Razu Ñan

Overview

Description

The Pulinguí Community Center and its Razu Ñan Community Tourism Operation that is comprised of 250 Runa Kichwa Puruha families, is northwest of the city of Riobamba at Km 18 on the old road to García Moreno, within the buffer zone of the Chimborazo Reserve for Faunal Production. Temperatures average 41ºF at night and 59ºF during the day, at an altitude of 10,498 fasl.

The main attraction of the zone is Chimborazo Peak, at 20,702 fasl the largest mountain in Ecuador, one of the 20 largest of South America and catalogued as the highest peak on land. The community maintains a living culture based on its age-old cultural traditions. For example, you can appreciate the icecutters of Chimborazo, people who harvest ice from the volcano to sell in the city of Riobamba and use it to prepare the famous "rompenucas" or "jawbreakers" that are sold in the city's markets.

Rooms

5

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 13

Percentage of local employees: 100%

The Razu Ñan Community Tourism Operation is a locally managed organization that employs community inhabitants as guides, cooks, porters, maintenance personnel, and more. There are also related tourism activities such as the women's organization that makes articles of clothing, gloves, hats, socks, bags, and scarves to sell to visitors; a youth group for music and dance that revitalizes the culture of the villages; and a farmer's association that sells local produce.

The income generated by this activity is used to pay the workers and the surplus is put into a fund for reinvestment in scholarships for education, health, an emergency fund, and projects to improve quality of life for the community.

One of the most important activities is environmental stewardship and conservation, with native plant reforestation programs in the community parcels and the recycling of solid wastes to create a healthy environment for the people of the community.

Getting There

Nearest international airport: Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE)

Nearest local/national airport: Riobamba.

Travel time to nearest airport: From Quito approximately 3.5 hours; from Guayaquil approximately 5 hours.

Distance, by land, to the nearest airport: From Quito, 99 miles (160 km); from Guayaquil, 149 miles (240 km).

There are no limitations to access; the gravel road is accessible year-round to the “Razu Ñan” Community Tourism Operation.

Additional Information

What to bring?

• personal identification documents;
• sun protection;
• sunglasses;
• camera;
• warm clothing;
• shoes for trekking;
• hat and
• gloves.

What not to bring?

• alcoholic beverages;
• sound equipment;
• weapons and firearms.

Date This Information Was Provided

July 2009.

Photos courtesy of Razu Ñan, Ecuador, for SustainableTrip.org.