Group Trips
Planning a conference, retreat, or reunion in Ecuador shouldn’t be overwhelming! Read below to match your needs with the right service.
Blogger's Conference
Meet up with your followers in Ecuador!
Personalized itineraries
Planned activities and day trips
Tour guide for daily excursions
Personalized Menu Planning
Conference space
Assist with setting up presentations
All ground transportation around Ecuador
Hotel bookings in Ecuador for your group
Pre-Trip Logistics:
Communications with attendees for preparations for the trip/questions etc.
Payment processing for all attendees
I’ve had the great fortune to attend three separate events that Cheryl has masterminded, orchestrated, organized, and led. Each one of them has been absolutely spectacular. She strikes the perfect balance between structure and just letting things happen. Her itineraries have provided ample opportunity for me to get to know the country and people of Ecuador in a way that has affected my life profoundly. And somehow Cheryl manages to do all of this as if she’s just taking a few friends around to see a few sites. Her happy spirit is contagious, and I couldn’t ask for a better host for groups I’ve promoted this to in the past. If we’re giving stars, I’d give all available. If we’re doing thumbs up, I’d do two.
Sample Itinerary Bloggers Conference
Saturday: Arrival in Quito and stay at San Jose de Puembo near the airport.
Sunday: Cayambe Sundial Equator. Hear a new version of how the world should be viewed while you stand on the equator. Watch Indigenous women harvest the Agave plant. Pamba Mesa Picnic at Oldest Hacienda in Ecuador.
Monday: Presentations in the morning and afternoon by the speakers. In your free time you can play putt-putt golf, sit in a hammock or enjoy the gardens at Hacienda Chorlavi.
Tuesday: Presentation in the morning by a speaker. Lunch at Lake Cuicocha which is an amazing active crater lake. Take a boat ride around the Islands or hike. Stop at Cotocachi town of leather goods.
Wednesday: Presentation by speaker in the morning. Afternoon Group Activity. Free time to hammock, swim, enjoy the jacuzzi or sauna.
Thursday: Group Activity in the morning. Peguche Wasi Textile tour. See how the famous Otavalo Indigenous weave their tapestries. We will then visit Ali and his family in their music workshop where they will sing for us while we play along. After, we take a hike to Peguche Waterfall.
Friday: Break out sessions in the morning. Afternoon trip to the Condor Park where we will watch birds of prey fly high in the Andes Mountains.
Bald Eagle “Gringo” about to fly in the Andes.
Saturday: Head to the airport if you have a flight before 5 pm. If you fly at night, take a tour of the Historic Center of Quito. Or stay and see more of Ecuador!
Retreats
Bring your Yoga/Meditation Students to Ecuador!
Relaxing Exercise Space
Private Meditation Space
Planned activities and day trips
Tour guide for daily excursions
Personalized Menu planning
All ground transportation around Ecuador
Hotel bookings in Ecuador for your group
Pre-Trip Logistics:
Communications with attendees for preparations for the trip/questions etc.
Payment processing for all attendees
“What a wonderful retreat in all ways– leaving the worries and concerns of city life behind–meeting new friends with no concern of making an impression and fully in love with the beauty, music and people of Ecuador. Muchas Gracias Charito por un bueno tiempo y maravillosa casa.”
What an amazing experience you have led me through! Everything about my days here have been filled with joy and beauty. You are a special host, guiding us with love and care so that we see the absolute beauty of Ecuador and understand that which we did not know.
Sample Retreat at Above the Clouds Guest House and Otavalo
Day 1: Arrival in Quito and stay near the airport.
Day 2: Leave for Above the Clouds Coffee Farm and Guest House with stop at Middle of the World Intinan Museum where you can stand on the equator. Visit Pululahua Crater, the only inhabited volanic crater in the world. Evening Shamanic Energy Cleansing Ceremony.
Day 3: Morning Retreat Activities (Meditation/Discussions/Yoga). Afternoon Trip to Mindo Cloud Forest. See how chocolate is processed from plant to bar of chocolate. Observe the metamorphosis process as butterflies fly all around you. Ride over the cloud forest in a cable car and hike to a waterfall.
Day 4: Coffee Tour. See all the work that goes in that cup of coffee. Hike to your own private Waterfall taking a swim in the Cloud Forest. Afternoon Retreat Activities . Labyrinth Walk and Meditation/Discussions/Yoga.
Day 5: Leave for Otavalo. Visit with Ali and his family at his Music Workshop. Watch Birds of prey fly high in the Andes at the Condor Reserve and Rehabilitation Center.
Bald Eagle “Gringo” about to fly in the Andes.
Day 6: Morning Retreat Activities such as Meditation/Yoga/Discussions. Afternoon visit Lake Cuichoca, a gorgeous crater lake of an active volcano. Take a boat ride out to the islands or hike around the caldera.
Day 7: Morning Retreat Activities. Visit Peguche Wasi to watch a weaving demonstration and learn about Indigenous History in Ecuador followed by an afternoon at the famous Otavalo Market.
Fly Home or see more of Ecuador!
