Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival to Quito, Ecuador

Arrival in Quito and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2: The Land of hummingbirds: Quito - Yanacocha - Tandayapa - Bellavista

Very early in the morning we travel northwest from Quito crossing the western slopes of the Andes range and arrive at Tandayapa. On route we will visit the Yanacocha Reserve, home to the black-breasted puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis), while we continue our trip we will see other species such as Bar Bellied Woodpecker, Masked Flowerpiercer, Glossy Flowerpiercer, Shinning Sunbeam, Great Saphirewing, Barred Fruiteater, Hooded and Scarlet-Bellied  Mountain-Tanagers, Giant Conebill, Pearled Treerunner etc.  Box lunch on route surrounded by colorful hummingbirds. You will have the opportunity to walk around the trails of Alambi Lodge. Rare or special sightings recently include: White-faced Nunbird, Crested Guan (at an unusually high altitude), Long-billed Starthroat, Maroon-chested Ground-Dove (in the garden), Undulated, Yellow-breasted and Giant Antpitta, Uniform Treehunter (building a nest at 50 meters from the guesthouse), Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Long-wattled Umbrella bird, Tamandúa Anteater. Late afternoon departure arrive to Bellavista Lodge, time to rest and at night you will have the opportunity to see the first new carnivore species discovered in the western hemisphere for 35 years, the Olinguito; dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Mindo Mashpi area - The oilbird reserve

Early in the morning you will visit Mashpi Reserve located at two hours north of Quito, this cloud forest is rich on plant species, from ferns and bromeliads to thousands of orchid species.  It is one of the best places to spot great birds, also here it is possible to find mammals. Then you will depart to El Chontal to look for the famous Los Tayos Cave, that actually it's a deep, dark ravine where as many as 100 Oilbirds (Steatornis caripensis) make their homes; on route you will enjoy of a delicious box lunch. Late afternoon your guide will drive to Sachatamia Lodge where you will diner and overnight.

Day 4: Mindo: Rio Silanche reserve - Milpe reserve

After an early breakfast your guide will drive you to Rio Silanche a tropical lowland reserve that covers 70 hectares (175 acres) where it is possible to see incredible species diversity especially from its 15 meters high observation tower that puts you eye-to-eye with awesome mixed foraging flocks. This important site, situated in low foothills between 300-350m, is located along an all-weather road, and it is one of the last remaining accessible forest remnants found in this key area, home to many important Choco and Tumbesian endemic bird species, including Dusky Pigeon, Purple-chested Hummingbird, Little Woodstar, Choco Trogon, Double-banded Graytail, Stub-tailed Antbird, Slate-throated Gnatcatcher, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, Scarlet-and-white Tanager, Blue-whiskered Tanager, gray and gold tanager, rose face parrot, blue headed parrot, marron tailed parakeet, white bearded manakin, scarlet thighed dacnis, chestnut mandibled toucan, black headed tody flycatcher, slaty capped shrike Vireo, among many others. You will enjoy of a box lunch surrounded by the amazing nature.
 

Then you will visit Milpe Bird Sanctuary, reserve that is considered by Birdlife International as ‘An Important Bird Area’, it has 62 hectares (155 acres) that covers an altitudinal range from 1020-1150 m (3350-3770 ft) and includes two small rivers that converge at the bottom of a steep, forested valley. It is located along an all-weather road that many local birders consider to be one of the finest sites in all of Ecuador. Many of the most spectacular Choco endemic species are found here, such as Plumbeous Forest-Falcon, Moss-backed Tanager, Glistening-green Tanager, Chocó Trogon, choco toucan, Club-winged Manakin, Indigo-crowned Quail-Dove, Double-banded Greytail, Fulvous-vented Euphonia, Emerald and Scarlet-and-white Tanagers, the near-threatened Blue-whiskered Tanager and Long-wattled Umbrellabird. Late afternoon your guide will drive you to Sachatamia Lodge where you will diner and overnight.

