El Pahuma Orchid Reserve: One Landowner 's Story of Protecting Forest in Ecuador
In 2000, the Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation signed the first conservation easement in Ecuador with a private landowner to protect a hyper-diverse cloud forest near Quito, named El Pahuma Orchid Reserve. We interviewed the landowner to obtain his story his transition from logger to conservationist. This video was created for a course offered by Catherine Woodward at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Day2 (Quito) - El PAHUMA Orchids Reserve on 10 Day Ecuador & Amazon Adventure (May 2014)
This stop (Friday mid morning): EL PAHUMA Orchids Reserve
El Pahuma in Quichua means flattened peak.
The El Pahuma Orchid Reserve is a 650 hectare (approx. 1,500 acre) cloud forest reserve located only one hour from Quito, showcasing over 200 species of orchids.
The lush vegetation is fed by abundant moisture from the mist-laden air and provides home to a multitude of epiphytes (air plants) including bromeliads, orchids, mosses and ferns.
The astonishing diversity of species that make up the reserve provides limitless enjoyment for visitors interested in orchids, birdwatching or simply taking in the sights and sounds of the forests and its three (3) spectacular waterfalls.
Nature Center -- The beautiful wood Nature Center was constructed in 2001 with a design that harmonizes with the surrounding forest.
The center houses educational displays on mountain forests and provides a space for seminars and special events.
Here you can pick up maps to the trail system, as well as informational brochures on various aspects of mountain forests and the reserves flora and fauna.
Orchids Botanical Garden -- The one-acre botanical garden near the reserve entrance is accessed by an easy loop trail from the Nature Center.
The garden celebrates the forest as habitat; no trees were cut to create it.
Plantings of hundreds of native species of orchids, aroids, bromeliads, ferns and shrubs are interspersed within the trees, highlighting the diversity and beauty of the region's flora.
The garden is a good place to see native orchids in bloom and learn about the diversity of montane forest plants with the aid of informative signs.
After we ALL visited the Botanical Garden (near the Nature Center's entrance), there was an OPTIONAL hike available to us.
TRAILS -- There are 6 kilometers of hiking trails ranging from easy to steep and strenuous. The trail system is popular with birdwatchers and is open from dawn to dusk daily.
See here the Sendero TRAIL Gallo de la Peña:
= a relatively easy hike (about 1.3 km or 1 mile/ 10-15 minutes one-way) that we took to Los Altares waterfalls.
*** Rene Lima was our on-site, knowledgeable tour guide and Giovani helped us, especially during the hike.
(2 photos by Igor)
Day2 (El Pahuma Reserve) - Los Altares waterfalls on 10 Day Ecuador & Amazon Adventure (May 2014)
Next stop (Friday mid morning): EL PAHUMA Orchids Reserve
El Pahuma in Quichua means flattened peak.
After we ALL visited the Botanical Garden (near the Nature Center's entrance), there was an OPTIONAL hike available to us.
TRAILS -- There are 6 kilometers of hiking trails ranging from easy to steep and strenuous. The trail system is popular with birdwatchers and is open from dawn to dusk daily.
Seen here is Sendero TRAIL Gallo de la Peña -
a relatively easy hike
(about 1.3 km or 1 mile/ 10-15 minutes one-way)
that we took to Los Altares waterfalls.
During the nesting season of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (August - October) access is restricted to small groups with a guide.
The El Pahuma Orchid Reserve is a 650 hectare (approx. 1,500 acre) cloud forest reserve located only one hour from Quito, showcasing over 200 species of orchids.
The lush vegetation is fed by abundant moisture from the mist-laden air and provides home to a multitude of epiphytes (air plants) including bromeliads, orchids, mosses and ferns.
The astonishing diversity of species that make up the reserve provides limitless enjoyment for visitors interested in orchids, birdwatching or simply taking in the sights and sounds of the forests and its three spectacular waterfalls.
Nature Center -- The beautiful wood Nature Center was constructed in 2001 with a design that harmonizes with the surrounding forest.
The center houses educational displays on montane forests and provides a space for seminars and special events.
Here you can pick up maps to the trail system, as well as informational brochures on various aspects of montane forests and the reserves flora and fauna.
Orchids Botanical Garden --
The one-acre botanical garden near the reserve entrance is accessed by an easy loop trail from the Nature Center.
The garden celebrates the forest as habitat; no trees were cut to create it.
Plantings of hundreds of native species of orchids, aroids, bromeliads, ferns and shrubs are interspersed within the trees, highlighting the diversity and beauty of the region's flora.
The garden is a good place to see native orchids in bloom and learn about the diversity of montane forest plants with the aid of informative signs.
*** Rene Lima was our on-site, knowledgeable tour guide and Giovani helped us, especially during the hike.
(2 photos by Igor)
Reserva Orquideológica El Pahuma - Pichincha - Ecuador
Queridos #Pichinchanos aquí les dejamos el primer video de nuestros recorridos por la provincia. La visita que realizamos en esta ocasión fue a la Reserva Orquideológica El Pahuma a tan solo 40 minutos de Quito, no te lo pierdas... #SomosPichincha #ReservaOrquideologicaElPahuma
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The Cuenca Orchidarium: Orchids in Ecuador
The University of Cuenca (Ecuador) has an Orchidarium just outside of the city center. See more than 360 species from around the country. Best time to visit is May and December.
