After an early pick-up from Quito at 5:30 am, you’ll drive towards Zuroloma Reserve,  located on the slopes of the Pichincha Volcano; about 1 hour northwest of Quito along the famous Hummingbird Route in the old Nono-Mindo Road. This high Andean montane forest is an environment unlike any other in the world. Amazing views of the evergreen, lush Andean cloud forest, and snow capped volcanoes as far as the eye can see. You’ll witness a unique ecosystem shaped by an intricate mosaic of life, shifting microclimates, and dramatic mountain landscapes as you become immersed in this ideal location for an extraordinary ecological experience.

Rainbows of sparkling hummingbirds will catch all your attention; Zuroloma Reserve is a true world renowned location that might provide the best bird photography opportunities for some elusive species. In fact, this cloud forest is part of an extremely important zone for conservation for the planet, one of the last hotspots of biodiversity: a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve called the Andean Choco . Your visit directly supports a sustainable source of income for the local people who manage this conservation initiative. Their work is a valuable resistance against agricultural expansion and other threats to the forest’s integrity. Zuroloma stands out as the best and the most reliable location to photograph the rare and elusive Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Rufous Antpitta, the incomparable Sword-billed hummingbird, Sapphire vented Puffleg, Blue-capped Tanager and many others.