Itinerary (approximate):

06h30	Pick-up from Quito
08h30	Arrive at Bellavista Lodge & breakfast
	Guided hike
13h00	Lunch
14h00	Further explorations
15h00	Departure for Quito (flexible)
17h00	Arrival in Quito

We pick you up at your hotel at 6:30 a.m., and travel past the Ecuador Monument , and on down a mountain road with superb views, and then turn off on a dirt road with more fabulous views for our climb to Bellavista.  Once at Bellavista, the hummingbirds take our full attention!  Large numbers hover constantly round the feeders, and it is easy to identify six to ten species at very close range.

After breakfast we go for a guided naturalist hike into the forest, of about 2-2.5 hours duration.  Your guided hike will acquaint you with the exuberant vegetation of the Cloud Forest, its bird life, and the fascinating adaptations to life in this special environment. Every hike reveals something new even for those of us who are fortunate enough to live in the forest every day!

After your hike, a hearty lunch is served in our circular restaurant in the dome, with breathtaking views.  After lunch, you have the option to relax and watch the hummers and admire the constantly changing play of cloud and light, or take yourselves on another hike into the forest. The trails are well marked and safe, and your vehicle will expect you back at the dome to leave between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to return you to Quito shortly before dusk.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Pick–up and drop-off times are flexible – please let us know what your timetable is, and we will adapt. Pick-up is from any Quito hotel, or from a host family home.