Ecuadorian Biodiversity and Fauna

Welcome to Ecuador! A proverb says "Traveling first leaves you speechless, before transforming you into a storyteller".... So give way to the adventure of this trip to the country in the center of the world. Shulla vida!   Welcome at Quito airport by a French-speaking guide. Private transfer with Spanish-speaking driver from Quito airport to the hotel. Night at the Mama Cuchara hotel in a Deluxe room (Standard category).   Included: arrival transfer with English-speaking guide, arrival transfer, room & breakfast

Accompanied by a French-speaking guide by private transport. The Cable Car takes you almost 4000 meters to the edge of the Pichincha volcano. Needless to say, you will enjoy spectacular views of Quito and the many snow-capped peaks of the Avenue of the Volcanoes. From the arrival station, you can walk along developed trails. Visit to the Botanical Garden of Quito, an oasis of greenery and freshness in the heart of the capital (Carolina Park). It offers discovery trails of species of trees, plants and flowers representative of the diversity of Ecuadorian flora and its numerous ecosystems. The facilities consist of greenhouses (for ecosystems such as the Amazon or tropical zones), educational rooms on fauna and flora, arrangements such as a Japanese-style garden to present the collection of bonsai protected by very beautiful bamboo structures, shelters where children can play with textures and smells, a collection of cacti, some of which are truly sublime. In short, it is an ideal place to discover the biological wealth of the country in a single visit, suitable for children. As a bonus, a collection of more than 1,200 species of orchids will delight lovers.   Quito stands out for its topography spread out from north to south, in an Andean corridor flanked by the Pichincha volcano and the valley where the airport is located. But above all, it is the most extensive and preserved colonial city on the continent. You will visit the colonial and republican center of Quito: the Panecillo, the statue of the Virgin of Quito, located on top of a hill overlooking the city; the Plaza Grande where the Presidential Palace (Carondelet) and the Cathedral of Quito are located; the La Ronda district, notably for its artisans; the church of San Francisco (of the Franciscans) and its convent/museum (open until 12 p.m.) OR the church of the Society of Jesus (of the Jesuits), the most laden with gold in South America (open from from 12 p.m.). NOTE: If the visit time in Quito allows it, you can go to the Church of San Francisco and the Society of Jesus.   Night at the Mama Cuchara hotel in a Deluxe room (Standard category).   Included: private transport, local English-speaking guide, guide fees, entry(ies) to site(s) mentioned in the program, room & breakfast

Accompanied by a French-speaking guide by private transport. You will take the road from Baeza then Tena and which then goes up the entire eastern cordillera up to 4000 m allowing you to observe the evolution of the ecosystem from the Andean páramo to a tropical environment. Arrival at the lodge is by motorized canoe. During this trip, you will be able to appreciate a part of the Amazonian forest relatively little impacted by humans. Enjoy the swimming pool and go for a night walk to discover the surprising vitality of the forest. Your guide will surprise you by spotting insects of all kinds and small animals hidden under dense foliage.   Dinner and overnight at Itamandi.   NOTE: 20min motorized canoe trip. Entrances to communities and visits planned during these days are not included (unless otherwise indicated below) because Itamandi wishes these payments to be made directly to the interested parties for reasons of transparency. Included: private transportation, local English-speaking guide, guide fees, sea transfer, dinner (excluding drinks), excursion (grouped service), local Spanish-speaking guide, room

Accompanied by a French-speaking guide by private transport.   On the program, a nice surprise: a visit to a “saladero”. This is a rather rare place where many parrots and parakeets gather, coming to peck the clay to obtain the minerals which will help them digest the fruits or seeds they have consumed. The departure will be early, around 6 a.m., it's the birds who decide! Impossible to resist the temptation to immortalize this fleeting moment, when hundreds of these specimens will approach the tops of the trees then gradually descend towards the clay wall.   Return to the lodge for breakfast before setting off for a walk in the primary forest.   In the afternoon, there will be the cultural sequence. An Amazonian Kichwa community will welcome you to share with you their way of life and explain the interaction they have with the forest. During this tour, you will see this part of the Amazon that is not found on maps: the Amazonian people in their daily lives. You will try the famous "chicha", a fermented drink made from cassava which is never lacking during festivities as well as in everyday life. You will participate in the preparation of this drink and taste some of the traditional dishes. They will most likely demonstrate a traditional dance performed by the children of the community. Even if this is done on the occasion of your visit, this dance remains proof of the maintenance of their cultural expression.   Dinner and overnight at Itamandi.   NOTE: the visit to the saladero will be done according to weather conditions. Canoe trip of approximately 15 min. The first outing will last approximately 3 hours.   Included: dinner (excluding drinks), excursion (group service), local Spanish-speaking guide, dinner (excluding drinks), room & breakfast, private transport, local English-speaking guide, guide fees

