Rio Muchacho Organic Farm

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Tours and Programs

1. WHAT KINDS OF TOURS / PROGRAMMES DOES THE FARM RUN?
2. WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF RIO MUCHACHO ORGANIC FARM?
3. IS THE FARM OWNED BY A FOUNDATION OR AN ORGANISATION?
4. WHERE IS RIO MUCHACHO LOCATED?
5. HOW DO I GET TO RIO MUCHACHO?
6. HOW DO I GET TO BAHIA?
7. HOW FAR IS THE FARM FROM A TOWN, TELEPHONE & INTERNET?
8. WHAT COMMUNICATION IS THERE BETWEEN THE FARM AND BAHIA, ETC.?
9. IS IT NECESSARY TO TAKE MALARIA MEDICATION?
10. IS IT SUITABLE TO BRING CHILDREN TO THE FARM?
11. IS THERE A QUIET SPOT FOR MEDITATION OR YOGA?
12. WHAT KIND OF FOOD IS SERVED?
13. WHAT SHOULD I BRING ?
14. WHAT KIND OF WORK IS DONE WITH THE COMMUNITY?
15. HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE FARM?
16. CAN I LEAVE DONATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL?
17. CAN GUACAMAYO TOURS HELP ME WITH GOOD TOURS TO THE JUNGLE, GALAPAGOS AND ANDES?
18. HOW CAN I BE AN ECOFRIENDLY VISITOR ?
19. CAN WE RECOMMED A PLACE TO STAY IN GUAYAQUIL ?

1. WHAT KINDS OF TOURS / PROGRAMMES DOES THE FARM RUN?
1. Three day tour (also 1&2 day tours but we recommend the three days)
2. Spanish courses 1-3 weeks
3. Cultural exchange programs for foreign students
4. Apprenticeship in Organic Farming and Permaculture
5. Group volunteer projects 3 days- 1 month
6. Volunteer program for individuals
7. Ecocamps for Children
8. Training programs for community groups in organic agriculture, rural tourism & environmental education.

2. WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF RIO MUCHACHO ORGANIC FARM?
There is a lot of experience in organic farming in the mountains and in temperate climates in general, but there is little on the coast (except a couple of large banana plantations)
Río Muchacho has an important role in demonstrating alternatives like biogas, solar power, composting systems, worm culture, water recycling, reforestation and forage systems, permaculture, organic farming techniques and environmental tourism. The farm now receives many community and student groups who come to learn about these alternatives.
Ecotourism has grown to be an important aspect, and the farm was chosen to participate in an ecotourism certification pilot project. It is now one of the first 12 certified projects in Ecuador. Tourists also learn about the processes on the farm and enjoy the adventure and activities associated with the environment and local culture.

3. IS THE FARM OWNED BY A FOUNDATION OR AN ORGANISATION?
No, the farm is privately owned by an Ecuadorian/New Zealand couple Dario Proaño and Nicola Mears, who are strongly committed to environmental and community work in this area and also in Bahía. They were instrumental in the creation of Bahía ecocity and continue to coordinate an environmental education program and paper recycling project in the city. The farm receives no support from organizations or foundations.
Some of the the projects in Bahia are under the umbrella of Fundación Stuarium

4. WHERE IS RIO MUCHACHO LOCATED?
The entrance to Rio Muchacho is 10 km north of Canoa on the San Vicente-Jama Road on the mid coast of Ecuador. From the entrance it is 8 km of unpaved road which is passable by car most of the year but not during the worst parts of the rainy season. On those occasions horses are the main form of transport. Rio Muchacho is the name of the river and also the community. The farm is called Rio Muchacho Finca Orgánica. According to the locals the name Rio Muchacho is because the river is very unpredictable in the rainy season like a young boy “ muchacho “

5. HOW DO I GET TO RIO MUCHACHO?
If you are doing a tour to the farm the meeting place is in the office in Bahía (at 8.15 am) and a guide will take you from there. The office is at Avenida Bolivar y Arenas, where there is information and a registration form that you need to fill out. If you are already in Canoa you can arrange to be picked up there without having to return to Bahía.

