We drive north from Quito towards the equatorial line monument. We continue until we reach the Pululahua Volcano whose crater is crossed by Latitude 0. Within the crater we encounter the geo-botanical reserve where we find diverse environments including a montane cloud forest, a myrtle forest and a dry acacia forest. This reserve is home to a large diversity of birds including hummingbirds, mountain tanagers, eagles and hawks.

We begin our trek through an arid flux of sulfur deposits and amongst a dry forest. As we gradually gain altitude this path turns into a lush primary cloud forest where we find abundant myrtles and very good birdlife. Once we arrive to the top of the old crater rim we will have lunch at an archeological site located in a neighbouring private hacienda that does not receive tourists on a regular basis. This archeological platform is a solar calendar built 2000 years ago by the pre Inca indigenous people known as the Yumbos which means Toucan Barbet. Your guide will explain how this remarkable people marked the equator line with impressive accuracy and how they used this calendar to plan their agricultural labors. We continue walking on a trail east of the Pululahua volcano with breath taking views of the valleys beneath us. Overnight at the beautiful historic hacienda Pinsaquí.

Early in morning we drive to nearby Cuicocha Crater Lake which at 3,070 meters is a nature reserve located on the slopes of the larger Cotacachi Volcano. The Cuicocha Lake is surrounded by rim walls and its name translates as Lake of the Guinea Pigs due to the shape of its two center islets. This ecosystem is a combination of paramo and Andean forest where we find species such as Pumamaqui, Quishuar, chilca, bromarea, fushia, lupins, calcelaria, and colorful flowers of the Andes.

This hike known as the Trail of the Orchids runs around the crater rim with stunning views to the lake and the Cotacachi, Mojanda and Imbabura volcanoes. We will be watching for rodents, mammals, marsupials and birdlife such as guans, hummingbirds, tanagers, wild turkeys, ducks, buzzard eagle and the great Andean Condor. A healthy and appetizing picnic lunch will be served along the trail.

In the afternoon we will have some time to visit the town of Cotacachi and its leather market. We will also visit the Otavalo Indian Market, one of Ecuador’s most important indigenous bazaars filled with handmade arts, clothes, tapestries, jewelry, ceramics and wood carvings. Overnight in Hacienda Pinsaqui.

We drive in the early morning through the Inter-Andean valleys and gain elevation through a stunning canyon until we reach the Atlantic - Pacific continental divide at 4,100 meters. We begin our hike through the Cayambe-Coca Reserve that offers some of the best scenery in the country. This reserve is part of a larger United Nations Biosphere Reserve that encompasses two other national reserves. The environment here is endemic highland paramo (moorlands) with patches of cloud forest. This area of the Andes retains great amounts of water as it is the source to the largest water system in the world. It features a great number of lakes, possibly the highest concentrations in the Andes range.

We walk mostly downhill towards the Amazon side seeking out three different species of dear, the elusive spectacle bear and birdlife including the Andean Condor. We end this hike in the Papallacta hot springs where we enjoy the medicinal and mineral rich thermal waters. The spa service is highly recommended. We spend the evening in the Termas Papallacta Resort.

After breakfast we drive through a scenic road that descends further into the Amazon basin through the Papallacta river gorge. We reach the Sumaco National Park a large tropical area that features the Sumaco Volcano which is one of the few active volcanoes that arise from the Amazon Basin. We arrive to the Guacamayos (Macaw) range at 2200 meters where we get spectacular views to the Amazon flatlands below. The environment here is a montane cloudforest where many species from the jungle and the highlands coexist, as well as many species that only live here. There is a great opportunity to see the cock of the rock, toucans, caciques, oropendolas, manakins, military macaws and many other species.

We walk through a spectacular trail enjoying the many sounds of nature and will be able to appreciate the transition from cloud forest to rainforest at the end of the trail. It can get a bit muddy as this trail includes several stream crossing following down to the swamplands of the blue Urcusiqui River. A delicious and healthy picnic lunch will be served along this hike.

In the afternoon we continue by vehicle to visit an indigenous Kichwa family that lives in the town of Archidona. Here we will have the opportunity to interact and learn about jungle life through the Waira Churis (Wind Dancers). We continue to our river front jungle lodge, Cotococha Amazon Lodge,  for a well deserved rest amidst jungle sounds.

This day involves less walking and more time to enjoy and recover at a lower altitude. After breakfast in our river front jungle lodge we walk in the nearby reserve at the 500 meter level in search for species particular the tropical lowland rainforest. We explore under a 40 meter canopy for trees such as balsa, cedar, rubber, kapok and cinnamon, as well as many bromeliads, orchids, vines, ferns, insects and reptiles.

This area has a long history of indigenous cultures and we will learn about the traditional use of plants for daily living and medicinal purposes. We will also visit a local Kichwa community to learn about their way of life, culture, traditions, and customs.

After lunch we head south and climb up back the Andes through the Pastaza River Gorge, one of the principal waterways that feed into the Amazon Basin. This is an especially scenic route, with high rock walls giving way to deep cloud forest canyons. We stop to admire some of the spectacular waterfalls in the area, such as Pailón del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldron) and Manto de la Novia (Bride’s Veil). We continue to Baños de Agua Santa a quaint colorful subtropical town on the slopes of the erupting Tungurahua volcano. We get some fantastic views of the Tungurahua before arriving to Hacienda Manteles.

The Llanganates is considered one of the world’s most mystical mountain ranges. Perhaps this is due to those who have gone and never returned, stories of failing compasses or why Atahualpa (the last Inca Emperor) decided to hide here the world’s most impressive treasure. The Llanganati as it is known by the locals means Beautiful Mount and it is a vast 200,000 hectare reserve on the eastern Andes with altitudes that fluctuate between 4,500 and 1,200 meters.

We hike at about 3,500 meters in a combination of cloud forest, Andean forest and paramo. This trail offers a great variety of birds and animals including the hard to see species such as the spectacled bear that is likely to be found at Laguna San Borja in the early morning. During this day we get great views of the surrounding volcanoes and can see many species of humming birds, mountain tangers and deer. At the end of our trek we descend into the Patate Valley through the ancient Panzaleo Trail. Overnight will be spent at La Cienega, a hacienda with 300 year of history.

The Cotopaxi National Park is a 36,000 hectare nature and wildlife sanctuary established around the highest active volcano in the world. Its unique paramo ecosystem is a spectacular place to hike, explore for wildlife and get stunning volcano scenery. We begin our hike on the Rumiñahui volcano slopes with views directly across to the snow capped Cotopaxi volcano. Along this trail we find hares, fox, Andean falcon, white tail deer and even the great condor flying overhead. We explore this dramatic area all the way to Limpiopungo Glacier Lake where we it is common to see Andean gulls, ducks, Andean teal, lapwing, shore birds and even an occasional high altitude flamingo.

We have lunch at a local hacienda. In the afternoon we visit the Pucara ruins which were used by the Inca’s up until the Spanish conquest. In this area of the park it is common to see llamas and wild horses. We return to Quito in the afternoon.