Accompanied by a French-speaking guide by private transport.   There is an island located in the middle of the Napo River called Anakonda Island, where you can observe a prehistoric bird called "hoatzin" as well as different species of monkeys. Then, you will visit a family in the community and discover local farming methods, the medicinal plants they use as well as the ancestral tradition of hunting with blowguns and handmade traps.   After the picnic dinner, you will go to the "Amazoonico", a refuge which aims to recover wild animals injured or confiscated by the authorities and then try to reintroduce them into their natural environment. A good way to discover certain mammals that are often difficult to observe otherwise, particularly felines.   Dinner and overnight at Itamandi.   NOTE: 40min motorized boat trip.   Included: dinner (excluding drinks), excursion (group service), local Spanish-speaking guide, dinner (excluding drinks), room & breakfast, private transport, local English-speaking guide, guide fees

Accompanied by a French-speaking guide by private transport.   You will have had a first glimpse of the Amazon rainforest. Around 9:00 a.m. you will have to take the canoe again to reach your vehicle. You will then take the road to the Pailón del Diablo, one of the most famous waterfalls in the country, on the way to the town of Baños. Visit to the “Pailón del Diablo”, the most famous waterfalls in the country. You will discover them by going down to a viewpoint allowing you to appreciate this waterfall made up of three sections, the highest of which measures 80 meters. From its dizzying stairs, try to find the shape of the face of the devil who gave the waterfall its name. A little further on the road, like the Incas of old, you can take a suspended basket called tarabita here to cross the gorges and reach the waterfall called "el Manto de la Novia".   You will travel the “Cascades Route” to Baños. Night at the La Floresta hotel in a Standard room.   Included: sea transfer, breakfast, dinner (excluding drinks), excursion (group service), local Spanish-speaking guide, dinner (excluding drinks), room & breakfast, private transport, local English-speaking guide, guide fees, entrance ( s) site(s) mentioned in the program

Accompanied by a French-speaking guide by private transport. You will take the road along the avenue of volcanoes to San Miguel de Salcedo, a small Andean town famous for its artisanal ice cream. You will stop for around 2 hours to visit a rose farm, one of the few to offer "organic" roses in addition to the classic ones. Ecuador's roses are renowned for being the most beautiful in the world, due in particular to the mineral elements from volcanoes and the quality of mountain water. You will discover the entire production process down to the artificial coloring of the flowers. You will take the Pan-American highway then turn west to reach Quilotoa, a small Andean village. Unmissable stopover: the Mirador de Shalala to discover breathtaking views of the caldera of Lake Quilotoa, from a modern infrastructure built as part of a community project. Night at Posada de Tigua in a Standard room. NOTE: At the end of the day, you can go to the barn to watch or participate in the milking of the cows. Then, head into the kitchen to make the cheese, using the same recipe that has been followed for generations. A moment of farm life and exchange that will delight the curious and lovers of organic and homemade dairy products! Included: private transport, local English-speaking guide, guide fees, entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, dinner (excluding drinks), room & breakfast

Accompanied by a French-speaking guide by private transport. Arrival in the small village which overlooks the Quilotoa lagoon, the edges of which peak at 3914 m. This crater lake, undoubtedly the most spectacular in the entire country, will surprise you with its waters oscillating between emerald green and turquoise blue. The reflections of the clouds and the color of the skies are generally a spectacle that will not leave your camera resting. The lagoon is nestled in the hollow of a volcano which is considered still active. A legend says that the Inca Atahualpa had a treasure hidden in the lagoon, which gives it an additional dimension... If you wish, you can descend to the bottom of the crater to the edge of the lagoon in around 2 hours there and back. Or, you can hike the trail around the lagoon, if you have 5 to 6 hours.   You will reach the very Andean village of Zumbahua. You will stop for a moment at the traditional Zumbahua market, to immerse yourself in local life. Here, they sell everything, spices, fruits and vegetables, ponchos, shigras (cloth bags), all kinds of traditional Andean clothing, etc. Then, further down the square we find the sale of animals: llamas, pigs, sheep are here haggled, valued and sold to the highest bidder.   Exit from the Quilotoa lagoon towards Cotopaxi Park. Night at Chilcabamba Lodge in a Standard room.   Included: private transportation, local English-speaking guide, guide fee, room & breakfast

Accompanied by a French-speaking guide by private transport. Visit the Cotopaxi National Park, whose volcano of the same name is the second highest peak in Ecuador at 5897 meters. It is also the highest active volcano in the world. Most of the time it is content to emit a few fumaroles visible from the edge of the ice-covered crater, but sometimes it throws a beautiful column of smoke and ash above its cone. You will visit the park and take a short walk around the Limpiopungo Lagoon with magnificent panoramas of the Cotopaxi, to discover the particular fauna of the paramo (these typical Andean plains swept by cold winds). You will then drive up to the car park at 4600 meters and continue on foot to the José Rivas refuge 200 meters higher. The bravest can go until the first snowfall. From Cotopaxi Park you will take a quick hop to Lasso. Night at Chilcabamba Lodge in a Standard room.   Included: private transport, local English-speaking guide, guide fees, entry(ies) to site(s) mentioned in the program, room & breakfast

