Tour February 2015 A program especially designed for Orchid Lovers and Investigators of Native Ecuadorian Orchids Species. Introduction: The biodiversity found in Ecuador is among the highest of any country in the world. Our country is filled with an extreme diversity of habitats and microclimates produced by a variety of factors like: the altitude of the Andean mountain range; the meeting of the cold Humboldt Current with the warm El Niño off the coast; and the rainy Eastern slopes of the Andes. It is estimated that around 4,000 ORCHIDS species exists in it small country, grouped into 240 different genera. Making our country one of the richest in terms of the diversity of orchids on the planet. For this reason, a visit to see the orchids of Ecuador will result in fascinating experiences and marvelous adventure. Further, Ecuador possesses a great diversity of ethnicities and cultures among its people. The result is varied and interesting arts and customs. This combines with the beautiful countryside to create a unique experience for all who visit. Price: The price for this tour would be 150usd dollars a day, which includes Hotel, Food, Guide, Bottle Water, Transportation and transfers from the airport when you arrive and to the airport when you leave. Note: Alcoholic drinks are not included.
ITINERARY 0. Saturday, January 31 st - Transfer from the airport to the Hotel Cumbaya. 1. Sunday, February 01 st - QUITO: We will have a City Tour in Quito, first UNESCO World Heritage Site by its architecture and culture. And, in the afternoon we will visit the Botanical Garden. We will spend the night in Quito. 2. Monday, February 02 nd - QUITO to MINDO: We will be driving to Mindo; a town well known in Ecuador by its biodiversity and as a place very reach in orchids. On the way we will pass through the Equator Line and also will observe the orchids that grow in the area as Epidendrum, Ida, Maxillaria, Dracula, Porroglossum, etc. We will spend the night in Mindo. 3. Tuesday, February 03 rd - MINDO is a great place to spend time visiting the area ranges from approximately 1200 to 1800m above sea level, and its most popular attractions are the cloud forest, flora and fauna. Temperatures range from about (60ºF-75ºF) and rain storms are common throughout the year, this is a perfect habitat for Maxillaria, Pleurothallis, Dracula, Stellis, Lepanthes, Ida and Epidendrum. We will spend the night in Mindo. 4. Wednesday, February 04 th MINDO to PUERTO QUITO: This way we will go on the direction to the cost which area is very reach in butterflies and orchids as Phragmipedium longifolium, Pleurothallis, Sigmatostalix and many other ones. We will spend the night in Mindo. 5. Thursday, February 05 th - MINDO to OTAVALO: On the way to Otavalo, there is a town named Selva Alegre. Here we will see some Sobralia, Cyrtochilum, Oncidium, Epidendrum, Restrepia, and other interesting species. We will spend the night in Otavalo.
6. Friday, February 06 th - CUICOCHA: In this town we will visit an important Crater Lake called Lago de Cuicocha which name is kichwua. And in the afternoon, we will visit INTAG town looking for a great variety of orchids that occur in the area, like Andinia, Lepanthes, Pleurothallis, Dryadella, and others. We will spend the night in Otavalo. 7. Saturday, February 07 th - OTAVALO to COTACACHI: We will stop by the local traditional market in Otavalo, famous for its textiles and where we can find a great variety of handicrafts. Nearby, there are many villages and towns famous for their own particular crafts like COTACACHI, it is the center of Ecuador's leather industry and is known for its polished calfskins. In the afternoon, we will go to Lita, a town in the cost from Esmeraldas Province, where we will see Phragmipedium, Selenipedium, Lepanthes, Sobralia, Schomburgkia and more species. We will spend the night in Cotacachi. 8. Sunday, February 08 th - COTACACHI to BAEZA: We will leave the Andes to go to the Amazon Side, the highest point that we will past will be 4000 meters, on the way we will find Odontoglossum, Cyrtochillum, Pleurothallis, Telipogon, Chondrorhyncha, and many other interesting species. We will spend the night in Baeza, at the Hotel La Casa de Rodrigo. 9. Monday, February 09 th BAEZA: This day we will go on the direction of San Rafael Water falls, which area is very reach in terms of biodiversity. We will see Maxillaria, Epidendrum, Sigmatostalix, Lycaste and many others. As well, on the way, there is beautiful cascades. We will spend the day in Baeza at Hotel La Casa de Rodrigo. 10. Tuesday, February 10 th - BAEZA to ARCHIDONA: The plants that we will see on the way are growing in hot and humid conditions, some of those will be Macroclinium, Sobralia, Epidendrum, Rodriguezia, Maxillaria, etc. We will spend the night in Archidona. 11. Wednesday, February 11 th - ARCHIDONA: We will go to Misahualli to observe the orchids that grows in the area, as well to learn about the culture of Shuar and Ashuar ethnic groups that inhabited the area. We will spend the night in Archidona.
