Ecuador

Imagine dazzling flocks of multicolored Tanagers flitting through the mists of an east slope cloud forest. Envision a family of Torrent Ducks battling the rush of a sparkling mountain stream and the unforgettable sound of a lek of screaming Pihas in the steaming lowlands of Amazonia. Imagine seeing three species of the notoriously secretive antpittas at a special feeding station! Just a few of the unique experiences that await you in Ecuador.
Although Ecuador is one of the smaller countries in South America, it boasts an incredible diversity of habitats which support a wonderful array of wildlife. With a list of more than 1500 species of birds, many of which are shared only with adjacent Columbia or Peru, it is difficult to imagine a more exciting birding destination. This amazing variety, together with an excellent network of national parks and naturalist lodges, ensure a never-to-be-forgotten experience.

We explore some of the most famous birding sites in the country: Mindo and Yanacocha; the windswept Paramo grassland of the high Andes at Papallacta Pass; mid-elevation communities at Guango Lodge, San Isidro, the marvelous Wildsumaco Lodge and the Loreto Road, and the incredible bird-rich Western Amazonia—quite a trip! The variety of birds we have the potential to see is remarkable!

Throughout the tour we become acutely aware of the complexities of tropical bird distribution and we appreciate how much of a barrier are the high peaks of the Andes. We see plenty of birds that are wide-ranging in South America and many others that are restricted to a single habitat. For many, the highlight of the trip is our stay at our jungle retreat in Amazonia. We travel by motorized canoe downstream to our lodge. We have ample time to explore the well-maintained trails as we search for some of the most exciting birds in Western Amazonia. The bird list for this area now stands at well over 500 species and includes some of the rarest and least-known Amazonian species. We hope to encounter such rarities as Long-tailed and Rufous Potoos, Cocha Antshrike, Varzea Schiffornis and even Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo.

Ecuador has something to please everyone—as you will find out on this exceptional birdwatching tour.

Highlights
• Fabulous birding and amazing diversity in such a small area
• Remote and beautiful forests and mountains, and the incomparable Amazon
• Lots of superb endemics, and exotic and spectacular birds

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrival In Quito
The tour begins with an evening orientation at our hotel. Night in Quito.

Day 2 - Yanacocha
We begin our tour by visiting Yanacocha. On the backside of the Pichincha volcano, Yanacocha is a superb birding area that offers species such as Andean Guan, Stout-billed Cinclodes and Golden-crowned Tanager. Yanacocha is also a hummingbird fancier’s delight, with more than 10 species likely, including Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Tyrian Metaltail and Purple-backed Thornbill. The Black-breasted Puffleg, a rare endemic known only in this area, has been found here recently. Night at Tandayapa Lodge.

Day 3 - Tandayapa and on to Mindo
In the morning we bird the trails of the cloud forest at Tandayapa and, later in the day, we travel the spectacular Nono-Mindo road. There are a number of very special birds to be found between Tandayapa and Mindo and we devote most of the day to sampling the tremendous diversity of this region. Some of the special birds that we hope to see include Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Gorgeted Sunangel, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, 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 and Giant Pitta. Night at Sachatamia Lodge.

Days 4 - Nono – Mindo area
The forested areas around the small town of Mindo are home to an incredible diversity of Pacific slope birds including Red-billed Parrot, Brown Inca, Slaty Spinetail, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Three-striped Warbler, Glistening-green, Rufous-throated and White-winged Tanagers, and Black-winged Saltator. We also look for some of the rarer inhabitants of the forests such as Club-winged Manakin and Scaled Fruiteater. We 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 Sachatamia Lodge.

Day 5 – Sachatamia to Guango Lodge
Today we reluctantly leave the bird rich area of Sachatamia, and head back through Quito, perhaps stopping at La Mitad del Mundo (middle of the world) monument, and maybe finding Giant Hummingbird. We wind our way up the slopes east of Quito to Papallacta Pass, where the 4000 meter high páramo holds a fascinating group of high-altitude species. We hope to see, among others, 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.
As we descend the slopes beyond the pass, 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. Night in Guango Lodge

Day 6 – Guango Lodge
At Guango Lodge, we should be entranced by a host of new species - Slaty Brush-Finch, Masked Trogon, Tourmaline Sunangel, Andean Guan, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Smoky Bush-Tyrant, Turquoise and Inca Jays, Mountain Cacique, Dusky Piha, Glowing Puffleg and, with luck, a real prize, Mountain Avocetbill. Nights at Guango Lodge.

