Day 1: Cloudforest trail and the Finca gardens.
Leisurely breakfast, followed by a walk through the woods, fields and gardens of Finca San Antonio. There's a chance to hand milk the cows and make cheeses - Patricia is really skillful at these tasks, having done them all her life, and it's fun to be accompanied by an expert. Depending on the season, you can pick strawberries, blackberries, taxos, naranjillos, oranges and physalis fruits ; and harvest mashua, melloca, Oca, sweet potato and kale, which are a just few of the fruits and vegetables that we cultivate in our organic gardens. There are plenty of seats, positioned so you can sit and enjoy the wonderful views of Cotacachi and Cotapaxi volcanoes, and of the nearby hills with their pastures and cloudforests.
There's then a chance today to explore the 50 hectares (about 110 acres) of primary and secondary cloud forest on the farm, usually with Ned as your guide on a circular route. There are may birds on the farm, including rare or relatively uncommon species such as the toucan barbet, 3 species of trogon, quetzals, and 2 species of guan.
After a delicious organic lunch, prepared by Patricia, you might prefer a nap in the hammock! Then, there's the opportunity to learn how to make a basket using vines taken sustainably from our forests; and if you'd like to make your own basket, perhaps for storing jewellry, buttons or eggs, or a bigger one for collecting garden produce, you are welcome. Others like to ride our horse and pony ( Blackie and Juguete), or fish for trout at the nearby pools.
Duration: the cloudforest trail takes 3 to 4 hours
Difficulty: easy
clothing: rubber boots (provided); hat, camera.
Cost: Free for those staying at Finca San Antonio; for others, $20 per person, to include a great lunch.
