Ecuador a Country for Birdwatchers

10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS

This trip offers you the possibility to see around 350 bird species while we visit different ecosystems like the Cloud Forest, the Choco region, the Choco lowlands and the central Andean Paramo of Ecuador.

DAY 1.- ARRIVAL TO QUITO, ECUADOR

At your arrival to Ecuador our guide will be waiting for you to meet and transfer you to Café Cultura Hotel where you will overnight.

HOTEL CAFÉ CULTURA
Café Cultura is a delightful mix of English tradition and contemporary trend. Some sixty years ago, the hotel was home to one of Quito's oldest families and it was carefully restored over a period of four years, with special detail given to maintaining the unique characteristics of the original interior. The house is hemmed by a beautiful garden, with secluded seating areas for relaxing.

DAY 2.- THE LAND OF HUMMINGBIRDS: QUITO - TANDAYAPA

BLACK BREASTED PUFFLEG (R. WILLIAMS) SWORD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD
Very early in the morning we will travel to the northwest of Quito crossing the western slope of the Andes range to arrive to Tandayapa. On this route we will visit Yanacocha reserve a high-altitude cloud forest situated at 10,500 ft elevation. The reserve protects 964 hectares of elfin Polylephis Forest, which is home to many bird species like the famous Black-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis), while we continue our trip we will see other species such as Black-collared Jay, Barred Fruiteater, Hooded and Scarlet-bellied and the Choco Endemic Black-chested Mountain-Tanagers. Box, lunch on route surrounded by colorful hummingbirds. In the afternoon we will visit the famous Tony's House to see more than 30 hummingbird species like the Green-tailed Trainbearer, Shining Sunbeam, Tyrian Metaltail, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Buff-rumped Starfrontlet, Buff-tailed Coronets, Collared Inca and White-tailed Hillstar, Choco Endemics here may include Brown Inca, Violet-tailed Slyph and Gorgeted Sunangel. Arrival to the Fausto's and Amparo's house where we will diner and overnight, optional hike at night to spot for nocturnal birds.

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DAY 3.- THE COCK OF THE ROCK LEK: TANDAPAYA – MAQUIPUCUNA

ANDEAN COCK OF THE ROCK
Early in the morning after a cup of coffee we will have the opportunity to live one of the most amazing experiences, visiting the amazing 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. Return to the lodge for our breakfast and after some time to rest we will walk through the different trails close to the lodge to observe some of the amazing birds of this place. Lunch and departure to Maquipucuna reserve where we can find species like the Golden-headed Quetzal, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Violet-tailed Sylph, and Broad-billed Motmot.

In the afternoon we can be witness and part of the different conservation projects that this Foundation manage in their 1400 hectares of forest located in the Andean Choco bioregion. Dinner and overnight.

CRIMSON-RUMPED TOUCANET
Maquipucuna Reserve is located in the heart of Ecuador's cloud forest, it is a great place to experience exotic species of birds specially hummingbirds and flowers in bloom such as orchids and bromeliads. Maquipucuna is not only a Reserve is also a foundation that is protecting this forest and it is helping the people of the area giving them economic alternatives to improve their way of life and to avoid the destruction of the Cloud Forest.

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DAY 4.- THE AMAZING CLOUD FOREST: MAQUIPUCUNA – MINDO

After breakfast we will choose one of the trails to learn about the Cloud Forest and its avifauna. Here it is possible to find more than 350 species of birds, including the golden-headed Quetzal, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Violet-tailed Sylph, Broad-billed Motmot and others.

VIOLET-TAILED SYLPH TOUCAN BARBET
Lunch and departure to Mindo, region that has an impressive bird list of 360 species, highlights including Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Toucan Barbet, Nariño Tapaculo, Golden-headed Quetzal and Golden and Flame-faced Tanager. Arrival to Sachatamia Lodge where in the afternoon we will 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 Wattled and Sickle-winged Guan, Bronze-winged Parrot, Sparkling Violet-ear, Andean Emerald, Booted Racket-tail and Long-tailed Sylph. Dinner and overnight.

Sachatamia is a marvelous, private, ecological reserve exceeding 120 hectares of cloud forest. Other areas include recuperates forest, as well as, forest undergoing processed of reforestation.

Sachatamia has the privilege of being located next to the Protected Forest of Mindo. Nambillo. The zone is renewed as one of the foremost in terms of the wealth of biodiversity that is rich in flora and fauna. It has attained first place in the annual count of bird spaces on a global level.

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DAY 5.- PAZ DE LAS AVES RESERVE AND ITS ANTPITTAS

GIANT ANTPITTA YELLOW BREASTED ANTPITTA
Early in the morning, we will travel to Angel Paz reserve where we can have a life time experience observing how Angel calls Maria a Giant Antpitta that lives in his property, suddenly she appears accompanied by Willy her son and Angel feed them while you have a great shot opportunity. Besides here it is possible to see the Yellow-breasted Antpitta and the Moustached Antpitta.

Return to the main house of this reserve where you can enjoy of a typical breakfast of the area. Departure to Sachatamia Lodge and in the afternoon we will have time to see the hummingbirds in the feeders of this place where it is possible to see the rare Choco endemics Empress Brilliant and Velvet-Purple Coronet. Dinner and overnight.

