Ecuador is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Because of the many different altitudes and climate zones Ecuador has an incredible diversity of flora and fauna. Ecuador is home to more than 1600 bird species, double the number found in the United States and almost as many as in Brazil, a country thirty-two times larger. Ecuador also has more known orchid species (almost 4000) than any other country in the world!
This is a 12 day private tour and you can start this tour on every day of the year. You will travel together with an experienced English speaking birding guide who will also be your driver. In case the group is for 4 or more persons you will have a guide and a driver. Since this tour is private the itinerary is flexible, so you can make any changes you prefer! During this tour we will take you to the best places for birdwatching, you will stay at beautiful, comfortabe lodges located in the middle of nature and you will explore the high paramo area and the cloud forests on the eastern and western slopes of the Andes!
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival to Quito
Welcome to Ecuador! Upon arrival to Quito we will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel, which is located outside Quito near the airport. Overnight at Puembo Birding Garden.
Meals included: -
Day 2: Quito – Tandayapa Lodge
After breakfast we leave Quito and drive towards the Tandayapa Lodge. On the way we will stop at the Alambi reserve where we will be able to see 10-15 species of hummingbirds at the feeders; including the Collared Inca, the Purple-throated Woodstar, Andean Emerald and the Booted Racket-tail. This area, the Choco region, is home to an incredible diversity of plants and animals. The Choco region is an area with more endemic birds than anywhere else in the Americas. Over seventy bird species are found only here, and almost sixty of these have been recorded at Tandayapa Lodge and nearby sites. The lodge itself is situated in the heart of this amazingly diverse region, overlooking subtropical cloud forest in the Tandayapa valley, where 295 species have been recorded. At an elevation of 1750m, the lodge experiences a very pleasant subtropical climate, where you can watch Barbets, Tanagers, and Hummingbirds in comfort. Bird species which have been recorded in this area: Tricolored and White-winged Brush Finches, White-winged Becard, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Blue-winged Mountain / Golden / Metallic-green Tanager, Red-headed Barbets, Crimson-rumped Toucanets, Black and Chestnut Eagle, Golden-headed Quetzal, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Sickle-winged Guan, Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Toucan Barbet, Andean Emerald / Fawn-breasted / Buff-tailed Coronet / Booted-racket-tail / Violet-tailed Sylph / Purple-throated Woodstar Hummingbirds. Overnight at Tandayapa Bird Lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 3: Tandayapa Lodge
We will hike among the trails of the reserve and learn about its ecosystem, flora and fauna. You can also choose to visit Refugio Paz de las Aves, which is the Antpittas paradise, and here we can find an active Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek at sunrise. Refugio Paz de las Aves is a famous antpitta reserve, where Angel Paz and his brother Rodrigo are pioneers in hand-feeding several species like Giant, Yellow-Breasted, Chestnut-Crowned, Moustache, Ochre-Breasted Antpittas with amazing success. These birds respond relatively easily to their voice, giving a great chance to see these otherwise evasive birds. Overnight at Tandayapa Bird Lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 4: Tandayapa Lodge – Maquipucuna Lodge
After breakfast we drive to the Maquipucuna Lodge, which is located at an elevation of 1350m. The Maquipucuna Reserve is the best place in Ecuador to spot Andean Spectacled Bears, but only during a short season. The exact dates depend entirely on the appearance of a very specific fruit on the trees around Maquipucuna, and this varies every year; but normally bear season is between September and December. Please note that it can´t be guaranteed that you will see the bears. Overnight at Maquipucuna Lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 5: Maquipucuna Lodge - Quito
Hike and explore the trails of Maquipucuna Lodge. In the afternoon we return to Quito. Overnight at Puembo Birding Garden.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 6: Quito – Antisana Reserve – Guango Lodge
Early in the morning we drive towards the Antisana Reserve; the Antisana Volcano is the fourth in altitude in Ecuador (5758m). Once we enter the reserve we stop at a huge wall of cliffs, where condors can be seen fairly regularly, as they breed here. When we are lucky we will see them near the highest peaks. In the paramo area (at about 3500m) we make several stops to walk and observe the beautiful paramo vegetation; yellow composites, gentians, red Indian paintbrush and chuquiraguas. We also have the chance to see a number of birds such as the highly endangered Black-headed Ibis, Cinereous Conebill, Andean Teal, Andean Lapwing and many Caranculated Caracaras. We stay overnight at Guango Lodge, which is located at an elevation of 2700m.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 7: Guango Lodge – Cabañas San Isidro
