Trip
Information
Tour Dates: November
2 - 6, 2008 (5 days)
Principal
Tour Leader: local guide
Tour Cost: $1375 USD, $1450 CDN, Single supplement $250
USD, $265 CDN
Highlights:
• Marvelous birding in scenic and diverse habitats, from Pacific slope
forests to Polylepis woodlands and paramo at Papallacta Pass.
• Hummingbird feeders with tremendous diversity and activity!
• Antpittas
Featured Birds:
• Andean Condor
• Sword-billed Hummingbird
• Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
• Toucan Barbet
• Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan
• Giant Hummingbird
• Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager
• Giant Antpitta
Trip Summary:
• Diverse birding habitats
• Some steep muddy trails
• Warm to fairly cool, especially at high elevations
• Good accommodation
• Bus or van with driver
• 6 to 12 participants
• All meals included
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Come
experience the diverse habitats and birds of the Andes. Our tour includes
the lush subtropical forests of the western
slope of the Andes in the Tandayapa Valley and the legendary Nono – Mindo
area, the temperate forests at Yanacocha, and the 4000 meter high paramo
in the Papallacta Pass, in the shadow of the immense, snow-capped peak
of the volcanic Antisana and its glacier. We will encounter a wealth
of fascinating species – lots of hummingbirds with evocative names
such as Gorgeted Sunangel and Sword-billed Hummingbird, trogons and
quetzals, barbets and mountain-toucans, gaudily-plumaged tanagers, and
maybe the superb Andean Cock-of-the-Rock.  Soaring over Papallacta Pass
may be the very impressive Andean Condor. The unique “polylepis” forest
groves at these high altitudes have their own special wildlife, and
the clear mountain rivers support the “torrent trio” of
Torrent Duck, Torrent Tyrannulet and the superb White-capped Dipper.
We also have a chance of seeing three species of the notoriously secretive
antpittas at a special feeding station! A sampling of the amazingly
diverse South American birdlife amidst superb scenery!
See detailed itinerary
below
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Itinerary
Day
1 - Arrival in Quito
The tour begins with an evening orientation at our hotel. Night in Quito.
Day 2 - Mindo
This morning we will leave Quito pre-dawn passing the Equatorial monument
en route to an area of dry paramo at a pass in the western Andes here
we will have a boxed breakfast whilst looking for birds such as the
threatened White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant and Purple-collared Woodstar.
We will then drive on to the humid forests of the west slope of the
Andes where we will base ourselves for the next two days. After settling
in to the lodge we will have lunch in front of the hummingbird feeders
where we can expect to see specialties including Empress Brilliant and
the wonderful Velvet-purple Coronet. In the afternoon we will bird the
road to the town of Mindo or a local trail.
Day 3 – Tandayapa Valley and Mindo
We will take a pre-breakfast walk on the lodge’s trails to look
for species such as Scaled Antpitta and Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch.
This morning we will bird our way along the spectacular Nono-Mindo road.
There are a number of special birds to be found in this area, and we
devote most of the morning to sampling the tremendous wealth and atmosphere
of this region. Some of the special birds that we hope to see include
Gorgeted Sunangel, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals, Toucan Barbet,
Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan and Grass-green Tanager. If we are lucky,
we could encounter the rare Beautiful Jay, Tanager-Finch or Ocellated
Tapaculo. We will stop to eat our boxed lunches at a garden on the equator
that is a hummingbird spectacle – 49 species have been recorded
here! In the afternoon we will continue along the road and finally visit
a lower elevation area searching for foothill species including specialties
such as Moss-backed Tanager. In recent years three species of antpitta,
Giant, Yellow-breasted and Moustached, have been coming to feeding spots
where earthworms are provided and we have an excellent chance of seeing
these very elusive species. Night at Sacha Tamia lodge.
Day 4 - Tandayapa and Mindo
We will make an early start with a boxed breakfast to the reserve at
Yanacocha. This high altitude cloud forest site on Pichíncha
volcano is a superb birding area that supports species such as Andean
Guan, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill and Imperial Snipe. Yanacocha is also
a hummingbirder’s delight, with more than 10 species likely, including
Tyrian Metaltail and with luck the Sword-billed Hummingbird. The Black-breasted
Puffleg, a critically threatened endemic known only in this area, has
been found here recently and we will keep our eyes open. We will then
drive on through the central valley of the Andes, stopping en route
at a local restaurant, before we climb over Papallacta pass of the eastern
Andes and the continental watershed. We will drop down to our delightful
spa hotel, famous for its thermal baths, which is nestled in a forested
valley. In the afternoon we will explore the elfin forest above the
hotel and descend the road at dusk looking for both Band-winged and
Swallow-tailed Nightjars.
Day 5 - Papallacta Pass & the Eastern Slope
Before breakfast we will once again visit the elfin forest. The rest
of the morning will be dedicated to birding the Papallacta Pass area,
stopping for lunch at Guango Lodge. The 4000 meter high páramo
holds a fascinating group of high-altitude species. We hope to see Variable
Hawk, Many-striped Canastero, Tawny Antpitta and, perhaps, an Andean
Condor or two. We search nearby “polylepis” groves for specialties
such as Giant Conebill and Black-backed Bush-Tanager. Lower down near
the town of Papallacta, we watch for the spectacular Sword-billed Hummingbird
as well as a host of other great birds like Shining Sunbeam, Great Sapphirewing
and the colorful Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager. We also scan the
Río Papallacta for the “torrent trio” of Torrent
Duck, Torrent Tyrannulet and the superb White-capped Dipper. During
our time in this region we bird the grounds of Guango Lodge. We return
to Quito in the late afternoon to connect with the Galapagos tour for
the Welcome Dinner.
What to expect
On
a typical day, we begin birding before breakfast, followed by a
slow-paced walk in the forest. After lunch we have some time
for a siesta or enjoy
watching hummingbirds at feeders placed at the lodges. In the late
afternoon we venture again to the forest. We may go spotlighting
in the forest
at night. Trails may be muddy therefore good walking footwear is
always recommended. Our tour also takes in the Pacific slope forests
at mid-elevation,
which are renowned for their diversity. At higher elevation, we
will be birding roadside a short distance from the vehicle. Altitude
sickness
is not a trivial matter. Our trip is designed to allow considerable
acclimatization time. Those with heart or respiratory conditions
should consult their physician. Weather varies greatly with elevation,
and
we should be prepared for a range of temperatures from chilliest
forties to hottest eighties. Layers and a windbreaker would be the
solution
in the mountains. In all altitudes, we should remember to have adequate
protection from the sun. We enjoy most of our excellent meals provided
by the various lodges’ dining facility. Some lunches will be
a lunch box in a nice setting or dine in local eateries. After dinner
we will go over our lists and review the next day’s activities.
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