Ecuador Nature Travel 15d/14n

Arrival: Mariscal Sucre International Airport - Transfer to the hotel. (1 hour)

Quito city tour is perfect for seeing fascinating panoramas, churches, domes and roofs that have an important historical value. You will admire and learn about colonial art, architecture, culture, legends, and traditions. Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and stands at an altitude of 9.350 feet. Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has the best-preserved, least altered historic center in Latin America. The architecture and rich interiors, are pure examples of Quito School of sculpture, which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art. After 3 incredible hours exploring the Old Town, you'll understand why Quito was the world's first city named to UNESCO's Cultural Heritage list.

Teleférico is located at the eastern end of the city, at the height of the boundary between the north and center of Quito. The moor of Pichincha volcano, at the top of Cruz Loma, offers a spectacular view of the whole city of Quito. If the weather is good can be seen some main elevations of the Andes mountain chain such as: Cayambe, Antisana, Cotopaxi, Pasochoa, Rumiñahui and the list goes on. Besides the beautiful view offered here there is the Andean landscape, the cold wilderness with almost straight, flat road to the summit of Rucu Pichincha, Pichincha most visible elevation from Quito.

Breakfast at the hotel. Early in the morning, you begin the exciting and colorful journey to Otavalo, in Imbabura province. Your first stop will be at Guayllabamba, here you can find chirimoya, a traditional fruit that you can try if you want to. Continuing your way, you will arrive to the “Mirador de San Pablo”, where you can appreciate the unique landscape of the lake that sits at the foot of Imbabura volcano. In the afternoon you will arrive to Otavalo, the handicrafts market of the city, known as "Plaza de Ponchos", on this site you'll find carpets, wool coats, bags and pottery made by the natives Otavalo Indians (Otavaleños).

Also you will visit Peguche Waterfall, which is a beautiful waterfall of 50 ft. in height, formed by the river of the same name, which starts at Lake San Pablo. The waterfall is one of the most important tourist attractions of Otavalo. Because of its proximity and easy access. This beautiful waterfall is considered as an Indigenous Ceremonial Site due to the purification baths held here a couple days prior the Inti Raymi celebration (Sun and harvest celebration, June 21st).

In the morning you will visit the Cotacachi-Cayapas Reserve. The Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve (RECC) was declared a protected area on September 24, 1968 for the purpose of conducting scientific research and experiments. The area of the reserve is 243,638 hectares. The reserve is covered by forests by 59.5% and shrubs by 16%. This protected area has the largest number of ecosystems in the country. The reserve begins at an altitude of 35 meters and ends at an altitude of 4939 meters, at the top of the Cotacachi volcano. It covers tropical forests, humid and rain forests, which are strongly influenced by the Pacific Ocean. This natural reserve is part of the tropical jungle. The symbol of the reserve is the condor. This area is one of the many protected areas in Ecuador. Within the reserve, you will visit the crater lake Cuicocha. A short walk along the crater and a boat ride on the lake.

Next we will continue our journey towards the El Angel Nature Reserve, where we will discover endemic species of flora: frailejones (espeletia) and one of the few polylepis forests in the world. After dinner, a short night walk with torches through the mysterious thousand-year-old forest of Polylepis trees, during which the guide will tell us one of the legends of this mysterious forest.

In the morning you can take a walk around the Polylepis Forest. This forest is considered to be the only one of its type in the world as it is millennial and primary composed ofpolylepis "paper" trees.

Then we will continue to visit Cuicocha Lagoon. The Cuicocha Lagoon is located 12 km southwest site of Cotacachi town, it is part of the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve, occupies part of the provinces of Imbabura and Esmeraldas. Cuicocha is a collapsed volcanic crater, but still shows signs of activity. Inside the lagoon are two islets called Teodoro Wolf and Jose Maria Yerovi, its midst is separated by narrow water passage which only can be crossed by kayak or paddle- boat. The lagoon has a beautiful crystal waters and has a depth of approximately 200 m.

In the morning we start to return to Quito. Our first stop is a rose plantation, where you can learn about all the diversity and colorful roses that Ecuador produces. You will be able to take a closer look at what goes into the process of cultivating these beautiful flowers as well as the behind the scenes of the exportation and bouquet making processes. The we continue to Pululahua volcano, is one of the largest volcanic craters in the world, 34km2 and 5km wide, which was last active about 2500 years ago. There is a lava dome rising 500m at the center which is covered in lush cloud forest vegetation. Pululahua was declared a Geobotanical Reserve in 1966. Pululahua is Quichua for cloud of water in reference to the fog that rolls in everyday at midday to fill the crater (it’s best visited early in the morning for this reason!) and which is the only real source of water for local crops. It is one of only two inhabited volcanic craters. In the afternoon you can enjoy time at leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Bellavista Lodge. 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. 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. Your guided hike will acquaint you with the exuberant vegetation of the cloud forest, its bird life, and the fascinating adaptations to life in this special environment. The evening is relaxed; we will help you discover the incredible variety of moths, many of which are unknown to science.

