Kontiki Expeditions Debuts Inaugural Sailings

New little-yacht expedition business Kontiki Expeditions has introduced its two start itineraries aboard M/Y Kontiki Wayra. Activities are scheduled in five provinces along Ecuador’s coast.

The nine-stateroom M/Y Kontiki Wayra (accommodating just 18 friends) will set sail this summer season on two 8-working day itineraries, “Toquilla” and “Spondylus.” Kontiki Expeditions will transportation attendees to untouristed places in Ecuador to check out and rejoice the indigenous cultures inside a context of wellness, though having gain of the country’s wealth of birds, animals, flora, fauna and indigenous meals and adhering to a “neo luxury philosophy” of sustainability and giving back to communities.

Kontiki’s 10 crew users and two community specialists are fully commited to sustainability and mindful journey. These wellness specialists, naturalist guides and a community chef add to the Kontiki working experience (feel: gastronomic activities featuring community chocolate, seafood and generate the two onboard and on land).

Gastronomic Experiences

Heritage Cocoa Trees (Toquilla itinerary only) – In Bahía de Caraquez, Kontiki visits the tiny neighborhood of San Miguel de Sarampión where some of the world’s finest chocolates are made from heritage cocoa trees far more than 120 several years aged. The indigenous-born trees yield pure Arriba Nacional Fino de Aroma cacao, which is then aged in wooden barrels in a method equivalent to wine, yielding some of the most high priced chocolate in the world. The pay a visit to below incorporates a tasting practical experience with cocoa and regional natural and organic items, ready adhering to countryside ancestral traditions and system. 

New Latitude Wines (Spondylus itinerary only) – Kontiki tourists will have an opportunity to attempt New Latitude wines, affording a comparison to Old Planet and New Globe wines. The consequence of experimentation with existing limestone soils and the distinctive climate ailments in the Playas location, the wine is aged in French oak barrels and develops a distinctive flavor profile. The encounter features a wine pairing and tasting applying area deliver.

Meeting Community Communities of Artisans

Toquilla Straw Hats (Toquilla and Spondylus itineraries)

 – Improperly identified as Panama hats, Toquilla straw hats have been manufactured in Pile for extra than four hundreds of years by artisan weavers making use of indigenous Toquilla straw. Kontiki visits the weavers responsible for making the best and most highly-priced Toquilla straw hats in the entire world, the Montecristi SuperFinos. The Toquilla Straw Hat was designated in 2012 as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of the World.  

Activities Checking out Ecuador’s Character and Biodiversity

Isla de la Plata (Toquilla and Spondylus itineraries) – Also recognised as “Small Galapagos,” Isla de la Plata is a concealed treasure 17 miles off the coastline of Ecuador. On its almost 7 square kilometers, the uninhabited island harbors blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies, masked boobies, Galapagos frigates, sea turtles and other singular species. This prevent options trails for checking out the island’s ecosystem over sea amount, as well as snorkeling to look at sea everyday living underneath. Relying on the time, humpback whales recurrent this place.

Buenaventura Reserve (Toquilla itinerary only)

 – Found in the Southern region of the coastline, The Buenaventura Reserve encompasses more than 1,500 hectares of cloud forest and four distinctive microclimates. A guided trail wander in the safeguarded subtropical reserve makes it possible for viewing of the habitat’s much more than 320 species of birds, 255 species of butterflies and a diversity of marsupials, reptiles, amphibians and orchids.  

Cultural Ordeals

Agua Blanca (Toquilla and Spondylus itineraries) – A stronghold from colonization, Agua Blanca is a modest settlement that holds the remains of one of the most historic civilizations in South The united states, the Manteño society of the pre-Columbian interval.  Kontiki explores the traditions of the local community and its preserved archeological artifacts, temples, cottages and plazas relationship from 1500 BC. Activities contain a swim in a organic sulfur lagoon, whose minerals and mud treatment plans are explained to have medicinal and wellness characteristics, in addition a path stroll with community ceibo trees and possible viewing of howler monkeys, butterflies, hummingbirds and much more flora and fauna.  

Puyango Petrified Forest (Spondylus itinerary only) – Once coated by the ocean, Puyango Petrified Forest is residence to an comprehensive selection of maritime fossils and petrified wood tht supply a glimpse into the earlier ecology of the world. A wander by means of the forest is a travel by way of time, exposing petrified Araucarios far more than 100 million a long time aged. Petrified fossils coexist with stay vegetation and animals in a tropical forest with far more than 130 species of birds alongside with deer, modest leopards, squirrels, foxes, armadillos, amphibians and reptiles.

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