Welcome to Quito! The biggest, best-preserved colonial city in America was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and the second most important city of the old Inca Empire. Depending on your arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. Adventure Journeys can help you to organize a day trip. In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel for a welcome briefing and there will be plenty of time to discuss details and answer any questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an informational and acclimation day.

This morning, we will go deeper into the jungle inside the Llanganates National Park. The name “Llanganates” comes from “beautiful mountain” in the local native language. Here, 600 years ago, the Incas hid their golden treasures. Many explorers have spent years looking for these treasures, some have even disappeared with no luck in this dense pristine jungle. We will head to Pimpilala Kichwa community. Once here we will enjoy a magnificent visit to La Laguna Azul (Blue Loop) to enjoy nature in its maximum splendor. Our local native guide will teach about the incredible flora and fauna that thrive in this unequaled habitat; we will spend the night at the Local Basic Jungle Lodge run by a Kichwa indigenous family.

This morning we will enjoy a hike into the tropical rainforest and will climb through several waterfall canyons. In the afternoon we will prepare a delicious chocolate fondue with the local family, we will learn about the process and enjoy the final product in our dinner accompanied by the charming sounds of nature.

We begin our trip at the Arajuno bridge, where we will take a motorized canoe that goes upriver for 20 minutes to begin our great experience in the tropical forest. On this boat trip, you can appreciate the magic and beauty of the Amazon rainforest by traveling along a river that zigzags through the jungle like a giant snake, considered the main system of the Pacha Mama (Mother Earth). Once we arrive at the lodge dock area, our staff will welcome you. From there we will continue to relax in the lounge with a fresh tropical snack and a short briefing that will contain general information about the accommodation and activities, provided by one of our naturalist guides, and thus proceed to lunch. 18:30 Night Walk (optional) A flashlight and camera are the most important tools on this nighttime excursion, allowing guests to hear and capture the nocturnal sounds of fishing bats, owls, some insects, tarantulas, toads, frogs, and possibly snakes. If the sky is clear, we could have the opportunity to observe a large number of stars. 19:30 Dinner.

5:45 – 6:00 Departure to the Saladero – Parrot clay lick (according to the weather) Early in the morning we take a 15-minute canoe ride upriver to visit the Saladero de Loros and appreciate a unique place where parrots and parakeets meet in order to obtain the minerals that will help them digest the fruits or seeds that they have consumed. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets will approach the treetops and then descend to the clay wall to eat this mineral-rich soil. Binoculars are essential to enjoy this magnificent natural act. 7:00 – 8:30 Breakfast 9:00 or 9:30 Departure for a long walk After breakfast we go on a hike through the primary and secondary forests. This activity lasts about 2 ½ to 3 hours. 13:00 Lunch 14:30 Visit to the community In the afternoon it is time to enjoy a cultural activity. An Amazonian Kichwa community will welcome us and we will learn about their way of life and the interaction they have with the forest. In this meeting, that part of the Amazon that is not found on maps will be shown: the Amazonian people in their daily lives. Part of our visit to the community consists of sharing the famous “chicha”, a fermented yucca drink that has become part of their festivals and daily consumption. We are going to participate in the preparation of this drink and try some of the traditional dishes. We will end the visit with a traditional dance performed by the children of the community and we will also have time to buy some crafts made by the indigenous people of the area. 19:30 Dinner.

Today after a delicious breakfast, we will take a motorized canoe for 20 minutes to the Arajuno bridge. Later, we will return to the charming city of Quito to rest and relax.

Today our trip will end and you will have your International departures. Take with you your memories and photos and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a “buen viaje”!