8 days in Ecuador: an Andean bear adventure
Discover the cloud forest of the Chocó Andino and follow the trail of the spectacled bear on this 8-day journey, beginning and ending in Quito. Blending nature and culture in one perfect parcel, this is a magnificent tour for animal lovers in search of responsible wildlife encounters.
You'll spend four nights at Maquipucuna Lodge, where you'll partake in small-group guided wildlife walks, dawn birding adventures, and visits to camera trap locations for more incredible insight into the lives of Andean spectacled bears. Peppered throughout your itinerary are an authentic cacao experience, a chocolate tasting in Mindo, and a private visit to the historic center of Quito, each offering a chance to immerse yourself further into the local way of life.
Services
Included:
- 2 nights accommodation in a standard double room in Quito
- 4 nights accommodation in a standard (Tulipe) double room in the Chocó Andino area
- 1 night accommodation in a standard double room in the Mindo Cloud Forest
- Daily breakfast, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
- Airport & land transfers as per the itinerary (SUV with driver-guide)
- English-speaking guides specialized in wildlife on excursions
- Activities & admission fees to sites as per the itinerary
- Boots & walking sticks equipment
- 24-hour assistance throughout your stay
Excluded:
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
- Any meals & drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal expenses (tips, drinks, laundry, souvenirs)
Optional:
- Guided night walk in Maquipucuna (days 2 & 3; weather-dependent & arranged directly at the lodge)
Itinerary at a Glance
Quito
Touchdown in Quito
Quito - Nanegal
Into the cloud forest
Nanegal
Birdsong, forest trails and spectacled bears
Nanegal
Following wildlife through camera traps
Nanegal
Final day in Maquipucuna: the adventure continues
Nanegal - Mindo
A relaxed afternoon in Mindo
Mindo - Quito
Return to Quito & explore its historic center
Quito
Goodbye, Ecuador!
Detailed Itinerary
Quito
Day 1: Touchdown in Quito
Upon arrival in Quito, you will be met at the airport and transferred privately to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to rest and recover after your international flight, with no scheduled sightseeing or compulsory activities. Take some time to settle in and prepare for the cloud forest and wildlife experiences ahead.
Quito - Nanegal
Day 2: Into the cloud forest
After breakfast, travel north from Quito towards Maquipucuna, passing the Equator area before descending into the Chocó Andino cloud forest.
Check in at your lodge, receive a welcome briefing and get fitted with rubber boots. Then, enjoy a short guided walk introducing some of the reserve's medicinal and useful plants.
After lunch, begin your first small-group guided search for Andean spectacled bears, using the Bear Trail and nearby forest trails according to current conditions and the reserve guide's recommendations. The route may involve uneven ground, slopes, mud and wet conditions. Your guide will set the pace according to the group and allow opportunities to stop and rest along the way.
In the afternoon, enjoy a cacao experience, learning about local cacao and making chocolate truffles by hand. An optional guided night walk may be available after dinner.
Nanegal
Day 3: Birdsong, forest trails and spectacled bears
Start early with freshly brewed coffee followed by a dawn birding walk, when the forest is most active.
After breakfast, continue with a guided outing focused on spectacled bears and signs of their presence. The route may include the Bear Trail or connecting forest trails depending on recent sightings, weather and trail conditions. This day is operated in a small group of approximately 8-10 participants.
Along the way, learn about the cloud forest ecosystem and the trees and plants that provide food and shelter for wildlife. The trails can include uneven ground, slopes, mud and sections that become slippery after rain. Your guide will adapt the pace to the group and include opportunities for rest and observation.
Return to the lodge for a relaxed afternoon and time to enjoy the surrounding forest. An optional guided night walk may be arranged after dinner.
Nanegal
Day 4: Following wildlife through camera traps
Join the reserve guide on a forest walk to visit selected camera trap locations used by the Maquipucuna team to monitor wildlife. This activity will be carried out in a small group of approximately 8-10 participants.
Learn how these cameras help the reserve understand the movements and behavior of spectacled bears and other species in the forest. Along the way, look for animal tracks, feeding signs and other evidence of wildlife activity.
The walk may involve forest slopes, uneven ground, mud and slippery sections depending on recent weather. The exact route will be selected by the reserve team according to the location of the camera traps and current trail conditions.
Depending on the latest information from the reserve team, continue with a guided bear search or explore another nearby forest trail.
Nanegal
Day 5: Final day in Maquipucuna: the adventure continues
Enjoy a final early morning opportunity for birding or wildlife observation before breakfast.
After breakfast, take one more guided forest outing and another opportunity to search for spectacled bears and their traces. This activity will be conducted in a small group of approximately 8-10 participants. The exact trail will depend on the latest information from the reserve team, weather and trail conditions.
Nanegal - Mindo
Day 6: A relaxed afternoon in Mindo
After breakfast, enjoy an unhurried morning before continuing to Mindo.
In the afternoon, visit a local cacao project for a chocolate-making experience and tasting, learning more about the process from cacao bean to chocolate.
The rest of the afternoon is free to relax and enjoy Mindo at your own pace.
Mindo - Quito
Day 7: Return to Quito & explore its historic center
After breakfast, return to Quito and enjoy a private visit of the city’s historic center.
Explore some of its main colonial streets and landmarks, including La Compañía de Jesús, the Basilica del Voto Nacional, Plaza Grande, and San Francisco. Continue to El Panecillo for panoramic views over Quito and the surrounding mountains.
The visit will be conducted at a flexible pace, allowing time for you to sit and rest along the way. Return to the hotel for your final night in Quito.
Quito
Day 8: Goodbye, Ecuador!
After breakfast, prepare for check-out and a private airport transfer, timed according to your international flight schedule.
Have a safe trip home, filled with memories of Ecuador's incredible wildlife!
