{loadposition tours}

Day 1:

We will leave from Quito at 8:00 A.M. to the Amazon watershed, with scenic and biodiverse paramos cloud forests in our sights. Our first stop en route, however, will be at a rose plantation where you will have the opportunity to ogle at many of the most popular and spectacular varieties that Ecuador produces. After this it will be time to move up in elevation to the majestic, windswept paramos of Papallacta - a very tundra-like habitat. On clear days here the views of the surroundings and various volcanoes are breath-taking; a stop right up at the continental divide is one of the best spots from which to photograph the snow-capped volcano, Antisana, as it towers over the mountains below.After what will have probably been a chilly morning (at best!) we will enjoy a relaxing and therapeutic dip in the natural hot springs of Papallacta… what better way to warm our bones after what could be a cold and windy day? And all of this before lunch!.

We will get to Guango Lodge in time to enjoy a delicious and hot, sit-down lunch, traditional Ecuadorian style. In the afternoon we will embark on a hike along the trails that fan out around the lodge to get a taste of the beautiful Andean temperate forests and the birds that often adorn their branches; colorful mountain-toucans and tanagers would be a hit! Before dinner we will be officially welcomed by the lit fireplace and have our first taste of Ecuador’s best known hot toddy, a delicious drink - called “Canelazo” - made from water boiled with real cinnamon, fruit juice and a dash of cane alcohol, that is sure to help warm us up. Night at Guango.

Day 2:

Once we have had a hot buffet style breakfast with plenty of exotic fruits, we will head down to the nearby river and give our hand a try at trout fishing… fresh trout for lunch, anyone? Depending on our luck and patience, we will still leave time to enjoy the fabulous hummingbirds at the feeders (great for photography) - birders and non-birders alike always seem to marvel at their first looks at a Sword-billed Hummingbird (!) – and even a hike along a different trail near the lodge. For those interested in seeing some blooming, gaudy orchids, the orchid garden is always right there off of the front steps. After lunch, and loading bags, we will make our way back west, up and over the high pass, making a stop or two  - assuming the weather allows it – to hike through an ancient Polylepis forest (the highest naturally occurring tree in the world), or even hike up to a high elevation lake.

We plan to make it back to your hotels in Quito in the late afternoon.

Before our transfer to Quito (or continued travel, further down-slope into the lowlands of the Amazon), another delectable lunch awaits.

SERVICES INCLUDED: Lodging for one night, meals (from lunch on the first day, to lunch the next day), entrance fees for one visit to the rose plantation and Papallacta hot springs, bilingual naturalist guide (or Spanish-speaking, native birding guide) for two days limited to eight participants, group transportation Quito-Guango-Quito, free fresh coffee, hot chocolate and variety of teas, including the famous "coca tea" and all taxes.

SERVICES NOT INCLUDED: Extra drinks (sodas, beers, wines, etc.), private guide or transportation services, extemporaneous reserve entrance fees (such as Cayambe-Coca National Park) and other personal expenses (telephone calls, laundry, etc.).