Days 7 and 8 – San Isidro and the Loreto Road
We leave Guango and travel further down the eastern slopes to the superb Cabañas San Isidro. Here we have two days to explore this amazingly bird-rich elevational zone. Hummingbirds are well represented, including the staggering Chestnut-breasted Coronet and Long-tailed Sylph. Mixed-species flocks pass through the forest, quetzals call from the canopy, an Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek is close by, army ants attract a host of followers, and oropendolas call noisily from their nesting colonies. The mystery owl is still present - it looks much like a Black-banded Owl, but not quite right! The list of goodies seems endless - Green-and-black Fruiteater, Striped Treehunter, Spillman’s Tapaculo and the superb Ocellated Tapaculo, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, White-capped Parrot, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Black-billed Peppershrike, Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer. Nights near San Isidro

Days 9 and 10. Wildsumaco Lodge
Today we head further down the very productive Loreto Road to Wildsumaco Lodge which has gained a reputation for its tremendous birding potential. Some of the great birds we look for include Amazonian Umbrellabird, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Bronze-green Euphonia, Wire-crested Thorntail, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Orange-eared Tanager and much more. The birdlist at the lodge is well over 400 species, an incredibly rich avifauna. Nights at Wildsumaco Lodge.

Day 11. Travel to Sani Lodge
We head down to the Río Napo at Coca. Arriving at Coca, we take a motorized canoe ride down the Napo River. The rainforests here are among the most complex of biological communities, and the many different habitats collectively boast over 500 bird species. This region, on the eastern slope of the Andes, is in the tropical lowlands of Western Amazonia. Our destination, Sani Lodge, lies in the heart of this wilderness, deep within the Ecuadorian Amazon and alongside Challuacocha Lake, where floating water hyacinths and grasses obscure the shores. To the north of Challuacocha lies the Cuyabeno Reserve and along the southern border stretches vast Yasuni National Park. In the corridor between, located on 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres) of untouched rainforest lies Sani Lodge, home to 1,500 species of trees, hundreds of climbing vines, and exotic flowers, as well as over 500 species of birds, 13 species of monkeys and 1,000 species of butterflies. As we travel the river, zigzagging our way around the many sandbars, we look for some of the river birds such as Black Skimmer, Yellow-billed Tern and Black Caracara.

Days 12 to 14 – Sani Lodge
During our stay at Sani Lodge, which for many will be the highlight of our trip, we take daily hikes and canoe trips to trails along the lake and river. These excursions will give us a chance to observe a wide variety of birds and mammal species. There are a number of very rare and localized birds to be found here such as White-lored Antpitta, Long-tailed and Rufous Potoos, Cocha Antshrike, Varzea Schiffornis, Parker’s Spinetail, Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, and much more. Mammals are well represented, and include such choice species as Brazilian Tapir, Giant River Otter and even Jaguar. Nights at Sani Lodge.

Day 15 – Return to Quito
In the morning, we take motorized canoes back to Coca and our return flight to Quito, arriving around noontime. The afternoon is free for sightseeing in Quito, perhaps visiting the Otavalo market, or exploring areas near the capital. Night in Quito.

Day 16 - Departure
Our tour ends today as we make our flight connections home.

Featured Birds:
• Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
• Sword-billed Hummingbird
• Amazonian Umbrellabird
• Toucan Barbet
• Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan
• Long-tailed Sylph
• Golden-headed Quetzal
• Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager
• Grass-green Tanager
• Giant Conebill

 

Dates: February 28 - March 14, 2012.

Duration: 16 days 

Price: $4,475 USD/CAD, single supplement $590 USD/CAD

Tour Starts & Ends: Quito, Ecuador

What to Expect
• Diverse birding habitats
• Includes one in-country flight Coca - Quito
• Tropical and temperate climate
• Generally good and modern accommodation
• Walking generally easy to moderate: high elevation activities kept to a minimum
• Some muddy trails, occasionally fairly steep
• Some long drives during transfer days
• Bus or van with driver
• 4 – 7 participants with one leader, 8 - 12 with two


On a typical day, we begin birding before breakfast, as everywhere in the tropics it is desirable to be in good habitat by daybreak when bird activity and song are at their peak. We concentrate on “edge” birding until light is good enough to enter forest trails. On a couple of travel days, we rise very early to give ourselves plenty of time to reach our destinations. After lunch we may have time for a siesta or enjoy watching hummingbirds at feeders at the lodges. In the late afternoon we venture again to the forest. We will schedule optional night walks for nocturnal species. spotlighting in the forest at night.
Trails may be muddy, therefore good walking footwear is always recommended. Our tour takes in the Pacific slope forests at mid-elevation, which are renowned for their diversity. At higher elevation, we bird along the roadside a short distance from the vehicle. Altitude sickness is not a trivial matter; those with heart or respiratory conditions should consult their physician.
Our tour includes one in-country flight and day-trips of several hours duration. On most days we travel short distances with most time being spent outdoors. Birding will be mainly along quiet roads, and we enter forest areas on relatively wide and easy-to-follow trails. Accommodations vary from basic to modern, and all will be comfortable. 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 are the solution in the mountains. At all altitudes, we should remember to have adequate protection from the sun. Drizzle and rain are likely, therefore stout, waterproof footwear, a light rain jacket and waterproof hat are recommended. Mosquitoes and other biting insects should not be a problem on this tour; however, bring insect repellant.
We enjoy excellent meals provided by the various lodges’ dining facility. Some lunches will be a lunch box in a nice setting; occasionally we dine in local eateries. In the evening, after dinner, we discuss the day’s events and sightings and list birds and other wildlife seen.