1-Day Adventure to the Andean Choco Experience the Forest

Escape into nature with the “1-Day Adventure to the Andean Chocó”! Your trip begins stress-free with a pickup in Quito by private transportation, followed by a delicious breakfast to recharge your energy before setting out on a guided hike through the natural forest—a biodiversity sanctuary perfect for breathing fresh air, admiring lush green landscapes, and birdwatching. After enjoying a hearty lunch featuring the best local flavors, you’ll have the final say on how to end the day by choosing your last activity (1) from among three fascinating museums: the mystical Tulipe Site Museum with its ceremonial pools from the Yumbo culture, the interactive Intiñan Site Museum where you can defy gravity with experiments on the actual equator line, or the iconic Midworld City complex, where you can take photos next to the massive 30-meter monument and explore its cultural pavilions. Enjoy a complete experience that combines nature, cuisine, and history!

1. 1

   Nanegalito

   5 hours

   We’ll venture into the northwestern part of Quito, one of Ecuador’s most biodiverse regions, until we reach YAPI – Refugio Natural, a private property surrounded by forest and nature. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy a breakfast prepared especially for our guests before setting out on a hike along the property’s trails. During the hike, we’ll discover the natural richness of the Andean Chocó, observing the flora, the landscapes, and—with a little luck—some of the bird and wildlife species that inhabit this ecosystem. We’ll conclude the hike by returning to YAPI, where lunch awaits us at our restaurant, prepared with fresh ingredients and local products. An ideal experience for those who wish to connect with nature, explore a unique environment, and enjoy Ecuadorian cuisine in a private setting surrounded by forest.

2. 2

   Museo de Sitio Tulipe

   1 hour

   (Option 1) The Tulipe Site Museum invites travelers to embark on a fascinating journey through time to discover the secrets of the Yumbo culture, a people of wise astronomers and traders who inhabited the northwestern forests of Pichincha. When booking this experience, visitors will hike along nature trails surrounded by lush Andean vegetation until they reach the heart of the archaeological complex, where they’ll get an up-close look at the monumental stone ceremonial pools.

3. 3

   Intinan Equator Museum

   1 hour

   (Option 2) The Intiñan Site Museum, also known as the “Path of the Sun,” offers travelers a highly interactive and dynamic adventure along the true equator line, as calculated by GPS (Latitude 0°0'0"). When booking this experience, visitors will participate in fun scientific experiments involving physics and magnetism that defy gravity, such as the famous challenge of balancing an egg on the head of a nail, walking in a straight line with their eyes closed while losing their balance, or watching how water spins in different directions on either side of the equator due to the Coriolis effect.

4. 4

   Stop 4

   1 hour

   (Option 3) The Ciudad Mitad del Mundo Tourist Complex offers travelers a comprehensive and festive experience centered around the iconic 30-meter-tall Equatorial Monument. By booking this tour, visitors will see and photograph the iconic line that symbolically divides the planet into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Inside the imposing colonial monument, they will ascend through its various levels to explore the Ethnographic Museum, a plurinational exhibition enriched with interactive displays and life-size figures that detail the traditional customs and clothing of the cultures of Ecuador’s Coast, Highlands, and Amazon region.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.