Shandia Lodge, Ecuador

Location - Tena, Ecuador

Shandia is located in the rainforest of eastern Ecuador and is home to Indigenous people of the Kichwa nationality. Shandia Lodge is owned by the community as was developed to generate employment opportunities for the local people. However, the community faced difficulties when it came to accessing the interational marketing and getting tourists to visit.

A local non-profit called EcoCiencia worked with the community to create immersive tourist experiences such as a cycling tour and a youth led community experience. Travellers are able to learn about the traditional agricultural processes used by the community, and can also learn how to make chocolate! Thanks to the help of our local team, revenue has increased which allows them to reinvest into the community and continue to create new jobs, whilst protecting their cultural traditions.