EMPRESS BRILLIANT

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DAY 6.- MILPE & SILANCHE BIRD SANCTUARY

Early in the morning we will walk in the area looking for more bird species such as Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Crested Quetzal, Masked Trogon, Choco Toucan, and Powerful Woodpecker. Other colorful birds we may see here include Blue-winged Mountain-tanager, Green and Black Fruiteater, and Moss-backed Tanager. After breakfast we will depart to Milpe reserve place 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. Here 247 species were found included many of the most spectacular Chocó endemic species, such as Plumbeous Forest-Falcon, Moss-backed Tanager, Glistening-green Tanager, Chocó Trogon, 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.

CHOCO TROGON LONG-WATTLED UMBRELLABIRD
Box lunch on route and departure to Rio Silanche a tropical lowland reserve, that covers 70 hectares (175 acres) of tropical lowland where you can see an incredible species diversity specially 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 is one of the last remaining accessible forest remnants found in this key area, home to many important Chocó and Tumbesian endemic bird species. In this reserve it is possible to see species like Dusky Pigeon, Purple-chested Hummingbird, Little Woodstar, Stub-tailed Antbird, Slate-throated Gnatcatcher, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis. Dinner and overnight in Kaony Lodge.

Kaony lodge is located in the northwest of the Pichincha Province on the Calacalí – La Independencia Road at km 135, close to Los Bancos. This is a comfortable Lodge built with local materials that offer nice cottages with private bathrooms and cozy social areas, all this surrounded by a secondary forest and a great butterfly farm and an orchid farm.

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DAY 7.- LOS BANCOS – STO DOMINGO DE LOS TSACHILAS

WHITE-CAPPED DIPPER
After breakfast we will depart to Tinalandia reserve that has been considered one of the favorite birding areas since 1970, over than 350 species have been recorded in this lodge. Tinalandia is located in the Western slope of the Andes, at the southern end of the Choco bio-region, at an ideal altitude of 2,000 feet above sea level. Lunch and in the afternoon we will search for the Choco trogon, Choco toucan, White-capped Dipper, Black Phoebe, and Lyre-tailed Nightjar among many others. Dinner and overnight.

Designed in the 1950's, Tinalandia offers a perfect synthesis of nature and civilization - amazing vistas, clean rooms, private baths with hot water showers, and 24-hour electricity (supplemented by the owner´s own hydro-electric system) make this natural reserve as modern and comfortable as it is natural.

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DAY 8.- FROM THE CLOUD FOREST TO THE HIGHLANDS

PALE MANDIBLED ARAÇARI
After breakfast during the morning we will have the last opportunity to walk through the trails of Tinalandia lodge looking for some of the Choco endemic species. After lunch we will travel to the highlands, on the route we will in some strategic points to see some birds of the area. Arrival to La Carriona, hotel close to Quito, where we will diner and overnight.

Hacienda "La Carriona" is located in the beautiful Valley of Los Chillos, a brief drive south down the highway from Quito. Constructed as an hacienda more than two-hundred years ago, "La Carriona" stands as a monument to Ecuador's colonial history. Its stone courtyard and garden hint of the exuberant Spanish Colonial lifestyle, while its name reminds us that it once belonged to the renowned Carrión family.

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DAY 9.- THE SPECTACULAR ANTISANA RESERVE

SILVERY GREEB ANDEAN YELLOW COOT
During this last day we will observe the most representative bird species of the highlands, in the morning we will travel to Antisana Ecological Reserve, where we will visit the Mica Lake in order to see Silvery Grebe, Andean Teal, Andean Duck, Yellow-billed Pintail, Andean Coot, as well as many land birds such as Aplomado Falcon, Andean Gull, Andean Lapwing and Carunculated Caracara. Here we have a high probability to be in contact with the majestic Andean Condor and other species like Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle and Variable Hawk, Bar-winged and Stout-billed Cinclodes, Black-faced Ibis, Shining Sunbeam, Red- rumped Bush-Tyrant, Paramo Pipit, Giant Conebill, and Spectacled Whitestart. Lunch in Hacienda Antisana and late afternoon we will return to Quito to diner and overnight in Café Cultura hotel.

APLOMADO FALCON

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DAY 10.- 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.

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END OF THE SERVICES

A NOTE ON THE ORDER OF THE ITINERARY: Itinerary subject to change based on local conditions. It could be flexible according to the client's interests.

B- Breakfast; L-Lunch; BL- Box Lunch; D-Dinner

PRICE PER PERSON

PRICE INCLUDES: Private transportation, bilingual naturalist guide (specialized on birdwatching), accommodation based on double room in all the hotels detailed in the itinerary; meals as described on the itinerary, entrance fee to Yanacocha reserve, Tony's house, Maquipucuna Reserve, Paz de las Aves, Milpe and Silanche reserves, Antisana Ecological reserve

NOT INCLUDED: International departure taxes (US$ 41.00), meals not specified, alcoholic drinks, tips, and personal expenses.