Sample Retreat at Above the Clouds Guest House
Day 1: Arrival in Quito. Stay near the airport.
Day 2: Papallacta Hot Springs. Drive over a 13,000 foot mountain pass to soak in the hotsprings surrounded by gorgeous mountain peaks.
Day 3: Leave for Above the Clouds Coffee Farm and Guest House with stop at Middle of the World Intinan Museum where you can stand on the equator. Visit Pululahua Crater, the only inhabited volanic crater in the world. Evening Shamanic Energy Cleansing.
Day 4: Morning Meditation/Yoga/Discussions. Trip to Mashpi Cloud Forest. Take a step back in time as we drive through Hearts of Palm plantations. See how chocolate is processed from plant to bar of chocolate and swim in the magical river waters.
Day 5: Morning Meditation/Yoga/Discussions. Coffee Tour. See first hand the hard work that goes into that cup of coffee. Hike to your own private Waterfall taking a swim in the Cloud Forest.
Waterfall Above the Clouds Ecuador
Day 6: Morning Meditation/Yoga/Discussions. Tulipe Museum. Just fifteen minutes from the farm, you will find a museum featuring the Yumbo Indians who lived in this area and left behind pyramids and sacred swimming pools. We will then hike to the waterfall and Petroglyphs carved into the rocks a thousand years ago by thses same Indians.
Sacred Swimming Pools
Petroglyphs Yumbo Indians
Day 7: Morning Meditation/Yoga/Discussions. Quito tour. Visit the Historic Center of Quito.
The Virgin of Quito
Fly Home or see more of Ecuador!
Family Reunions
Bring your family gathering to Above the Clouds Guest House!
Kitchen for family-style meals
Cook your own or have us hire a cook.
Living Room Space for Long Chats.
Hammocks for Relaxation.
Planned activities and day trips
Tour guide for daily excursions
All ground transportation around Ecuador
Hotel bookings in Ecuador for your group
Pre-Trip Logistics:
Communications with attendees for preparations for the trip/questions etc.
Payment processing for all attendees
Above the Clouds Guest House and Coffee Farm is a place that makes you feel complete. It was a fantastic weekend. We felt constantly rewarded by the overwhelming landscape that surrounds and complements the house. A beautiful house with lovely details and warmth, very fitting for relaxation, contemplation and joy. The whole place is a constant caress to the human spirit.
The adventure to the waterfall was so fun, the physical effort was overcompensated with the restorative water and the view of the place.
Cheryl is an amazing hostess; we had everything we needed. We are very thankful for the experience.
Sample Family Reunion at Above the Clouds Guest House and Otavalo.
Day 1: Arrival in Quito and stay near the airport.
Day 2: Leave for Above the Clouds Coffee Farm and Guest House with stop at Middle of the World Intinan Museum where you can stand on the equator. Visit Pululahua Crater, the only inhabited volanic crater in the world. Evening Shamanic Energy Cleansing Ceremony.
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Day 3: Trip to Mindo Cloud Forest. See how chocolate is processed from plant to bar of chocolate. See the metamorphosis process as butterflies fly all around you.
Cocoa Pod
Blue Morph, Mindo, Ecuador
Day 4: Coffee Tour. Watefall Hike. Hike to your own private Waterfall taking a swim in the Cloud Forest.
Waterfall Above the Clouds Ecuador
Day 5: Leave for Otavalo. Visit with Ali and his family at his Music Workshop. Watch Birds of prey fly high in the Andes at the Condor Reserve and Rehabilitation Center.
Ali and Palomita
Bald Eagle “Gringo” about to fly in the Andes.
Day 6: Visit Lake Cuichoca, a gorgeous crater lake of an active volcano. Take a boat ride out to the islands or hike around the caldera. Stop at Cotocachi town of leather goods.
Laguna Cuicocha, Imbabura Province, Ecuador
Day 7: Visit Peguche Wasi to watch a weaving demonstration and learn about Indigenous History in Ecuador followed by an afternoon at the famous Otavalo Market.
Fly Home or see more of Ecuador!
Sample Family Reunion at Above the Clouds Guest House
Day 1: Arrival in Quito. Stay near the airport.
Day 2: Papallacta Hot Springs. Drive over a 13,000 foot mountain pass to soak in the hotsprings surrounded by gorgeous mountain peaks.
Day 3: Leave for farm with stop at Middle of the World Intinan Museum where you can stand on the equator. Visit Pululahua Crater, the only inhabited volanic crater in the world. Evening Shamanic Energy Cleansing.
Day 4: Trip to Mashpi Cloud Forest. Take a step back in time as we drive through Hearts of Palm plantations. See how chocolate is processed from plant to bar of chocolate and swim in the magical river waters.
Day 5: Coffee Tour. Watefall Hike. Hike to your own private Waterfall taking a swim in the Cloud Forest.
Waterfall Above the Clouds Ecuador
Day 6: Tulipe Museum. Just fifteen minutes from the farm, you will find a museum featuring the Yumbo Indians who lived in this area and left behind pyramids and sacred swimming pools followed by a hike to the waterfall and Petroglyphs carved into the rocks a thousand years ago.
