Cloud Forest Tour

Cloud Forests, Chocolate and Coffee

Lush, green mountains shrouded in mysterious mist makes for a dramatic and breathtakingly beautiful backdrop for the adventure of a lifetime. Our Cloud Forest tour itineraries span from the colonial city of Quito, deep into the temperate Northern Andes and tropical Western Slope. 

Besides the rich cloud forest ecosystem, these adventure tours offer a truly authentic community experience. Living, working, and playing with local families who have organized themselves into a productive and sustainable community dedicated to conservation and environmental stewardship has been a life changing experience and favorite destination for many of our travelers.

Highlights

  • Tour colonial Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and best preserved colonial city in South America.
  • Learn how to salsa dance like a local by taking a class with a local latin dance instructor.
  • Learn how to cook traditional Ecuadorian food with a private cooking class.
  • Work alongside locals on a variety of community projects such as:
    • Organic farming
    • Reforestation
    • Construction
    • Cheese & marmalade making
  • Get up early to milk cows and then enjoy fresh milk for breakfast.
  • Visit the highest point of the cloud forest reserve with a 360 viewpoint of spectacular mountains and volcanos.
  • Play soccer and other games with the community members.
  • Experience rural Ecuadorian family life by staying in beautiful homes and having family time. 
  • Hike along an ancient, pre-Incan trail that, over the course of over a thousand years, has been worn down into a tunnel-like pass more than 15 feet deep.
  • Tube down a rushing river through looming forested mountains.
  • Zoom across a green mountain valley on a cable line and hike through the tropical cloud forest to a breathtaking waterfall.
  • Hold and feed thousands of giant, exotic butterflies at the Mindo Butterfly Pavilion.  
  • Learn the process of making chocolate from cultivating cacao trees to enjoying a delicious chocolate bar at a small scale chocolate factory.

Itineraries from 1 week to 1+month


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Google Reviews

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 Michael Lackey 
 
 
 Michael Lackey 
 
2023-08-02
 
 
  
I have had the pleasure of working with Alexa and Rayna at Human Nature Expeditions for several years, and have been so impressed with their ability to deliver a rich, completely customized itinerary in a variety of environments and areas of expertise. Their teams in Costa Rica and Ecuador are professional and responsive, with a priority on student and guest safety. They possess such an intimate knowledge of the areas in which they operate, and do an amazing job communicating their expertise with our students. I would highly recommend them for any student or family travel experiences.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Matthew Moran 
 
 
 Matthew Moran 
 
2023-07-25
 
 
  
I've had Alexa Stickel from Human Nature Expeditions do my logistics for traveling with students in Costa Rica and I can say that it has been the best experience possible. She is responsive, knowledgeable, and highly tuned into the happenings within Costa Rica at all times. When I am on the ground in Costa Rica, working with students in Costa Rica, and understandably busy, she makes sure everything goes smoothly and all problems are solved with speed. The best part of working with with Alexa and Human Nature Expeditions is that she (and the company) ask what you are seeking, find the ideal experience for your goals, and are also willing to suggest ways to improve your program. I can say with confidence that my programs with students went better because of the hard work of this company.   Matt Moran, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Hendrix College
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Luna Z 
 
 
 Luna Z 
 
2023-07-24
 
 
  
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Human Nature Expeditions on a highly customized student travel program, and I cannot speak highly enough of the team's exceptional professionalism, expertise, level of dedication, and attention to detail. Specifically, Alexa, one of the key persons in our collaboration, played a pivotal role in ensuring the program's success. Not only did she provide invaluable logistical support, but her expertise in designing experiential education and prioritizing student health and safety was commendable. With her guidance, we were able to create a program that offered a uniquely enriching and safe learning environment for our students.

Their ability to tailor the program to our specific needs was remarkable, and they went above and beyond to make our vision come to life. Throughout the entire process, they were responsive, flexible, and accommodating, making it a smooth, that enjoyable partnership that will continue to grow stronger.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Scott Connelly 
 
 
 Scott Connelly 
 
2023-07-24
 
 
  
We have worked with Alexa many times over the years, and she and others on the team have consistently provided an experience second to none. You can expect first rate guiding across different ecosystems, with particular expertise in birding. But you will also find her to be an extremely knowledgeable source of information and anecdotes covering all groups of tropical organisms (such as amphibians, insects, plants, fungi, etc.), regarding their natural history, biology and ecology. Among the advantages of working with this group is their strong connection to the local communities and cultures. In addition to their guiding expertise, they convey a high level of excitement, enthusiasm, and sincerity that engages students and tourists across all ages. You would be very hard pressed to find equally expert and professional guiding in the tropics. - Scott Connelly, PhD, Faculty, University of Georgia
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Jessica Murray 
 
 
 Jessica Murray 
 
2023-07-22
 
 
  
We had a wonderful experience with Alexa from Human Nature during our Tropical Ecology course trip to Costa Rica. She led us on a really fun and informative natural history hike at Finca Ecológica in San Luis de Monteverde. She helped with the logistics of visiting the reserve and setting up lunch. We were able to process the payment through Payment Works to transfer funds directly from the university which was greatly helpful- if you work in international education at a university you know how valuable that is! Alexa is a joy and full to the brim with knowledge and passion. Her enthusiasm is contagious and she is very gifted at engaging students. I highly recommend working with her, whether for a one-day natural history guided hike or to plan an entire course abroad.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 5 reviews

Human Nature Expeditions

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