Day 5: Mindo: The incredible umbrella bird - Rio Blanco

After an early breakfast you will visit the Luis Agila property where it is possible to find one of the few populations of the incredible Umbrella Bird that is a vulnerable specie, here you will have an amazing experience when you are waiting on silence and suddenly you see a group of Umbrella birds flying from one tree to another looking for insects or fruits, then in some place you heard one bird singing and when you find it you can see that the long wattle of a male gets inflate, it’s something unique.   You will enjoy of a box lunch surrounded by the amazing nature and in the afternoon you will departure to Los Bancos where we will visit Mirador del Río Blanco, a place that offers an incredible view of a beautiful valley and where you can find different species of tanagers and some hummingbirds such as the tiny Green Thorntail and the beautiful Green-Crowned Brilliant. Late afternoon return to Sachatamia Lodge where if you want you can have a short hike around this place to see some species like the Giant and Scaled Antpitta, Choco Toucan, Scaled Fruiteater, Tanager-Finch and Club-winged Manakin. Target birds here includes, golden headed quetzal, toucan barbet, masked trogon, golden naped tanager, beryl spangled tanager, strong billed woodcreeper, black and white owl, Wattled and Sickle-winged Guan, Bronze-winged Parrot, Sparkling Violet-ear, Andean Emerald, Booted Racket-tail and Long-tailed Sylph violet tailed sylph. Dinner and overnight.

Day 6: The Amazing Cock of the Rock

Early in the morning, after a cup of hot coffee, you will visit the famous Paz de las Aves Refuge where you will have the opportunity to have one of the most amazing experiences, visiting the cock of the rock lek, where, during the breeding season, the males produce a special sound and fly like real acrobats waiting for the female to choose one of them to mate. Besides here it is possible to see four species of Antpittas, the Giant Antpitta, the Moustached Antpitta, Ochre bellied, and the Yellow Breasted Antpitta. Then you will visit the feeding station to see black chinned and blue winged mountain tanagers, toucan barbet, dusky piha, sickle winged guan, crimsom rumped toucanet, etc. Return to the main house of this reserve to enjoy of a typical breakfast of this region and keep birding to find a ocellated tapaculo being fed with worms, yellow vented woodpecker, powerfull woodpecker, crimsom mantled woodpecker, orange breasted fruiteater etc. Then you will return to Sachatamia Lodge where you will take your lunch and in the afternoon you will return to Quito, overnight.
 

Day 7: Quito - Antisana Ecological Reserve - Guango Lodge

After breakfast you will travel to Antisana Ecological Reserve, where you will visit the Mica Lake in order to see Silvery Grebe, Andean Teal, Andean ruddy Duck, Yellow-billed Pintail, Andean Coot, and as well as many land birds such as Aplomado Falcon, Andean Gull, Andean Lapwing and Carunculated Caracara. Here you have a high probability to be in contact with the majestic Andean Condorand other species like Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle and Variable Hawk, black faced ibis, paramo ground tyrant, paramo pipit, sedge wren, bairds sandpiper, cinereous harrier, Bar-winged and Stout-billed Cinclodes, Shining Sunbeam, Red- rumped Bush-Tyrant, Paramo Pipit, Giant Conebill, and Spectacled Whitestart.  You will enjoy of a delicious box lunch on route and then you will depart to Guango Lodge through the Papallacta region. This area has well conserved patches of Polylepis forest and it is an excellent place to observe high mountain bird species. The 4000-meter high paramo holds a fascinating group of high-altitude species like the Variable Hawk, Many-striped Canastero, Tawny Antpitta and Andean Condor.  Dinner and overnight in Guango Lodge.

Day 8:

Early in the morning you will hike through the trails of this lodge looking for more bird species like Andean guan, plushcap, slaty finch, gray breasted mountain toucan, pale naped brush finch, gray hooded bush tanager, hooded mountain tanager, pearl treerunner, mountain avocetbill, tourmaline sunangel, torrent duck, White capped dipper etc. After breakfast you will continue with your trip to San Isidro Lodge where you will seek out specialties such as Black-chested Fruiteater, Long-tailed Antbird, White belied Antpitta, San Isidro’s owl, Chestnut Breasted Coronet, long tailed sylph, Barred Antthrush and the little-known Peruvian Antpitta. Box lunch on route and in the afternoon you will walk close to the lodge discovering more bird species. After dinner we will have a nocturnal walk looking for nightjars and owls; overnight.

