Enjoy the changing views from dry landscapes to the impressive and lush virgin cloud forests of Maquipucuna. Along the way, the first pristine forests you will encounter are the protected highlands of the Maquipucuna Reserve.
You will witness the classic example of a "rain shadow" effect created by the Andes on the masses of humid air coming from the Pacific: desert on the eastern slope of the mountains and lush humid forests on the Pacific slopes. The journey takes about 2 hours from Quito.
Check-in at the Lodge, receive the welcome talk, and equip yourself with rubber boots for an introductory hike on one of our several trails.
➢If You Arrive Early!! Before lunch, we will take a short guided walk to learn about some of the medicinal and useful plants of Maquipucuna. Do you have a cut on your finger? There is a natural plant similar to Neosporin for that. Interested in a natural insect repellent? Or in preventing baldness? Everything is here. Also, discover where the names of novel plants come from, like the mother-in-law's tongue. The medicinal properties of Maquipucuna's plants are infinitely fascinating. You'll run out of time before you run out of plants, and those are just some of the ones we already know.
➢1:00 pm: Lunch with delicious local, organic, and fresh products.
➢2:30 pm: We will start with a short hike of 1 hour and 30 minutes, where we will show you a part of the cloud forest. We will observe birds such as the Striped Manakin, the Choco Toucan, the Esmeraldas Antbird, the Guayaquil Woodpecker, various species of raptors, mammals, and above all, we will explain the vegetation and medicinal plants that we find within the forest. This trail can be considered as a journey through the progression of forest regeneration, from secondary forest to primary forest.
➢6:30 pm: Dinner.
➢8:30 pm: Optionally, guided night hike after dinner, where we will encounter the fantastic world of nightlife, observing insects, amphibians, and if we are lucky, reptiles and even nocturnal birds.
Lunch
Dinner
English speaking guide at the Lodge
Use of rubber boots
Transfer to the Lodge (extra cost)
➢6:00 am: We will explore a different area during birdwatching, looking for various species to add to our observation list.
➢ 8:30 am: Breakfast
➢10:00 am: We suggest taking the River trail, where we will find a forest with primary trees. During this hike, we will learn about species like the cocon nutcracker and others that inhabit the forest.
➢1:30 pm: Lunch.
➢ 2:30 pm: End of services.
Breakfast
Lunch
English speaking guide at the Lodge
Use of rubber boots
Transfer back to Quito (extra cost)