Guango Lodge is located in a zone classified as humid temperate forest, characterized by its more stunted trees (and thicker canopy), cooler climate, and different bird and plant composition. Some of the birds that we have seen regularly at Guango Lodge include Andean Guan, Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, Turquoise Jay, Scarlet-bellied, Buff-breasted and Hooded Mountain Tanagers, Gray-hooded Bush Tanager, Black-headed, Black-capped and Black-eared Hemispingus. Guango Lodge's hummingbird feeders here attract some exciting hummers on a regular basis, some of the more noteworthy species being Mountain Velvetbreast, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Tourmaline Sunangel, Golden-breasted and Glowing Pufflegs, Mountain Avocetbill, and White-bellied and Gorgeted Woodstar. In the afternoon we continue to Cabañas San Isidro, which is located at an elevation of 2050m.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 8: Cabañas San Isidro
All day birding and hiking the cloud forest trails. Cabañas San Isidro - surrounded by its own 1900 hectare forest reserve - has built a reputation for being the pioneer in private conservation and birding/nature tourism on the northeast slope of the Ecuadorian Andes. Mammals are becoming increasingly rare in the neotropics - especially in the Andes - but species such as spectacled bear, mountain tapir, white-fronted capuchin, puma, jaguarundi, and even giant anteater are reported with increasing frequency on San Isidro's property. And off course there is a huge diversity of birds, like White-capped Parrot, Powerful Woodpecker, Rufous-crowned Tody Flycatcher, Pale-edged Flycatcher, Smoky Bush Tyrant, Green-and-Black Fruiteater, Inca Jay, Black-billed Peppershrike, Andean Solitaire or Saffron-crowned Tanager. Overnight at Cabañas San Isidro.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 9: Cabañas San Isidro – Wildsumaco Lodge
Today we drive from Cabañas San Isidro to Wildsumaco Lodge. Along the way we bird along the Guacamayos Ridge trail. Beautiful pristine cloud forest with dense undergrowth and bamboo, this area hosts a heap of species like Black-billed Mountain Toucan, White-capped and Grass-green Tanager, Slate-crowned Antpitta, Rufous Spinetail, Green-and-black Fruiteater and Long-tailed Antbird. In the afternoon as we drop down on the eastern side of the Guacamayos Cordillera towards the Amazon, the bird composition changes again. We turn on to the famed Loreto road heading towards Wildsumaco, continuing to add species: White-tailed Hillstar, Cliff Flycatcher, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Crested Oropendola, Yellow-browed Sparrow and Black-billed Thrush. Overnight at Wildsumaco Lodge, located at an elevation of 1480m.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 10: Wildsumaco Lodge
Hike and explore the cloud forest trails of Wildsumaco Lodge. From the trails you might 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 Antpittas are seen occasionally, and more often heard. The very rare Yellow-throated Spadebill has territories along several of the trails, and at any time the endangered Military Macaw or rare Spot-winged Parrotlet might fly by, or Black Hawk-Eagle soar overhead. Overnight at Wildsumaco Lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 11: Wildsumaco Lodge - Drive back to Quito
After lunch we drive back to Quito. Overnight at Puembo Birding Garden.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 12: Transfer to the airport
Free time until pick up for your transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
Meals included: Breakfast
• 3 persons: USD 3234 p.p.
• 2 persons: USD 3747 p.p.
• 1 person: USD 5662 p.p.
• Children until 11 years receive a 10% discount
• This tour includes accommodation at comfortable lodges. Contact us if you want to add some days / activities or if you want to do just a part of this tour.
• Accommodation at hotels/lodges mentioned
• Private transfers to/from the airports
• Private transportation
• English speaking birding guide
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
• Activities as mentioned in the itinerary
• All entrance fees to the mentioned sites, reserves and national parks
• Meals not mentioned
• Beverages
• Tips
• Personal expenses
• Additional activities
• This tour can be adapted to your wishes and preferences.
• This itinerary includes accommodation at comfortable lodges. Contact us if you want to add some days / activities or if you want to do just a part of this tour.
• It is also possible to do the tour with a Spanish speaking driver who has a lot of experience doing birding tours. Please contact us for the prices.
• The operator reserves the right to change the itinerary without previous notice due to weather, National Park regulations or notifications and unforeseeable circumstances.
Why book with Enjoying Ecuador Travel?
• 15 years experience in organizing tours in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands
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• Fast answers to your questions
• Personal contact from the first email to the end of your trip
• Highly competitive prices
• Excellent knowledge about Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands
• English, Dutch and Spanish spoken
• High quality tours
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