THE MAGIC HIKING CIRCUIT OF ECUADOR
HIKING, ECO-ADVENTURES & CULTURAL TOUR ITINERARIES
San Jorge owns 4 private nature reserves throughout Ecuador, known as The Magic Birding & Hiking Circuit. Kept in the rich, natural state, all of our exclusive reserves offer the chance to fully immerse yourself in all that is Ecuador; a diverse array of flora, fauna, climate regions and hundreds of beautiful birds, butterflies and wildlife. Our hiking tours will take you through San Jorge Botanical Reserve (High Barren Plains/Highland Rainforest), San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Sanctuary (Cloud Forest) and San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve (Tropical Rainforest) known for its majestic waterfalls and swimming holes. With over 1,000 species of birds, 60 species of Hummingbirds, wildlife, over 300 varieties of orchids and diversity of flora and fauna within 7 different eco-systems, we offer the best options for hiking, birdwatching, and naturalist tours.
San Jorge Eco-Lodge & Botanical Reserve - the regions only private reserve, situated on 200 acres of native flora and fauna, in the Pichincha Foothills, just 17 minutes from Quito Airport, and yet a world apart from the busy city. We are a traditional 18th Century Resort, nestled in a rustic mountain setting. San Jorge offers peace and tranquility, quality personalized service, restaurant, gardens, pool and convenient airport transfers. Enjoy virgin nature and Ecuadorian tradition at San Jorge Eco-Lodge & Botanical Reserve, within a comfortable Eco-Resort environment. The Magic Hiking Circuit Tours offer practical education on ecology, botany, ornithology, archeology, and the awareness of the surrounding environment, with bilingual private guides. The Last Inca Emperor’s Trails at San Jorge Eco-Lodge Botanical Reserve provide a first hand experience of pre-Inca and Inca history with its ancient trails for miles of hiking and trekking. Enjoy the pristine beauty at San Jorge de Milpe Eco-Lodge- Orchid & Bird Reserve in the Tropical Rainforest, with superb hiking trails, running rivers, 11 cascading waterfalls, observatory sites, over 300 varieties of orchids, 30 varieties of hummingbirds and over 450 bird species.
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Upon your evening arrival at Quito Airport, you will be met by your escort and transferred to the beautiful San Jorge Eco-Lodge & Botanical Reserve/Quito, which will be your primary base.
San Jorge Eco-Lodge & Botanical Reserve/Quito is located in the High Barren Plains/Highland Rainforest. Beautiful Andes hacienda rooms with private baths & hot showers, comfortable & decorated in typical décor, heated rooms. Accommodations include a double room, with private bath and hot shower. Enjoy peace & tranquility at our mountain lodge in the Pichincha Foothills. Upper level rooms are located on terraced hillside. (Optional: Room with Balcony, View & Queen Bed). Enjoy our outdoor tempered swimming pool, sauna, Turkish Bath, and Jacuzzi; game room, lounge, and museum. Explore our beautiful vast gardens and exotic birds, within a comfortable Eco-Resort environment. Relax at our festive El Cucayco Restaurant, serving delicious Ecuadorian and international cuisine grown from our own organic gardens, and overlooks the valley of Quito.
NEW!! San Jorge de Tandayapa Eco-Lodge is located in the Cloud Forest at San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Sanctuary. Recently opened January 2009! Accommodations include double room with private bath/hot shower, where as many as 500 species live; pristine hiking trails, observation deck, our open aired Hummingbird Restaurant overlooking feeders and spectacular views, superb photography options, a total peaceful and tranquil setting inside the Cloud Forest. Hiking at San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Sanctuary is for active people who can walk the hillier Cloud Forest trails.
San Jorge de Milpe Eco-Lodge (newly constructed in 2007) is located in the Tropical Rainforest at San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve. Accommodations include a double room with twin beds, with private bath and hot shower, (Optional: 3 sided windowed rooms with Views), an observatory deck with panoramic views; relax and watch the hummingbirds eating at their feeders. You can even spot birds from the windows of your room! This new eco-lodge has the comfort and rustic elegance of a rainforest lodge, with spectacular scenery, making it the ideal retreat for hikers and naturalist alike, with all level hiking trails.