Accompanied by a French-speaking guide by private transport. On the way to the Antisana volcano, with its mountain lakes and viewpoints over the green valleys of the Andes. Hiking at the foot of Antisana: The Antisana reserve (“dark mountain” in Quechua) is one of the easiest to access by car from Quito. But not the least interesting because it is one of the ideal places for observing condors. The climb from Pintag in the Los Chillos valley, east of Quito, is via a road winding at the foot of cliffs where condors nest. The walk will begin near the Mica lagoon. Apart from the hill next to the lake, overall the terrain is quite flat but the slight difference in altitude creates a very particular lunar environment.   Difficulty: Easy trek: Sunday sports enthusiasts, welcome! Estimated duration: 2 to 3 hours - Height difference: +300 m/-300m - Max altitude: 4125 m. - Distance: 2 km then 6 km.   Night at the Tambo Condor hotel at the entrance to the Antisana reserve in a Standard room.   Included: private transportation, local English-speaking guide, guide fees, picnic basket, room & breakfast

Accompanied by a French-speaking guide by private transport. You will take the road to Cayambe, at the foot of the volcano of the same name and near Otavalo. Stop at Quitsato on the true latitude 0°: a giant sundial marks the Equator line. We will explain to you the phenomena observable from this authentic place in our opinion and of importance for the civilizations that preceded us. You will be able to discover how local populations integrate seasonal rhythms and activities into the agricultural calendar and what their meaning is, between sky and nature. Otavalo awaits you a short distance from Cayambe. Come on... one more stretch of road in these magnificent Andes. Night at Hacienda Cusin in a Sierra room (Standard category).   Included: private transport, local English-speaking guide, guide fees, entry(ies) to site(s) mentioned in the program, room & breakfast

Accompanied by a French-speaking guide by private transport. Visit the Cuicocha lagoon where you will discover the sparkling blue waters of one of the most beautiful high-altitude lakes in Ecuador. In the center of an ancient crater at 3064m. high altitude, it is the meeting place for nature lovers with an extremely varied flora (orchids, elephant ears, etc.), more than 400 species have been recorded there. For the more sporty, you can go around the lagoon, provided you have at least 5 hours.   You will visit the famous Otavalo indigenous market, the most famous Ecuadorian craft market in the Andes. There you will come across the indigenous Otavaleños wearing espadrilles, wearing brown felt hats and wearing a blue poncho on their shoulders. They are the most prosperous natives of Ecuador and are formidable traders. Obviously this market has a very developed tourist aspect but it is one of the country's must-see attractions.   You will travel to the village of Peguche where you will visit its sacred waterfall and discover the craft of making Andean musical instruments with perhaps a session of local music and weaving, an art long mastered in the region. Night at Hacienda Cusin in a Sierra room (Standard category).   Included: private transport, local English-speaking guide, guide fees, entry(ies) to site(s) mentioned in the program, room & breakfast

Accompanied by a French-speaking guide by private transport. You will take the road to Mindo, a paradise for ornithologists and hikers. Alambi Reserve is probably one of the best places to watch hummingbirds. You will make a stopover on the road to Mindo to see nearly a dozen varieties of these magical and emblematic birds of this region. Visit a butterfly greenhouse where you will discover the process of metamorphosis of butterflies with the possibility of appreciating the different stages: eggs, larvae, pupae... and finally the multicolored butterflies in flight: the famous blue morpho, the " owl eyes”, papilionids, etc. Night at the Terrabambu Lodge hotel in a Suite room (Standard category).   Included: private transport, local English-speaking guide, guide fees, entry(ies) to site(s) mentioned in the program, room & breakfast

Accompanied by a French-speaking guide by private transport. Mindo waterfalls hike: Head to the Nambillo reserve where you will take a basket to reach the other side of the valley and begin your walk which will take you to three of the most beautiful waterfalls in the region. Possibility of swimming in the middle of this lush nature where you can observe many birds. Depending on your desire and your fitness, this hike can be adapted to last from 1 to 3 hours.   Difficulty: easy hike: Sunday sports enthusiasts, welcome! Estimated duration: 1 to 3 hours - Elevation difference: -120m./+120m. - Max altitude : 1600m. - Distance: 4 km.   Visit an ecobotanical garden, where a guide will explain the different species of birds present in this reserve. You will approach the hummingbirds that have made their home here. Departure from Mindo to return to Quito. Night at the Ikala hotel in a Junior Suite room.   Included: private transportation, local English-speaking guide, guide fees, entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, equipment rental, local Spanish-speaking guide, room & breakfast

Private transfer with Spanish-speaking driver to Quito airport. Free connection for your international flight from Quito. Depending on your departure time, you will have more or less free time. Included: departure transfer