-
Day One – Airport transfer from Quito Airport to San Jorge Eco-Lodge, overnight lodging San Jorge/Quito
-
Day Two – Cloud Forest Conservation & Hummingbird Project at San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve. Hands on project, planting native trees & plants attractive to Hummingbirds; cleaning trails. Hiking tour, learn about the flora & fauna. Picnic lunch at bungalow, viewing Hummingbirds at feeders. ½ hour introduction of learning bird calls. Later in afternoon transfer to San Jorge/Milpe; Overnight SJ/Milpe (B, bL, D)
-
Day Three - Paint a Schoolhouse Project (local school near Milpe). Picnic lunch with Ecuadorian students at the school. Optional: USA students may bring school supplies (used or new) to donate to the school.Late afternoon swimming at San Claudio Waterfalls at San Jorge de Milpe Reserve.
Evening walk listening to wild voices. Overnight SJ/Milpe (B, bL, D)
-
Day Four - After breakfast, transfer to SJ/Quito. Medicinal Plant & Sacred Waterfalls Tour & identifying birds along the way. We will trek to the Highland Tropical Rainforest, visiting up to 5 sacred waterfalls. Here, we will learn about some of the 250 varieties of native medicinal plants in the region. At the same time, you will take in the fabulous panoramic views of Quito, its lush valleys and majestic mountains and the volcano peaks of Cayambe, Antizana, Pasochoa, Pululahua, Pichincha, and Illalo. We can observe 11 mountains from various points of San Jorge Botanical Reserve. Picnic lunch at the waterfalls. Later in afternoon, Service Work at SJ Organic Vegetable Gardens – Supervised planting, weeding and maintaining gardens for approximately 2 hours. Overnight SJ/Quito (B, bL, D)
-
Day Five - Service Workday Project – Work at a traditional Mud Brick Factory in the area, owned by an Ecuadorian family. Learn how to make mud bricks that native homes are made from. Your bilingual guide will give explanations along the process. Afterwards, enjoy a typical Luncheon of beans, cheese, sauces, potatoes and Chichi prepared by the family. Overnight SJ/Quito. (B, L, D)
-
Day Six - Horseback Riding Eco-Adventure to the high barren plains at San Jorge Botanical Reserve. Experience a slice of 17th Century life! Ride Mustang Horses with traditional saddles up to Guagua Pichincha. Visit the Andes potato and cattle farms. Great sightseeing! We will go around a pre-Inca road (1500 BC) and ride up to (4700 ms osl) to the Highland Rainforest. San Jorge invites its guests to discover this unique part of Ecuadorian life at San Jorge Botanical Reserve (High Barren Plains/Highland Rainforest); picnic lunch with horses. Overnight SJ/Quito (B, bL, D)
-
Day Seven - Old Colonial Quito City TourWe will explore the Capital of Ecuador, considered part of the Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO. During your visit you will learn about the colonial art in the churches, history, archaeology and folklore in the museums. Your private guide will provide complete information of the baroque colonial art. Visit the most important areas: Plaza de la Independencia, Plaza San Francisco, Plaza Santo Domingo, La Merced, La Compania, Penecillo. Continue on La Mital del Mundo (equator line) Middle of the World – to Visit the outdoor museum of indigenous artifacts. Find out if water really does spin the other way South of the Equator; and enjoy several other demonstrations of gravity’s power. Lunch at typical restaurant. Overnight San Jorge/Quito (B,L,D)
-
Farewell dinner & Optional Folkloric Ballet Show