Fauna and Flora of Ecuador

Welcome by your English-speaking guide who will accompany you to your hotel in Quito, the country's capital.

Quito, a World Heritage Site, is a cultural must-see before turning to nature. We will dedicate this day to its visit: churches, convent and cathedral. Plus an archaeological museum that we consider the most interesting, combining a sober and relevant presentation around the Indian cosmovision and a relatively short visit so as not to leave with a head full of disconnected information.

Mindo is the most important birdwatching spot in the world, internationally known and the subject of many conferences every year due to its high concentration of bird species. In short, you will pass by a first site for the observation of the cock of mountain. To add a sweet note, we will also visit a chocolate factory, cocoa being one of the riches of this country.

Still in Mindo but at another famous observation site, Silanche. Your camera will be hot... After this morning of birdwatching you will visit the Mindo orchid garden and the Butterfly House.

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

This is a very varied day, starting with a visit to the Otavalo handicraft market. You will take home some souvenirs, a carpet, alpaca clothes, ceramics, copies of archaeological pieces or musical instruments. On the way to the Cordillera you will make a stop in Quitsato, truly located on the line of the Equator and where you will have the right to very interesting explanations on 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 parama, these immense plains swept by the winds of altitude.

Return north to the Antisana reserve, a famous place to observe condors in the wild. Majestic, you will certainly be able to see them up close and observe their nesting places. You will continue your journey eastwards to a first animal watching place (this time those of the rainy Andean corridor) and stay in a lodge located on this same natural corridor.

After the morning dedicated to birdwatching again, you will take the road back to Quito. Where you will stay for the next day's flight to the Amazon.

After a flight of less than an hour, you will reach the town of Coca. You will then be taken by motorboat to the entrance of the Yasuni Park. From there you will switch to a dugout canoe as the Unesco World Heritage Park does not allow motorized boats to enter. This is all the better as the experience begins at this point. The river that brings you to the lodge is the image of the rainforest, the trees meet at times overhead, animals can be heard chirping and sometimes a group of monkeys crosses from one bank to the other. Then the dark lake with the lodge at the bottom appears before you; it is hard to forget this moment.

After your first night in the jungle (in comfort after all), here is your first day in the forest, to discover its richness more closely. On the programme, climb the observation tower which dominates the canopy and allows you to observe the life up there, the toucans flying in pairs, the multicoloured macaws, some troops of monkeys, the varied birds... Between walks, day and night, you will have the opportunity to discover this unique place where animals have lost their fear of man.

Today you will take a pirogue to a salt pan, a place full of kaolin where hundreds of parrots, parakeets and... sometimes a predator. This is a special moment of the day, a photographer's delight and will require a little patience but it is a magnificent sight to see these birds and listen to their chirping. Then you will go on another walk this day to meet the animals that you have not yet seen...

Return by plane to Quito. With lots 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 discover the richness of this little known country while rediscovering some of the eco-systems that you have experienced yourself. You can complete this visit with a visit to the Mindalae Museum, dedicated to the country's quality crafts. It is just a stone's throw from your hotel.

All things come to an end and depending on your flight time you can still enjoy Quito by doing some shopping before your driver takes you to the airport. And so ends your journey of discovery... or not!