Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve - Full Day

The trip was fantastic. Views were gorgeous. We hiked for 2 hours in the forest with a super knowledgeable guide who pointed out plant, bird and frog species. We did not realize breakfast was included along with lunch. We would have liked to know what to bring to be better prepared for the day — bug spray, walking stick, hiking shoes, binoculars.

What a beautiful experience! If you are a bird watcher, this is a bucket list item. If you simply love nature, this is a must do as well. We saw a million different birds. We saw a pair of toucans going in and out of their nest. And we got to feed colibríes out of our hands. Our guide was Gabriel who was exceptionally knowledgeable and nice. Highly recommended!

I could have watched the hummingbirds all day, never mind the fact that you get the opportunity to feed them (and feel their tiny feet on your hand), Our day unrolled as follows: 06:20 Pick-up from hotel (the person that picks you up isn't your guide) 08:30 Arrive at the reserve 08:30-9:30 Breakfast Breakfast consist of: Cereal Eggs (fried or scrambled) Bread with honey or marmalade 09:45-12:30 5KM walk to the ridge and return 13:00-14:00 Lunch 14:30 Start journey back to Quito 16:30 Arrive back in Quito The walk to the ridge was OK but it wasn't great. Our guide spent most of his time with an older lady, who joined our party as 'an extra', who had been staying overnight. He also kept telling is about the birds that we could hear but were 'hard to see' i.e. we didn't see them. The opportunity to observe the hummingbirds, and feed them, though was something else and I'd visit again just to see them. On our return journey, to Quito, we were allocated to a minibus where again our group played second fiddle to a group who'd stayed the night at the reserve. Overall a fairly good experience but it could have been better.