Papallacta Hot Springs & Guango Cloud Forest Reserve PRIVATE

After an early departure from Quito at 7:30 am from your hotel, you'll drive some 65 km (41 miles) east of Quito the road brings you into the high elevation paramo at the Papallacta pass, a very tundra-like habitat. On clear days the views of the surroundings and various volcanoes are breath-taking; a stop right up at the pass is one of the best spots to photograph the snow-capped Antisana Volcano as it towers over the mountains below.

If weather allows, from this point on we should start scanning the sky from time to time for the Andean Condor, Variable Hawk, Carunculated Caracara and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, that may soar overhead.

At the highest elevations you’ll seek out the secretive and cryptic Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe and other unique wildlife of this region.

Later you’ll drive to Guango Reserve, where you will embark on a hike along the trails around the lodge to get a taste of the beautiful Andean temperate forests, hummingbirds will take your full attention. The cloud forest concentrates the highest diversity of these winged jewels in the Americas.

Colorful mixed flocks with birds such as Lacrimose and Hooded Mountain Tanagers, Blue-backed Conebill, Black-capped Hemispingus can be seen around the lodge. Here you have possibilities of seeing very local birds like the stunning Gray Breasted Mountain-Toucan, Andean Guan, and Northern Mountain Cacique. Along the Papallacta River you’ll try to find a unique resident of fast flowing mountain rivers, a powerful swimmer and diver: the Torrent Duck. This could definitely be one of our day highlights!I Following the tour you'll continue to the Papallacta Hot Spring Complex where you'll get a delicious lunch and then have enough time to soak in the benefits of its therapeutic waters, relax and enjoy! You'll drive back to Quito late in the afternoon.