• 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

#2 CULTURAL & ECO-ADVENTURE ITINERARY – 9 nights/10 days

• Day One – Airport transfer from Quito Airport to San Jorge Eco-Lodge, overnight lodging San Jorge/Quito
  
• Day Two – Old Colonial Quito City Tour We 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)
  
• Day Three - 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.
  
• Day Four – Otavalo Indian Market & Surroundings Visit the world famous Otavalo Indian Market.   You will have the opportunity to shop for world famous handmade wool and alpaca products.  Also, visit San Pablo Lake, Cotacashi (leather village), and Cuicocha (sacred Indian lagoon), OR San Antonia de Ibarra wood carving village. Includes lunch at typical Ecuadorian restaurant.  Overnight San Jorge/Quito (B,L,D)
• Day Five – San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve (Cloud Forest) Hiking and nature expedition.   Beautiful birds, panoramic views, hiking, wild surroundings, tropical plants/flowers, and exotic wildlife within our tropical world famous Cloud Forest.  Lunch at our bungalow; overnight San Jorge/Tandayapa  (B, bL, D)
  
• Day Six - San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve (Subtropical Rain Forest)  Hiking and nature expedition with swimming.  Visit a wild virgin cloud forest around Pichincha Mountain and trek on great jungle trails inside a natural paradise, observing a variety of birds along the way, along with orchid observation, hummingbirds at their feeders, and bird observation on our pre-inca hillside. This is considered a bird watching paradise, of about 450 species; majestic waterfalls, wild surroundings, tropical plants/flowers/300 varieties of orchids, and exotic birds within our tropical reserve.  A unique soft adventure for active people of all ages. Overnight San Jorge/Milpe (B,L,D)
  
• Day Seven –After breakfast, transfer to San Jorge/Quito.   Sacred Waterfalls & Medicinal Plant Hiking Tour at San Jorge Botanical Reserve.  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. Overnight San Jorge/Quito (B,L,D)
  
• Day Eight - Papallacta Natural Hot Springs Journey through the High Andes Barren Plains (4000 mts. o.s.l).  Drive the same route as Francisco De Orellana walked when he discovered the Amazon River.  Visit Tumbaco, Cumbaya and Pifo Valley.  We will climb up the Central Andes chain until we reach Papallacta Lake where we will stop at the thermal springs.  This is a wonderfully relaxing day.  During the trip, your guide will give you a botanical and ecological explanation of the Coca Cayambe Reserve, which is considered a Condors area. Bring warm weather clothes for high altitude, towels from San Jorge and sunscreen; overnight San Jorge/Quito (B,bL, D)
  
• Day Nine - Mountain Biking Day Trip - Includes mountain bike, helmet, gloves, transportation, guide, transportation
  Nono-Tandayapa Route – Downhill Trip, 55 km.  Rated: Easy
  This is a famous Birdwatchers secondary route.  While descending from the beautiful virgin cloud forest, visit the Sierra, an enormous canyon, Tandayapa and Pichincha’s untouched foothills.  This is a fairly easy ride that offers incredible sightseeing from an altitude of 3,200 mts. down to 1,500 mts. To the Cloud Forest.   We will witness some amazing vegetation changes as we explore virgin rainforests on this magical tour for riders of any level!  Overnight San Jorge/Quito (B, bL, D)
  
• Day Ten – AM transfer to Quito Airport (B)

#3 BOTANIZING & BIRDING WITH CULTURAL HISTORICAL TOURS – 7 nights/8 days

• Day One – Airport transfer from Quito Airport to San Jorge Eco-Lodge; overnight San Jorge/Quito
  Day Two –  Old Colonial Quito City Tour & Middle of the World -  La Mital del Mundo, (equator line)  We 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. Includes lunch at typical restaurant; overnight San Jorge/Quito (B,L,D)
  
• Day Three –  Medicinal Plants & Sacred Waterfalls.  In the San Jorge Botanical Reserve (High Barren Plains/Highland Rainforest), we will trek to the highland tropical rain forest, visiting up to 5 sacred waterfalls.  Here, we will learn about the medicinal attributes of the native plants and their useages, containing up to 250 varieties in the region, including an introduction to the flora and fauna of this area.   Guided by Dr. Jorge Cruz.  At the same time you will take in the fabulous 360 degree panoramic views of Quito, its valleys and mountains along with views of the volcano peaks of Cayambe, Antizana, Pasochoa, Pululahua, Pichincha and Illalo, observing 11 mountains from various points of San Jorge Botanical Reserve.  Overnight San Jorge/Quito (B,bL,D)
  
