5-Day Ecuador Cloud Forest Hiking Tour with Homestay and Birding

Transfer on your international flight to Quito, Ecuador. Once you clear customs, you will meet one of our guides and then be taken to your hotel in Quito. The hotel is located in the heart of Quito's business district and has many facilities to make your stay very pleasant.

Accommodation: Overnight at Ibis Hotel ***

Meals: Not included

Early in the morning, we will drive towards Pululahua Ecological Reserve to start our 8-mile hike through one of the active volcano calderas of Ecuador. You will enjoy the views and the Andean flora as we hike. Then, we will continue our tour by car to a community known as Yunguilla, where we will have lunch in a local restaurant, and later, we will visit all their projects in the village.

Finally, we will stay overnight at a family house (homestay). This is a unique experience for you and also a nice opportunity to learn more about Ecuadorian culture. You could practice your Spanish with the families or also teach them some English.

This first hike goes from 11,550 ft. down to 8,500 ft.

Hiking time: 3 hours

After breakfast on this day, we will visit a nice viewpoint known as El Chochal, where you will see some of the highest volcanoes of Ecuador, such as Pichincha, Cayambe, Cotacachi, Antisana, and Pululahua, as well as a beautiful view of the cloud forest.

Then it is time to start our hike through the cliffs, trails, and magical paths surrounded by forest. Los Culuncos trail was originally used as a route to exchange products between the mountain people and the coastal natives. It was also used illegally to transport brandy from Nanegal village to Calacalí near Quito, but now it is only used for tourism.

Along the way, we will enjoy lunch and rest a bit before we continue to Santa Lucia Eco Lodge. The second hike goes from 8,500 ft. down to 6,500 ft.

Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours

Early hike to visit the fantastic Andean Cock of the Rock, the most representative bird of the cloud forest. It takes about 1 hour to get to the lek's location, but this 5:00 am effort is really worth it. It is a sight you will never forget, as the spectacular male birds perform their dance to attract females, and it will be one of the highlights of this trip.

Breakfast is going to be at the bird lek. Then we return to Santa Lucia to have lunch and prepare to go down to Maquipucuna. This hike is mainly in the cloud forest, so if we are lucky, we might see some other colorful birds and, for sure, a lot of orchids along the way.

At Maquipucuna Eco Lodge, we will have dinner, and then we will do a night walk near the lodge. The second hike goes from 6,500 ft. down to 4,500 ft.

Hiking time: 5 to 7 hours

Early in the morning, we will enjoy a birding tour around the lodge, and then we will have breakfast. Finally, we will return to Quito to start our city tour at Panecillo viewpoint to admire Quito's wonders from above, and we will walk around for two hours, visiting the highlights of the old city such as San Francisco Church, Compañia de Jesús Church, and Sagrario Church located on Calle de la Siete Cruces, or García Moreno Street. Then, we will visit the Presidential Palace lobby at Quito's main square.

Finally, we will visit the first Gothic church of Ecuador, considered the highest one in the city. This is another beautiful viewpoint to observe the Avenue of the Volcanoes. Then we will drive towards the Teleférico, or cable car, for another viewpoint of the Andes. Our guide will drive you back to Quito's International Airport for your flight home.

End of the services.

Notice: After the city tour, you could take your flight home by the end of the afternoon or at night.