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Living Conditions

The Dormitory

The first thing you have to accept if you want to come to Selva Chi is that life is humble and harmonious. There is only a small solar electrical generator and therefore no TV, radios, computers etc. We use a gas stove and 5W light bulbs. Water is collected from the rain and is sometimes conserved by bathing in the creek (without soap) or from a bucket beside the creek (with soap). The toilet is a composting latrine.

There is a dormitory in the loft and a guest room for a couple. The guest room is simple but clean and secure. The beds have a mattress and fine mosquito net but no sheets are provided. A tent with fine mosquito net is highly recommended.

The creek passes through the property 120m from the house

Food is based on rice, plantains and cassava (yucca). It is usually complemented with beans and/or available vegetables. There is an abundance of fruit. Volunteers usually help the cooking.

At times mosquitoes and midges can get very bad, but rarely at night or in the dry season. Long pants and repellent are highly recommended in the first half of the year.

Health and Safety

The bath tub

The area is quite remote, over an hour by public transport from the nearest town with internet and a variety of shops. The nearest public telephone is 15 mins away. It is on a dirt road which can deteriorate in the wet season but some public transport always seems to get in.

I have camped on the beach many times and felt completely safe. The local people are not violent by nature and you won't be threatened with a knife if you are wandering on a lonely beach - it just doesn't happen. However, sneaky theft of anything left unattended is a real risk. You won't need to bring in much money.

Tropical diseases are of very low occurrence in the area. A yellow fever shot is required to enter Ecuador but immigration officials don't check it. Tongorachí is officially in a malaria zone however it is very rare even in the wet season. Most local adults have never experienced the disease. If you have travelled to Asia or Africa you will realize that here it is much wiser NOT to use prophylactic anti-malarial tablets than to take them. Your bed has a good mosquito net. Effective medicine is available in local pharmacies.