Yunguilla Community Tourism

Yunguilla: the last border of the Cloud Forest

45 minutes from Quito, after overcoming the 0º parallel and rising to 3000 meters above sea level, it is nestled in the lush mountains of the cloud forest at Metropolitan District of Quito’s northwest: Yunguilla.
Picturesque town, delimited by the Pululahua towards the Andes and by the reserves of Maquipucuna and Pahuma towards the coast. It is more than a community of coal workers who converted their source of work, They developed a sustainable, ecological and conservationist option, generating a very positive impact within their inhabitants and becoming one of the few communities that develops sustainable community tourism in the country.

Yunguilla How to get there?

Option 1: Quito - Calacalí - Yunguilla
On Av. América take the Metrobus that takes us to the Ofelia station in the north of Quito, then take a feeder bus to Calacalí.
In the central park of Calacalí you can rent a van to the destination (4.00 USD).
Option 2: Quito - Yunguilla (community entrance walk)
At the Metrobus North Station, there is also a stop for the cooperative's interprovincials: Otavalo, Cayambe, and Minas.
These buses go to Quito’s northwest, the alternative is to embark on one of these and stay at the entrance to Yunguilla that is 300 meters after the old Calacalí toll station. Then you can enter walking.  You can arrive in an hour of walking.

Yunguilla sustainable community tourism

Yunguilla sustainable tourism, in recent years, and as one of the most sought-after requirements in the tourism field. It is settled that satisfaction of tourist who visits new places is related to the areas’ conservation, sustainability and not about resources exploitation. This without neglecting the experience as such, providing added value to the trip, which in addition to leisure, should offer tourists learning, satisfaction and environment protection.
Thus, this project includes aspects as important as offering appropriate relaxation time with the necessary resources and knowing in depth the community’s tasks. Likewise, it actively collaborates in the day-to-day life of the community members while enjoying an exceptional landscape of the cloud forest. Activities such as bird watching, adventure tourism, hiking in the cloud forest, admiration of the endemic flora and the varied fauna stand out in this important transitional space between the mountains and Ecuadorian mountain.
After enjoying a different and rewarding experience like this, it is necessary to ask
Yunguilla meaning, its meaning is unknown but it is a word composed of two Quichua words: yun and guilla.

Why go to Yunguilla?

The question is simple to answer, and it includes everything you will find when you arrive at this community´s tourism project:

• To know and enjoy different landscapes and nature spaces and a few kilometers from the urban center of the city.
• If you are a nature lover and enjoy visiting places like the cloud forest of the Andes, where you will find hummingbirds, spectacled bears, toucans and more. This is your place!
• To understand and learn from the community, learn about the daily life of these community members, learn how to milk a cow, prepare cheeses in an artisanal way, work in an organic garden or enjoy the production of a handmade jam, with local fruits, and enjoy the activities that this project offers you.
• To enjoy the conservation of the environment, venture into knowing unique natural trails and learn by knowing the varied flora.
  For all these reasons, if you are passing through Quito and you are a lover of the new experiences that community and adventure tourism offers you, the perfect place is Yunguilla.