DAY 6

Trekking Lloa-Mindo – Day 1
This is a two day tour departing from Quito to Lloa, a small town a few kms from the south of Quito at the foot of the Pichincha Volcano. Here we enter the forest along the huayrapungo”, which in Quechua means “door to the wind.” The Mindo-Nambillo reserve is crossed by many fast-flowing rivers but there are also open fields and swamps. We walk through an old lava flow, a reminder of the eruptions of the Pichincha volcano that took place between 1999 and 2002. You can only do this walk with a local guide; the paths are not marked: when crossing the open areas it is very difficult to find where the path starts again on the other side. It is a beautiful walk, full of variety of flora and fauna and with breathtaking views. You cross rivers on cable cars, you slog through muddy swamps, and cut your way with the machete along overgrown paths.
On the way you prepare food in the forest and at night you look for a place to camp. Includes: transportation to Lloa, native guide, lunch and dinner on the first day, breakfast and lunch on the second day, tent and cooking utensils, dinner at El Quetzal restaurant on arrival in Mindo on the second day, accommodations in Mindo with hot water and a private bathroom. Bring: four liters of water, three pairs of socks and two pairs of underwear per day, knife, sleeping mat, rubber boots, walking shoes,
mosquito repellent, hat or cap, towel, toiletries, rain poncho, and a flashlight with extra batteries. Attention: You must be able to carry everything you bring with you during the entire tour
Day 1: The guide picks you up at the hotel, you drive with the guide to the foot of the Pichincha. The guide briefly goes over the journey and afterwards the trek of two days towards the cloud forest of Mindo begins. Along the way you stop for lunch and in the evening the tents are set up to spend the night.