Day 1: Arrival in Quito

Most flights arrive in the evening. You will be met at the airport and transferred to a hotel in Quito.

 

Day 2: Zuro Loma & Yanacocha to Tandayapa

We’ll start in Zuro Loma, an exciting beautiful new reserve in the cloud forest cloaking the scenic slopes of Pichincha Volcano, about 90 minutes from our Quito hotel. Although the surrounding terrain is steep, walking here is relatively easy and the birds are amazing. It’s a great place to start since most of the birds are easy to see and the diversity is lower than at the sites visited on the remainder of the main tour. The hummingbird feeders at Zuro Loma are amazing, usually providing excellent views of species like the jaw-dropping Sword-billed Hummingbird, spectacular Black-tailed Trainbearer, Mountain Velvetbreast, Collared Inca, and Sapphire-vented Puffleg. Species like Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager and Black-crested Warbler also occur, while Red-crested Cotingas are often found perched prominently in the canopy. The landowners also feed some shy forest birds on site, making them easier to see than normal, which often include Chestnut-naped and Equatorial Antpittas. After much of the morning enjoying easy birding in Zuro Loma, we will crossover to nearby Yanacocha reserve for lunch, another cloud forest reserve, where we are likely to add two more hummingbirds at their feeders, namely Great Sapphirewing and Shining Sunbeam, another two hummingbird species that will not feature on the main tour again!

 

After lunch, we will continue our journey towards Tandayapa, driving down the Old Nono-Mindo Road in the afternoon. This road is an established birding “ecoroute”, and we will make selected stops to look for a few other birds such as Andean Lapwing, Chestnut-bellied Chat-Tyrant, and White-capped Dipper, and maybe even a Burrowing Owl. There is always the chance too of bumping into another mixed flock, which as we are driving down in altitude, into the subtropical zone, could comprise many new species like Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Capped Conebill, and Beryl-spangled Tanager. Later in the afternoon, we’ll arrive at Tandayapa Bird Lodge, where we will be based for the next five nights. We’ll try to arrive before dark to get our first view of the incredible hummingbird feeders, which often attract a dozen or more species in an hour, including White-booted Racket-tail, Violet-tailed Sylph, Brown Inca, Purple-bibbed White-tip, and Purple-throated Woodstar.

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Day 3: Tandayapa Valley

Around the lodge at dawn there are often shy forest birds attracted to the moth sheet, like Rufous Motmot, Russet-crowned Warbler, Streak-capped Treehunter, Golden-bellied and Ornate Flycatchers, and several woodcreeper species. The birds are attracted there by a large light which attracts a variety of moths during the night, and which are then preyed upon by the attendant birds early in the morning. We’ll have breakfast at the lodge. Activity at the fruit feeders at the lodge varies seasonally, but when they are busy they can be superb, with the likes of Golden and Golden-naped Tanagers, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Red-headed Barbet, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, and several others coming in very close. We will spend the rest of the day birding different spots within the Tandayapa Valley, which holds tons of birds for us, breaking up our sessions in the valley with lunch at the lodge, when we can admire the regular procession of hummingbirds. Weather permitting, we may try for a local Lyre-tailed Nightjar at dusk, below the lodge.

 

Day 4: Mashpi Area

An easy dirt road passes through verdant cloudforest loaded with some absolutely superb Chocó endemics not easily see elsewhere, including Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Indigo Flowerpiercer, Moss-backed Tanager, Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Glistening-green Tanager, and Pacific Tuftedcheek. With luck, this area could also produce Uniform Treehunter, Black Solitaire, or Esmeraldas Antbird. Other targets in the Mashpi area include Blue-tailed (Chocó) Trogon, Ochre-breasted Tanager, and Rufous-throated Tanager. There are dizzying flocks that roam the humid forests in this area, which hold birds like Red-faced Spinetail, Scaly-throated, Buff-fronted and Lineated Foliage-gleaners, Golden-crowned (Choco) Warbler, Slaty Antwren, Tawny-breasted Flycatcher, and Cinnamon Becard.

We’ll visit a small, local reserve where the owners have set a system of feeders that attract some of these desired birds for us to get splendid views, and with some luck, some great photos. The hummer feeders attract some of the more localized species, and this is our best chance to see the astonishing Velvet-purple Coronet and the elegant Empress Brilliant. The plan for the afternoon is somewhat flexible depending on the weather, and we might bird some lower elevations nearby, or go to another local site like Milpe for other foothill species. The exact plan for this afternoon will be decided by the guide, based on what is best for the birds at the time of the tour.

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Day 5: Upper Tandayapa Valley

After breakfast, we head up the road to higher elevations of the valley (about a 20 minute drive), looking for the very rare Tanager Finch, the beautiful Toucan Barbet, and the spectacular Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan. A host of other subtropical species also occur such as Gorgeted Sunangel, Collared Inca, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Grass-green Tanager, Dusky Chlorospingus (Bush-Tanager), and Pearled Treerunner. After returning to the lodge for lunch, we might spend some extra time at the hummer feeders before we head out again. Later that afternoon, depending in rain and bird activity around the lodge, there may be another, optional, excursion a short distance upslope from the lodge. Those who wish to soak in the hummingbirds further, or simply spend some further time relaxing around the lodge, are welcome to do to. We typically return to the upper valley to try for more difficult skulkers like Plain-tailed Wren, Striped Treehunter, Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant, Ocellated Tapaculo, or Chestnut-crowned Antpitta.

