DESCRIPTION OF LA CHIMBA

La Chimba

High in the Andes, the Kayambi community of La Chimba is reached by buses from Quito to Cayambé, and then from Cayambé to La Chimba. The second bus winds up a cobblestone road for 45 minutes past small farms with fields of corn and potatoes, and grazing for cattle. The air is clean and fresh, warm during the day but chilly at night. It is perfect countryside for walking.

The Kayambi population live by farming, with fields surrounded by mud walls planted with agave. Farms average 6 hectares. But with an expanding population farms are not large enough to split between the children, forcing many to leave the land and migrate to the cities. In the village of La Chimba a group of young people have joined together to develop ecotourism as an alternative to migration. They have formed an organization, Condor Huasi (Home of the Condor), and are constructing a center with a restaurant for day visitors, as well as developing a natural hot spring as a tourist attraction. They also have formed a folkloric group to perform traditional songs and dances of the Kayambi. They would also like to construct a hostal in the near future.

Volunteers can get involved in these projects:

• helping them to develop their ideas
• working with them on construction
• teaching English to guides and children

Additionally, the members of Condor Huasi have a great interest in recovering their cultural heritage as Kayambis. They are looking for a researcher to gather oral histories, traditions, myths, et cetera from the older generations to help them to understand their past.

Another project is to create a series of hiking trails and routes that join up local places of interest and tourism microenterprises in neighbouring villages. In this way these communities can begin to market walking and hiking vacations for people of all ages and levels of fitness. Volunteers of all ages with a pioneering spirit are required to help the community map out possible routes, establish different grades of hiking difficulty, list local resources and deficiencies, et cetera. A great way to experience a beautiful location and make a useful contribution to the development of the communities in this region.

Make sure to visit our image gallery to see more pictures of La Chimba.