This Ecuador trip is designed for families (children ages 12 and older) who are interested in the best variety of nature, culture and birding in Ecuador. The trip will take you through subtropical rain forests, a hummingbird reserve in the cloud forest and to majestic waterfalls and swimming holes. You’ll also have the option of participating in family activities such as horseback riding on the last Incan Emperor’s Trail or take a mountain biking tour. Perfect for families who want to have lots of fun! Other activities include evening walks to look for bats and owls and floating down a river in a tube. This is the chance to take your family on a trip that offers a diverse array of flora, fauna, climate regions and eco-adventures in Ecuador! 

Day 1 – Quito and San Jorge Eco-Lodge
You will be met on your arrival at the Quito Airport and driven to San Jorge Eco-Lodge. San Jorge Eco-Lodge & Botanical Reserve is a traditional 18th Century Spanish Hosteria.  Situated among 200 acres of native flora and fauna in the  Pichincha Foothills, San Jorge is a short 17 minutes from Quito airport. Here you will find a comfortable and relaxing eco-resort atmosphere with exotic gardens and courtyards in a peaceful, rustic mountain setting. Each guest room features traditional décor, central heat, and a private bath with hot shower. The eco-resort has an outdoor spring-fed swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath and Jacuzzi, game rooms and conference rooms. The El Cucayco Restaurant overlooks the valley of Quito and features fine Ecuadorian and international cuisine.
 
Day 2 – Morning Birding at Yanacocha Reserve (Cloud Forest)
You’ll spend the morning birding at Yanacocha Reserve is located on the backside of Pinchincha Mountain. Yanacocha is home to a number of interesting high-elevation species. Mountain tanagers are abundant at this elevation and we'll hope to find the Scarlet-bellied, Buff-breasted, Bar-bellied Woodpecker and Barred Fruiteater. Between April and June a Black-breasted Puffleg has been sighted, one of the rarest hummingbirds in the world. Enjoy the Golden-breasted and Sapphire-vented Pufflegs, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Great Sapphirewing and Sword-billed Hummingbird.
 
In the early afternoon you are free for relaxing or enjoying the amenities at San Jorge Eco-Lodge – swimming pool, jacuzzi, Turkish bath, sauna, game room. 

In the late afternoon we’ll go birding at San Jorge Botanical Reserve (High Barren Plains/Highland Rainforest/Paramo) in the Pichincha Foothills. We will have the opportunity to see the Rufous Antpitta, Hooded Siskin, Black Flowerpiercer, Scarlet bellied mountain tanager, Blue and yellow tanager, Variable Hawk, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker (endangered) and hummingbirds such as the Purple-backed Thornbill, Golden-breasted Puffleg, and Rainbow-bearded Thornbill.

These are just a few of over 110 bird species found in this paradise. While walking through the gardens of San Jorge you will also find a wide variety of hummingbirds at their feeders including the Western Emerald, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Tyrian Metaltail, White-bellied Woodstar, Sparkling Violetear, Shining Sunbeam, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Mountain Velvetbreast, Green-tailed Trainbearer, and the Great Sapphire wing shinning sunbeam.

Recently spotted are the very rare Curve-billed Tinamou, Red-crested Cotinga, Andean Condor and the endemic and endangered Black-breasted Puffleg. All this at an altitude of 3150 meters!  At the same time you will have the opportunity to take in the fabulous panoramic views of Quito, along with views of the volcano peaks of Cayambe, Antizana, Pasochoa, Pululahua, Pichincha and Illalso. You can observe 11 mountains from various points of San Jorge Botanical Reserve.

Overnight San Jorge/Quito (B,L,D).
 
Day 3– Birding at San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve (Cloud Forest)
Today we will leave the Quito area and bird the San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve.  The reserve is located in a lower valley and is part of the Choco Endemic Bird Area of Northwest Ecuador. Here you can take in panoramic views, running rivers, wild surroundings, tropical plants/flowers (40 species of orchids!) and exotic wildlife while visiting Tandayapa.

The bungalow deck (pictured above left) is set up with hammocks for relaxing during lunch. You may spot up to 15 varieties of Hummingbirds. Tanager flocks include the Golden napped tanager, Grass-green Tanager Metallic green tanager, and Blue-winged Mountain-tanager, Toucan Barbet, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, as well as the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock and Golden headed quetzal. 
In the afternoon we will make a stop at Cali Cali Middle of the World Equador Line. The Equator, or Equatorial Line, runs horizontally through the country of Ecuador and is the main reason behind the country’s name.  

Tonight we will stay in the new San Jorge de Milpe Eco-Lodge, located in the subtropical rainforest at San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve.

Accommodations include rooms with private bath and hot shower, twin or triple beds, an observatory deck with panoramic views, and hammocks for watching the birds eating at their feeders. This brand new eco-lodge has the comfort and rustic elegance of a rainforest lodge, with spectacular scenery for birding, with Class A birding trails, making it the ideal retreat for some of the best bird watching in Ecuador. Overnight at San Jorge/Milpe (B,L,D)

Day 4 - Birding at San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve
Today we will bird through relatively untouched temperate and subtropical forest. We will also have a hiking excursion to San Claudio Waterfalls where we will stop for a swim so bring your swimsuit and water shoes. 