~ We WElcome You to our paradise ~
Our Ecuador hiking Tours
HIKING NATURALIST EXPEDITION
ECO-ADVENTURE & CULTURAL TOUR
7 Nights/8 Days
2012 Pre-scheduled tour dates
January 10-17; February 18-25; March 5-12; April 14-21;
May 12 – 19; June 16 – 23; July 14 – 21; August 4 – 11;
September 15 – 22; October 13 – 20; November 10 – 17; December 8 - 15
Day One – Airport transfer from Quito Airport to San Jorge Eco-Lodge/Quito, overnight lodging San Jorge/Quito
Day Two – Old Colonial Quito City Tour. We will explore the Capital of Ecuador, considered part of the Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO. During your visit you will learn about the colonial art in the churches, history, archaeology and folklore in the museums. Your private guide will provide complete information of the baroque colonial art. Visit the most important areas: Plaza de la Independencia, Plaza San Francisco, Plaza Santo Domingo, La Merced, La Compania, Penecillo. Lunch at typical restaurant. Overnight San Jorge/Quito, includes 3 meals
Day Three – San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Sanctuary (Cloud Forest) Hiking Naturalist Tour. Beautiful birds, panorama views, wild surroundings, tropical plants/flowers, and exotic wildlife within our tropical world famous Cloud Forest. Lunch at our open air Hummingbird Restaurant overlooking feeders with great photo options. Overnight San Jorge/Tandayapa, includes 3 meals
Day Four – Day of leisure at San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Sanctuary for hiking and exploring on own; overnight San Jorge/Tandayapa, includes 3 meals.
Day Five - San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve (Tropical Rain Forest) Hiking Naturalist Tour with swimming at the waterfalls. Visit a wild virgin cloud forest around Pichincha Mountain and trek on great jungle trails inside a natural paradise, observing a variety of birds along the way. This is considered a bird watching paradise, majestic waterfalls, wild surroundings, tropical plants/flowers/ numerous butterflies/300 varieties of orchids within our tropical reserve. Wild Voices – Night Walk in the Tropical Rainforest: hearing crickets, satunines, owls, parakeets, frogs, etc., Overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals
Day Six – Day Six – Day of leisure at San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve for hiking and exploring on own; afternoon transfer to San Jorge/Quito with a stop at the Middle of the World Equator Monument; Overnight San Jorge/Quito, includes 3 meals
Day Seven - Sacred Waterfalls & Medicinal Plant Hiking Tour at San Jorge Botanical Reserve/Quito. We will trek to the Highland Tropical Rainforest, visiting up to 5 sacred waterfalls. Here, we will learn about some of the 250 varieties of native medicinal plants in the region. At the same time, you will take in the fabulous panoramic views of Quito, its lush valleys and majestic mountains and the volcano peaks of Cayambe, Antizana, Pasochoa, Pululahua, Pichincha, and Illalo. We can observe 11 mountains from various points of San Jorge Botanical Reserve. Picnic lunch at the waterfalls. Overnight San Jorge/Quito, includes 3 meals
Day Eight – Breakfast & AM transfer to Airport
Request Pricing Information
HIKING NATURALIST EXPEDITION
ECO-ADVENTURE & CULTURAL TOUR
4 Nights/5 Days
2012 Pre-scheduled tour dates
January 11 - 15; February 19 - 23; March 6 - 10; April 15 - 24;
May 13 - 17; June 17 - 21; July 15 – 19; August 5 - 9;
September 16 - 20; October 14 - 18; November 11 - 15; December 9 - 13
Day One – Airport transfer from Quito Airport to San Jorge Eco-Lodge/Quito, overnight lodging San Jorge/Quito
Day Two – San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Sanctuary (Cloud Forest) Hiking Naturalist Tour. Beautiful birds, panoramic views, wild surroundings, tropical plants/flowers, and exotic wildlife within our tropical world famous Cloud Forest. Lunch at our open air Hummingbird Restaurant overlooking feeders and spectacular views. Wild Voices – Night Walk in the Cloud Forest. Overnight San Jorge/Tandayapa, includes 3 meals
Day Three –Day of leisure at San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve for hiking and exploring on own; afternoon transfer to San Jorge/Quito with a stop at the Middle of the World Equator Monument; Overnight San Jorge/Quito, includes 3 meals
Day Four - San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve (Tropical Rain Forest) Hiking Naturalist Expedition with swimming at the waterfalls. Visit a wild virgin cloud forest around Pichincha Mountain and trek on great jungle trails inside a natural paradise, observing a variety of birds along the way, hummingbirds at their feeders, and bird observation on our pre-inca hillside. This is considered a bird watching paradise, of about 450 species; majestic waterfalls, wild surroundings, tropical plants/flowers/300 varieties of orchids within our tropical reserve. Wild Voices – Night Walk in the Tropical Rainforest: hearing crickets, satunines, owls, parakeets, frogs, etc., Overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals
Day Five – Morning at leisure at San Jorge/Milpe, afternoon transfer to downtown Quito hotel, includes breakfast & lunch
San Jorge is also a tour operator who provides 25 optional eco-tours for cultural and nature lovers as well as for spouses or companions who wish to enjoy other types activities; including Galapagos Islands Cruises and Peru archaeological tours as extensions.
