A Dangerous Turning Point: Entering the Land of the Savages

 The Amazon 5000 Expedition Continues

The Amazon Jungle is full of wonder and mystery, but it is also full of danger. In the remote jungle there are no rules, there is no enforcement,  everyone lives by the law of their own land.

No one knows this more than the 4 indigenous tribesmen who have joined Mickey for the Amazon 5000 Expedition. These men have been born and raised in the jungles of the Amazon. This jungle is their home, their playground and yet there is still a part of
this jungle that brings much fear to these people.It is the land of the Tagaeri's.

In the heart of the Amazon Jungle, near the Ecuadorian/Peruvian border is the territory of the Tagaeri's. The Tagaeri Tribe is one of the last known uncontacted indigenous tribes in the world. They live a very primitive life and are hostile to those who cross their territory. They are most known for their deadly weapon, the spear. Known as one of the world's most violent tribes, they are in every essence of the word, savages.

The Tagaeri, once a part of the Huaorani tribe, live in voluntary isolation and have a distrust of the outside world due to the deforestation controversial oil companies are doing in the area that has been killing off their food source. Living off the land, it is essential that they protect it by any means possible. It is the most valuable thing to them, they can not survive if their food sources are contaminated, consumed, burned or torn down.

In his years as adventures leader in the Amazon basin region, running his Eco-Planet Adventure travel company, Mickey had a brush with fate. Mickey had a brief close encounter with the Tagaeri people. He knows first hand about this tribe.  Now Mickey and his team are about to enter this perilous land of the Tagaeri people to continue the lengthy Amazon trek of 5000 miles East. This most ominous path he is taking now will bring aboard a great chance he will encounter with the Tagaeri people - once again! The only difference is then he traveled only at the outskirts of this territory while now he is intending to cross straight through it, into the heart of the Tagaeri land.

Many stories about encounters with the Tagaeri's turned deadly. One of the most famous encounters was depicted in the film End of The Spears. A film about missionaries who came to visit the tribe and were speared to death as soon as they arrived to the community.

These events, encountering the Tagaeri, hit close to home for Amazon 5000 expedition team member, Bartolo. Bartolo has a horrifying story of his own.  

Read here as Mickey unfolds a very dark moment from Bartolo's past and what happened when his family encountered the Tagaeri's...  

   

Mickey:
Bartolo is a 38 year old Ecuadorian from Pavacachi, a member of the Kichwa tribe.  I have known this man for a little over 6 years, he has helped me on several occasions as a guide while I led my eco-adventure survival courses through his land located at the Amazon basin.  Bartolo is a helpful member of the Amazon 5000 expedition team, he is the strongest of the indigenous and has the most energy.  He served some time on duty in the Ecuadorian military where his physical strength and strong mental endurance probably came from.  

After a short break of few days  in my expedition, giving my team members time to gain energy back, I am now preparing to embark on Leg 6 to my expedition and ready to enter the dangerous land of the savage. For the past several days I have met  with local people of the region and interviewed them about the Tagaeri tribe and their known habits to the locals in that stretch of land I am about to cross . Bartolo, who lives with his family along the South edge of the Tagaeri territory became agitated as our final preparation took final shape. Its obvious he is nervous. He carries a heavy load of memories on his strong built shoulders and he decided he will share it with the expedition team so we will all know what’s ahead of us. At no point did Bartolo suggest he is pulling back and leaving the expedition.

We are sitting by the fire letting the last light of the day vanish into the canopies and the last sound of the Amazon birds turn to silence. 

 
Knowledge is power and I agree with Bartolo and support his decision to tell us all his story:

Bartolo:
The Tagaeries are a family clan that separated from the Huaorani tribe.  They are a very violent and vicious tribe that remains uncontacted to this day!  

 
About 8 years ago my father in-law, mother in-law, and my 6 year old son were traveling up the Curary river to bring their load of fruit from our land to a far friendly community along the river. they stopped on the way and camped out riverside in a small thatched roof shelter that they quickly fixed up before night fell that day.  Being all alone  and knowing the jungle rules they purposefully camped out on the South riverside that was opposite of the Tagaeri territory to avoid any confrontation with them.  The river was by local acquiescence the border between the Kichwa and the Tagaeri tribes. One accepts civilization, the other not! The Tagaeri are hostile to the Kichwa community for adapting civilization.