Day 9: San Isidro Lodge and its surroundings

After breakfast you will visit The Loreto Road, famous for its birding opportunities. Some notable target birds along the upper Loreto Road includeDark-breasted Spinetail, Ash-browed Spinetail, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Lined Antshrike, Foothill Antwren, Olivaceous Greenlet, Yellow-whiskered Chlorospingus, and Bronze-green Euphonia. Then you will visit The Narupa reserve which  has a growing list of birds that currently includes over 300 species. Five globally threatened species have been recorded, including its flagship species, the Cerulean Warbler, a long-distance migrant that breeds in eastern North America and spends the boreal winter in northwestern South America. 
In the afternoon you will travel to the Cordillera de Los Huacamayos where you will walk through one of the specialized birdwatching trails. Here it is possible to see many different species and you will look for the black-billed mountain-toucan, white-bellied antpitta, spillmans tapaculo, bicolored antvireo, greater scythebill and the very local white-rimmed brush-finch among others. Return to San Isidro Lodge, dinner and overnight.

Day 10: San Isidro - Quito

During this day you will walk through the trails of San Isidro learning about the plants of this place and spotting for some bird species like Black-chested Fruiteater, Long-tailed Antbird, Barred Antthrush and the little-known Peruvian Antpitta, a nest of which was discovered right on the property.  Late afternoon you will return to Quito to your hotel.
 

Day 11: Quito - Home flight

After we have gotten a long list of birds in this unforgettable expedition in Ecuador we will be transfered to the airport to catch our flight home.

OPCIONAL EXTENSION WITH WILDSUMACO (14 Days / 13 Nights)

Day 10: SAN ISIDRO LODGE AND ITS SURROUNDINGS 

Full day to enjoy of San Isidro lodge, some of the regular species include: Montane and Olive-backed Woodcreepers, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Black-billed Peppershrike, Inca Jay, Bluish Flowerpiercer and Subtropical Cacique! After about an hour of this, you can visit the Antpitta feeders, where you will likely see White-bellied Antpitta only feet away, and maybe even the very rare Peruvian. Also you can find the Black-chested Fruiteater, Long-tailed Antbird, White belied Antpitta, San Isidro’s owl, Chestnut Breasted Coronet, long tailed sylph, Barred Antthrush and others. At dusk you can try to spot near the lodge night birds like the Andean Potoo (rare, but sometimes staked-out) Rufous-bellied Nighthawk (almost every dawn and dusk around the cottages) and Rufous-banded and Mottled Owls. All meals included.

Day 11: SAN ISIDRO LODGE - WILDSUMACO LODGE

Transfer to Wildsumaco, During this day it will be possible to walk through the trails of this Sanctuary where it is possible to see Gray-tailed Piha, Blue-rumped Manakin, and Chestnut-crowned Gnateater. Short-tailed Antthrush and Wing-banded Wren often sing, while more uncommon species like Gray-throated Leaftosser and Plain-backed Antpitta are seen occasionally. The very rare Yellow-throated Spadebill has a territory along the Piha Trail and at any time the endangered Military Macaw or rare Spot-winged Parrotlet might fly by, or Black Hawk-Eagle soar overhead. Return to the lodge for diner and overnight.

Day 12: WILDSUMACO WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

During this day it will be possible to walk through the trails of this Sanctuary where it is possible to see Gray-tailed Piha, Blue-rumped Manakin, coppery chested jacamar, military macaw, buff breasted tody, blackish rail, tropical screech owl, black banded crake, and Chestnut-crowned Gnateater. Short-tailed Antthrush and Wing-banded Wren often sing, while more uncommon species like Gray-throated Leaftosser and Plain-backed Antpitta are seen occasionally. The very rare Yellow-throated Spadebill has a territory along the Piha Trail and at any time the endangered Military Macaw or rare Spot-winged Parrotlet might fly by, or Black Hawk-Eagle soar overhead.

