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Adventure Tours |
 W1 ECOSYSTEMS Mainland Ecuador boasts of many distinct ecosystems (for more info, click to biodiversity.ecosystems), which we visit on this 2-week excursion. Situated right on the equator and having a high mountain range lead to a very diverse flora and fauna, which we experience moving from high up the Andes mountains down to the sea level. We experience treeless paramo regions, various forest types and the Pacific ocean. Day 1 Today we visit Cotopaxi National Park, a high paramo region topped by the majestic cone of the country's highest active volcano. Volcanoes played and still play an important role in the natural history of the country. Our first stop is the Rio Pita, a small river cutting out a canyon where birds and foxes can be seen. Our next stop is the Laguna Limpiopungo, a small lagoon located at 3800 m at the foot of Rumiñahui mountain, famous for water fowl, which nests there among the reeds. Day 2 Early in the morning we head up to the refuge of Chimborazo, the highest mountain in Ecuador, where we arrive at an altitude of 5000m in this adventure. From there we have the mighty glacier just in front of us and a great view to the valleys below. This paramo area is very dry and distinct to that of Cotopaxi. Day 3 This day is used to drive from the Andes mountain down to the coastal plains. You experience the changes in the nature with the vegetation turning from sparse grass steppes to forests. But also here we observe the changes done by man turning primary forests in agricultural land. Day 4 On today's program is a visit to the private reserve of Cerro Blanco, a dry tropical forest reserve, where on nature trails we discover the plants and animals of this ecosystem. Once the entire south-western coast was covered by this forest but it was the first one which had to yield to human pressure turning it into fields and pasture. Day 5 We drive north along the coast to Puerto Lopez our next stop in our program. In the afternoon we enjoy some relaxing time at the beach of Los Frailes. Day 6 Today we visit Isla de la Plata, a small island some 30km off the coast. This island boasts of breeding colonies of boobies, albatrosses and frigate birds, which we pass on nature trails. Here we also have an opportunity of snorkeling and discover some of the fascinating sea world underwater. Day 7 The next two days we spend Aguas Blancas, which is part of the Machalilla park and apart from arqueological interests it boasts of a varied fauna and flora. We hike from the lower scrub land to higher elevations in the coastal mountain range of Colonche, where we spend a night in tents. Day 8 We explore this higher humid forest at around 800m which has quite a different fauna and flora to the lower one. In the afternoon we hike back to Aguas Blancas, where we spend another night. Day 9 Today we undertake another long drive, going form Puerto Lopez all the north to Borbon, north of Esmeraldas. Day 10 In the morning we take a boat and move up 5 hours the river Cayapas to San Miguel, a small community located deep in the tropical rainforest. We spend two nights there with the community and learn to get to know the rich biodiversity of a rainforest. Day 11 Today we hike and explore the surrounding rainforest to get know the many plants and learn about their uses. On those hikes we observe also the many insects, birds and with luck larger mammals. Day 12 Early in the morning we head back by boat to Borbon and then continue on by jeep to Mindo, which take us the whole day to reach. Day 13 Today we explore this cloudforest region famous for its bird population. Apart from birds it boasts of many orchids, which thrive in the forests. Other flowering plants seen are bromeliads and heliconias. Day 14 At 5 am in the dark we get up and drive to a lek where the male cock-of-the-rocks gather at sunrise. Sitting among the foliage we wait patiently and are rewarded by the presence of these bright red birds. After that spectacle we hike through the forest to observe some other birds, which frequent those woods. After a late breakfast we gather up our things and drive back to Quito, where our trip finally ends.
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