Breakfast at the lodge. After a refreshing night’s sleep, an ample breakfast is served. Afterwards, take a guided hike or explore further on your own. After lunch, an afternoon hike deep into the valleys of the reserve is recommended, and in the evening it is possible to see night birds and more.

Breakfast at the hotel. Then depart for Yanacocha Reserve we head toward the Yanacocha Ecological Reserve located on the North side of Volcano Guagua Pichincha at 3600m/11,483 feet. Here we will see hummingbirds, and the mixed feeding flocks we will encounter will add many more tantalizing birds to the list! You have good chances to spot Barred Fruiteater, Great Sapphirewing, Golden breasted and Sapphire vented Pufflegs, Sword billed Hummingbirds, and many more. After visit Yanacocha we continue to the Cotopaxi province.

After breakfast we will drive to the famous Quilotoa Crater Lake. On our way we will pass by the Tigua workshop and admire some impressive local artwork with impressions of life in the Andes. At our arrival to the Quilotoa Loop, we will appreciate an emerald green lake inside the crater of an extinct volcano with steep jagged cliffs. We are going to trek into the crater to the lake shore and the return to the top of the crater is a mule ride. Return to Quito.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport - flight to Coca. A 30 minute flight over the Andes Mountains leads you to a bustling oil town called Coca located in the Amazon Basin. A quick lunch in Sacha´s private house and then its off to the town docks where you will board Sacha´s private canoes for the 2 hour journey down river to Sacha´s Lodges property. A 30 minute hike through the rainforest leads you to lake Pilchicocha. Here, you are met by native workers to paddle you across the lake to your final destination. Arrive at Sacha Lodge around 15:30 or 16:00 pm (subject to change). Swim in Lake Pilchicocha, which is a black water lake home to many species of fish and animals. A refreshing swim after arriving may be just what you need after being in the equatorial heat all day. Bird observing from the mini tower After dinner, accompany your naturalist guide on a night walk through the rainforest to view the hundreds of different species of animals that can only be found at night.

Breakfast at the lodge. Begin morning activity between 6:00 and 7:00. Begin walking on trail Liana Chica and arrive at the canopy walk, for spectacular views of the rainforest canopy and the many different species of vibrantly colored birds. Designed to be a self-standing rigid suspension canopy walk, it is one of only a few in the world! Located within Sacha´s private reserve, 2 miles from the shores of the Rio Napo and 1 mile from the lodge, the bird walk gives guests the opportunity to get an up close and personal view of the rainforest canopy. Two of the three towers have observation decks every 12 meters making towers accessible for everyone. The canopy walkway is at 36 meters high and 275 meters long, giving guests a “birds eye view” of all the wonders and beauty of the tropical rainforest. After lunch, you may choose to take a leisurely hike along the Rio Napo, or choose a little more challenging hike on the trail Leoncillo to try and spot the elusive dusky titi monkey.

Breakfast at the lodge. Leaving the lodge after breakfast, you begin your hike on trail Lagartococha. This trail offers you the chance to learn more about the native people and their relationship. Around 15:30 you will begin what many think is the best trail at Sacha, a silent canoe ride through the flooded Amazonian forest. After your eye-popping ride through the flooded forest, you will arrive at Sacha´s135-foot wooden tower built around an ancient Kapok tree. Get close up views of vibrantly colored birds through Sacha´s powerful scopes, and watch the sun set with an amazing view of Mount Sumaco, a volcano, and possibly a view of the snow-covered caps of the Andes. Leaving the tower just before or after sunset will give you an experience not soon forgotten. A canoe ride back through the flooded forest at night will be an awe-inspiring experience. Listen to the symphony of frogs and insects as you navigate through the narrow flooded forest trail, keeping your eyes open for caimans.

Breakfast at the lodge. Departure from the lodge at 07:30am. One last walk on the boardwalk to the river, and from there a 2 hour canoe ride back to Coca for your 35 minute flight back to Quito. Arrival: Mariscal Sucre International Airport - Transfer to the hotel.

Breakfast: at hotel Transfer to the airport for your international flight.