My family woke up around 05:30 (as costumed here) to prepare a fire for breakfast.  My father in-law was busy preparing the fire while the grandmother and grandson - my child - were down at the river washing. It was a peaceful morning not revealing what is about to happen. They have not noticed they were followed the evening before by eyes and shadows hiding behind the thick jungle trees on the North side of the river. Under cover of darkness of that night while my family slept sound a small group of the Tagaeri had swam across the river and prepared to attack my family. they waited until first light to make their move.  My father in-law was the first to be attacked... when I went later that day to seek for them I found my father in-law’s body with 13 spears pierced into his heart and soul.  The Tagaeries, as per their custom, marked their kill by leaving their spears in him.

And then, they hid again!
When grandma and my son came up back to camp she immediately noticed her husband’s lifeless body impaled by the Tagaeries’ spears.  she began to scream frantically!  Yelling for her grandson to go run as far as he can and hide!  My son could not move at first, she pushed him and his feet finally began to move and he ran into the jungle and hid.  From his hiding place he watched in horror as the Tagaeries impaled his grandmother with 6 spears.  Holding back his cry, understanding this is a very bad moment he looked at the scene with eyes wide open afraid they will come after him next.  

 
The Tagaeries did not wait too long after they killed my in-laws and began to strip them of all their belongings.  They then looked for my son, but couldn’t find him. luckily he had a very good hiding spot and remained undiscovered.  

When the Tagaeries finally left, my young boy stayed hidden without a move until nightfall. It  began to rain very hard and he knew he had to survive.  All alone and with no one to help him he went back to the shelter my in-laws built the night before and cuddled up against his grandparents bodies. Frightened and tired he fell asleep shortly after. The next day he traveled along the river until he saw some people riding a canoe. They picked him up and brought him back to my community where he fell to my arms and told me what had happened.  

It took him two days to finally get home and be comforted by his family for the horrors that befell his eyes. Once I heard my son’s story I went immediately down river to see for myself what my son’s eyes witnessed  and to retrieve the bodies.  When I arrived to the site my in-laws still had the spears in them and were laying lifelessly in the same places where the Tagaeries murdered them.  
My son is still very disturbed from that event.  He is now 14 years old and cries every time someone asks him about that horrific day.  

As Mickey and his team progress on the Amazon 5000 Expedition they will now be entering the land of the Tagaeri's. After hearing Bartolo's chilling story it is clear just how dangerous this expedition really is. Passing through this land has cast a dark shadow over the team and they move with much caution and now carry arms.  The anticipation has frightened one team member so much he has chosen to depart mid-route!

But the Tagaeri's are not the only dangers that lie in the jungle and along this expedition Leg. If Mickey chose to avoid the danger of running into the Tagaeri tribe his only other option would be to follow the Napo river down to Peru. As soon as he crossed the border into Peru territory he would be entering the Red zone of the drug underworld. Narcotics are trafficked along the watery highway here, the same watery highway pirates and bandits patrol.

Mickey was faced with a dilemma. Shall he proceed through the thick jungle and risk facing the ferocious warriors of the Tagaeri Tribe or dare sticking to the river and running into the drug infested world of the amazon jungle?

What would YOU have done if you were in Mickey's shoes?

 Bartolo's story as you have just read here, has been filmed on location of the Amazon 5000 Expedition for Mickey's documentary the Impossible, Possible Journey! So that you (the reader) will be able to watch Bartolo tell it all on film.

Alexander Hernandez Recaps His Miles in Mickey's Shoes

Alexander Hernandez

Amazon 5000 Documentary Casting Video Submission

 

Meet Alexander Hernandez, your not so typical banker and financial adviser. Take a good look at this clean cut business man, he just spent 2 weeks trekking along brutal terrain in South America with Amazon 5000 Expedition Team Leader, Mickey Grosman. 

From his first video submission to his extreme fundraising tactics it was clear, Alex was daring (watch Alex's fundraising challenge HERE ). He had a sense of adventure instilled in him. More than this, he had a real passion for the cause and supporting Mickey's mission to Reignite the Fight Against Cancer.