 

Day 6: Rio Silanche

We’ll spend the day in lowland tropical rainforest at the Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary, and we can expect to see loads of new birds. It’s a 1½ hour drive, but well worth it when the birds start coming in thick and fast. Luckily, after the previous five days, you will be ready for this onslaught. A whole host of new and spectacular tanagers is possible, such as Scarlet-browed, Rufous-winged, Gray-and-gold, Guira, Blue-necked, Bay-headed, and Golden-hooded, and up to four species of dacnises can be seen here on a good day. Understory flocks have a bewildering array of skulkers like antwrens, foliage-gleaners, and flycatchers, while larger birds can include several species of trogon, toucans, trogons, and maybe even some interesting raptors. The area is also rich in woodpeckers, with Guayaquil, Lineated, Cinnamon, Golden-olive, Black-cheeked, and Red-rumped all possible, along with Olivaceous Piculet too. There are also puffbirds in the area with both White-whiskered and Barred Puffbirds regularly seen. While the habitat is very fragmented, the combination of forest edge, cleared areas, pastures, plantations, and remaining forest patches lead to big day lists; it is no uncommon to pick up well over a hundred species in a day here, and therefore it is easy to see why it is often a favorite. The area is also good for toucans and parrots, with afternoon drives along the road near the reserve regularly finding Choco and Black-mandibled (Chestnut-mandibled) Toucans, Collared (Pale-mandibled) Aracari, and Bronze-winged Parrot. The birding is along roads and easy trails, with the toughest aspect of the day being the high humidity of the lowlands.

 

Day 7: Paz de Aves and Calacali to Quito

Paz de Aves is a small, private, reserve near the town of Mindo, and is sure to be a highlight of the tour. Here, a local farmer became an instant birding sensation when he started feeding worms to Giant, Moustached, Yellow-breasted, Ochre-breasted, and Chestnut-crowned Antpittas with amazing success. Every visit is different, but we typically see at least two antpittas, and sometimes more. The appeal of this site is that these normally shy birds of the dark forest floor often come into view and can be seen very well by everyone present. We will need to leave very early in order to get there at dawn, as the antpittas are not the only attraction on site. At dawn (around 06:00am), it is possible to watch the amazing displays of a handful of male Andean Cock-of-the-rock, which gather each day at “leks” in order to compete for the attraction of any passing females. The trail down into the forest is quite steep and sometimes muddy though not very long, and a walking stick is recommended. The reserve also has a small set of hummingbird feeders which regularly bring in the spectacular Velvet-purple Coronet and Empress Brilliant, if we did not see them at Tandayapa or Mashpi. Other possibilities here include Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Toucan Barbet, Olivaceous Piha, and Sickle-winged Guan. We’ll return to Tandayapa for lunch, and, after some final time with the hummingbirds of Tandayapa, we’ll pack up and head back to Quito. We’ll make a short stop along the way at some dry montane scrub, which holds species like the rare White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant, Golden-rumped Euphonia, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Black-tailed Trainbearer, and Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch.

 

Day 8: Departure

Unless you are continuing on to the extension or another Ecuador tour, the tour ends this morning with a transfer to the Quito airport.

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High Andes Extension

Day 1: Antisana Reserve

This reserve just east of the city is one of the best high altitude sites in Ecuador. On clear days, you can enjoy some of the most dramatic views in Ecuador, and the combination of great scenery and easy birding often mark this as people’s favorite site of the tour. Birding in the shadow of the huge snow cone of Volcan Antisana we will seek out Ecuador’s national bird, the Andean Condor, as well as Black-faced (Andean) Ibis, the exquisite Ecuadorian Hillstar, and numerous páramo species such as Chestnut-winged Cinclodes (Bar-winged) and Stout-billed Cinclodes, Streak-backed Canastero, Plain-capped (Paramo) Ground-Tyrant, Paramo Pipit, and Black-winged Ground-Dove. A large lake nearby usually has Andean Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Ruddy (Andean Duck), and, sometimes, Silvery Grebe. After lunch, we’ll drive over the Andes and stay at Guango Lodge for the night, which its beside a rushing river than often has Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper, and boasts great hummingbird feeders. There will be time in the afternoon to take in the sight of the many hummingbirds buzzing around their feeders which attract species that we may have encountered before like Collared Inca, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, and Sword-billed Hummingbird, alongside others which are sure to be new, like Tourmaline Sunangel, White-bellied Woodstar, Long-tailed Sylph and Chestnut-breasted Coronet.

