Category: Ecuador (continental)

Watching hummingbirds was an important adventure on side-trip from Quito during our ☞ 2008 Ecuador trip. We rented a car, with very knowledgeable driver/guide. On the way out to cloud forest, we took the old road starting high on the slopes of Pichincha, birdwatching in Yanacocha ( ca 3500 masl), Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve (ca 2200 masl) and at Alambi Reserve bird sanctuary along the new road on the way back to Quito (ca 1600 masl). Different hummingbird species live at different altitudes. They live in the forest, but some come to feeders to get extra food. Our guide and the sanctuary guide were able to identify many species.

During  ☞ 2008 Ecuador trip our eyes were trained on Galapagos, the big volcanoes (Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Pichincha) and the jungle (Cuyabeno), but no flower was left unnoticed. We really enjoyed lazy and relaxing visit to Quito Botanic Garden with superb orchid collection. Here is what we saw.

21-day trip to Ecuador and ☞ Galapagos Islands. We hiked 10-km Quilotoa rim loop and to 5000 masl at the edge of Cotopaxi glacier after grueling acclimatization walk in Chugchilan. We enjoyed watching  ☞ hummingbirds  and relaxing visit to  ☞ Quito Botanic Garden.

Itinerary

Chicago ➜ Quito-Hostal Casapaxi-Parque la Alameda-Iglesia de San Francisco ➜ ☞ Galapagos  ➜ Quito ➜ Yanacocha  ➜ Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve ➜ ☞ Alambi Cloud Forest  ➜ Quito ➜ Machachi-Toacazo-Sigchos-Chugchilan ➜ Laguna Quilotoa (rim trail) ➜ San Jose de Poalo/Latacunga ➜ Hostel Valhalla/Machachi ➜ Laguna de Limpiopungo ➜ Cotopaxi Refugio and glacier  ➜ Quito-Jardin Botanico/Orchid House-Passo la Muerte/Volcano Pichincha ➜ Lago Agrio-Tierras Orientales-Rio Aguarico ➜ Rio Cuyabeno/Rio Aguas Negras-Dracaena (lizard) Lodge ➜ Quito ➜ Otavalo-Lago de San Pablo-Parque Condor ➜ Quito ➜ Chicago

Quilotoa rim loop

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To Cotopaxi glacier

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Nature – 56 photos

Laguna Quilotoa