Day 13: WILDSUMACO - QUITO

After breakfast you will have the last opportunity to enjoy of this amazing place, then you will return to Quito, 4 hours by car, possible stop on the way to search for Orange Breasted falcon and cliff flycatcher. Box lunch on route and late afternoon you will arrive to Quito to your hotel where you will overnight.

Day 14: Quito - Home Flight 

After we have gotten a long list of birds in this unforgettable expedition in Ecuador we will be transferred to the airport to catch our home flight.

Trip Extension

We also offer fantastic bird watching trips to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuadorian Rainforests which provides the opportunity to check many more species off your list. Please contact us for more information.

Possible extension to Rainforest

Rates

PRICE PER PERSON 2024

11 Days / 10 Nights 

*Pax: Passengers   

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Itinerary

Arrival to  Guayaquil and transfer to the Hotel.

DAY 2:  MANGLARES CHURUTE

Early departure to Manglares Churute Reserve where you can find the only known population of Horned Screamer in western Ecuador. This National Reserve has 49.984 hectares distributed from 0 to 700 msnm. It is formed by an extensive network of channels and islands that combined with a dense mangrove forest and vestiges of tropical dry forest is the house of a considerable biodiversity. Here it is possible to find  bird species such us Pacific Royal Flycatcher, Ecuadorian Ground-dove, Red-masked Parakeet, Pacific Parrotlet and others. Besides if you are lucky you can see some mammals like the white-fronted capuchin and mantled howler monkeys, along with the occasional agouti, tigrillo, and armadillo.

Box Lunch on route and then you will continue your trip to Piñas stopping in some strategic points to observe some of the shore birds and also some specialists of the area such as Baron´s Hermit, Ecuadorian Trogon, Jet Antbird, Superciliated Wren, Orange-Crowned Euphonia, Peruvian Meadowlark. Arrive to Buenaventura reserve  where you will have dinner and overnight.

Buenaventura Reserve is part of Jocotoco Foundation, it is located near Piñas and Zaruma in El Oro province. It protects a narrow zone of cloud forest habitat on the otherwise seasonally dry west slope of the Andes in Southern Ecuador.  The target size for this reserve is 5,000 ha (12,000 acres) with an altitude range from 450m to 1100m. Here large mammals like Puma, Ocelot, Howler Monkey, Two and Three toed Sloth are present. This reserve supports an extremely diverse birdlife, including many endemics like El Oro Parakeet, Emerald-billed Woodnymph, Pacitic Tuftedcheeck, Club-Winged Manakin, Long Wattled Umbrella bird and El Oro Tapaculo. This day you will spend most of the time walking along the reserve looking for these species and other great birds such us the Andean Tinamou, Rose Face parrot and line-cheeked spinetail. Return to the lodge to diner and overnight.

 After breakfast we will have the last opportunity to look for El Oro Parakeet and then we will continue our trip to Jorupe, another Jocotoco Foundation Reserve located close to Macará. On route we will stop in some strategic points like Velacruz - Catacocha to look for the species of the area. Jorupe reserve supports many endemic and rare species of plants and animals, including populations of numerous globally threatened birds like the Henna-Hooded foliage-Gleaner, Blackish Headed spinetail, Slaty Becard, Line Cheeked Spinetail, Loja Tyranulet. This reserve is a two square mile area of high quality deciduous forest in the Tumbesian region of south west Ecuador, a few km north east of the town of Macara which is near the Ecuador and Peru border.

During this day you will be in the middle of the Tumbesian forest that is a dry habitat ecosystem which extends from south west Ecuador into northern Peru, it is dominated by statuesque Ceiba trees. It is a conservation priority because much of it is already cleared or badly degraded.

Early in the morning you will travel Utuana (Jocotoco Reserve) where you can find a Montane Scrub and woodland, a great place to search for Black-Crested Tit-Tyrants, Piura Hemispungus, Gray Headed Antbird, Chapman Antshrike, Rainbow Starfrontlet and others.

