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Podocarpus National Park

Ecuador Andes Trekking Tours

Podocarpus National Park - 5 Day Tour

Podocarpus National Park Trekking

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Departure Day: upon request
Price for 5 days: USD 1,738.-
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The Podocarpus National Park is located in the South of Ecuador and stretches over three provinces - Loja, Zamora and Morona Santiago - and two main regions; the Andean highlands and the Amazon Basin. The park can be clearly divided into five life zones, each rich in biodiversity and characterised by different flora and fauna.

Unique flora includes Podocarpus, the only indigenous Andean Conifer and the famous Cinchona plant from which quinine was obtained to combat malaria. The fauna is equally exotic and plentiful: woolly mountain tapirs, spectacled bears, cock of the rock, parrots and mountain toucans are common. Within Podocarpus is a beautiful collection of over one hundred glacial lakes and torrential waterfalls, which make up the lake complex. Due to the area’s rich biodiversity, Podocarpus has become a hotspot for biological and ecological research, in addition to a popular trekking and bird watching destination.

Overview Itinerary
Day 01:	Flight to Catamayo - walk from Cerro Toledo to Esmeralda
Day 02:	Esmeralda - Las Peñas
Day 03:	Las Peñas – Margaritas lagoon – Capamaco Refuge
Day 04:	Ride – refuge – Vilcabamba-Valley – Hostal Madre Tierra
Day 05:	Flight back to Quito

Detailed Itinerary:
Day 01: Flight to Catamayo - walk from Cerro Toledo to Esmeralda
Early in the morning flight to Catamayo. You will be picked you from the airport in Catamayo and bring you to Loja. After a good breakfast in Loja you will travel to Yangana to the Cerro Toledo where you will start a 3-hour hike, crossing the tropical forest of Podocarpus Park and areas of colonisation. You will also cross-beautiful landscapes you will reach the small village of Esmeralda. There you will set up a camp. B/L/D

Day 02: Esmeralda - Las Peñas
After breakfast you will hike to Las Peñas stream. Mules will carry the heavy gear and you will have a picnic lunch on the way. You will arrive at the stream late in the afternoon and you will set up your campsite there in the tropical forest. B/L/D

Day 03: Las Peñas – Margaritas lagoon – Capamaco Refuge
After breakfast you will hike to Lagunas Margaritas and you will go up from 1.800 m to 3.200 m. You will eat lunch on the way. The highest point of the mountain, which you will cross, is at 3.400 m above sea level. You will stay in the Capamaco refuge, have dinner and spend the night. B/L/D

Day 04: Ride – refuge – Vilcabamba-Valley – Hostal Madre Tierra
In the morning you will do some horseback riding from the refuge at 2.500 m to the Vilcabamba Valley at 1.600 m. You will have lunch in the valley. Later you will be going to the Hostal Madre Tierra. In the afternoon you will have time to relax and enjoy the Spa of the hostal. You will have dinner there and spend the night. B/L/D

Day 05: Flight back to Quito (no flights on Saturdays)
After the lunch you will return via Loja to the airport in Catamayo and fly back to Quito. B/L/-

B= Breakfast L= Lunch D= Dinner

Prices per Person for 2012
Minimum 4 people	USD 1,313.-
Minimum 2 people	USD 1,738.-
1 person	USD 3,124.-

Tour Includes:
Private Transportation, flight Quito – Loja – Quito, lodging in double tents and at the Hostal Madre Tierra Spa Lodge, complete camping equipment (tents, dinner tent, mattresses, etc), animals for carrying the luggage, meals according to the program (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner), entrance fee National Park, bilingual guides (Spanish/English), first aid, rubber boots.

Tour does not include:
International flight, accommodation and food supply in Quito, personal equipment, tips, and travel insurance

Personal equipment:
Rain clothing, flashlight, sun cream, binoculars, hat or cap as sun protection, warm clothing, and backpack for during the day, sleeping bag, canteen, photo camera.

Note:
Although this is a moderate trek, it could be very hard if you are not properly acclimatized. You need to be ready and prepared to walk on trails as well as on cross-country terrain, marsh and forests. Do not expect to find well-marked trails like in the Alps or the National Parks of the USA.

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