Here are a few things we found while in Vilcabamba for children. There are many more activities like horseback riding, cycling or hiking, but these suited Zenchai's temperament and age best.
Centro Cultural Comunitario
This charming centre offers two creative classes for children of all ages. Both of these classes are a fantastic way to network with other parents (both local and foreign) and allow your child to dip into another culture by making new friends. You can find the Centro Cultural Comunitario on the road behind the Rendezvous Hostal along the river.
Mondays at 3pm there is a ceramics class with Lee. For 25¢ your dumpling can smash, squeeze and sculpt clay for 2 hours. Plus occasionally Lee will take the children to dig for their own clay. Staying with your child is optional and you can always wander up into the interior of the building to read a book, so you can be nearby or just relish a couple of hours of 'you' time.
Lee's chilled demeanour allows your babe the freedom to just get on with his/her own creative impulses or alternatively mould his/her clay in his example. Most of the time Zenchai just built mounds of clay and called them cars and Lee was very encouraging.
Wednesday & Thursdays at 3pm there is Recyclable Arts with Omar. Omar is an Ecuadorian super-eco-warrior with the patience of a saint, attentiveness of an angel and artistic ingenuity. These classes are also for 2 hours each and the princely sum of 25¢ per class will be collected. Again, parental supervision is optional, but for smaller kiddies it is almost a necessity to stay to help with cutting etc. (this can be dependant on the project too).
Each class is themed differently. Zenchai built a wind-chime with cuttings from plastic bottles, sticks and beads. In another class he made a piggy-bank with a plastic bottle and other items. These classes are really fun, informative and hands-on. Omar doesn't speak English, but he is very kind and gentle, so easy to understand (perfect for those wanting to learn a bit of Spanish too).
Abrams Family Tip: Wear long sleeves/trousers and take natural bug repellant as the mozzies and small biting flies can be real a nuisance.
La Piscina y Parque Zoologico
Heading towards the outskirts of the village square, tucked alongside the river is a public swimming pool and small zoo. The swimming pool consists of small paddling pool, larger general pool and a splash pool that has a slide attached to it. During the week the pool is virtually empty. But if you want to mingle with the locals and have a more authentic experience then go at the weekends when the pool is absolutely heaving. Admission for an adult is $1 and 75¢ for children.
The park also hosts a small zoo, which consists mainly of caged birds. As a family we aren't huge advocates of zoos, but at least this zoo did not have any large, sad looking mammals.
Within the park grounds there are picnic areas and a play area with various climbing frames, swings and slides.
Admission to the park and zoo are separate from the pool - I can't recall the exact amount, but it was pocket change.
Vilcabamba Parque Central - Village Square
At almost anytime of the day or night there are a variety of children playing in the square. This is a great place for your child to meet other children. Bring along a few play things, keeping in mind to bring something to share if an unexpected playmate appears. Splashing in the fountain is an unavoidable temptation as is running through the various little maze-like paths.
Vilcabamba River
There are many spots along the river where you can take your kiddie to play. Our favourite was the river area that runs adjacent to the piscina and zoo. There were many shallow spots in which to wade, splash or drop rocks into. You'll often see locals bathing and doing their laundry too.
Abrams Family Travel Tip: It has been suggested to us that it might be a good idea to have your children checked for parasites before leaving the country, especially if your kiddies splashed about in water at lower, more tropical altitudes where there's a much higher rate of "catchable cooties". We'll have more about how to do this in another post.
Football Fever
Just along from the zoo is a football pitch (basketball hoops too) where you can enjoy endless hours of playing football, practicing drills and dribbling. The pitch is concrete so wearing long bottoms to prevent scraped knees might be a good idea.
Village Park - Next to the Coliseo - Indoor Sports Hall
This park is almost rarely used (at least when we were there) during the week. On Sundays there are a fair few adults there playing volleyball and the like. The children's equipment is a bit dilapidated, but there is plenty of green space to run about - or in Zenchai's case plenty of space to find huge sticks to play with in the dirt.
Adjacent to the park is a very grassy football pitch and just beyond the field is an empty rodeo ring, which may be thrilling for a youngster.
The Coliseo is easily found as it is a rather large building with Olympc rings painted on the outside. It's about five blocks behind the church in the square.
enjoyed reading this blog......I was almost there with you. G'mere
Posted by: Neda | 30 April 2010 at 10:09 AM