Papallacta Hot Springs and Guango Cloud Forest Reserve PRIVATE

Papallacta Hot Springs and Guango Cloud Forest Reserve PRIVATE

Take a day to awaken your senses and feel the benefits of the hot springs waters. Papallacta is located 65 km (41 miles) east from Quito; it has a tundra-like habitat known as paramo in its upper part and montane humid forest below. Due to its location, on clear days it allows for breath-taking views of the Andean landscape. In the way you'll stop at the Papallcta pass, one of the best spots for landscape photography and birdwatching in the area. Then you'll continue to Guango Cloud Forest Reserve where hummingbirds will take your full attention. The cloud forest concentrates the highest diversity of these winged jewels in the Americas. Today you'll experience different types of habitats from paramo grasslands to exuberant lush green vegetation all deep in the Andean subtropical zone. 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!

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.