 

Day 2: Papallacta and Guango

The exact plan for the day often is weather-dependent, but typically we start the day in some otherworldly treeline forest looking for Masked Mountain-Tanager, Black-backed Bush-Tanager, Agile Tit-Tyrant, Paramo Seedeater, Shining Sunbeam, Viridian Metaltail, and White-chinned Thistletail, and other targets before driving back up into the paramo grasslands higher up. We’ll check stands of Polylepis woodland for Giant Conebill and seek out the beautiful Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe in the paramo itself. A few hummers even eke out a living up here, like Viridian Metaltail, Ecuadorian Hillstar, and Blue-mantled Thornbill. We’ll return to Guango for lunch, and bird there for a few hours, looking for mixed flocks with colorful birds like Lacrimose and Hooded Mountain-Tanagers, Blue-and-black Tanager, and Black-capped Hemispingus. We can also search again for Torrent Duck if needed. Late in the afternoon, we’ll return to Quito.

 

Day 3: Departure

The extension ends this morning with a transfer to the airport.

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Trip Considerations

PACE: Moderate. Early starts are necessary on most days since birding in the Andes is almost always best early in the morning, and breakfast will typically start between 4:30 and 5:30am. To get to the farther birding sites (Rio Silanche and Mashpi), drives of 1.5-2 hours each way are required, but the drives are much shorter on other days. On a few days there will be some downtime either after lunch, or after arriving back to the lodge after the day’s birding excursion, but on at least one or two days you may arrive back at the lodge after dark. On some of the longer days, there is some relaxed feeder-watching included, so that you are not on your feet all day. At least four lunches will be packed lunches, and at least one breakfast will likely be a packed breakfast. Apart from the two nights in Quito, all nights are spent at Tandayapa Bird Lodge, so you don’t have the hassle of packing and unpacking every day.

 

PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: Moderate. Most of the birding will be on flat or slightly inclined roads or wide tracks. Paz de las Aves, which is visited on one day, has some fairly steep and muddy trails (a walking stick helps a lot), but they are relatively short. You can expect to walk around 2-3 miles (3.2-4.8 km) per day on average. All morning of day two of the main tour will be spent at 11,500 ft. (3500 m.) elevation, but most of the walking is on a wide, nearly flat track which will be done at slow pace. Much of the High Andes Extension will be spent at elevations above 11,500 ft. (3500 m.)

 

CLIMATE: Usually very pleasant (mostly 55°-75°F, 13°-24°C), but cold on one morning at Yanacocha (near freezing) and hot on one day at Silanche (up to c. 90°F/32°C). Some rain can be expected, especially in the afternoons and evenings. On the extension, it can be very cold (near freezing) in Papallacta and Antisana, with some wind.

 

ACCOMMODATION: Very good to excellent, all have private, en-suite bathrooms, full-time hot water, and 24h electricity.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY: This is a birding tour, but casual photographers will have great opportunities to photograph birds at the Tandayapa Bird Lodge feeders as well as other feeders visited on the tour, such as those at Mashpi and Paz de las Aves. Serious bird photographers may wish to check out our Ecuador Photo Tour.

 

WHEN TO GO: This tour can be run year round. While climate has become rather unpredictable in recent years, the driest months on average are June-August, the wettest months are March-April, and the other months are intermediate. Birding is slower when it is very dry, but even in the dry season, some rain can be expected. Rainy season tours are usually very productive, since the birds are a bit more vocal, and while you may lose more time to rain, when it is not raining you tend to see more birds.

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Other Information

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport is required; the passport must be valid for at least six months past your intended stay. Tourist visas are currently not required for citizens of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and all European countries. Visas are currently only required of a few nationalities, mostly in Asia, Africa, and the middle East. Travel requirements are subject to change; if you are unsure, please check with the nearest embassy or consulate, or ask our office staff for help.

 

WHAT’S INCLUDED?: Tips to drivers and lodge staff; accommodation from the night of day 1 to the night day 7 if taking only the main tour, and through the night of day 2 of the extension if also taking the extension; meals from dinner on day 1 (unless you arrive too late for dinner service) to breakfast on day 8 if taking only the main tour, and to breakfast on day 3 of the extension if also taking the extension (if you have a very early departing flight, you may miss the included breakfast on the last day); safe drinking water and/or juice during meals; safe drinking water as well as tea and coffee are available at Tandayapa Bird Lodge at any time; Tropical Birding tour leader with scope and audio gear from the morning of day 2 to the afternoon of day 7 if taking only the main tour, or to the afternoon of day 2 of the extension if also taking the extension; one arrival and one departure airport transfer per person (transfers may be shared with other participants of the same tour if they are on the same flight); ground transport for the group to all sites in the itinerary from day 2 to day 7 (and to day 2 of the extension if also taking the extension) in a suitable vehicle with a local driver; entrance fees to birding sites mentioned in the itinerary; a printed and bound checklist to keep track of your sightings (given to you at the start of the tour – only electronic copies can be provided in advance).

 

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?: Optional tips to the tour leader; tips for luggage porters in the Quito hotel (if you require their services); flights; snacks; additional drinks apart from those included; alcoholic beverages; travel insurance; excursions not included in the tour itinerary; extras in hotels such as laundry service, minibar, room service, telephone calls, and personal items; medical fees; other items or services not specifically mentioned as being included.