Some of the bird we will look for at San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve include the: Swallow-tailed Kite, Cattle Egret, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Ruddy Pigeon, Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Red-billed Parrot, B  ronze-winged Parrot, White-collared Swift, Red-headed Barbet, Bay-headed Tanager, Summer Tanager, Black-capped Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Palm Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Lemon-rumped Tanager, Golden Tanager, Thick billed Euphonia, Buff-throated Saltator, Black-winged Saltator, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Squirrel Cuckoo, Roadside Hawk, Toucan Barbet , Laughing Falcon, Gray-headed Kite, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, White-winged Tanager, Moss-backed Tanager, Ochre-breasted Tanager, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Band-backed Wren, Black-striped Sparrow, Broad-billed Motmot, Rufous Motmot, Barred Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Long-tailed Antbird, Buff-rumped Warbler, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Rufous-winged Tyrannulet, Golden-olive Woodpecker. Hummingbird species include the White-whiskered Hermit, Stripe-throated Hermit, Tooth-bellied Hummingbird, White-necked Jacobin, Green Thorntail, Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Purple-chested Hummingbird, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Empress Brilliant, Velvet-purple Coronet, Purple-crowned Fairy, and Purple-throated Woodstar.  

This evening, after dinner, take a guided walk inside the tropical rainforest to listen and spotlight owls, nightjars and bats. Be sure to bring along your flashlight!
Overnight San Jorge/Milpe (B, L, D)

Day 5 – Family River Tubing Excursion

Today you have two options.
We can offer birding at the Mindo Tower & Milpe Road. Or, if there are 4 or more participants, we will go on a water tubing excursion. With a rubber tube beneath you, a life jacket strapped to your back, tubing is the perfect activity.  In the rainy season the river is even higher and more exciting for tubing. Includes, tubes, life jackets, transportation and guide. Afterwards, we will return to stay at San Jorge/Quito (B,L,D).   We can substitute a birding tour, in place of tubing, if desired.

Day 6 – Birding Upper Tandayapa Valley & World-famous Nono-Mindo Road
As the elevation decreases the bird diversity increases. The chances of seeing the Plate-billed Mountain-toucan and Toucan Barbet, as well as a number of gaudy Tanagers (including the Grass-green, Blue-and-black, and Blue-winged Mountain varieties), are high.  A network of trails lead us into the Cloud Forest where a wonderful variety of Choco-endemic species can be spotted, including the Sunbittern, Barred Puffbird, Barred Hawk, Red-headed Barbet, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Choco Toucan, Black-capped Pygmy-tyrant, Tawny-breasted Flycatcher, Olive-crowned Yellowthroat, and Yellow-throated Bush-tanager. Overnight at San Jorge/Quito (B,L,D).

Day 7 – Family Fun/Farwell Dinner
Today you get to choose one eco-adventure or a cultural tour.  We need a minimum of 4 people per tour and selections must be made prior to arrival. That evening, there will be a farewell dinner. Overnight at San Jorge/Quito (B,L,D)                                                        
 
Mountain Biking Tour - Nono-Tandayapa Route
This is a downhill trip of 55 km. (28 miles) and it is rated as easy.  Includes mountain bikes, helmets, transportation, and guide. This is a famous Birdwatchers secondary route.  While descending from the beautiful virgin cloud forest, visit the Sierra, an enormous canyon, Tandayapa and Pichincha’s untouched foothills.  This is a fairly easy ride that offers incredible sightseeing from an altitude of 3,200 mts. down to 1,500 mts. to the Cloud Forest.   We will witness some amazing vegetation changes as we explore virgin rainforests on this magical tour for riders of any level! 

Horseback Riding Eco-Adventure on the Last Incan Emperor’s Trail
Ride on the high barren plains at San Jorge Botanical Reserve.  Experience a slice of 17th Century life!   Ride Mustang Horses with traditional saddles up to Guagua Pichincha.  Visit the Andes potato and cattle farms.  Great sightseeing!  We will go around a pre-Inca road (1500 BC) and ride up to the Highland Rainforest.  San Jorge invites its guests to discover this unique part of Ecuadorian life. 

Old Colonial Quito City Tour
We will explore the Capital of Ecuador, Quito, considered part of the Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO.  During your visit you will learn about the colonial art in the churches, history, archaeology and folklore in the museums.  Your private guide will provide complete information of the baroque colonial art. You will visit the most important areas:  Plaza de la Independencia, Plaza San Francisco, Plaza Santo Domingo, La Merced, La Compania, Penecillo. Lunch will be in a typical restaurant in Quito. 

Day 8 – Transfer to Quito Airport
In the morning you will be transferred to the Quito Airport for your flight home. (B)