NEW 2025 DATE! Price: From £2645/$3195 person
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY SAFARI IN ECUADOR
Day 1: Welcome to Ecuador
Arrive at Puembo Valley, near Mariscal Sucre International Airport. Join us for a delightful welcome dinner, where we’ll introduce fellow participants and discuss the exciting activities planned for the days ahead.
Meals: Dinner
Overnight in Puembo.
Day 2: Hummingbird hot-spot in the Cloud Forest (Highlands)
At the crack of dawn (6 am), we set off to the high-cloud forest area, beginning our day with the Antpitta birds, including the Chestnut-naped antpitta and Ecuatorial antpitta. Experience the thrill of capturing the elusive White-throated screech owl inside the forest. Witness the mesmerizing air dancers – hummingbirds like the Sword-billed hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast, and Sapphire-vented puffleg. We might even spot the magnificent Barred fruiteater. After lunch, we descend to Nanegalito for an astonishing display of hummingbirds – up to 23 species. Keep an eye out for oropendolas, saltators, woodpeckers, and tanagers at the feeders. At this spot, our goal is to photograph the stunning Blue-necked tanager.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Overnight in Mindo.
Day 3: Trogons, Toucans and Tanagers in the Cloud forest
Morning finds us in a hide, seeking the Masked Trogon, Rufous motmot, and the famed Long-wattled umbrellabird. Later, we visit a reserve abundant in toucans, tanagers, and hummingbirds. Feast your lenses on the colourful Plate-billed mountain toucan and Toucan barbet. Witness the vibrant Flame-faced tanager, Golden tanager, and Blue-capped tanager, among others. At night, enjoy an optional macro photography session, capturing the fascinating Pinocchio lizard and other mesmerizing nocturnal creatures.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Overnight in Mindo.
Day 4: Discovering the Choco foothills
Journey to the transition zone between Cloud Forest and the biodiverse Chocó Forest. Capture the brilliance of Glistening-greed Tanager, Moss-backed Tanager, and the majestic Cock-of-the-rock in their “Lek” displays. As night descends, seek the captivating Imbabura tree frog, Enyalioides oshaughnessyi lizard, and the Emerald glass frog.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Overnight in Mindo.
Day 5: Toucans and Quito
Photograph the fascinating Pale-mandibled Aracari, Choco toucan, and Yellow-throated Toucan, alongside Green honeycreeper and Red-headed barbet. As we journey to Quito, keep an eye out for the white-bellied woodstar.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
Overnight in Puembo.
Day 6: Birding in the Eastern Andes and in the Paramo
We start the day from Quito to the Antisana Ecological Reserve and Chakana Reserve. Our objective will be to photograph some nice raptors, like the Carunculated Caracara. If we are lucky, we can see the Andean Condor flying over the valleys. In the afternoon we will head to our accommodation where we will look for the allusive Torrent Duck and at night for the unique Linda’s tree frog.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Overnight in Guango.
Day 7 – 9: Discover the Eastern Slopes of the Andes & Sumaco Reserve
For the next three days, we will explore the Eastern Cloud Forest, home to Sword-billed Hummingbird, Masked flowerpiercer, and Long-tailed Sylph. Capture the beauty of the Collared Inca, Tyrian Metaltaild, and Green Jay. At Sumaco Reserve, encounter rare species like Coppery-chested jacamar and Golden-collared toucanet. This is also an excellent place to see the Cock of the Rock (orange subspecies).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Overnight on the Eastern Andes.
Day 10: Visit the Papallacta Pass and travel back to Puembo
Visit Papallacta Pass for unique birds like Rufous-bellied seedsnipe and Rainbow-bearded thornbill. Return to the hotel for a final evening and prepare for departure.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
Overnight in Puembo.
Day 11: Departure Day
After a good rest and a tasty breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to the mesmerizing landscapes and captivating birds of Ecuador.
Meals: Breakfast.
Quito area
San Jose de Puembo Hotel (Premium)
The hotel is locared in Puembo, around 15km from Quito’s International Airport. It is a converted hacienda from the 18th century. It is a perfect start and end point of this holiday. The hotel offers comfortable rooms and is surrounded by lush gardens.
Mindo
El Septimo Paraiso Lodge (Classic)
This rustic, wooden lodge is located 2km from the town of Mindo. It is located at one of the best and most famous birding areas of the country. It will be an excellent place to discover the nearby cloud forest.
Guango Cloud Forest
Guango Lodge (Classic)
The lodge is located near the hot springs of Papallacta. It is a heaven for birdwatchers, especially for those who are interested in hummingbirds. It offers cosy, comfortable accommodation in the middle of a beautiful setting in the cloud forest.
Quijos Valley
Rio Quijos Eco Lodge (Classic)
The Rio Quijos Eco lodge is situated on the Eastern side of the Andes. It offers travellers a beautiful, modern, tranquil setting, spacious cabins and suites. The lush gardens and the nature trails are home to a plethora of bird species.
Prices & Inclusions
|
Date: 19th to 29th May 2025 |
HoLiday Price |
|
|
Min. 4, Max 8 participants. |
£2645/person | |
| $3195/person | ||
| Single Supplement | £480/person | |
| Single Supplement | $600/person | |
Inclusions
- Arrival and departure transfers from/to Quito Airport
- 10 night accommodation in the mentioned hotels and (birding) lodges on a twin share basis
- Meals as per the itinerary
- Local, English-speaking photographer guide: Daniel Mideros
- Private transportation throughout the holiday
- Visit of approx. 12 private reserves
- Multi-flash equipment
- Full financial protection by Protected Trust Services
Exclusions
- International Flights
- Meals that are not listed
- Beverages
- Tips
- Travel Insurance
TOUR SUMMARY
This is a wildlife photography tour focusing on the northwest and northeast of Ecuador. The primary focus of the holiday is to photography colourful birds in the Ecuadorian Andes. We will visit the cloud forests around Mindo, the Choco foothills, the paramo of Antisana Ecological Reserve and the Eastern Andes (Guango, Quijos Valley, Sumaco.)
The areas we visit are a haven for hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans and aracaris. We will have chances seeing the western and eastern Cock-of-the-Rock, the beautiful Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, the Torrent duck and with some luck the Long-wattled Umbrellabird. In Antisana with some luck we aim to see the Andean Condor and the rare Spectacled bear.
Besides bird photography, there will be opportunities to do macro photography in the evenings, and nature and landscape photography too.
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+44 (0) 738 888 45 30
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