Quito and its valleys: a haven for shoppers and wildlife

Set at 9,209 feet above sea level, Ecuador’s capital city of Quito is a perfect vantage point from which to observe 15,000-foot volcanoes in the distance or valleys below teeming with wildlife and unhurried human activity.

Declared by UNESCO as a Cultural Patrimony of Humanity, Quito’s true charm lies in its old town, where colonial-era houses and majestic religious edifices reflect artistic fluctuations of eras when the city was governed by the Spanish Catholic Church. Flemish, Moorish and pre-Columbian influences are also apparent throughout the old town. Its many monuments, though in need of restoration, add to its beauty.

In his efforts to maintain the integrity and cleanliness of old town’s historical streets, the mayor of Quito, Francisco Moncayo, has given much effort to moving the area’s nearly 3,000 street vendors to shopping centers built by the municipality to specifically accommodate them.

The valleys surrounding Quito have their own unique attractions. Within half an hour of Quito is the World Monument, which commemorates the equator crossing at Latitude 0". Volcanoes, lakes, valleys and flower plantations can be seen on a two-hour trip from Quito to the Otavalo market, where Otavalo Indians sell native arts, crafts, jewelry and embroidery, as well as a variety of fruits, vegetables and livestock. Beside the market is Cotacachi, where good-quality leather goods can be bought at reasonable prices, especially after an expected round of bargaining.

Set in Ecuador’s cloud forests, the Tandayapa and Mindo valleys are havens for bird watchers — thirty-three types of hummingbirds inhabit the area and drink from feeders along its numerous hiking trails. The Bellavista Reserve and Lodge is one of several places in the valleys offering bird watchers comfortable, serene accommodations. Set on 1800 acres, Bellavista has 10 rooms, all with views of the forest. Richard Parsons, who bought and developed the land in the 1990s, is committed to preserving Bellavista and surrounding reserves by protecting them from deforestation and other environmentally damaging influences.

Fausto and Amparo Valencia, who own a trout farm in the Tandayapa Valley, are in the process of building a series of cabins on their Hacienda Yurac Yacu (meaning clear waters) to accommodate bird watchers. An extraordinary number of bird species inhabit their location. Arasha, a luxurious 47-room resort nestled deep in the rainforest, is a 130-acre venue abundant with natural trails, creeks and clear water rivers. It includes a spa, pool, theatre and several restaurants, and offers tours of neighboring reserves.

Nearly 350 species of birds on the Tandayapa-Nono-Mindo valley route have been registered. The Birds of Ecuador, by Paul Greenfield and Bob Ridgely, is a recently published comprehensive field guide and reference book providing a wealth of information on these and other species found in Ecuador.