Ecuador is famously rich in bird life with more than 1,600 species of birds, and 20% of the world's total, 3000 species of orchids, thousands of species of butterflies and moths and a huge amount of native plants. Visitors who want to take full advantage of Ecuador need to gain access to a variety of remote regions, many of them only available through the The Magic Birding and Hiking Circuit.
Quick facts of Ecuador
Quito ~ The First City to be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
World Famous Galapagos Islands
The Andes Mountains – the world’s longest mountain range
17 Distinctive Ethnic Indian Groups
Cotopaxi Volcano ~ the highest volcano in the world; 5,870 mts. O.S.L.
3,000 species of Orchids
1,600 species of Birds (world record per square meter)
132 species of Hummingbirds (world record)
65 Volcanoes
12 different climate steps of the world
Diversified variety of foods
Choose a pre-scheduled tour date & itinerary, or specify your own travel dates to us. Please tell us how many people will be traveling with you.
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Commentaries
Don Shaver, Lake Worth, Florida USA
All aspects of the tour to San Jorge de Quito, Tandayapa and Milpe were well coordinated. The people that were our guides and brought our food went well beyond all expectations. The helpfulness went beyond expectation. Facilities were well kept and food was excellent. The attention we got in the biking trip was great. The guides were always attentive. The food was excellent, well prepared and good variety. Transportation well coordinated.
Shirley A Wager-Pagé, Washington DC USA
San Jorge de Milpe is excellent. Wonderful setting. We enjoyed the entire experience. Quito City tour: The guide very knowledgeable about the history and art. Otavalo Tour, we enjoyed the market and Juan Carlos, very resourceful And we enjoyed his company. He knew a lot about the culture and geography of the country. Airport transfers were excellent. Food excellent, Great lodging, maintenance Good. Hiking trails in Milpe, excellent. It was an excellent experience and we would recommend San Jorge Eco-lodges to our friends and family.
Stan and Rusty Towers, Ann Arbor Michigan USA
We did enjoy touring with San Jorge every day. All was outstanding - well organized for comfort, convenience, and access to the various ecosystems they represent. All our guides were knowledgeable, friendly, flexible, and passionate about their work, their specialty and their beautiful country of Ecuador.
We were impressed with all aspects of your services, specially the warmth and personal concern shown by all all staff for our comfort and satisfaction. San Jorge Eco-Lodge exceeded our expectations and made us very happy that we chose it. We will recommend you with enthusiasm! What to improve? Nothing, except continue to maintain your mission and your standards.
Heather Dean & Steve Meyers, Anchorage, AK USA
We took self-guided hikes on the trails at San Jorge Botanical Reserve/Quito. The maps and signage are very helpful and the trails very enjoyable. The waterfall/canyon trail is especially beautiful, but the other trail gives a good contrast in habitat for birders. Everything was fantastic and we especially enjoyed and appreciated the service and interaction we had from/with Vicente.
Seelenfreund Family Group, CA, USA
What a beautiful place!! If you like a peaceful setting in the mountains, surrounded by animals and beautiful flowers, this is the place. Jorge, Sr., was a guide for a wonderful hike in the hills above the Hosteria. Loved the llama family, the mustang horses and the turkeys behind the restaurant. The pool could have been at the finest resort. The architecture of the Hosteria was so picturesque, I couldn’t stop taking photos. Thank you for a wonderful experience. Horseback riding tour was excellent! We enjoyed our stay very much. The grounds are beautiful and the staff very friendly. The food was very good. We will be back! Thank you!