Read below in Alex's own words as he describes the two weeks he spent with Mickey on the Amazon 5000 Expedition. His experience of going from the urban jungle in the city into the wild in the jungle.

  MY AMAZON EXPEDITION BY ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ

Sometimes it is darkest before the dawn, or in this case cold and "wettest" just before the successful warm and dry.  You will not give up, even though you will be tested by pain.  You will not turn back, even though you get lost.  You will only persevere.  You will pass through with the blessing from the jungle and forest.  You will succeed not because of your strength’s but because sometimes people have no other choice.  Your desire and want can be enough.  I believe in my friends and I have no doubt about your strengths (I witnessed them first hand).   Think warm and happy thoughts, tighten the ankle a little bit more, cut the bush a little lower, and take an extra long step.

 It still feels a little like a movie.   You know the feeling when you come out of that suspenseful movie that kept you on the edge of  your seat for the full two hours.  Then you hit the real world and  you are relieved.  The movie screen world is intense  but your glad that you can breath a little more controlled now and your blood pressure seems to be dropping after you walk out of the theater.  Then you recount with your friends or family those Hollywood moments that took your breath away.  I can look back on my experience in the Amazon and it almost seems like a movie.  It almost feels like my real life experience was a 14 day long movie theater that played out the best and worst of a protagonists role.    It almost seems like those moments of danger and terror are a long gone movie moment that is now behind me.  Yet sometimes I relive them and remember that I was really there.  I remember that I was in real danger.  I remember that my health and life were constantly at risk.   Yet oddly enough I am grateful for it.

I traveled to the Amazon, June 6^th of 2012.  That day was actually turning out to be one of the more beautiful summer days in Orlando, Florida.  I awoke early in the morning, kissed my wife and kids goodbye and made the 3 hour drive to Miami to depart on the 3:00pm LAN Airline trip to Quito, Ecuador.  My initial destination before the dark.

The plane ride was uneventful.  Like most plane rides should be.  I arrived at the capital of Ecuador sometime after 8:00pm.  I was greeted at the airport by two of the local travel guides that delivered me quickly to my  hotel.  The hotel left much to be desired.  The entrance looked more like an abandoned house.  The toilet had no seat or cover.  The bed looked more like my shag carpet from the 70’s, but with a 2010 expiration date and way passed its life cycle.  I believe the last person to sleep in it was a mountain man because he had left part of his beard on the pillow.  I was told to be ready by 6:00am to be picked up for the start of my expedition.

I made myself as comfortable as possible on top of the sheets and went to bed.  The sleep was intermittent as a couple fought in the room next to me and the other three surrounding rooms coordinated a party.  I was sure I heard a gun shot in the middle of the night, but hoped that it was a table being tipped over at the party. 

That morning I decided to put a positive attitude forward no matter what the experience.  I put on my favorite Mickey Mouse socks.  These socks have a colorful design of our infamous Mickey Mouse swinging a golf club dressed to the “tee” in his golf apparel.  I strapped on my jungle boots that were purchased on sale, grabbed my 70 lb backpack of gear and headed thru the door.  I was picked up by the same two local travel guides.  The hailed a cab and drove me about 2 hours to the west and dropped me off at the expedition checkpoint.  My journey really begins.

A little sleepy from the exhaustive night and trip, I nevertheless embraced the moment.  I was going to do this for something greater then me.  I was going to do this for all the people that contributed money to this cause.  I was going to do it for all those people that are fighting cancer and all those friends and families that we have lost.  It was to show the world that some of those things that we perceive as impossible are in fact possible.  They just require a whole lot of guts, hard work, dedication, and sacrifice.  I wanted to do this so my children and my children’s children one day will see this and say:  we can do great things for others and ourselves.  We can do the impossible.  

I was dropped off that morning in a little town called Nono.  This was to be my starting point and also a checkpoint for the expedition.  At the checkpoint I was asked to unpack all of my belongings so they can view my gear and make sure that I am fully equipped.  “You never know when we can stop and check your items again“, said Mickey.  In an accent so thick I had to ask a native Indian to repeat what he was saying.  They placed everything in my bag, strapped it on me and started to move.  I of course paraded around showing everyone my Mickey Mouse socks to  kind of ease the tension.  A tension that immediately started when I told them that I worked at a bank.  I could interpret the look on their face.  It was the “oh no” look.  The “oh no”  here is another one.  “Oh  no” another pain in our midst and failure waiting to happen.  The look didn’t deter me, but my tension breaking Mickey Mouse socks later turn out to be my biggest burden. 

