Ecuador Nature Tour

Upon your arrival in Quito, your English-speaking guide meets and greets you at the airport. Afterward he takes you to your hotel in Quito’s beautiful historic center. From here, your Ecuador Nature Tour can start!

Start the day’s activities with a visit to Quito’s colonial city center. It is Latin America’s biggest and best conserved historic center and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. During a walk around the old town, your guide will show you some of the most beautiful buildings and churches. We recommend going up the hill “Panecillo” from where you have an amazing view over the city. In the afternoon, you visit the botanical garden at the Carolina Park. This park gives you an overview of the different ecosystems in Ecuador’s different geographic regions. It also contains an ethno-botanical and an orchid garden.

Meals: Breakfast

Today, you drive to the cloud forest of Nanegalito. After your arrival, you hike two hours through the forest of Sainta Lucia lodge. Really a tour through the Nature in Ecuador, right? The community-run Santa Lucia lodge and cabañas are located in the heart of the forest at the top of a mountain (1,900 meters), with panoramic views. Santa Lucia’s 1,800-acre cloud forest reserve is situated in one of the most bio-diverse areas in the world, the Choco Region. At just two and a half hours from Quito, this reserve consists of 80% primary forest and is home to the endangered Andean Spectacled Bear. Besides, over 400 species of birds including the Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Beautiful Jay and White-faced Nunbird live here. Also, this is home to an estimated 300 plus species of orchids. In the afternoon you can relax or do another hike to three waterfalls (walking time approx. 3 hours) or you take a short walk to the orchid garden. After dinner, you have the opportunity to do a night walk to see nocturnal animals and raptors. A good torch is highly recommended.

Meals: Breakfast

Today you can choose between various day activities: Early morning hike to the clay lick of Andean birds Whole day hike to the highest point of the reserve A hike to the Panela fabric (not always active) – 90 minutes Hike through the forest to three waterfalls (3-4 hours) A hike to the orchid garden with huge tree swing and support of the projects of Santa Lucia – 90 minutes

Meals: Breakfast

For the next two days, you visit the Mindo Lindo Reserve. The farm lays in about 1700 m and covers an area of 28 acres. Here you can find many different bird species, including 28 species of hummingbirds, different mammals and some reptiles. In just one hour you can see 12 different species of hummingbirds which come to the feeders around the house. These colorful birds aren’t shy, so you can observe them up close. On hikes through the forest, you can observe the beautiful flora and fauna. Enjoy a fresh herb tea of the garden and learn more about the sustainable usage of natural resources of Mindo Lindo.

Meals: Breakfast

Otavalo is famous for its enormous indigenous market. It is held every day on the Poncho Square, on Saturdays it extends and covers nearly a third of the whole town. You can find many different handicrafts produced in the surrounding villages: fine woven goods like blankets, hammocks, and tablecloths, jewelry made of silver or the tagua nut (also called vegetable ivory), musical instruments, leather goods, and many other things.

Meals: Breakfast

Explore the Cotacachi Cayapas Nature Reserve. Visit the Cuicocha Lagoon, which is inside the crater of the Cotacachi volcano, at an altitude of 3200 m. It is called “Lagoon of the Gods” by the local indigenous people. On a walk along the lake you can enjoy the region’s biodiversity, the view of the lake with its two small islands, and the landscape with the volcanos Cotacachi, Imbabura, and Cayambe.In the afternoon, you travel to the indigenous community of San Clemente, close to Ibarra, where your host family welcomes you to your guest room (private bathroom, hot water) and invites you to participate in their daily activities. Learn about their organic gardens and how they use the different crops. Enjoy dinner with them and exchange stories.

Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

This day you spend with the family, learn from and participate in their daily life.

Meals: Breakfast

In Ibarra, you board the “Tren de la Libertad” (Liberty Train). During the journey, you pass several tunnels and bridges and can enjoy the impressive landscape along the way. A different tour through the nature in Ecuador. Note the change from Andean highlands to the subtropical lowland of Salinas. Once you arrive in Salinas, there will be a presentation of traditional dances, and later a short walk around town and a visit to the Salt Museum.

Meals: Breakfast

The Polylepis Lodge lays in a private reserve. With the help of ecotourism, this reserve protects the last remaining part of the thousand-year-old forest of Polylepis Incana and the paramo andino with frailejones. The nature reserve covers an area of 15,700 ha and lies between 3600 m and 4700 m in altitude. The temperature varies between 6 °C and 11 °C. In the Polylepis- or Quinua-forest you can find bromelains, orchids, hummingbirds and mountain toucans. In the paramo of El Angel, there are the meditating monks and the frailejones gigantes, which can get 4 meters high. These endemic plants dominate the meager landscape. There are many lagoons like the Laguna del Voladero in this area. With a bit of luck you can spot a corsa fox, puma, Andean bear or condor.

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy another morning in nature, before you head back to Quito in the afternoon. You spend the night at a hotel close to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast in the hotel. In time for your flight, your guide takes you to Quito’s Airport. Hopefully you enjoyed the Ecuador Nature Tour.

Meals: Breakfast