Who We Are

During the 1990s several rural Quichua communities living in the Napo province of Amazonian Ecuador developed a community-based ecotourism project. The idea was born and the first infrastructure built in accordance with the communal philosophy of the quichua which encourages the participation of all affected paraties in decision making. Today, the network consists of nine villages united by the RICANCIE organization. RICANCIE members rely on self-marketing to promote their unique vision of ecotourism.

The Idea behind RICANCIE

RICANCIE stands for Indigenous Community Network of the Upper Napo for Intercultural Exchange and Ecotourism. It was founded in 1993 with the goal to improve the quality of life for some 200 quichua families. Then as now, RICANCIE has taken as its primary objective the defense of the Quichua territory against encroaching mining and oil companies. Furthermore, tourist groups were being sent into these communities by external travel agents. These groups paid only minimal reimbursement fees and left behind trash and bad feelings, which led to conflict within the communities. With organized tourism activities, RICANCIE pursues a self-determined development path and offers new perspectives for our children. While RICANCIE continues to enjoy support of international organizations, RICANCIE is proud of its independence and all decisions regarding RICANCIE events and strategies are taken by a Concil whose members come from the villages participating in RICANCIE.