Suggested Itinerary
Day 1: Our journey begins after a hearty 7:30 breakfast in El Angel when we pile into a pick-up truck to head to the páramo. Upon reaching our destination, we set off on foot, spending several hours crossing the paramo, home of Frailejones and the majestic Andean condor. In the afternoon, we begin our decent into the cloudforest to reach the village of Morán (2900m). Accommodation is in a rustic cabin. (Travel time: approximately 6 hours).
Day 2: Today our transport is on horseback: we leave the village at 8:00 and follow the Morán river until reaching the waterfall, El Pailón where we will have a picnic lunch. From here we continue on foot, descending into a warmer valley characterized by subtropical vegetation.
By late-afternoon, we reach El Corazón (2200m), the location of tonight's accommodations. From here we have a splendid view of the Cerro Golondrinas peak. (Travel time: approximately 3 hours on horseback and 4 hours walking.)
Day 3: We spend the day relaxing in El Corazón, swinging in hammocks, and taking walks around the area with a local guide. This is also a great day for bird watching: Plate-billed mountain toucans, Toucan barbets and the brown Inca hummingbird are common sites. From El Corazon, we can visit a forest restoration project being conducted by the foundation .
Day 4: Early in the morning we leave El Corazón and begin the 4-hour trek to Las Juntas, where a pick-up truck awaits us. We drive to Guallupe (1000 m), passing through subtropical vegetation and farms growing pineapple, bananas, yuca and citrus trees. Tonight we stay in the House in Guallupe. From here we offer the options to: board the bus (seldom the train) to San Lorenzo; return to Quito; travel to the Otavalo markets; or Ibarra.
Additional Information:
Please bring: sleeping bag, rubber boots, light raingear, sandals, warm clothing, flashlight, canteen, knife, hat, insect repellent, a daypack, camera and binoculars.