TRIP DESCRIPTION

Bird watching and trekking in the cloud forest of Ecuador 

This 9-day natural history and cultural adventure begins in the capital city of Ecuador, Quito. Situated at 9200 ft in the Andes this colonial city of over 5 centuries is ideal for acclimatization and sightseeing.

The following days take us from the high "paramo" or heathland at 14 000 ft down through the cloud forest to the spectacular Coca falls and the tropical rain forest. Nights are spent at 2 different hotel / lodges which feature thermal spring pools for a relaxing soak after each day's bird watching and hiking.

Level of trip difficulty is Easy / Moderate.

Trekking on the flanks of the Volcanoes of Ecuador

An 11-day natural history and cultural experience amongst the high Andean volcanoes. Beginning in Quito, capital city of Ecuador we spend our time horse back riding, (optional), trekking on the flanks of Cotopaxi, (Quechua for "the throat of fire"), the world's highest live volcano, rafting and visiting the nearby Indian markets.

Nights are spent at 16th Century haciendas, (many are still working ranches), and lodges affording spectacular views of the nearby snow – capped peaks.

Rafting is on Grade III and IV rivers in the western tropical cloud forest. Hiking is usually at elevations of 11 – 14 000 ft, (3500 – 5000 m).

Level of trip difficulty is Easy / Moderate

Biodiversity walks in the Western Cloud Forest of Ecuador

8 days starting in the high Andean city of Quito, capital of Ecuador. Time for a visit to the colonial part of the city, before heading out to the Equator monument, with bird watching along the route.

The next days are packed with nature walks along easy trails, in some the world's premier birding areas, including the famed Bellavista hummingbird sanctuary. Nights are spent at lodges deep in the cloud forest where visitors can appreciate the huge biodiversity the area offers.

Level of trip difficulty is Easy.

Whale watching and a visit to the Inca Treasure Island of La Plata

An 8-day adventure starting in the colonial city of Quito, capital of Ecuador, at 9200 ft in the Andes Mountains. (Departures may also leave from Guayaquil, Ecuador's principal port). A short flight then takes us to the desert coast of the Pacific. The next days allow time for whale watching, usually Humpback whales, a visit to the Isla de la Plata, where two major troves of Incan gold pieces and figurines identical to those found around the shores of Lake Titicaca have been unearthed. The local wildlife, a parody of the Galapagos Islands, includes the 3 species of boobies, red foot, blue foot and Nazca. We also explore nearby beaches, swim, relax, and hike through the unique tropical dry forest. Archaeological visits teach us about the earliest of all of the Eastern Pacific coastal civilisations.  Trip runs Sept. / Dec. (due to presence of whales).

Level of trip difficulty is Easy.

COUNTRY INFORMATION

Andes and Tropical Rainforest of Ecuador

Ecuador is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world.  Its equatorial location and the presence of the Andes mountain chain are the principal reasons for the existence of such varied climatic and vegetation zones. In an area of 103 000 square miles, (283560 km2) are to be found, at different altitudes, all of the climates that are found at different latitudes throughout the rest of the world.   More than 7 different ecosystems can be observed from the dry tropical desert of the coastal regions to the eternal snows of the high Andean peaks.   Due to its small size, it is possible to travel by car from the capital of Ecuador, Quito at 9200ft, (2800m), to the tropical coast in under 4 hours, passing through high paramo, high Andean forest, sub tropical and tropical cloud forest, and tropical rain forest.

The Andes, which run from north to south, divide the country into 5 regions; the western tropical rain forest, the western Andes, the high mountain plateau, the eastern Andes and the eastern tropical rainforest of the Amazon Basin.  All of these areas remain inhabited by native peoples that still maintain their traditions and cultures.

Travelling through the Andes one may see the most striking snow capped volcanoes, such as Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, (the world's highest active volcano), Antisana and Cayambe that tower thousands of feet above the surrounding countryside. All around a rich mosaic of highly productive farmland, traditionally all dairy, this has now become one of the world's foremost flower producing areas.  The highland cultures that inhabit the high Andes are also a focal point of our visits; not only for their varied traditional costumes, but also for the handy-crafts they produce.   We usually visit a number of native villages during our trips in the Andes, going directly to the workshops where we get to see the artists practicing their trade, a first hand experience that brings you directly into contact with the people in a way that cannot be experienced by just visiting the local weekly markets. 

One of our forte’s is trekking, so we have custom designed trekking trips to different parts of the Andes and the cloud forest.   These trips will immerse you in the local culture and give you unique opportunities for photography of landscapes, flora and fauna. Time as well for nature interpretation, as we descend  into the cloud forest  which boasts the highest ecological diversity of anywhere on the planet.

We also offer excursions to the tropical rain forest, either to the Kapawi Reserve in the southeast of Ecuador or to the Cuyabeno Faunistic Reserve which lies to the northeast of the country.   The tropical rain forest, on the foothills of the Andes has a higher biodiversity than the low Amazon basin, with many species that are endemic or unique to this area.

During our jungle expeditions, (jungle comes from the Sanskrit word "jangala" meaning dense vegetation),  we do day trekking to the Terra Firme or hill forest, canoe trips along the black water rivers and streams and we visit the flooded forest habitat along the riverbanks.  These three different ecosystems offer an enormous  variety, more than 4000 plants and trees, over 600 species of birds, over 100 species of mammals, and an indeterminable number of invertebrates within the lush greenery of the forest.

All of our trips involve local communities, who provide us with services such as  local guides, cooks, camp crew and porters. They open their homes to us allowing us to experience not only the natural wonders of the area but also to get a feel for their culture and daily life of the people that make up this complex country. This ensures that all benefit from the sustainable resources of this world within a world, Ecuador.

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