I had the opportunity to spend some time with a small group of indigenous people called the Cofán Indians, who live in the north-eastern part of Ecuador.
Chatting with Mauricio
This area is part of the Amazon forest and is in part still undisturbed. Oil companies and small farmers, however, try to invade this area causing a deterioration of the rain forest. The Cofán Indians have always stood up to these activities and have tried to protect their land as much as possible.
Titi monkey
I spend a lot of time hiking with them through the jungle, up to the Peruvian border and always on the lookout for monkeys, birds, medicinal plants, insects, and frogs. Ecuador has the highest rate of tree species per km2 worldwide, with 299 species recorded per km2 (100m x 100m)! At latest count, Ecuador has over 1,800 species of bird and 369 mammal species.
The Cofán Indians are some of the friendliest people I have ever met. Always laughing, making jokes and always glad to make a conversation. I taught one of them English and he taught me a little bit of Cofán language. It was the best time!
