BOMBOLÍ CLOUD FOREST – TWO DAYS PROGRAM

Day 1:

This adventure begins very early when our guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to paradise. Just half an hour from the southern outskirts of Quito is the private Ecological Reserve Bombolí which welcomes us with a unique peaceful environment that only nature can provide in its purest form.

Our first adventure will be a two-hour hike to an ancient fern forest of indescribable beauty, filled with giant ferns that are the main protagonists of this surreal landscape. On the way, we will discover trails surrounded by over 200 species of wild orchids, begonias and countless other species that grow richly in this area. Our final destination is a waterfall and a small water spring of about 5 meters in height located in the center of this forest. The vast ecosystem of natural richness and breathtaking beauty is the result of years of care and conservation by the owners.

After this experience, we will return to the country house where we will have a delicious lunch, made with natural and organic products, which have been planted and harvested mostly in the garden of the family.

Day 2:

Today we will get up at 05h00 am in the morning to take advantage of the day. Before having breakfast, we will walk an hour and a half close to the hill of Bombolí to listen to the birds. They join on this hour to feed on the pollen of the flowers, forming a concert of songs that will brighten up our morning.

After breakfast, we hike for about three hours to the lower part of the reserve to explore the beautiful landscape that the rainforest makes up. It is a privileged rich ecosystem that developed hundreds of rivers and waterfalls over time. We will visit the top of two waterfalls of about 250 meters in height, where we can admire nature.

Before returning to Quito, we will have the chance to learn the art of making mirrors, which are made out of wood from the forest. Either from fallen trees or donated from the surrounding properties. With this technique, also other objects such as beds, tables, chairs, decorations and many more can be made. The ingenuity and creativity might open our minds to conversation and reuse of material that nature provides us.

BOMBOLÍ CLOUD FOREST & HORSEBACK RIDING TWO DAYS

Day 1:

This magical journey starts very early in the morning when our guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the meeting point at Hacienda la Alegria, located at the south side of Quito, in the green valley of Machachi.

Here you will prepare the horses with the staff and do a trial run to get comfortable. You will traverse the high moors of the Andes Mountain Range and “El Corazon”, which is an inactive volcano. This activity is approximately six hours horse ride with our staff, in which you will have an introduction to the Ecuadorian Andes.

During the Horseback riding, we will stop briefly and enjoy a box-lunch. Later on, we continue our journey to the Ecological Reserve in the Cloud Forest of Bombolí (3000 m.), where we will be welcome by the owners with a hot cup of coffee or tea, in front of the chimney. Here we can share our anecdotes and experiences of the day.

Day 2:

We left behind the ecological reserve and continue with our journey towards an ancient road that until 1960 connected the capital city of Quito with the coast region. From this location, we can observe the vast and fertile valley of Machachi, and even a few roads in the eastside – cordillera. Eventually, we will cross extensive pastures and eucalyptus forests into the valley for a snack. Arrival at the Hacienda La Algeria, from where, we will return to Quito.

BOMBOLÍ & TRAIN – TWO DAYS PROGRAM

Day 1:

This magical journey starts very early in the morning when our guide will pick you up from the chosen meeting point to take you to the Chimbacalle train station in the south of Quito. We will commence the voyage that lets us discover the colorful Andean landscapes. We will also have the opportunity to gaze at the grand volcanic elevations such as the Cotopaxi (5.897 m.), the Illinizas (5.126 m.), Rumañahui (4.722 m.) and Sincholagua (4.893 m.).

The train ride from Quito to the Machachi station takes approximately two hours, 37 km. Upon arrival, we will have the opportunity to watch a short presentation of a typical dance of the region. The protagonists are locals who organized this performance to give us a warm welcome with their traditional folklore.

From the station, we need about forty minutes to get to the Ecological Reserve Bombolí. Marianita and Oswaldito will be waiting fondly to tell us about their experience of life and conservation in the Bombolí Ecological Reserve. During this educational talk, we will delight ourselves with exquisite “Bombolí” style snacks. Later, we will make a short tour to the Orchid Garden, where we can admire these beautiful and exotic species. In addition, we can visit the Bombolí orchard where we will appreciate the intrepid idea of the reuse of tires as masetas, thus creating microclimates capable of giving life to diseased plants. We can appreciate a great variety of species such as lemon lettuce, mint, onion, earrings, lilac, leek, red alder, babaco, lemon, polylepis, sauco, calaguala, barbarrumi, among many others. We will enjoy a delicious dinner and before going to bed, we will make a walk of approximately 35 minutes, where we will be able to listen some nocturnal animals, and if we are with good luck we will be able to see the mysterious owls that are meeting in the nights of Bombolí. We can then end the day with the satisfaction of having enjoyed every minute. It will then be time to rest in a comfortable room in the Bombolí house.