We started walking right after that down a dirt road.  We continued walking down the dirt road.  Past small make shift bridges and beautiful woods.  We kept walking past more woods and now small mountains.  We continued walking, now up bigger mountains and about 1 hour into it, I started to develop blisters.  Darn those socks.   

We didn’t seem to stop walking.  We walked past plants, wildlife, bushes, and even lunch.  I could not however walk past my blisters.  They were now with me for the length of my expedition.  That ice breaker and joke was backfiring big time.  I finally got the courage to mention to the expedition leader, Mickey that I had blisters.  Mickey had everyone stop.  He was going to inspect my feet.  That is when one of the many first tests of pain began.  The remedy consisted of four parts.  First checking to see if the blister was ruptured or needed rupturing. Second after the rupturing was the dousing of my blisters with iodine.  Not the cute small square swab you get at the hospital but the10% Iodine bottle that flows maliciously through your pours, cuts, scrapes, and irritated skin.  The third part would not typically be classified as a part of the treatment, but believe me it was needed.  The third part of the treatment was my jumping, kicking, screaming in an attempt to diffuse away the pain radiating up each leg.  Some call it a breather.  I like to call it an integral part of any healing process.  The final part just as painful and was a preview to later pains to come that night .  The wrapping.  Mickey then tightly wrapped each one of my feet in gray duct tape.    I was a soldier in the making.   

A soldier for a cause.   A soldier with gray feet that continually shot aching pains up my spine.  A warrior for a cause that very well may not be the warrior he thought he was and all of this only a couple of hours into what turned out to be a 20 mile walk on my first day of my 14 day commitment.  What had I gotten myself into.  Could I really do this for all those people that believed in me.  Could I really do this for a child with cancer.  I began to question myself.  I began to question everything.

Words of encouragement!

YOUR SUPPORT MEANS A LOT TO ME. THANKING YOU ALL FOR THE WARM WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT POSTED ON MY WALL. KNOWING THAT BY CROSSING THE AMAZON ON MY 5000 MILE EXPEDITION I CAN INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE SO MANY PEOPLE WHOM THEIR LIVES HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY CANCER, GIVES ME THE ENGINE POWER NEEDED TO MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE!
MICKEY GROSMAN

SHARE YOUR OWN STORY AND SUPPORT:
LETS FIGHT CANCER TOGETHER!

***Kim Smallwood-Jones Wow, so inspired yes I recently loss my husband In may 2011. I do this in remeberance of my late husband R.i.p. Randall Ethan Jones. There is so much we still need to learn about cancer. I wish u the best on ur adventure!!!! God Bless!!!!! ANYTHING i can do to help spread the news!!!!!

***Pazaria Smith 

God bless you Mickey. I am praying for you. If you can do this, everybody can do something.

***Iris Canterbury 

Much Love, Respect and Prayers Mickey.

January 9 at 7:09pm

***Cammlot Survival

Grate stuff. I like the whole idea. Will spread among my friends in Poland.

My and my family are with you! All the best.

***Adi Etkin

מיקי בהצלחה הכל אשר תלך אין סיכוי שאני מגיע לג׳ונגל מרצוני הטוב .... אבל אני מחזיק לך אצבעות ומצדיע לך על האומץ ועל האתגר שלקחת על עצמך המשך להגשים חלומות ולנצח !!! בהערצה עדי

Trans: Mickey much success wherever you go. no chance that I get to the jungle of my own will .... But I'm holding my fingers for you and salute you for the courage and the challenge you taking upon yourself in continuing to fulfill dreams and win! Witn admiration, Adi

***Mike Spear

Congratulations on all your progress, and on your feature in this week'sStayClassy weekly. The Amazon 5000 is off to an amazing start so far!

***Frida Pelz Dunayer 

מיקי, תמיד ידענו שאתה תותח אמיתי....שיהיה בהצלחה...אוהבים אותך....

Trans: Mickey, we always knew you were a real gun .... Good luck ... love you ....

***David Christopher Cohen 

Good luck with the adventure mickey. Certainly not for the faint hearted.