6. HOW DO I GET TO BAHIA?
Bus Services
The only company that travels Quito- Bahía is called Reina del Camino. From Guayaquil, there is another company but Reina del Camino is the best. There are two kinds of buses; the executive and regular. The executive service is more comfortable and safer than the regular services. It costs only $1-2 more and is well worth it.
Security is very high on these buses and you will be frisked before getting on. You are not usually allowed to take day packs on the bus for security reasons. Remember to take a sweater with you on the bus as the air conditioning can get very cold.

From Quito
It is 7-8 hours to Bahía. You can do it during the day or night, by regular or executive service. There are two executive services per day. The executives leave Quito at 12.50 pm and 11.45 pm, the regular services are at 10.30 am and 11.30 pm.
In Quito Reina del Camino has 2 offices:
1. Terminal Terrestre (the main Quito bus station in the old town)
2. 18 de Septiembre and Av. Patria in the new town in the Mariscal area. (very close to the junction of Av. Patria and 10 de Agosto. )
You can buy tickets for all services at 18 de Septiembre but the only service that actually leaves from there is the executive night bus at 11.pm ( this is the 11.45pm service mentioned earlier, but it leaves from here at 11.pm then travels to the main bus station, picks up passengers and leaves from there at 11.45 pm).
We recommend getting tickets at the 18 de Septiembre station as it is much safer and easier.
Be careful with your belongings in the main bus station … don’t be distracted !
If you come from Quito on the day bus make sure you get a seat on the right hand side for great views.

From Guayaquil
You need to get the bus from the Bus terminal ( terminal Terrestre )
The trip takes about 5-6 hours.
Timetable: ( Ex )= executive service
3.45am , 5.35am,( Ex 8.30am) (Ex11.30am ) (Ex 2.20pm ) (Ex 4.40pm ) (Ex 7.00pm ) 9pm, (Ex 11.30pm )
Be careful with your belongings in the main bus station … don’t be distracted !

Once in Bahía
Bahía is a small safe town so don´t be too worried about arriving late night or early morning. The bus station is about 800m from the office, 1km from the hotel we recommend (see below )
Once in town come to the office, Guacamayo tours on Av. Bolívar y Arenas tel 691412 691107.( Av. Bolivar is the main street )
Office hours:
7.30am-6.00pm Monday to Friday
9am -4pm Saturday
10am -2pm Sunday
If you do travel on the day executive from Quito, you will arrive late and the office will be closed. We recommend Hostal el Viajero - right next door to the Guacamayo Tours office, It is $10 / night, Colonial house, clean, family owned and run. Tell them you are recommended by us.
You will probably need a restaurant, we recommend Arena Bar pizzeria (also on the main street-Av. Bolivar diagonal to the Guacamayo tours office )
Come to the office the next day at 9.00. If you need to contact us once in Bahía, most hotels have our after hours number.

Getting to Bahia by air ( note these times change frequently )

If you fly, you can either get a bus or taxi to Bahía from the airport.
From Manta (taxi 11/4 hours $30 ) ( bus 3-3 1/2 hours $2.25 Get a bus to Portoviejo and then change for one to Bahía. )
Note: There are no flights from Guayaquil to Manta or Portoviejo

7. HOW FAR IS THE FARM FROM A TOWN, TELEPHONE & INTERNET?
Canoa is the closest town, it is a small beach town with hotels restaurants and Internet. From the entrance it is 10 km. International calls can be made from Canoa but it is cheaper by net2 phone at the internet places in Bahía.
At present the internet prices are $1.60 / hour in Bahia and $2/ hour in Canoa

8. WHAT COMMUNICATION IS THERE BETWEEN THE FARM AND BAHIA, ETC.?
We have a short wave radio at the farm that connects us with the office. We have this connected to a solar panel and so we always have communication. There is no phone or fax at the farm.

9. IS THERE MALARIA IN THE AREA ?
There is no risk of malaria at the farm but there are some cases of malaria on the coast in general mainly during the wet season.