Day 2:

Today we will get up at 05h00 am in the morning to take advantage of the day. Before having breakfast, we will walk an hour and a half close to the hill of Bombolí to listen to the birds. They join on this hour to feed on the pollen of the flowers, forming a concert of songs that will brighten up our morning.

After breakfast, we hike for about three hours to the lower part of the reserve to explore the beautiful landscape that the rainforest makes up. It is a privileged rich ecosystem that developed hundreds of rivers and waterfalls over time. We will visit the top of two waterfalls of about 250 meters in height, where we can admire nature. Coming back well adventured and hungry, we will enjoy our last lunch, prepared with produce offered by this generous land, and enjoy the flavors and smells of Bombolí!

Before returning to Quito, we will have the chance to learn the art of making mirrors, which are made out of wood from the forest. Either from fallen trees or donated from the surrounding properties. With this technique, also other objects such as beds, tables, chairs, decorations and many more can be made. The ingenuity and creativity might open our minds to conversation and reuse of material that nature provides us.

BOMBOLÍ CLOUD FOREST + RAFTING TWO DAYS PROGRAM

Rivers Toachi & Blanco

These two rivers are a fantastic introduction to the Ecuadorian rivers. We will navigate the currents of the Andean Coast, which have one of the longest navigable sections of white-water in the country. Combine this activity with the fabulous scenery and sounds of the forest that we will go across, it will guarantee an unforgettable day.

Day 1:

This adventure begins very early when our guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to paradise. Just half an hour from the southern outskirts of Quito is the private Ecological Reserve Bombolí which welcomes us with a unique peaceful environment that only nature can provide in its purest form.

Our first adventure will be a two-hour hike to an ancient fern forest of indescribable beauty, filled with giant ferns that are the main protagonists of this surreal landscape. On the way, we will discover trails surrounded by over 200 species of wild orchids, begonias and countless other species that grow richly in this area. Our final destination is a Water-fall and a small water spring of about 5 meters in height located in the center of this forest. The vast ecosystem of natural richness and breathtaking beauty is the result of years of care and conservation by the owners.

After this experience, we will return to the country house where we will have a delicious lunch, made with natural and organic products, which have been planted and harvested mostly in the garden of the family.

Before going to bed, we will take approximately a thirty-minute walk, where we will have the opportunity to listen to the sounds of some nocturnal animals. If we are lucky, we might see the mysterious owls which we can only encounter in Bombolí at night. Finally, we can finish the day with the satisfaction of having enjoyed the most of every minute. It will be time to rest in a comfortable accommodation in the country house at Bombolí.

Day 1:

Today we will get up early in order to have our breakfast. Afterwards, we will take our transportation towards a day full of adventure. We will travel west down through the beautiful cloud forest to the shores of the river. The trip will take about three hours ½, depending of the section of the river that we will travel.

Once on the river you can expect both the action of thrilling White-water and the tranquility of drifting silently through tropical rainforests. So, while you are guaranteed to get wet, you will also have the opportunity to be absorbed by the sounds of the forest and to see wildlife up close. The rafting time will be approximately three and a half hours. During the trip we will stop by the side of the river for a delicious box-lunch. At the end of the trip we celebrate a fun day on the river with a few ice-cold beers and return to Quito (approximately 18h30-19h00).

VOLUNTEER PACKAGE IN BOMBOLÍ

Volunteering in Bombolí offers an unforgettable experience, not only because of the natural richness here, but also because of the valuable knowledge gained through its owners. The pair of nature lovers have spent their lives caring for their reserve, making it a territory of unbelievable ecological wealth.

There is much to be done in Bombolí, some of the volunteer activities are:

✓ Reforestation of endemic plants.
✓ Marking pathways
✓ Inventory of birds & plants
✓ Study of carrying capacity of the reserve
✓ Elaboration of Cheese and marmalade
✓ Daily work
✓ Repair of fences
✓ Arrangement along the driveway to the reserve
✓ Work in the garden
✓ Maintenance of the House