***Ken Saveth
Awesome endeavor for a great cause.

***Ryan Morgan
Very nice Mickey Grosman! May you stay safe while receiving the rewards of exploring into the unknown of both the physical and mental realms.

***Sean Towlson
Hey Mickey, thanks for the Add, lost my Father to Cancer 2 years ago, your expedition means a lot. Will be supporting and spreading the word Brother and keeping an eye on your progress

Sean Towlson: Wow, thanks Mickey, I will be posting your updates regularly on my wall and those of my friends. You will be carrying the hopes and dreams of many, God Bless you to!

***Kellie Nightlinger
The Amazon 5000 is inspiring both because of the purpose of raising money for cancer patients and their families and because of the length and difficulty through such rough terrain. No one better to accomplish such a feat than Mickey.

***Judy Adkins
Hi Mickey,
just wanted to drop a line to say thank you for doing the event Amazon 5000 for the cure...My son Michael passed away of cancer it will be 2 years this Wednesday 14TH...it makes me feel good that there are people out there who care...so thank you from my heart..Judy

***Christopher Duke
FINALLY!! a group I am honored to be a part of , thanks for having me.

***Jorge Luis Serrano: that is AWESOME!!

***Matt Galvin
Excited to watch you complete this endevor. Good luck!

***Spencer Alan Reiter: Mickey,
My mom had cancer back before all the pink ribbons and such. Her story is a incredible one to say the least. She is a survivor and still kicking ass on planet earth. Look forward to helping your cause to help others.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family.
SAR

***Sam Dawson
Hi Mickey Grosman. We are currently working on setting up info to guide people to your info.

***Tommy Kiefer
Waaaayyyyyyy! That looks crazy and a little fun! Good luck Mickey!

***Michele Kreider: Bravo Mickey! Looks horrible:) Be very careful of the most deadly of species... man.
You have my support and prayers,
Michele

***Glen Heuker: I'm fully behind you guys, my wife had cancer the first time in 1999 and had a relapse in 2007 with metastases. I know what it is and have a lot of sympathy for your noble cause.

Back from the Amazon Jungle - Preview

This was an exciting adventure, well documented by our cameras. A lot of stories we have recorded straight from the mouth of the team members in real time on the ground.
Did they fear for their life...? absolutely did. Organized retreat to a safer location...? had to do it! Did they quickly sharp sticks to spears using their machetes...? oh yeah! very quick! Yes they did!
All was there: team anxiety, sleepless nights, excitement, physical and mental endurance challenges, hunts for food, unique encounter incidents with the jungle wildlife and with the Amazonian indigenous people, and more.
Many real adventure elements I was hoping for has happened on this expedition.
Will EXPEDITION AMAZON's adventurers join me on my next adventures? In a heartbeat...so they say.
The up coming meet up event of Sat. Mar.20, 2010 is about telling these stories by the people I have lead throughout the jungle. Video journal will be presented as well as free beer and BBQ. (see details on Eco-Planet Adventure facebook event page).
Hope to see you there.

For our fans and friends out of Florida and from around the world, we will stream live again, broadcasting the event via Ustream.tv.com. Will send you the broadcast details soon. You can sit then by your computer and interact live with EXPEDITION AMAZON team, online. (sorry, no free beer and BBQ for you...Your computer set cannot serve such :-)

Your in Adventures,
Mickey

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ECO-PLANET-ADVENTURE-X-treme-Challenge-Jungle-Expedition/95263852785?v=app_2344061033&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=356341425123&index=1

http://ecoplanetadventure.com/interest.html

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?vps=2&jsv=213a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100983954108198715359.000481eb41314f75f990b

LIVE from the Jungle! virtual meeting with EXPEDITION AMAZON team. don't miss it!

Watch EXPEDITION AMAZON team as they stream live via the Internet from the rural JUNGLE of the Amazon basin in Ecuador. Lead by Mickey Grosman, an IDF Special Forces veteran and the Founder of Eco-Planet Adventures, the adventurers teams from Central Florida and South California are scouting uncharted grounds of the Amazon in search for the amazon wildlife and indigenous people, while being trained in jungle survival by one of the special Elite units of Ecuador's military.