• Day Four – Botanizing and Birding at San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve (CLOUD FOREST). Guided nature expedition/exploring/scientific studies of the flora and fauna inside the Cloud Forest, guided by local botanist; including bird identification along the way. Introduction to:  Heliconia, Guarumo, Palmito, Anturio to name a few, plus over 40 varieties of orchids that grow in the tropical Cloud Forest. Overnight San Jorge/Milpe  (B,bL,D)
  
• Day Five –  Birding San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve (SUBTROPICAL RAINFOREST), optional swimming at San Claudio Waterfalls; overnight San Jorge/Milpe  (B,L,D) (Bring swimsuit & watershoes)
  
• Day Five – Evening Walk with wild voice in the Subtropical Rainforest – hearing nightjars, owls, insects, bats……(bring headlamp or flashlight)
  
• Day Six –  Botanizing at San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve (SUBTROPICAL RAINFOREST).  Guided nature expedition/exploring/scientific studies of the flora and fauna inside the Subtropical Rainforest; guided by local botanist. Introduction to: Guanto, Bromelias, Supirosa Verbenacea and over 300 varieties of orchids.  Later in the afternoon, transfer to San Jorge/Quito.  Overnight San Jorge/Quito (B,L,D)
  
• Day Seven – Choose one group option for today
  
#1 Otavalo Indian Market & Surroundings  Visit the world famous Otavalo Indian Market.   You will have the opportunity to shop for world famous handmade wool and alpaca products.  Also, visit San Pablo Lake, Cotacashi (leather village), and Cuicocha (sacred Indian lagoon), OR San Antonia de Ibarra wood carving village. Lunch at typical Ecuadorian restaurant in Otavalo.
#2 Papallacta Cultural & Botanizing Tour (High Barren Plains) Journey through the High Andes Barren Plains (4000 mts. o.s.l).  Drive the same route as Francisco De Orellana walked when he discovered the Amazon River.  Visit Tumbaco, Cumbaya and Pifo Valley.  We will climb up the Central Andes chain until we reach Papallacta Lake where we will stop at the thermal hot springs.   During the trip, your guide will give you a botanical and ecological explanation of the Coca Cayambe Reserve, which is considered a Condors area.  Learn about the flora and fauna in the higher area, such as: Paja de paramo, paramo daisy, chuquirigua, guishuar, pillow grass; including numerous orchids.  In the lower area of Papallacta, we will find similar similar plants at San Jorge Botanical Reserve such as: pumamamqui, sacha capuli, chilc, verbena, arrocillo, shanshi, taxo, espino chinan, Andean rubber and more.
#3 Cotopaxi Volcano Sightseeing & Historial Tour. (High Barren Plains) Cotopaxi National Park is Ecuador’s oldest protected area, harboring the world’s highest active volcano Cotopaxi, which stands 5,887 mts high. Drive through the Volcanoes Avenue crossing all the southern area of Pichincha Province (on a clear day, great views).  This tour will be a mix of volcanology, geography, anthropology, information on local animals/ farming/cattle and history of traditional living in Ecuador.  Learn about the local plants, such as:  Pinus, radiate, pinus radiate, pinus patula, cipres, polilepis or pantza.  Take in distant views of Cotopaxi Volcano and learn about its surroundings; stop at Indian food market.

• Overnight San Jorge/Quito; Farewell Dinner with Optional Folkloric Ballet Show at San Jorge Eco-Lodge (B,bL,D)
  
• Day Eight – AM transfer to Quito Airport (B)

#4 MEDICAL MISSIONS FOR STUDENT GROUPS

San Jorge offers medical mission programs to the poorer communities of Ecuador, including  the remote jungle areas; with complete mission coordination including transportation, lodging, meals, obtaining approvals, acting as liason between the villages in need of medical treatments and the student - doctor groups arriving with supplies to perform treatments. Contact us for further information.