Omaere Ethnobotanical Park in Puyo

We have had nearly 6000 visitors to Omaere this year. The biggest percentage is Ecuadorian students, followed by Ecuadorian families and international tourists who come from all parts of the world. Most of these world travellers come from the United States, Canada, England, France, Spain and Germany, but we also receive growing numbers from Japan, China, the Cheque Republic (and other parts of Eastern Europe), Argentina and Chile. A small but steady flow of Polish visitors comes to Omaere thanks to tours offered by Hostal Caiman in Quito.

Excellent student interns have come this year from the Universidad Central del Ecuador, Universidad Católica de Quito, Universidad Autónoma de Quito, Universidad Cristiana Latinoamericana de Ibarra, Universidad Técnica de Machala, Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi, UNIDEC de Riobamba, and the ITHI Tourism Institute in Quito. One Ecuadorian student from Ambato did an internship for his high school in New York City.
International volunteers many times organize in advance via the internet to work with us, while others come as tourists and get interested in helping out.

This year, we have had fantastic volunteers from France, Canada, Austria, Peru, and the United States. One outstanding project was done by Geoffroy of France and Walker of Peru: they built a beautiful section of trail with carefully selected stones from the river. Tifanie and Kevin of France helped with many things, including a major renovation of the kitchen in the Reception Building.

These and other volunteers and interns have helped with the preparation of natural medicines, the guiding of tourists, the lighting of fires in the traditional houses, the maintenance of trails and the overall upkeep of the Park