Sacred Swimming Pools
Petroglyphs Yumbo Indians
Day 7: Quito tour. Visit the Historic Center of Quito.
The Virgin of Quito
Fly Home or see more of Ecuador!
Testimonials
Would you like to read more testimonials about Cheryl Reed’s events at Above the Clouds and other great locations in Ecuador? Read on!
I had the privilege to attend two Above the Clouds Retreats in Ecuador and both were incredible! Each time, the accommodation was comfortable and charming, the food was delicious, and the planned activities highlighted the best of what Ecuador has to offer. Cheryl is a fantastic host who makes sure everything is taken care of for you so that you can just enjoy yourself. More importantly though, she is fun, friendly, and passionate about Ecuador so she is the perfect person to show you around such a beautiful and fascinating country!
Cheryl hosts incredible, life-changing events that create communities and memories. She’s excellent at planning itineraries that feature fun and educational activities with wide-ranging appeal. She’s a great host who introduces people from the U.S. and Canada to the beauty, food, natural landscape and cultural life in Ecuador.
Over the past four years, I’ve spoken at multiple week-long retreats that Cheryl has hosted. Each event has a great blend of classroom instruction with engaging off-site activities that highlight the cultural and natural beauty of Ecuador. Cheryl is friendly and always smiling and brings a warm, inviting energy to the events. There’s a reason I keep coming back, year after year!
My brother Kevin and I spent 2 fabulous weeks in Ecuador in August. The first week was spent at a 16th century hacienda 2 hours north of Quito with 23 strangers who were also followers of the financial blogs of either Mr. Money Mustache, James Collins or You Need a Budget (Jesse Mecham). We spent time listening to the wisdom of these smart guys, touring around, interacting with the local community, eating amazing food, drinking a fair amount of wine, discussing the state of the world and laughing continuously. I can honestly say it was one of the best weeks I’ve spent. We met some amazing new friends! Thanks to Cheryl Reed for bringing us together through Above the Clouds Retreats!
The Chautauqua was more than I could have imagined or hoped. I actually got freaked out the week before and wondered if I should back out – traveling to a new country with 20+ people I’d never met? I must be crazy. I’d have been crazy to have missed it, though. My saying for the week became, “I can’t remember the last time I smiled or laughed this much in a week!”
Cheryl did a fantastic job of putting together the itinerary and dealing with the logistics. I knew that from the moment I arrived in Ecuador, I’d be shuttled around and fed as needed, and with someone that’s lived in the area (travel fears #1 and 2, gone).
I could go on for days about the beauty of our accommodations and surrounding area, but what made this such a special trip was the people. I was suddenly in deep conversations with like-minded people, who I could learn from and share a laugh with. The speakers presentations throughout the week were enlightening, but it’s the personal interactions that really stick with you.
The best I can say to summarize is: laughter, lightness, and love; an enlightening experience in a strange country that feels like home.
It might seem that we spent all of our time on difficult mental exercises, but nothing could be further from the truth. Our days were filled with excellent meals, stimulating conversations and several interesting outings. We visiting an orphanage for local children with AIDS, made a trip to the Otavalo Market, hiked around the local countryside, had lunch and a boat ride inside an active volcano, observed a Shamanic Cleansing, and drank many, many bottles of wine.
My fellow attendees were a fascinating group. Somewhat surprisingly, given our universal interest in early retirement, most people actually seemed to enjoy their work. Nights were spent telling war stories and typically ended with sore cheeks from all the laughter. It was a wonderful group. I truly hope that we’ve made a lot of life-long friends.
Cheryl will be doing this again next year. If you have any interest in early retirement, seeing a fascinating country, or meeting interesting people then I’d highly recommend that you attend.
I haven’t experienced this much joy since the birth of my twins!
I loved my Chautauqua experiences, presenting at two of them and attending a third. Ecuador is beautiful and diverse and we got to see so much of it: the cloud forest, the mountains, Mindo, Quito, and scenic rides between them all. Cheryl is a fabulous organizer and leader. Everything ran smoothly, and the chautauqua format really does bring people together. We began the week as strangers, and by the end we felt like we’d been friends for years. Many of us still keep in touch. My time in Ecuador was a magical experience and I’ll never forget it.
The week long retreat in Ecuador arranged by the Cheryl Reed and company was nothing short of life changing for me and my wife. We both made life-long friends and realized that early financial freedom was a distinct possibility and not a distant dream! Really enjoyed presentations from Cheryl, Jim Collins, J. D. Roth and Mr. Money Mustache! Below is a haiku from my wife that sums it up nicely!
Visiting Ecuador feels like visiting the Heart of the Earth, and Cheryl’s events feel like coming home to this incredibly special place. I had the joy of attending and co-hosting five years worth of 25-person trips with her, and every single time, our group came away with lifelong friends and lifetime memories. Her combination of creative organization and soulful connections with both visitors and locals is what makes it all so special, like no other vacation you will ever take.