4 Days: Into the Jungle!

The 4 day experience begins with visits to local dairy/vegetable/trout farms and with a guided tour of nearby cloud forest.  The following 3 days are spent in close contact with unspoilt nature in the spectacular settings of the Cotachai-Cayapas and San Venancio Nature Reserves.
Day 1: Bird`s eye view of the Jungle
One of the main attractions of San Antonio is its nearness to the amazing Cotacachi-cayapas Nature Reserve, and today we take advantage of our close proximity to the jungle in a fabulous day trip to explore the edge of the reserve, and experience awesome views across its 620,000 acre expanse of jungle.

Soon after breakfast we walk or ride 2km across attractive farmland to th edge of the jungle.  Here is our first viewpoint of the day: turning around, we are treated to a wonderful view across the western Andes, taking in Cotacachi, Cayambe, and Pichincha volcanoes and a host of lesser peaks, clear in the morning sun.

We begin a further 2km ascent through the jungle, pausing frequently to enjoy the orchids, colourful vicundas ( a type of pitcher plant), trees absolutely enveloped in moss from trunk to topmost twigs, birds such as wild turkeys, toucans, and hummingbirds, and palm shoots gnawed by spectacled bears.

We stop for a leisurely picnic lunch at a viewpoint which would perhaps number amongst  the most spectacular views in Ecuador: spread before us in all its glory is the awesome Cotacachi-Cayapas  Nature Reserve, mile after mile of jungle -covered, misty peaks, stretching as far as the eye can see towards the Pacific plains.  Such is the difficulty of the terrain that the Reserve has been crossed only a handful of times.  The aim of today`s trip is gentle familiarization with a magical but harsh jungle environment, and we go no further into the Reserve, remaining at the edge and returning at a leisurely pace along a circular route that sees us emerging into the open meadows at around 1pm. From here an enjoyable panoramic walk takes us back to the guest houses by about 3 pm.

After rest and refreshment, we stroll down to the community trout pools for a brief but enjoyeable tour, completed by the riotous fun of sport-fishing Ecuadorean style!

For supper, we usually grill the trout over a wood fire, or fry them with sweet potatoes and serve with organic salad and a garnish of parsley.  Eaten beneath a spectacular starscape, it makes a fine end to a pleasant day`s introduction to the jungle.
 

Day 2: The San Venancio Nature Reserve
We set off on foot or on horseback (according to your preference), passing through spectacularly beautiful countryside in the approach to the reserve.  As we rise up into the cloud forest, fine open scenery gives way to the characteristic cloud forest vegetation, with trees so heavily laden with delicate “epiphytic” plants such as ferns, mosses, bromeliads and orchids, that it almost seems as if the visitor has stumbled into the setting of a fairy tale.
We arrive in time for a late lunch at the San Venancio cabin and camp-site, and then head out for our first tour of the cloud forest, with expert guidance on the trees, plants, birds mammals and amphibians that make this such a special eco-system.
Day 3  A full day spent luxuriating in complete escape from the usual concerns of “modern life”. Guided walks helping you to experience and enjoy totally unspoilt nature with all your senses: waterfalls, river bathing, good company and healthy food will all help to refresh and reinspire you in this pristine cloud forest setting. Andean spectacled bears, pumas, deer, armadillos, toucans, and wild turkeys are just a few of the inhabitants of the Reserve, and the immense trees bring immediate understanding of the phrase “primary” cloud forest ( as opposed to the much more common “secondary” forest, which has been felled and then allowed to recuperate)
Day 4  We say goodbye to our horses, which return separately, laden with our baggage.  We take a specially prepared footpath along the edge of the vast Cotacachi-Cayapas Nature reserve , with awesome views across its 640,000 acre (260,000 hectare) expanse of cloud forest wilderness, and passing through fascinating high altitude cloud forest (2800metres maximum) that has its own unique eco-system and atmosphere.  We descend to San Antonio, with plenty of stops to savour and photograph the wonderful views, tired but happy after a a memorable adventure and experience of nature still unaffected by man.