10. IS IT SUITABLE TO BRING CHILDREN TO THE FARM?
YES !!! Children LOVE the experience on the farm. There are so many things that they can do and be involved in.
“Bryce, Clark and I had a wonderful time at Rio Muchacho. In fact, the boys keep saying it was the highlight of our Ecuador trip, including the Galapagos. I'm sure it was the hands-on involvement with the animals and food processes that engaged them so well. We enjoyed so much meeting everyone involved at Rio Muchacho. Our Spanish got a great work-out. Bryce is talking about wanting to come back longer as a volunteer some day!” Susan Wilson USA

11. IS THERE A QUIET SPOT FOR MEDITATION OR YOGA ?
Yes! there is a meditation garden that is planted with a large variety of plants. It has a covered meditation / yoga platform which overlooks the river.

12. WHAT KIND OF FOOD IS SERVED?
The food is mostly from the farm, some things don’t grow on the coast so we have to buy them.
The food is semi vegetarian and with white meats, there is no rule but generally no red meat is served. It is a very creative and colorful combination of local food and vegetable dishes.
“We have told many people that the food we had at Rio Muchacho was the best we had anywhere in Ecuador” Chris Bradshaw USA

13. WHAT SHOULD I BRING ?
.A flashlight is useful if you have one
.A water bottle
.Rain protection if you have it.
.Long pants and shorts
.Sun hat, sunscreen and any special medical supplies you might need.
Rubber boots are provided.

14. WHAT KIND OF WORK IS DONE WITH THE COMMUNITY?
Work began with the community in 1987.
The Environmental School (coordinated by Dario and Nicola) was built in 1992 has united the community and provided a meeting place for workshops, courses, fund raising activities etc.
Volunteer groups coordinated by the farm have helped a lot in the community, they have worked in the school, renovated the church, worked on a water system (which has recently been incorporated in a larger project to build bathroom units for the families in the valley) there is a folder at the farm with more information about this.

15. HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE FARM?
The farm supports and coordinates the Community Environmental School.
The school is a wonderful opportunity for the children of the area. Here they have a more creative, practical education with more art, English, sport and environmental studies.
The children from the school come to the farm to learn about preparation of fertilizers, different crops etc. They also come for eco camps where they stay the night.
Workshops have been organized in agriculture and other areas eg. alternative forms of income from working with ageing wood techniques, weaving banana fiber to make sun hats etc.
Health days have been held at the school with dentists, doctors and the mobile cancer clinic.
Garden competitions have been held as an incentive to grow more food.
A bamboo reforestation project was created for the area after the Niño and earthquake (when there was very high demand for bamboo and the supplies grew very low). The nursery was at the farm.
Groups of farmers and students from all over Ecuador visit the farm and Environmental School, to learn about alternatives.

16. CAN I LEAVE DONATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL?
Donations of any size are very welcome as is long term assistance. School supplies are also always welcome!

The school is forming a library and so any story books in Spanish are also very welcome.

Please don't bring pencil and pens, we have enough for now.

17. CAN GUACAMAYO TOURS HELP ME WITH GOOD TOURS TO THE JUNGLE, GALAPAGOS AND ANDES?
Yes, the Guacamayo office has very good contacts for:
White water rafting
Andes- village tours and mountain climbing with the experts.
Jungle- tours to the Cuyabeno reserve ( highly recommended )
Galapagos- economic-first class boats and prices & last minute reservations.
Community Tourism projects around Ecuador.
Cuenca and Cajas National Park
Let us know if you want help with this …especially if for Galapagos as it is important to book ahead.

18. HOW CAN I BE AN ECOFRIENDLY VISITOR ?
Please bring a water bottle that you can use during your stay. You can avoid creating more garbage by refilling it from the water dispensers.
Please bring rechargeable batteries NO DISPOSABLE ONES !!
Please look for biodegradable soap, shampoo and detergent before you leave home. It is difficult to get here.
For many more suggestions please see the environmental tips for travelers !

19. CAN WE RECOMMED A PLACE TO STAY IN GUAYAQUIL ?
Yes, we recommend:
Dreamkapture Travel S.A $12 / night shared bathroom or $18 private bathroom – includes breakfast.
Alborada Doceava Etapa
Mz 02, V-21
Guayaquil - Ecuador
5934-2242909
FAX 5934-2242926
They have a small swimming pool and a travel agency.
Tell them you are recommended by us.

Enjoy your stay!