Natural Ecuador

Day 1 - Bienvenidos a Quito!

Transfer from Quito Airport to the Hotel with English speaking assistance.

Overnight at La Casona de la Ronda for 2 nights with breakfast.

Day 2 - Quito’s Old Town & Teleferico

The place to start is the city’s impressive colonial centre, the reason Quito was the first city in South America to be named a world heritage site.

Walk through the main plaza, the ‘Plaza de la Independencia’, where you will see the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and some of the most important churches built around the XVI and XVII centuries. Then go off the beaten path and discover the sights, sounds, and smells of Ecuador’s capital on a tour that takes you to visit to a traditional food market. 

Then onto the cable car until to reach the top of the Cruz Loma hill close to the Rucu Pichincha Volcano. We’ll reach the top station, located on the summit of a hill locally known as Cruz Lima, offering access to hiking trails and stunning views of Quito and the surrounding Andes mountains.

Day 3 - The Cloud Forest

6:30 AM pick up from your hotel in Quito, heading to the western slopes of the Andes Mountains. Leaving Quito, we descend a scenic mountain road reaching the turn to Bellavista, you climb to the top of the mountain, again with fabulous views, where Bellavista’s lodge is perched. 

Arrival and breakfast in Bellavista. Settle into your room, and enjoy the flurry of the hummingbirds or take a hike into the forest on our varied trails. After lunch, you can take a hike on your own into the forest, or go on one of our (included) guided hikes or relax before the afternoon forest hike, where we will discover the ecology of this mysterious forest with chances of bird spotting.

Overnight at Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge for 1 nights with full board.

Day 4 - Birding in the Chocó Forest

An early morning bird hike is recommended to discover more about the colourful denizens of the forest. After breakfast, we offer the chance for an adventurous hike to a waterfall hidden deep in the forest. 

Others may prefer a more leisurely hike along trails closer to the lodge, or to simply soak in the fascination of the ever-present hummingbirds. After lunch, take a final short hike in the forest, or a peaceful siesta, until it is time to leave, normally at 15:00, to be back in Quito by around 17:00.

Overnight at Casa de Hacienda La Jimenita for 1 night with full board. 

Day 5 - Cultural & Natural Cotopaxi

We will travel to a traditional indigenous marketplace in the Cotopaxi area. After lunch, we’ll go to the Cotopaxi National Park where, weather permitting, you will be able to see the snowcapped summits of the Cotopaxi and Antisana volcanoes. 

We will also visit the Interpretation centre to learn about the history of this spectacular volcano’s major eruptions, as well as the local flora and fauna. We will then visit Lake Limpiopungo and explore the surrounding area on foot. If you feel like a longer walk, a 2 hours hike will take us to Mt. Cotopaxi’s J. Ribas refuge (4,800 m) where you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of the volcano and the surrounding Andean peaks.

Overnight at Chilcabamba Lodge for 2 nights with full board. 

Day 6 - Pita river trekking

Today, our hike goes through the Pita River which provides essential drinking water to hundreds of thousands of Quiteños (as Ecuador’s capital city residents are known). Its source is the pristine glacial melt water of Mt. Cotopaxi. These rushing waters will accompany us throughout much of our adventure. 

By hiking here, we are working to conserve the Pita River, as this activity is designed to raise awareness for both locals and visitors alike about the importance of this body of water, how conserving it is important, and how melting glaciers will impact our population.

Day 7 - Cotopaxi to Quito

Private transportation from Cotopaxi to Quito with English speaking Guide. On the way we might have the chance to see some magnificent mountains around the Volcano Avenue, like Antisana and Cayambe. 

In La Jimenita you will have options to look around and to learn about the history of the first settlers in the area.

Overnight at Hacienda La Jimenita for 1 night with breakfast.

Day 8 - Amazon

Transfer from Hotel to Quito Airport with English speaking assistance for the 0-minute flight to Coca, in the Amazon Rainforest. 

After a short transfer to the port, the real adventure begins! At the port you will get on a motorised canoe downstream the Napo River for 2 hours and after that, you will continue your way to the lodge on paddle-canoes –motorised canoes are not allowed within the Napo territory. This majestic and peaceful dugout canoe ride a narrow stream will lead you to the Añangu Lake, where the hotel is. Late in the afternoon, we will arrive to the Napo Wildlife Center where our staff will welcome you with drinks and show your rooms and other areas of the lodge.

Overnight at Napo Wildlife Center for 2 nights with full board.

Day 9 - Parrots' clay lick

Today, adventure at the Napo Wildlife Center begins early in the morning! In this second day at the premium Amazon Jungle tour, you will witness one of the most incredible nature spectacles you will ever see: the parrot clay licks. It is a real spectacle of colours, about 11 species of bird such as parrots, macaws and parakeets visit the clay licks every day to feed with the minerals that are concentrated in the soil. 

Later on, we will hike along the forest trail to visit the Kichwa Añangu community to share time with the men, women and children of the community and learning about their every-day-life activities, routines and their ancestral customs and traditions. Then, we will go back to the creek and go hiking for 30 minutes throughout a Terra Firme forest until reaching the second parrot clay lick to see a great variety of parrots, parakeets and macaws. 

Day 10 - Canopy observation tower

A delicious breakfast will be served at the NWC restaurant early in the morning. After that, we will depart to the Canopy Observation Tower, a high platform from which you will get a close up view of the most amazing views of the jungle. The tower is about 30 minutes from the lodge within the forest. This wooden platform of 36 meters high was built just next a huge and ancient Kapok tree.  

To get to the top you have to pass through different levels of the forest. Then, when you are finally there, the immensity and beauty of the Amazon jungle opens just before you.There are not enough words to describe it, you have to live it yourself! 

In the afternoon, after have lunch, we will go deep into a terra firme trail to discover the beautiful and mysterious wildlife that hides in the forest interior and at the black water Añangu Lake and streams.

Day 11 - Return to Quito

Last day, we will depart after an early breakfast to go back to El Coca city and repeat the adventure back to the airport, a ride on a paddle-canoe to the docking area and then embarking on a motorised canoe to the jungle town.

During this last excursion the creek may reveal new sights of rare bird species and monkeys and a Giant Otter will possibly show up to say good-bye to you!

Private transfer from Quito Mariscal Sucre airport to Hacienda La Jimenita. 

Overnight at Casa de Hacienda La Jimenita for one night. 

Day 12 - Departure

A private transfer will take you to the airport for your flight back home.

Hasta pronto Ecuador!