THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Spend a day above Quito in the Antisana Ecological Reserve: hike alpine páramo trails, search for Andean condors at Laguna de Secas, then enjoy a 12.5 km downhill bike ride to Pintag with lunch included. Expect high altitude, variable weather and rugged gravel descents.
Spend a day above Quito in the Antisana Ecological Reserve: hike alpine páramo trails, search for Andean condors at Laguna de Secas, then enjoy a 12.5 km downhill bike ride to Pintag with lunch included. Expect high altitude, variable weather and rugged gravel descents.
You step out of the van into thin air and a wide, windswept páramo that seems to push you forward. Cold light spills across tussock grass and peat; distant snow keeps watch on the shoulders of Antisana volcano. The guide points toward Laguna de Secas where Andean water mirrors the sky and condors sometimes wheel like punctuation above the ridgeline.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Galapagos Tours Nature Galapagos & Ecuador · Pintag, Pichincha
You step out of the van into thin air and a wide, windswept páramo that seems to push you forward. Cold light spills across tussock grass and peat; distant snow keeps watch on the shoulders of Antisana volcano. The guide points toward Laguna de Secas where Andean water mirrors the sky and condors sometimes wheel like punctuation above the ridgeline.
Antisana sits on the eastern flank of the Ecuadorian Andes and protects one of the highland ecosystems most vital for water capture and biodiversity. The landscape is shaped by volcanic uplift and glacial scouring, leaving steep moraines, peat bogs and small glacial lakes—sites long used by local highland communities for grazing and seasonal subsistence. Birdlife dominates the soundscape: caracaras, ground-tyrants and, with luck, the slow-tilting silhouette of the Andean condor.
On this private day trip you’ll ascend to roughly 4,000 meters, visit Laguna de Secas for birdwatching, then choose a hike—Trail of Condors (≈2 hours) or the shorter Micaloma loop (≈1 hour). After walking, you’ll bike: a short 7 km ride to the bike staging area followed by about 12.5 km of mostly downhill single-lane and gravel descent toward Pintag. The full itinerary runs about eight hours round-trip from Quito, with a local lunch in Pintag before the return.
Practical notes: acclimatize in Quito for a day, layer for wind and rain, and expect uneven, sometimes boggy terrain. Basic mountain-biking ability and steady footing on high-altitude trails make the day safe and rewarding.
moderate.
8 hours.
Moderately fit: able to hike 1–2 hours at high elevation and manage a 12.5 km downhill bike section; expect short climbs and uneven ground.
The trip reaches elevations around 4,000 meters (≈13,100 ft); altitude can affect breathing and energy—plan to acclimatize in Quito first.
Condors are sometimes seen near Laguna de Secas or the Trail of Condors, but sightings depend on weather and time of day—early to mid-morning increases chances.
No—basic biking equipment (bikes and helmets) is included, but you should bring gloves and closed-toe shoes for comfort and control.
Hiking options are beginner-friendly, but the downhill bike section requires basic biking competence on gravel; riders should be comfortable with moderate speeds and uneven surfaces.
Antisana Reserve protects high-Andean páramo, glacial remnants and watersheds formed around Antisana volcano; the area has long supported highland pastoralism.
The páramo is a fragile water-capturing ecosystem; stay on trails, pack out waste and respect grazing areas to minimize impact.
Galapagos Tours Nature Galapagos & Ecuador operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You step out of the van into thin air and a wide, windswept páramo that seems to push you forward. Cold light spills across tussock grass and peat; distant snow keeps watch on the shoulders of Antisana volcano. The guide points toward Laguna de Secas where Andean water mirrors the sky and condors sometimes wheel like punctuation above the ridgeline.
You step out of the van into thin air and a wide, windswept páramo that seems to push you forward. Cold light spills across tussock grass and peat; distant snow keeps watch on the shoulders of Antisana volcano. The guide points toward Laguna de Secas where Andean water mirrors the sky and condors sometimes wheel like punctuation above the ridgeline.
Antisana sits on the eastern flank of the Ecuadorian Andes and protects one of the highland ecosystems most vital for water capture and biodiversity. The landscape is shaped by volcanic uplift and glacial scouring, leaving steep moraines, peat bogs and small glacial lakes—sites long used by local highland communities for grazing and seasonal subsistence. Birdlife dominates the soundscape: caracaras, ground-tyrants and, with luck, the slow-tilting silhouette of the Andean condor.
On this private day trip you’ll ascend to roughly 4,000 meters, visit Laguna de Secas for birdwatching, then choose a hike—Trail of Condors (≈2 hours) or the shorter Micaloma loop (≈1 hour). After walking, you’ll bike: a short 7 km ride to the bike staging area followed by about 12.5 km of mostly downhill single-lane and gravel descent toward Pintag. The full itinerary runs about eight hours round-trip from Quito, with a local lunch in Pintag before the return.
Practical notes: acclimatize in Quito for a day, layer for wind and rain, and expect uneven, sometimes boggy terrain. Basic mountain-biking ability and steady footing on high-altitude trails make the day safe and rewarding.