12. Thursday, February 12 th ARCHIDONA to BAÑOS: We are going to head to Baños to see the orchids that grow in the area, as well the different microclimates and sceneries. This area is the habitat of Phragmipedium lindenii, Sobrallia rosea and many other interesting species. We will spend the night in Baños at Hotel Donde Ivan. 13. Friday, February 13 th BAÑOS: We will enjoy the day looking for the orchids that live around Baños, it has different places to visit fully of many orchids. We will spend the night in Baños at Hotel Donde Ivan. 14. Saturday, February 14 th - BAÑOS to MENDEZ: On this way we will see many different species of Epidendrum, Oncidium, Psygmorchis, Warrea, Epistephium, and some other nice species. We will spend the night in Mendez at Hosteria Posada del Sol. 15. Sunday, February 15 th MENDEZ: We will look at the orchids growing around Mendez on the way of Limon town. Specially the Pragmipedium besseae, Maxillaria, Lepanthopsis, Elleanthus, and others. We will spend the night in Mendez. 16. Monday, February 16 th - MENDEZ to GUALACEO: This day we will see 3 different species of Phragmipedium besseae, pearcei and reticulatum; and also some Sobralia, Ida, Epidendrum. We will spend the night at Ecuagenera Guest House. 17. Tuesday, February 17 th - GUALACEO: We will visit the Nursery to learn about the conservation program that Ecuagenera is carrying out and how the orchids grow here. We will spend the night at Ecuagenera Guest House. 18. Wednesday, February 18 th GUALACEO: We will visit the Nursery to learn about the propagation program that Ecuagenera is carrying out. We will spend the night at Ecuagenera Guest House. 19. Thursday, February 19 th - GUALACEO to CUENCA: This day we will visit one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will have a City Tour in Cuenca, will visit the factory of the famous Panama hat and some other local markets. We will spend the night at Ecuagenera Guest House.
20. Friday, February 20 th - GUALACEO to EL PANGUI: This day we will be heading to the south east (Amazon side) where we will look some Phragmipedium besseae. This area is very rich in orchids on the way we will see many different species such as Telipogon, Epidendrum, Sobralia, Oncidium, Prostechea, Maxillaria and many other nice species. We will spend the night in a small town named El Pangui. 21. Saturday, February 21 st EL PANGUI: We are going to visit the Cordillera Del Condor. This area is very reach in orchids, most of the new species has been found here. We will see Lepanthes, Maxillaria, Masdevallia, Prostecheas, etc. We will spend the night in El Pangui. 22. Sunday, February 22 nd - PANGUI to ZAMORA: Today we will stay half of the day at Ecuagenera Nursery which is situated at 900 meters in this area we will find warm intermediate orchids. In the afternoon we will keep going on the way to Zamora looking at the orchids that grows in the area as Rodriguezia, Epidendrum, Masdevallia and other interesting species. We will spend the night in Zamora. 23. Monday, February 23 rd ZAMORA to VILCABAMBA: We will leave the Amazon side to go back to the Andes. Along the road we will find many different kind of orchids, mostly of the driving will be going up the hill, so we will have the chance to see many different microclimates. We will make many stops to see the different orchids that grow in this microclimates, some of those could be Fernandezias, Masdevallia, Sobralia, Eriopsis, Prosteches, and many other interesting species. We will spend the night in Vilcabamba. 24. Tuesday, February 24 th VILCABAMBA: We will be going around Vilcabamba on the direction to Valladolid looking for the orchids that occur in the area, like Masdevallia, Epidendrum, Pleurothallis, Lepanthes, and others. As well, Vilcabamba is well known for its climate and the beautiful sceneries. We will spend the night in Vilcavamba.
25. Wednesday, February 25 th VILCABAMBA to SARAGURO: On the way we will be looking for Telipogon, Otoglossum, Cyrtochillum, Oncidium, Masdevallia, and others. As well, we will see the way of leaving of Saraguros ethnic group that inhabited the area. We will spend the night in Saraguro. 26. Thursday, February 26 th SARAGURO TO GUALACEO: Mostly of the time, we will be around 2800 meters along the Andes in a cloud forest and will see the orchids growing along the Andes Mountain Chain. Some of those will be Telipogon, Cyrtochillum, Oncidium, Trichoceros, etc. We will spend the night at Ecuagenera Guest House. 27. Friday, February 27 th GUALACEO to SALINAS: On this way, we will pass through the Cajas National Park. It is very important for Cuenca city because is the biggest supply of water that it has. The highest point there will be at 4000 meters. We will be looking for Epidendrum, Odontoglossum and Masdevallia. We will spend the night in Salinas. 28. Saturday, February 28 th SALINAS is a touristic and relaxing place where you can walk around spending time with its people and learning about its culture and gastronomy. We will spend the night in Salinas. 29. Sunday March 01 SALINAS to GUAYAQUIL: In the morning, we will visit our Nursery near to Guayaquil where you will see warm growing orchids as Cattleya, Encyclia, Laelia, Oncidium, Dendrobium, and others. Depending of your flight schedule, we will enjoy the afternoon in Guayaquil city until your flight back home. During the trip, you will have the chance to taste the typical and season fruits that grown in the areas that we are going to visit. As well, you will appreciate the way of leaving of the ethnic groups that inhabit in the region and their meals. For that reason, our tours invite you to try our local gastronomy in different types of restaurants that may be on the way. If it is a remote area where we would be going, we use to take a box launch according our clients inquire and conditions of weather.
Depending of the need, the transportation could be by a 4x4 car for less than 3 people, a Hyundai Van for less than 19 people, or a bus for 20 people or more. RECOMMENDATIONS: In order to avoid inconvenient during the trip we suggest to bring, water proof walking shoes or rubber boots, rain coats, mosquitoes repellent and sun block, as well the basic medication for the general problems as altitude and stomachache. We recommend bringing all this supplies for the variation of climate that we are going to experiment, from cold of high altitudes and warm and humid from Amazon side, because during the tour we are going to be on the Andes region as well on the Amazon side. By the way the local currency is the US dollar so there is no fussing about with the currency Exchange or unknown notes. According to the regulations of the Ministry of Environment of Ecuador, is not allowed to collect or extract seeds, plants, or any biological resource from nature. We really appreciate your comprehension. PAYMENT METHODS: You must pay the 50% of the value before you travel to reserve the tour and the complete amount once our guide pick you up at the airport. 1. If you want to paid cash, you could make a deposit to our account. There is a fee of $20 for administration purposes. 2. You can pay by PayPal (fee 4%). 3. You can pay by credit card (fee 7%).
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