We pick you up at your hotel at 6-6.30h (flexible), and travel past the Ecuador Monument, and on down a mountain road with superb views, and then turn off on a dirt road with more fabulous views for our climb to Bellavista.
Once at Bellavista, the hummingbirds take our full attention! Large numbers hover constantly round the feeders, and it is easy to identify six to eight species at very close range. They sometimes will even perch on your finger.
After breakfast we go for a guided naturalist hike into the forest, of about 2-2.5 hours duration.
Your guided hike will acquaint you with the exuberant vegetation of the Cloud Forest, its bird life, and the fascinating adaptations to life in this special environment. Every hike reveals something new even for those of us who are fortunate enough to live in the forest every day!
After your hike, lunch is served in our circular restaurant, with breathtaking views and a flurry of hummingbirds all around you. After lunch, you have the option to relax and watch the hummers and other colourful species near the dome, or take yourselves on another hike into the forest. The trails are well marked and safe, and your vehicle will expect you back at the dome to leave between 3:00 p.m. to return you to Quito.
Our day trips work very well for people with a spare day in Quito that they do not want to spend in the city! We pick people up early usually, at 6.30 a.m., but this time is flexible according to a person’s needs. We provide breakfast and lunch, and a guided reserve visit, as well as collecting people directly from their hotel.
Should you be a serious birder, we offer the option to travel out via the famous Nono road, arriving at Bellavista for a late lunch, and taking a packed breakfast from Quito. Departure is usually very early morning (we suggest 5-5.30 a.m.) You will travel with a specialist bird guide in a 4-wheel drive, or high-clearance vehicle. Please enquire re costs.
