Start your adventure with a 6:30 am pick-up from your hotel in Quito, embarking on a scenic drive east through the stunning landscapes of the Ecuadorian Andes. In just one hour, you’ll reach Hacienda Antisanilla within the Chakana Reserve, a 7,000-acre conservation area established in 2014 by the Jocotoco Foundation in collaboration with various conservation organizations, including the American Bird Conservancy. This reserve plays a crucial role in protecting Ecuador’s most significant population of Andean Condors north of Peru, fostering a thriving ecotourism program and contributing to vital conservation efforts.

Today you’ll have access to enjoy a privileged lookout to some of the most important Condor roosting and nesting sites. You might see them soaring at eye level.  The altitudinal range covered is from 10.000 to 12.000 ft asl. You’ll spend the entire day in the area, watching for Andean condors (should be easy!) and other beautiful birds like the unique Ecuadorian Hillstar  feeding on unique flowers  of the Chuquiraga shrub, “The flower of the Andes”. You will even have to keep your eyes open for the only bear species of South America: The Spectacled Bears. The paramo is rich in important  food sources for the bears’ mostly herbivorous diet; The Andean Bear’s main food source in the area is a type of ground paramo bromeliad Puya sp. which is pretty abundant  in this ecosystem and has a sweet juicy heart.  The area has a road system and trails of varying difficulty, allowing you to cover a big extensions of territory in a short period time. It is right here  in the paramo, north east of Quito where you can increase your probabilities of a great encounter with bears and other Andean wildlife, sometimes close enough to have wonderful views and photographs!. 

After exploring the reserve you’ll have a well deserved break and lunch  at Tambocondor where  you can also observe different species of hummingbirds like the Giant Hummingbird, Shining Sunbeam, Black-tailed Trainbearer and other species  at the surrounding native flora and feeders. You’ll return to your hotel in Quito  in the afternoon.

An early pick-up can be arranged if you want to experience the best bird activity and light