BEST BIRDWATCHING TOURS IN ECUADOR
3-10 days custom tours available.
We organize customized tours specializing in birdwatching and bird photography throughout all parts of Ecuador. Ecuador is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, with a list of more than 1,699 recorded species of birds despite being only the size of Colorado, and contains a wide variety of habitats. Prepare for great birding in ecological reserves and in the areas around some amazing ecolodges.
Our backyard BAEZA , COSANGA, JONDACHI are some of the most biodiverse areas for birdwatching in the country. Join us for a tour you will be blown away with the value of this tour and the quality of the service. We are proud to have one of the best birdwatching guides in the country working with us.
Consider that Ecuador, which only covers 0.02% of the earth's land surface, holds about 10% of all bird species found on the planet. Along Ecuador you can find unique spots for bird watching. Ecuador holds 1600 species of birds, many of them are endemic. Approximately 450 species of birds are found in the coastal "Tumbesina" region. That represents about 60% of all the birds of Latin America. The andean and coastal mountain ranges, the proximity to the coast and the amazon rainforest, as well as the water currents that affect the climate, are factors that contribute to the uniqueness of the ecuadorian ecosystems and thus the diversity of birds, for example in the cloud forest. Just to mention a few, some of which are endemic (unique) to the cloudforest region: Tanager-Finch, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Tanagers of all colors, Manakins, Cotingas, etc. And for hummingbirds, the number of different species in the BAEZA , COSANGA, JONDACHI Tandayapa and Mindo areas is perhaps a world record, with various places offering an unforgettable spectacle at very accessible feeders. Recently, Birdlife International designated the "Loma Alta" reserve, located East of the town of Valdivia (Guayas province), as a "site of international importance for the conservation of birds". The reserve contains 300 species of birds, 42 of them endemic, five in danger of extinction, and nine vulnerable.
Itinerary example for a day trip
Full Day Birding near QUITO.
5:30 AM Pick-up from Quito airport or any hotel in Quito area. Only one hour from Quito, you are already starting to see some fantastic bird species. At our first stop we will look for the Tufted Tit-tyrant, Rufous-naped Brushfinch, Azara’s Spinetail, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-tanager, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Southern Yellow Grosbeak, Grass Wren, Red-crested Cotinga, Streak-throated Bush Tyrant. At hummingbird feeders: Black-tailed Trainbearer, Green-tailed Trainbearer, Sparkling Violetear, Tyrian Metaltail, Shining Sunbeam, White-bellied Woodstar, and Sword-billed Hummingbird.
After the first stop, we continue to drive for 25 minutes to the the Yanacocha Reserve, an ecologically rich area on the Andean slope of the Pichincha Volcano. At this elevation, we will look for several upper Andean species, like Golden-crowned Tanager, Pearled Treerunner, Blue-backed Conebill, Black-chested Mountain-Tanager, Rufous Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Great Sapphirewing, and maybe the Black-breasted Puffleg, a rare species. After exploring the Yanacocha area, we descend the Old Nono-Mindo Road, the famous Old Road. This area is surrounded by montane rain forests and the cloud forest of Tandayapa, the place with the highest bird density in the world (~500 recorded species). Here we can find Andean species like the Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant, Andean Guan, Torrent Duck, White-capped Dipper, Masked Trogon, Beautiful Jay, and Crested Quetzal
1:00 PM: We will have an excellent box lunch, which we will enjoy while immersed in the sounds of the birds and the beautiful mountains around us. So after a little rest we continue watching birds in the cloud forest of Tandayapa. At the hummingbird feeders, we find Booted Racket-tail and Violet-tailed Sylph. Species in the Tandayapa area include the Blue-winged Mountain-tanager, Red-headed Barbet, Streak-capped Treehunter, Three-striped Warbler, White-winged Becard, Metallic-green Tanager, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Golden-naped Tanager, Golden Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Silver-throated Tanagers, Toucan Barbet, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, White-winged Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Ringed Kingfisher, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Immaculate Antbird, Plain Antvireo, Uniform Antshrike, Russet-crowned Warbler, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Bat Falcon, White-throated Quail-Dove, Golden-headed Quetzal and the Andean Cock-of-the Rock at their leks.
5:30 PM transfer back to Quito airport or to any hotel in the Quito area. (Your arrival time depends on where you want us to drop you off. It takes approximately 2 hours to get back to Quito.)
END OF DAY
INCLUDED:
-Naturalist & Birding Guide
-Private Transportation
-Box lunch
-Coffee and tea
-All Excursions and entrance fees to the reserves
NOT INCLUDED:
-Tips
-Alcoholic Beverages
-Any other items not specified
Additional Offers: Please ask for further information on additional activities and destinations to extend your trip.
