Welcome to an ancient world:
Named after the Colombian state Chocó, the name initially referred to the lowland rainforest on the Colombian coast. It's now known as the Chocó-Darién ecoregion, which reaches up to Panama in the north, and to the south, it borders the Pacific forests of Ecuador.
Tangan is located on the western slopes of Cotopaxi province in Ecuador. It sits 9,000 feet above sea level in a forest shrouded by clouds. In this place, a mystic amphitheater of basalt columns stands guard over the high-altitude jungle- home to pumas, trogons, and species of frogs found nowhere else on the planet.
Tangan showcases just how stunning the Ecuadorian Andes are. The Columns of Tangan are home to a highly threatened ecosystem within one of the world's biodiversity hotspots: the Chocó Andino. Due to globalization and burgeoning economic demand, the remaining forest around Tangan is threatened by agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, and mining. These threats diminish the jungle every year within the Chocó Andino, and there is no reason to believe that, without intervention, Tangan would be spared.
The integration of the primary forest by our partner organization, the Fundacion Acceso Andino, is a critical piece to protecting Tangan, as well as the incredible diversity of life that it shelters. Protecting the land is only our starting point to preserving the land surrounding Tangan. Eventually, we hope to have it declared a “Bosque Protector” or “Protected Forest” through the Ecuadorian Protected Areas system and eventually build the Chocó Andino Biodiversity Research Station: Columns of Tangan to better understand and protect endemic and vulnerable species, from frogs to birds to plants. Inch for inch, this small forest represents one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, and we need your help to fight for its protection!
The wonders of paying it forward:
REFORESTATION
Since 2018, crews have aided the pristine forest and its health with the reforestation of native tree species such as Pumamaki, Podocarpus, and Andean Alyss. More than 350 trees have been planted and are growing in a healthy manner.
FACILITIES
Crews have also worked on the location's facilities, such as trails and basic infrastructure, to prevent future impact and deterioration of the primary forest.
LAND INTEGRATION
Acquire land and designate it for the purpose of conservation.
Land specs: Approximate 3-6 hectares of pristine/primary Chocó Andino rainforest forest. This land must be declared protected, fenced, and explicitly communicated conditions of private property owners
ECUADOR
April 11-18 2025
Expedition Itinerary:
April 11th: Arrival Quito —> Pifo
You can rest easy knowing all the logistics are taken care of for you. Whether you're arriving early or late, we'll have a team member waiting for you at the airport, ready to take you to our accommodation. Today will be all about getting over jet lag and meeting the team! We'll host an official dinner tonight and go over the plan for the rest of our trip!
April 12: City Tour - Pifo Climbing
Day two, we'll explore the world's tallest capital city, Quito. After breakfast, we head out into the city center for a historical tour. We'll explore local markets and try some of the delicious Ecuadorean cuisines. In the afternoon, we'll head back to our accommodation and prep for theseto do some climbing, pack, gear ,sort, adventurous next couple of days.
April 13: Tangan
Today we'll be traveling deep into the cloud forest to columns of Tangan. This is a landscape that celebrates biodiversity in astounding ways and is an area that needs our help! We'll plant trees, continuing our work from projects in 2019, 2021, 2022 to help combat land erosion/habitat loss. Previous groups have helped plant over 200 native species of trees in the last two projects! We'll visit these trees and plant more of our own.
April 14: Climbing Day!
Wake up to the new year with the sites and sounds of the Ecuadorean Andes! After breakfast, we'll get to go rock climbing on the basalt towers of Tangan! All ropes will be put up for us by certified climbing instructors, and no previous rock climbing experience is required. After a fun day on the wall, we'll give you some time to explore, play in the waterfall and catch up on schoolwork. Tonight we'll have a family-style dinner and discussion about regenerative enterprise!
April 15th: Reforestation Project
Soulstainable's mission is to leave people and places better than we found them. One of the ways we've been able to fulfill this mission is through our reforestation efforts in Tangan. Over the last few years, we've planted 200+ native species in the surrounding areas to help combat land erosion and support a beautiful primary forest. Tangan has a rare and delicate ecosystem that is home to some of the world's most endemic species of birds. Today we'll give back and support our host, and land owner Don Ramiro keep this primary forest healthy.
April 16th: Tangan Exit.
We'll use the morning to finish any unclimbed projects and explore the waterfall. After lunch, we'll head back up the hill to plant more trees with the crew! We'll do some bird-watching on our way back down to camp. Finally, in the evening, we'll hop on our 4x4 and go back to Pifo to relax!
April 17th: Climbing in Papallacta and hot springs
We'll pack up, say goodbye to our beautiful Andean home, and head to Quilotoa Lagoon. The Lagoon is a water-filled crater lake formed by the collapse of the Quilotoa volcano. Its waters and the many activities that can be carried out both in them and on its shores, in addition to its beauty, are a popular attraction for locals and tourists. Get some rest tonight tomorrow, we go trekking!
