi-media presentations and classes, field trips to the Andean, Amazonian and Coastal indigenous communities, archaeological ruins, and discussions with the Shamans and community leaders with whom we have cultivated relationships to strengthen the trust between North and South American cultures.

We will introduce the students to the indigenous worldview. We will strive to provide insight to the comparison of the North American and indigenous cultural assumptions so that the student can gain a better perspective of his own cultural assumptions. The idea is that this insight will aid the student in gaining more power to change what is not working and strengthen what is.

The week’s itinerary will include 5 nights at our lodge in the Cordillera Mountains (Machalilla National Park area) on the Pacific coast of Ecuador where we will hold classes on the Ecuadorean Cosmology. This time will also be used to prepare those students who elect to take the field trips to the Amazon and the Andes communities (11 day trip). The trips will be highly experiential.

On the sixth day, students not electing to take the Amazonian and Andean field trips will return and the other students will begin a journey to the Amazonian indigenous community of the Quichua Indians.

A proposed 5 day itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival, reception and introduction to the area of San Jose on the Pacific coast, a review of the weeks plan and objectives of the course. Included is a trip along the Ruta Del Sol from Guayaquil.

Day 2. Coastal community Cosmology. A class/presentation on the coastal culture as it evolved through the Valdivian culture through to the present. Afternoon field trip to the Museums and archaeological sites in the area.

Day 3. Andean Cosmology. A class/presentation on the Andean culture as it evolved through the Pre-Colombian period to the present day. Afternoon demonstrations on the use of the plants for healing purposes.

Day 4. An all day experiential field trip of the Isla De La Plata where the students will learn first hand the micro environment of a Pacific Coastal island.

Day 5. Amazonian Cosmology. A class/presentation on the Amazonian culture as it evolved through the Pre-Colombian period to the present day. In afternoon, music of the Amazon and Andes will serve to reinforce how the indigenous live and how music animates their cultures.

Optional activities such as swimming, horseback riding, surfing, snorkeling and hiking will be available to the students each day for at least one hour.

Proposed day 11 day itinerary will be for those students electing to take field trips to the Andes and Amazon:

Day 6. Drive to Guayaquil, fly to Quito and bus or fly to Jungle city of Tena. Boat ride to Rio Blanca Quichua community.

Day 7. Visit and learn the indiginous culture’s everyday life activities and see how they Cosmology is revealed through these activities.

Day 8. Continue learning from the Shamans knowledge of the plants and sites in the area and how they reflect the spiritual views of the culture.

Day 9. Travel to Andes city of Otavalo. Stop in Papallacta Thermal Springs for rest and relaxation.

Day 10. Continue to Otavalo and arrive at Otavalan indigenous community. Observe through visitation of local families and the marketplace the customs and music of the area.

Day 11. Visit a local shaman to learn of the healing and spiritual practices of the community. Return to Quito and the end of the class where we will do a full course review.

Trip Costs:

Day 1-5 is $144 per day or a total of $720

Day 6-11 is $180 per day or a total of $1080

Total trip costs is $1,800.

The above costs include meals and accommodations, classes and ground transportation. Not included is air transportation, alcoholic drinks and personal items.

The accommodations in the coast will be an Eco Lodge designed with respect for the environment. These are earth honoring cabins with excellent ocean and cloud forest views. Organic vegetable gardens. Excellent vegetarian and seafood Ecuadorian cuisine.

The accommodations for the field trips into the Amazon and Andes are clean and very comfortable cabins with the wonderful hospitality and cuisine of the local communities. People are always pleasantly surprised.