Arrival in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, the country with the biggest biodiversity in Latin America. Quito because of its Inca and Colonial heritage, has been designated as Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The city is located highly with an elevation of 9,350 ft. Welcome in the airport then transfer to a charming hotel in the historic center.

In the morning visit of Quito and its historic center. Then transfer to Mindo’s cloud forest. On the way quick stop for a visit to the Middle of the World monument, an optional visit of the Ethno Scientific Inti Ñan museum where you’ll find yourself at latitude 0. On the way, coffee break in a hummingbird observatory. Then arrival in Mindo, check in at a Charming Eco-Chalet located next to a primary cloudy site with its waterfalls. Relaxing night stay with the sounds of crickets and the creek.

Morning walk to begin observing the birds. Then a possible hike to one of the waterfalls, visit of a butterfly’s farm. Choose activities between U$ 15 and U$ 30. per person:

• Visit of a chocolate factory
• Visit of a botanical garden with orchids
• Visit of a reserve of hummingbirds or tangaras
• Angel Paz bird reserve trainer tour
• Tyrolean activity flying over the forest
• Tubing down the Mindo River (on buoys)
• Cycling or horse riding
• Canyoning
• Night tour to observe small animals
• Participation in the counting of bird species in the region (3rd weekend of December)
• Exquisite “Pizza“ dinner or local “tilapia“ lunch

Overnight in a Eco chalet.

“Volcano Road“ toward to the Cotopaxi volcano (nearly 19350 ft.) or the highest volcano Chimborazo of almost 20700 ft. or Antisana volcano (18700 ft.), condor region. Volcano park tour. Hiking and/or climb to the refuge at 15750 or 16400 ft. with a picnic. Or optional horseback riding around Cotopaxi from U$ 25. Dinner and overnight in a scenic mountain inn or eco-tourist hacienda charming 3* (with shared bathroom).

Optional condor and raptor sightings in the Antisana region at U$ 25 per person. Drive to the charming spa town of Baños, located below of the active volcano Tungurahua. Tour of the craft town. Optional activities between U$ 5 and U$ 20 per person

• Thermal bath
• Typical lunch
• Zipline or Tarabita
• Mountain bike ride
• Massage from U$ 70

Waterfalls Road then walk to the most impressive: the Pailon del Diablo Waterfall. Then continue to The Door of the Amazon: Puyo, a farm / botanical and ecological park. Walking tour and discovery of its tropical plantations with a biologist and possible bath in the river. Vegetarian dinner and overnight in a hotel.

Activities during these 2 days depend on your interests, the number of persons, and the weather:

• Canoe rides on the rivers or the lake close to the lodge
• Fauna, bird, dolphins, monkeys, watching
• Observation of medicinal, tropical plants, giant trees
• Learning about the Amazonian ecosystem
• Fishing piranhas
• Appreciation of great Sunset on the lakes
• Swimming in rivers
• Night watching of caimans and insects, amphibians in the forest by pirogue
• Go on a panoramic tower to observe birds and monkeys
• Meeting with a local Indigenous ethnic: Cofan or Secoya or Kichwa
• Learning about their hunt tools: the blowgun, lance and their agro products…
• Presentation by a Shaman of remedies plants and “purification” rituals

Soft Mountain biking along the Waterfall road or other activity. On the way, “tarabita” crossing Pastaza river. Walk to the spectacular Pailon del Diablo waterfall, one of the biggest of Latin America. Then drive to Puyo, “the gateway of the Amazon”, to a botanic farm. Vegetarian lunch. Guided tour in its park to know about the tropical plants, trees and the ones in extinction. Boat tour. Swimming in the river. Vegetarian dinner and overnight in the farm.

Last breakfast in that magnificent green universe. Then canoe and/or land transfer back to the Lago Agrio or Coca airport and flight back to Quito airport. Transfer to Quito hotel or near the city. Or on request, transfer to the famous Thermal pools of Papallacta. Hot spring bath, dinner and overnight in Papallacta First class Hotel Spa (according to the flight departure time the following day) and possible massage.

End of the Ecuador Biodiverse Tour. Transfer to the airport in Quito for your flight back. Or a flight to the magnificent Galapagos Islands for an island hopping tour or a nice stay in the pacific coast.