Fauna and flora of Ecuador

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in Quito

  

  Welcome by your French-speaking guide who will accompany you to your hotel in Quito, the capital of the country.

• day 2

  Quito, unique heritage in South America

  

  Quito, listed as a World Heritage Site, is a cultural must-see before we turn towards nature. We will therefore dedicate this day to visiting it: churches, convent, and cathedral, plus an archaeological museum considered the most interesting. This museum combines a sober and relevant presentation around the Indian cosmovision, as well as a relatively short visit so as not to leave with your head stuffed with disjointed information.

• day 3

  On the way to the cloudy tropical region

  

  Mindo is somewhat THE birdwatching spot in the world, an internationally known location that hosts conferences every year due to its high concentration of bird species. In short, you will visit a first site for observing the Andean cock-of-the-rock. To add a sweet touch, we will also visit an artisanal chocolate factory, as cocoa is one of the riches of this country.

• day 4

  Mindo and its treasures

  

  Still in Mindo, but at another renowned observation site: Silanche. Your camera is going to get hot... After this morning of birdwatching, you will visit the Mindo orchid garden, then the Butterfly House.

• day 5

  Even more birds, then a high-altitude lake.

  

  After another morning of observation, you will head north to reach Otavalo. Visit the Cuicocha lagoon, perched in the heart of an extinct volcano, an ideal place to also appreciate the flora. You will also take a boat ride to observe the sulfurous activity at the bottom of the lake and admire this magnificent natural setting. Tonight, you will stay in Otavalo, a city renowned for its crafts and the beauty of its inhabitants' folklore.

• day 6

  Discover the market, the middle of the world and Cotopaxi.

  

  Here is a most varied day, which will begin with a visit to the Otavalo craft market. We will take home some souvenirs: a rug, alpaca clothing, ceramics, copies of archaeological pieces, or musical instruments. On the way to the Cordillera, you will make a stop at Quitsato, truly located on the Equator line, where you will be given very interesting explanations about how to see the planet, beyond cultural prejudices. You will then head towards the colossal Cotopaxi to visit the park and appreciate the flora of the páramo, those immense plains swept by high-altitude winds.

• day 7

  See the condors and... much more

  

  Back to the North to enter the Antisana reserve, a place renowned for observing condors in the wild. Majestic, you will certainly be able to see them up close and observe their nesting sites. You will continue your journey eastward and reach a first animal observation site (this time, those of the rainy Andean corridor) and stay in a lodge located on this same natural corridor.

• day 8

  Back in the valley of Quito

  

  After another morning devoted to birdwatching, you will take the road back to Quito, where you will stay overnight in preparation for the next day's flight to the Amazon.

• day 9

  Flight to the Amazon

  

  After a flight of less than an hour, you will reach the city of Coca. You will then be taken by motorboat to the entrance of Yasuni Park. From there, you will switch to a canoe, as the park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, does not allow motorboats to enter. All the better, as the experience begins at that moment. The river that takes you to the lodge matches the image one has of the rainforest: the trees sometimes meet above your head, you hear animals squawking and, sometimes, a group of monkeys crosses from one bank to the other. Then, the dark-water lake with the lodge at the far end will appear before you; it's hard to forget that moment.

• day 10

  In the very heart of the temple of biodiversity

  

  After your first night in the jungle (in a certain comfort nonetheless), here is your first day in the forest to discover its richness up close. On the agenda: climbing the observation tower that overlooks the canopy and allows you to observe life up there: toucans flying in pairs, multicolored macaws, some troops of monkeys, such a variety of birds... Between walks on foot, both day and night, you will have the opportunity to discover this unique place where animals have lost their fear of humans.

• day 11

  The secrets of the forest

  

  Today, you will take the pirogue to go to a salt flat, a place filled with kaolin where hundreds of parrots, parakeets, and... sometimes a predator gather. It is a special moment of the day, which delights photographers and will require a bit of patience, but it is a magnificent sight to see these birds and listen to their chirping. Then, today you will take another walk to meet the animals you have not yet seen...

• day 12

  Back to the capital

  

  Return by plane to Quito. With plenty of photos to sort through and above all the certainty that you will have discovered the Amazon like few others. In Quito, you can visit the Botanical Garden, to get an overview of all the richness of this little-known country, while rediscovering some of the ecosystems you have experienced yourself. You can complete this visit with a trip to the Mindalae Museum, dedicated to the country's quality crafts, especially since it is just a stone's throw from your hotel.

• day 13

  End of your stay

  

  Everything comes to an end, and depending on your flight time, you may still be able to enjoy Quito by doing some shopping before your driver takes you to the airport. Thus ends your discovery trip... or maybe not!