Watch them live on Feb.23, 2010 at 5:00PM eastern time
Click here to join the broadcasting:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ecoplanet

EXPEDITION AMAZON - summary

Expedition Amazon Ecuador is getting closer - The Countdown has begun.
On February 17, 2010 adventurist MickeyG is taking a small team aboard an exploration journey to scout uncharted grounds in the Amazon Basin - deep within the dense Primary tropical Rainforest of Ecuador, where the footprints of men are sparse, yet tracks from wildlife are always abundant!

With Mickey on the team is a nice body of Eco-challenge adventurists that participates regularly in adventures of all levels: Fire Marshal - rope expert and medic support. College professor, games inventor and adventure racer. Photographer, art designer and outdoor enthusiast. Navy pilot veteran who translates his military experience into incredible outdoor adventures. from East to West, Florida to California, the best of the best!

MickeyG - his years of service in the "IDF" special forces (Israeli defense forces) as well as his personable and high energy demeanor create a "perfect storm" of an individual to lead Eco-challenge seekers and outdoor enthusiasts through the jungle of Ecuador. He will be leading ECO-Planet adventure and SCOA teams on EXPEDITION AMAZON.

Expedition summary:

Trip duration: 14 days – First and last days are spared for international travel
Adventure duration: 12 day
Trip begins: February 17, 2010
Ending: March 2, 2010
Arriving at Quito – Ecuador's capital city early afternoon.

EXPEDITION AMAZON, its discoveries and adventure sport accomplishments will be shared with friends and families at home via SPOT GPS tracking device and will be streamed live from the Jungle via Satellite. with technology willing, daily updates will be posted on Eco-Planet Adventure Blog and on Facebook and Twitter. simply follow EPA


Expedition route and tentative time frame:

Day 1 – Arriving Quito – The capital city of Ecuador – Group welcome meeting early evening - overnight at a Quito.

Day 2 – Volcano Cotopaxi - High altitude climbing towards Cotopaxi's glacier observation located at about 5 km/16,000 ft elevation. Cold weather. Mountain bike ride down the steep slope. Overnight at Baños .

Day 3 – Flight to Pavacachi – Eco-Planet's campground base, 200 miles into the rural Amazon basin jungle. Dugout canoe ride to the Jungle camp. Tropical weather.

• 7 days Jungle expedition begins at Pavacachi - the indigenous Amazonian Qichua tribal community, and continues to Baumeno – the Yasuní indigenous Huaorani tribal community.
• Accommodation: Sleeping in tents along the river lagoons or on the raised river banks.
• Food source is variety of fish we catch, yuccas, plantain, chicha and food trading with by pass local boaters / hunters.

Day 4 – Jungle survival training day, led by Amazonian native jungle survivalists' pros and by our Special Forces veterans' team. Jungle Expedition begins right after with river rafting on self made balsa rafts. (Teams competition)

Days 5–6-7-8-9 - Expedition and jungle exploration continues to include trekking and dugout canoe rides along the Curaray river down to the Peru boarder, where Curaray and Cononaco rivers meets and where the Amazon wildlife rules. Expedition continues up the Cononaco stream towards Baumeno.

Day 10 – A day with the Huaorani at Baumeno. traditional hunting demonstration in the jungle and cultural interaction with the tribal community. Local jungle sport competitions.

Day 11 – Flight to Shell – Party bus ride up the Andes to Baños, a colorful town that sit at the foothill cliff of Volcán Tungurahua. - Overnight at Baños

Day 12 – Mountain and River sports – White water rafting level 4 and spectacular waterfall repelling of 100 ft. or more.

Day 13 – Back to Quito and to La Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) – the Equator

Day 14 – Leaving Ecuador back home.

Remember:
Adventure is the state of mind that leads you to where others fear to tread...
GO EXPEDITION AMAZON!
http://www.spotadventures.com/trip/view?trip_id=185197

EXPEDITION AMAZON - Feb.17, 2010

We are happy to inform you that we were recently approached by FOX TV NEWS ORLANDO. They are considering covering our EXPEDITION AMAZON story. For that reason they are asking to interview some of the adventurers who will join our Feb. 17, 2010 expedition to Ecuador's Amazon rainforest.They want to know what personal reason do you have to go on a trip that other people (not adventurers) would never consider going on...! they are looking for a character-driven storyline to parallel Mickey's - our Adventures leader, and/or for a compelling personal back-story.

