This trip will take you to the most famous birding area in the world. This well-thought itinerary includes some of our favorite lodges in a mix of regions on both sides of the Andes so you can experience Ecuador’s incredible wildlife, spectacular scenery, and birds. You are likely to find over 400 species of birds during this journey!
TOUR DESCRIPTION
Duration of tour: 8 DAYS AND 7 NIGHTS
Tour departure time: 5:30 AM
Tour operating dates: UNDER REQUEST
Arrival to Quito and transfer to your hotel in Quito. No meals included.
After an early departure from your hotel in Quito, we’ll drive up east over the Andes. Today we´ll spend the morning at Antisana National Park. The views of the snow-clad of Antisana volcano is stunning. We´ll bird montane scrub and Andean paramo in search of the magnificent Andean Condor, Black-faced Ibis, Carunculated Caracara, Ecuadorian Hillstar, among other species. Some mammals ae also available such as: Andean fox, Spectacled bear, White-tailed deer. La Mica Lake is the last visit at the end of the road for some more species like Andean Coot, Silvery Grebe, Andean Gull, etc.
In the afternoon we continue to Papallacta Pass. At the antennas at 4300m our main target is the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. Around the Polylepis forest we look for Giant Conebill, Viridian Metaltail, Black-backed Bush-Tanager, Paramo Tapaculo, Rufous Antpitta and a variety of tanagers. Overnight at Guango Lodge. (BLD)
This small lodge is famous for its wonderful hummingbird feeders where you can see the amazing Sword-billed Hummingbird and some other species like Collared Inca, Long-tailed Sylph, Tourmaline Sunangel, Chestnut-breasted Coronet among others. Torrent Duck & White-capped Dipper are often found on the river. Around the trails we can find many other species like Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Turquoise Jay, Black-capped and Black-eared Hemispingus, Plaintailed Wren, etc.
After lunch we´ll drive down to San Isidro Lodge on the eastern slopes of the Andes. We try a Rufous-bellied Nighthawk. At night we shall look for Rufous-banded Owl and a high elevation Black-banded Owl that might be new species, the "San Isidro Mystery Owl" (BLD)
Today the day will start very early in the morning to enjoy the feeders. At around 7:30 it’s feeding time for White-bellied Antpitta. At the hummingbird feeders we can have Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Speckled Hummingbird, Long-tailed Sylph and Bronzy Inca. Along the trails we´ll have the chance to see some of these species: Inca Jay, Bluish Flowerpiercer, Subtropical Cacique, Montane and Olive-backed Woodcreepers, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Black-billed Peppershrike among others.
Afternoon around the lodge we look for some specialties that include Montane Woodcreeper, Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Whitecapped Parrot, Yellow-billed Cacique, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals, Handsome Flycathcer as well as several species of Tanagers and Flowerpiercers. (BLD)
After breakfast we leave San Isidro with box lunch. Morning birding the beautiful Guacamayos ridge trail, where we hope to see Green-and-black Fruiteater, Handsome Flycatcher, Rufous Wren, Turquoise Jay, Grass-green Tanager, a few species of skulking & Ocellated tapaculos, Northern Mountain-Cacique. If we have luck Greater Scythebill, Dusky Piha and Black-billed Mountain-Toucan.
In the afternoon we drop down on the eastern side of Cordillera Guacamayos towards Wildsumaco lodge where we can try for: White-tailed Hillstar, Cliff Flycatcher, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, our first Paradise Tanager, Crested Oropendola, Yellow-browed Sparrow and Black-billed Thrush. A slight chance on Orange-breasted Falcon. Late afternoon arrival at Wildsumaco Lodge. (BLD)
Wildsumaco Lodge is located at 1500m, protects over 500 acres of subtropical rainforest with more than 400 bird species. Some of the species we might see today include Collared Trogon and Lafresnaye's Piculet, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Striolated Puffbird, Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Equatorial Graytail, Black-billed Treehunter, Lined Antshrike, Blackish Antbird, Short-tailed Antthrush and several species of flycatchers, like Black-and-white, Tody-Tyrant and Yellow-cheeked Becard.
Scarlet-breasted, Fiery-throated Fruiteater and Amazonian Umbrellabird can be found. Blue-rumped Manakin, Musician Wren, Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer and several colorful tanagers including the spectacular Paradise and Orange-eared Tanager. At hummingbird feeders we can see Green Hermit, Many-spotted & Violet-headed Hummingbird, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Napo Sabrewing, Grey-chinned Hermit, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, as well as Green & Sparkling Violetear.
At night we shall try for Tropical, Rufescent & Foothill Screech-Owl and the local Band-bellied Owl. Dinner and overnight at Wildsumaco Lodge. (BLD)
Today is our last morning birding this area and our last chance to see Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Golden-collared Toucanet, White-tipped Sicklebill, Blackish Rail, Red-billed Tyrannulet, Yellow-breasted Antwren, Rufous-naped Greenlet, Coraya Wren, Foothill Antwren, Rufous-breasted Piculet, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, more species of tanagers including Magpie, White-lined, Silver-beaked, Blue-browed, Orange-eared, Spotted, Yellow-bellied and Golden-eared. (BL)
We can drive to either Coca (flight back or Amazon extension) or Quito. On the way out we stop at a bamboo patch with chance on Large-headed Flatbill, Golden-winged & Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher, Stripechested Antwren, Yellow Tyrannulet, Spot-backed Antbird, Dusky-billed Parrotlet and more. Accommodation in Quito.
After breakfast transfer out to Quito airport and end of services. (B)
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