YUNGUILLA – MAQUIPUCUNA 2 DAY / 1 NIGHT TREKKING – MariteTours | Reserva tours, atracciones y actividades online

YUNGUILLA – MAQUIPUCUNA 2 DAY / 1 NIGHT TREKKING

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Description
About the islands
Pricing Plans

This trek is often referred as the Toucan Trail or the Auca Trail, and runs from Yunguilla (in the Pululahua volcano vicinity) to the Maquipucuna reserve (in the Nanegalito area), both fairly close to Quito. This trail was used by the Yumbos (aboriginal inhabitants of the area who have since vanished) for centuries for trade in goods between the Sierra and the Coast (salt and cotton among other products), and later by dealers of liquor during the prohibition period. The first part of the walk is on an abandoned vehicle road (now closed to cars by vegetation and several landslides), the remainder on narrow trails deep in the forest.

Maquipucuna is the closest pristine rainforest to Quito, a private nature reserve of 4500-hectare with an altitudinal range stretching from 900 meters to almost 2700 meters above sea level. Maquipucuna harbors over 4% of the world bird diversity, including spectacular birds such as the Toucan Barbet, Cock -of-the Rock, Plate-billed mountain toucan, Lanceolated Monklet, Esmeraldas antbird, Read headed barbet, Golden headed quetzal, and many varieties of brilliant hummingbirds. The flora is exceptionally rich in epiphytes, such as orchids, ferns, and bromeliads. There are at least 45 species of mammals, including pumas, Spectacled Bear, agoutis, and deer (during the fruiting season of a small avocado type plant, one can see Spectacled Bears). It is the birds and butterflies, however, that really make this walk a delight.