If you believe your own story as adventurer belong to the group of those who are constantly seeking an out of the comfort zone challenges, or if you have a personal compelling story which is the reason you wish to join EXPEDITION AMAZON, and of which you are willing to share, please send us your story via email to any of the following:

email: Eco-planet@live.com email:
customerservice@ecoplanetadventure.com
Facebook as a personal message or post your story on our wall.

Stories entries will be considered for TV coverage only for those who will participate EXPEDITION AMAZON. Eco-Planet Adventure will submit
qualified stories to FOX NEWS ORLANDO. FNO will be the final and the
only entity to decide which story to air, all of which is subject to
their own consideration and at their own desecration and in their own decision of covering our Expedition story.

STORIES SUBMISSION DEADLINE is: DECEMBER 31, 2009.
EXPEDITION AMAZON TRIP RESERVATION DEADLINE is: DECEMBER 31, 2009.

For more information and for February 17, 2010 trip reservation please call us at: 1-866-258-1793 or contact us via email.
To reserve your space online click on the link below and complete the
request form. Upon your initial reservation we will send you a detailed
Trip kit for the completion of your trip booking.
http://www.ecoplanetadventure.com/reservation.html

Let 2010 begin with an unforgettable Adventure into the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador, South America! Challenge yourself while taking your soul on a journey. It’s time fulfill your curiosity and lust for life, brave the wilderness, and join our Eco Adventure - EXPEDITION AMAZON!

February 2010 - EXPEDITION AMAZON adventure!

February 2010 EXPEDITION AMAZON adventure is a GO!

At this time, we wrapping up all preparations for the new Exploration journey to scout uncharted grounds in the Amazon Basin - deep within the dense Primary tropical Rainforest of Ecuador, where the footprints of men are sparse, yet tracks from wildlife are always abundant! Reserve your spot today and save: http://www.ecoplanetadventure.com/interest.html

It is a challenging multi-sport and jungle exploration adventure that begins in the Andes' high altitude volcanoes mountains, down the Amazon dense Rainforest and ends up at the Equator. It includes dugout canoe rides, jungle trekking, Volcano climbing, mountain biking, white-water rafting, spectacular waterfall repelling and more.

First day at the Rainforest will begin with a jungle survival training day, led by Amazonian native jungle survivalists' pros and by our Special Forces veterans' team. jungle Expedition begins right after with river rafting on self made Balsa rafts - Teams competition!

The Feb. 2010 challenging Jungle expedition will start at Pavacachi, a small and isolated native community of Amazonian Quichua – located several hundred miles deep in the rural tropical Rainforest of Ecuador, which can be reached only by a small aircraft via air travel. Bearing east towards Peru on Curaray river and then up the Cononaco river towards Baumeno we will ride dugout canoes on a 6 to 7 day river voyage. We will arrive at a juncture where the Curaray and Cononaco Rivers meet and where the Tropical wilderness is dense and thriving! This landmark location is also one of the sites where the indigenous Huaorani tribes are known to thrive. Eco Planet expedition team will join them in exploration of the diverse Amazon ecosystem, surviving off the land and seeking out incredible wild life, exotic plants, and species - some of which have yet to be discovered!

This challenging adventure will be lined with muddy foot-paths and river passageways, sleeping in tents along the rivers' lagoons and on the rivers' banks. Using dugout canoes and other regional resources, we will pioneer new grounds of eco-travel for the future benefit of our fellow Eco Planet Adventurers.

Exploring the Amazon in a small group of adventurers, we strive to keep the jungle Eco-system in balance without interfere its existing environment. We stand for law impact, yet mind-blowing adventures.

Trip duration: 14 days – First and last days are spared for international travel
Adventure duration: 12 days
Departure date: February 17, 2010
Returning: March 2, 2010
Arriving at Quito – Ecuador's capitol city

We will share this Adventure travel and its discoveries with friends and families at home, streaming live from the Jungle with Satellite and SPOT tracking devices.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW to join February 2010 EXPEDITION AMAZON: http://www.ecoplanetadventure.com/reservation.html

Yours in Adventure,

Eco-Planet Adventure team

GO EXPEDITION AMAZON

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GO EXPEDITION AMAZON!