Box lunch on route and in the afternoon you will depart to Loja stopping in some strategic points and in Catamayo airport to look for some of the Tumbesian species and others like the Tumbes Sparrow, Band-tailed Sierra Finch, Drab Seedeater. Arrival to Vilcabamba, a small town close to Loja where you will diner and overnight.

Early in the morning we will visit Cajanuma, part of Podocarpus National Park where we will look for some spectacular birds like the Red-hooded Tanager, Bearded Guan, Gray Breasted Mountain Toucan, Plumbeus Rail, Golden-Plumed Parakeet, White-Browed Spinetail, Elegant Crescent-chest, Chusquea Tapaculo, Three Banded Warbler, Barred Fruiteater, Golden Crown Tanager and others. Arrival at Tapichalaca, the first reserve created by the Jocotoco Foundation. More than 40 mammal species occur in the area, including the Jaguar, Wooly Monkey,Tapir, Andean bear, Giant armadillo and Neotropical otter. Besides, Podocarpus is a paradise for plants, with around 3,000 different species of vascular plants, many of which are endemic. Time to enjoy the hummingbirds that fly around the feeders at this lodge like the Flame Throated Sunangel, Rufous-Capped Thornbill, Chesnut Breasted Coronet and Long Tail Sylph . Dinner and overnight.

DAY 8:  TAPICHALA AND THE JOCOTOCO ANTPITTA

You will spend the full day in Tapichalaca to try to find most of the species of this place and its surroundings. Jocotoco Foundation bought the land of this reserve in order to protect the habitat of the Jocotoco Antpitta, specie that was found in this area for the first time and also known that most of the world’s population of this specie occurs in this reserve. The major highlight of this area are: Dusky Headed Parakeet, White Capped Parrot, Swallow tail nightjar, Gray Breasted Mountain Toucan, Ash-Browed Spinetail, Chesnut-naped Antpitta, Rufous tail Tyrant, Yellow Cheeked Becard, Black faced Tanager, White Capped Tanager. Dinner and overnight in Tapichalaca Lodge.

DAY 9:  TAPICHALA - LOJA- QUITO

This day you will have the last opportunity to search for the specialties of this area, like the Undulated Antpitta, White-bellied Antpitta, Tawny Antpitta, Oceliated Tapaculo, Loja Tyranulet, Andean Cock of the Rock, Blue Browed Tanager. Return to Catamayo where you will drive around the airport to look for the Tumbesian birds that you have not seen.  Then you will depart to the local airport located at 3 hours approximately in order to catch your flight back to Quito.  In the exit of the airport our local driver will be waiting for you in order to transfer you to your hotel where you will overnight.

DAY 10:  QUITO - BACK HOME

After you have gotten a long list of birds in this unforgettable expedition in Ecuador you will be transferred to the airport to catch your international flight home. 

EXTENSION- 14 DAYS

DAY 11 AND 12:  PODOCARPUS NATIONAL PARK (BOMBUSCARO)

During these two days we will walk along the trails of the Podocarpus National Park and Copalinga Lodge looking for local species including the coppery chested jacamar, Ecuadorian piedtail, white breasted parakeet, chestnut crowned gnateater, green hermit, spangled coquette, black streaked puffbird, chestnut tipped toucanet, blue rumped manakin.

 DAY 13:  ZAMORA - LOJA - QUITO

This day will be the last opportunity to search for the specialties of this area, like the Ecuadorian tyrannulet, lined antshrike, foothill elaenia, Andean cock of the rock, blue-browed tanager, chestnut-vented conebill. Return to Catamayo where we will drive around the airport to look for the Tumbesian birds that we have not seen, arrival to the airport to catch our flight back to Quito. Transfer to Café Cultura Hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 14:  QUITO - INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT HOME

After we have gotten a long list of birds in this unforgettable expedition in Ecuador we will be transferred to the airport to catch our home flight.

Rates

PRICE PER PERSON 2024* 

 14 DAYS / 13 NIGHTS

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