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Reserva Pahuma, un paraíso a 30 minutos de Quito
La zona del Pahuma es un bosuqe nublado por lo que te aconsejamos llevar una capa de secado rápido, zapatos de trekking y una parada de repuesto por si deseas disfrutar de sus cascadas. El uso de bloqueador solar y repelente de insectos es altamente recomendable.
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Reserva Orquideológica El Pahuma atractivo turístico a pocos minutos de Quito
Reportaje realizado en la Reserva Orquideológica El Pahuma
agradecimiento a Ecuavisa - Televistazo
Orchid Reserve in Ecuador
Adios Adventure Travel (adiosadventuretravel.com) guide/teacher Jacquie Whitt organizes a trip to Ecuador for Virginia Beach Friends School 4th/5th grade girls & their mothers. At the suggestion of local guide (& birding expert!) Reinaldo, an unscheduled stop at an orchid conservation farm proved more educational than expected.
EL PAHUMA especial 200suscrptores
Ecuagenera Orchids!
Katty and Rob visit with Jose Portilla, the founder of Ecuagenera.com. Ecuagenera is the largest orchid grower in the world! They have major greenhouse operations across Ecuador, and are heavily involved in saving endangered species of orchid threatened with extinction as a result of jungle development.
Reserva Pahuma
En Mindo visita reserva Pahuma. Conoce Ecuador y su diversidad..
Yanacocha Bird Reserve Quito Ecuador
Mountain Biking Ecuador
Reserva Orquidearia Pahuma
Reserva orquidearia Pahuma ubicada en Quito, Ecuador
Day2 (Quito) - LIVE start of our escorted 10 Day Ecuador and Amazon Adventure (May 2014)
Marco's speech (tour guide for this trip): Welcome aboard the Gate1 travel bus -
the actual start of our May 2014 Ecuador & Amazon Adventure
(Friday morning, May 23rd 2014 our 34 ppl group left at 8:00am from our Mercure Alameda Hotel in QUITO)
DAY 2, Friday - Mindo Cloud Forest
In the morning, the escorted group departs by bus for an outing to the Mindo Cloud Forest (a reserve with over 47,000 acres that is home to 350 species of birds, including toucans, parrots, and golden tanagers, and is laden with mosses and bromeliads).
1. First stop at Pululahua Volcano --
The large caldera, or crater, at the top of the inactive volcano is full of lush vegetation and crops and is one of the very few inhabited calderas in the world.
2. Continuing on, visit El Pahuma Orchid Reserve --
This 1,600 acre reserve was once cultivated for crops and livestock, but was turned into an ecological reserve in the 1990s. Today the reserve boasts over 270 orchid species, 9 of which are endemic to the area.
Marvel at these exotic flowers as you hike to the reserves tranquil waterfalls -
3a. Next the tour will visit a hummingbird sanctuary featuring hundreds of local bird species, including several dozen hummingbirds.
3b. Lunch (included; food options chosen ahead by each passenger and shared with the tour guide)
& visit to the Sachatamia Ecological Reserve
This evening (6:30PM), join your Tour Manager (Marco) for an Orientation meeting and Welcome Drink at your hotel (Mercure Alameda Hotel) in Quito.
Overnight: Quito
Meals provided by Gate1 Travel: Breakfast (at the hotel), Lunch (on location, at the SACHATAMIA)
Tour details:
Day2 (Quito) - driving back2 Quito on 10 Day Ecuador & Amazon Adventure (May 2014)
Driving back to QUITO at the end of
our day-long visit to
the amazing Mindo Cloud Forest
(Friday afternoon, May 23rd 2014)
DAY 2, Friday - Mindo Cloud Forest
In the morning, our escorted group departed by bus at 8am for the Mindo Cloud Forest (a reserve with over 47,000 acres that is home to 350 species of birds, including toucans, parrots, and golden tanagers, and is laden with mosses and bromeliads).
1). First stop was at the PULULAHUA Volcano --
The large caldera/ crater at the top of the inactive volcano is full of lush vegetation and crops and is one of the very few inhabited calderas in the world.
2). Continuing on, we visited
El PAHUMA Orchid Reserve --
This 1,600 acre reserve was once cultivated for crops and livestock, but was turned into an ecological reserve in the 1990s. Today the reserve boasts over 270 orchid species, 9 of which are endemic to the area.
Marveled at these exotic flowers as we hiked
to the reserve's tranquil WATERFALLS -
3). Finally, our last stop was at SACHATAMIA
Ecological Reserve
3a. Visited a hummingbird sanctuary featuring hundreds of local bird species, including several dozen hummingbirds.
3b. Lunch (included; food options chosen ahead
by each passenger and shared with the tour guide):
3c. Visited the Sachatamia Reserve grounds:
This evening (6:30PM), we shall join
our Tour Manager (Marco Clavijo)
for an Orientation meeting and
Welcome Drink at our hotel
(Mercure Alameda Hotel) in Quito:
and
Overnight: Quito
Meals provided by Gate1 Travel:
Breakfast (at the hotel),
Lunch (on location, at the SACHATAMIA)
Gate1 Tour details:
Reserva Orquideológica El Pahuma
Reserva Orquideológica El Pahuma
Reservas Ecológicas de Pichincha - Ecuador
Reserva Orquideologica Pahuma
Agosto 31 - 2017