CLOUD FOREST PARADISE

NORTHWESTERN ECUADOR BIRDS GALORE

STAY IN OUR UNIQUE LODGE – ALSO INCLUDES ONE NIGHT IN A HOTEL AT LOWER ELEVATION

5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS

Our 5-day trip is a wonderful way to get to understand the special environment of a cloud forest and its myriad birds – so close to Quito – only one hour 50 minutes away! This “birds galore” trip also travels down to lower elevations for different species, giving plenty of time in each area!

We offer our guests a unique stay in paradise, above the forest canopy, surrounded by myriads of hummingbirds!

You will enjoy our generous servings of gourmet food, the fabulous views of forest and mountains, and our extensive network of safe, well-marked trails, and the little-travelled dirt roads that goes along the ridge.

ITINERARY:

Day 1:

6.15/ 6:30h: Departure from your hotel.

Arrival at Bellavista and breakfast.

Settle in, and take a reconnaissance hike into the forest and trails. Natural history / birding emphasis. Lunch.

Afternoon: Forest hike – discover the ecology of this mysterious forest – and/or bird watching. Dinner.

This evening, a good chance for some special mammal species around the immediate lodge. The Olinguito, only discovered to science in 2013, then Kinkajoo, White-eared Possum and more! Overnight: Bellavista Lodge Meals: B, L, D

Day 2:

6.15 / 6.30h: Early morning bird hike. This is the best time of day to discover Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan , Toucan Barbet, Masked Trogon, Turquoise Jay, just to name a few.

And the Tayra (giant weasel) is usually seen early in the day.

8:00h: Breakfast

Birding and / or natural history discoveries in Bellavista (shared services).

Lunch

Afternoon: New areas within and immediately around our reserve to discover! Dinner

Day 3:

Visit to an easily accessible Cock-of-the-Rock reserve – experience the raucous calls and fabulous colours of the males as they dance and display!

Breakfast of local specialities: “bolon de verde” and cheese pasties.

Then discover some of the otherwise usually elusive Antpitta species, always rather amazing!

Lunch, then visit a famous hummingbird garden : known for its feeders full of hummingbirds of 10-12 different species, sometimes more! Also excellent views of varied tanagers, Red-headed Barbet, sometimes Golden-headed Quetzal and much more.

Overnight: Bellavista Lodge Meals: B, L, D

Day 4:.-

5:30 departure to a nearby Bird Photography Garden – truly superb photography opportunities

Box Lunch

San Tadeo Hummingbird Garden,

Short visit to Milpe reserve: easy birding- Toucans and the Rufous Motmot often seen at close quarters.

Dinner and overnight at a comfortable hotel, in the lower elevation Silanche Region.

Day 5:

Full day birding in Rio Silanche reserve, with a visit to a nreserve where the Long-wattled Umbrellabird is usually seen.

Late PM drop off in Quito

End of the trip!

Bellavista Accommodation

STANDARD
SUPERIOR SUITE
Prices Per Person

What to bring:

T-shirts or comfortable blouses/shirts
Sweater or fleece for the evenings
Quick drying trousers (blue jeans not recommended)
Lightweight socks
Change of clothes
Sunhat and sunscreen
Rain poncho (a few available if needed)
Camera
Rubber boots are provided – to size 47 (few pairs in large sizes)
Binoculars recommended (available for rent)
Water bottle for hikes
Small daypack for hikes
Flashlight and batteries
Plastic bags to protect camera, etc.

What is included:

14 meals, starting with breakfast Day 1, and finishing with lunch on Day 5.
4-night standard accommodation (or Superior accommodation option for the 3 nights spent in Bellavista)
Shared Naturalist Guide Service at Bellavista, private guide for excursions beyond Bellavista, shared round trip transportation from Quito
Access to 700-hectare Reserve
Private transportation for excursions.
All entrance fees to all visited places.

What is not included:

Drinks, tips, personal items, other services.

Note: Hiking / birding routes are flexible.

Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve & Lodge

richardbellavista@gmail.com

As the first private reserve to enter the National System of Protected Areas as of July 2019, Bellavista can be considered a pioneer in private land and forest protection within Ecuador.

Bellavista Lodge exists as an ecotourism operation with its main goal being to make conservation and cloud forest preservation possible.

With this new designation, the view of Bellavista is to protect our forest forever and to help other private reserves gain the same status across Ecuador.

The northwestern region where we bird is part of the new (2018) Biosphere Reserve "Andean Choco of Pichincha" , we consider ourselves actively involved in working to potentialize projects that can be developed under this umbrella in our northwestern region.

Terra Incognita

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Ecuador | Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve & Lodge | Birds Galore

Ecuador | Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve & Lodge | Birds Galore

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