A challenging multi-sport and jungle exploration adventure into the remote Amazon basin, lead by highly trained special forces veterans. Jungle expedition, river canoeing,wilderness interaction, survival experience, volcanoes climbing, white water rafting and waterfalls repelling.
We will get your adrenalin pumping - guaranteed!
866-258-1793
www.ecoplanetadventure.com

Adventure is a state of mind that leads you to where others fear to tread…

EXPEDITION AMAZON has just begun! Our small group of Eco-conscious and thrill seeking adventurers - all from central Florida - are prepared to face new challenges in an Extreme Challenge Jungle Expedition Adventure that bears toward the heart of Ecuador’s Amazon basin. Our journey entails the interaction with Ecuador’s native wildlife and indigenous tribes, expanding the limits of discovery!

When we arrived at Quito, Ecuador on Wednesday afternoon, we were escorted by Juan Carlos to Hotel Quito – one of the most prestiges and comfortable hotels in the city. Surprisingly and contrary to the nature of our Trip, we quickly understood that staying there for the first night would be the last pampering event such adventure would offer. As we stepped out of the hotel for a short stroll on the streets, we realized that the adventure has started right there. With all of us living in Florida, at sea level, Quito’s high altitude of 9,184 ft punched us at the chests. We tried to cover up the heaviness we felt, but without much success. Only the activities of the day after made us realize that this afternoon of visiting the old City of Quito was only the opening shot. Each day, endurance requirements grew larger.

On day 2 of our trip, as we started bearing south towards the Cotopaxi glaciered Volcano along the Avenue of Volcanoes in La Cienega, we couldn’t help but feel isolated in this 203 mile-long valley. Located between the major cordillera ranges, the Avenue of Volcanoes stands massive and alone. We were quick to notice that these volcanoes provide a brooding, snow-covered contrast to the green equatorial lushness. Along the way there were snow-capped summits, mystical brooks and rivers, terraced farmlands, and small villages of fascinating cultures.

At 19,347 ft above sea level, and rising majestically above the Andean mountains, the Cotopaxi Mountain welcomed our arrival. It is Ecuador’s highest active volcano and one of the most breathtaking volcanoes anywhere in the region. The experience of adjusting to 5 climates at once is quite a rush; the Ice Glacier, Paramo, Andean Temperate, Cloud Forest and the Rainforest are all the variety of seasons we found in just one day.

As we reached the Cotopaxi national Park we ascended by foot to 16,000 ft in altitude - reaching the José Ribas refuge at the foothill of the Cotopaxi snow-capped glacier. There, we observed its marvels from up-close. It is a difficult task to trek in such high altitudes while climbing in the cold, moisture-freezing weather, but the chance to see its summit on a clear day from such proximity proved to be worthwhile. Fifteen minutes prior to us reaching the glacier foothill, a large section of it has collapsed. We arrived at this area while the snow was still fresh and glimmering – strong evidence to natures’ power, perhaps even to global warming.

At this altitude and inside the perimeter of the park, there were many chances to observe a multitude of wildlife - not visible to the naked eye at first, but then made clear as daylight as we adjusted to the environment. The infamous Condor is one bird life we look for, as well as the Orange-Faced Falcon (Carunculated Caracara) and the Andean seagull (viewed at 4000m and above). The typical mammals frequenting the park are the Andean fox (named Colpeo), which we encountered in close proximity. The red Colepo came in couples, munching the snow and observing us with no rush or reason to run away.

Biking our way down the Volcano, we descended through graveled surfaces and rugged terrain. With our heads still aching from high altitude exposure, such rough mountain bike ride escalated the Extreme experience and was a reminder to the level of endurance we require to perform well on this Eco-Adventure. Going down the side of the Cotopaxi Volcano, through its various climates has proven itself to be one of the first great challenges on the way to the Amazonian basin.

From this point, it took us 3 hours to drive down the tremendous Western Andes cliffs to Baños, the foothill town of the Tungurahua active Volcano. This colorful and quite town, gave us the comfort and tranquility we all so needed after such a day full of challenges.

At this checkpoint, we rested to be briefed on the next day’s plans, checked personal jungle Gear, and prepared ourselves for the next morning flight to the jungle - Where the Jungle expedition begins…