Day 1: Arrival in Quito

After arrival in Quito, you will be transferred to a hotel in Ecuador’s capital for the night.

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Day 2: Quito to Northern Ecuador

Leaving the capital early, we will head north through dry, inter-Andean valleys. We arrive at a remote finca (small farm) in the middle of the afternoon, where we’ll be based for the next two nights. We may find birds like Blue-and-yellow and Scrub Tanagers en-route. The real treasures up here are the nocturnal mammals, and we’ll head out to look for a variety of critters that dwell in the valley, including Andean Porcupine and perhaps the amazing Mountain Tapir.

 

Day 3: Arid Andean Slopes

Our focus on this day will be the scenic, arid slopes above the central valley. This special area has some very interesting birds and mammals. With a lot of luck we may encounter the scarce Mountain Coati. There will also be some tanagers and hummingbirds present, as well as occasionally toucans and other cool birds. We will again venture out at night for mammal-watching.

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Day 4: To the Tandayapa Valley

After another morning at the finca, we transfer to the much wetter slopes of the western Andes and the Choco bioregion. There is so much on offer here it is difficult to know where to start, but we can expect agoutis and Toucan Barbets at the feeders in the late afternoon, and we may even be surprised by the local Tayra – a beast akin to the Neotropical Wolverine. We will also pass a location that occasionally has Mountain Coati. We spend the night at Tandayapa Bird Lodge.

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Day 5: Cock-of-the-rocks and the Tandayapa Valley

In the early morning we will find ourselves inside the cloudforest awaiting dawn. The end of night, and the arrival of dawn, will be announced by the harsh, pig-like squeals of the spectacular Andean Cock-of-the-rock, males of which gather at dawn to lure in females with their dancing and ugly noises! These vermilion red birds are like no others in the World, being an iconic bird of the Andes mountains. On the way back to Tandayapa Bird Lodge for lunch, we will stop in on a feeder site where the spectacular Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan can be found. We will also spend time at the Tandayapa Bird Lodge feeders, awaiting the arrival of birds and mammals into the afternoon. Later, we shall check into a higher elevation cloudforest lodge, where at night, we will look for Olinguito (a mammal only described in 2013) and Andean White-eared Opossum.

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Day 6: Papallacta and Guango

We return to Quito before climbing the eastern edge of the central valley, checking reliable spots for Spectacled Bear, which would be a whopper of the score! While there are no guarantees, we will be putting in a serious effort. The trails at Guango Lodge are home to Mountain Tapirs at night, and the hummingbird feeders are legendary, attracting species like the outlandish Sword-billed Hummingbird, jewel-like Tourmaline Sunangel, and tiny, bee-like White-bellied Woodstar. Torrent Ducks and White-capped Dippers also frequent the rushing Andean waters below the lodge. A single night will be spent at the lodge.

 

Day 7: Guango to San Isidro

After some final time around Guango or Papallacta (depending on what we are still seeking), we will continue our descent of the eastern side of the Andes, spending a night at another wonderful cloudforest lodge, San Isidro. This night we will be seeking two special animals, the Colombian (Lemurine) Night Monkey, and a mystery owl that both frequent the lodge grounds at night.

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Day 8: San Isidro to The Amazon

The mornings around the lodge at San Isidro can be an exciting place to be with birds attracted in to prey on the many insects that come to the lodge lights overnight; species like Masked Trogon, Green Jay, and Subtropical Cacique are often among the throng. After breakfast we shall also attend visit a forest feeding station, where the rare White-bellied Antpitta often visits. By mid-morning, we will be on our way again, and again descending the Andes to reach the low-lying town of Coca our gateway to the Amazon. After lunch, we will take first a motorized canoe, then paddled canoe, to Napo Wildlife Center, our home for the next three nights.

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Days 9-10: The Amazon Part I (Napo Wildlife Center)

After the previous days combing the highland grasses of the Andes, this will be very different, as we walk forest trails, search for animals by canoe, view from canopy towers, and spotlight at night in the lowland tropical rainforest of the Amazon. Mammals are best represented here than anywhere else in Ecuador, with a jaw-dropping selection of primates possible; White-bellied Spider Monkey, Golden-mantled Tamarin, Red Titi Monkey, Napo Saki, Spix’s Night Monkey, and Venezuelan Red Howler Monkey, and Pygmy Marmoset all possible! Giant Otters are also a real possibility in this area too. A canopy tower gives access to canopy bird species, like parrots, including macaws, toucans, trogons, tanagers, and cotingas. Some of the most interesting birds in the area include Hoatzins that lurk by the lakesides, Sungrebe along the forested waterways, and Agami Heron that frequents the shady edges of narrow rivers and creeks, where all 5 American kingfishers can also be found. There is also a bewildering variety of puffbirds, antbirds, woodcreepers, trogons, manakins, and flycatchers on offer. As well as these species, nocturnal birds like Great Potoo and Crested Owl are often available at day roosts, and we can experience some great creatures on nightwalks, along with the dazzling red, blue, yellow and black Wikiri Poison Frog by day.

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Day 11: The Amazon Part II (Napo Wildlife Center to Sani Lodge)

On this day we will swap one Amazon lodge for another, this one located nearer the main Napo River, a major tributary of the mighty Amazon itself. Our transfer between the lodge will allow us to visit the famous parrot lick in Yasuni National Park, where hundreds of parrots gather daily to get their daily mineral intake. This sometimes includes Scarlet Macaws, alongside Orange-cheeked Parrot and Cobalt-winged Parakeet. Three nights will be spent at Sani Lodge.

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Days 12-13: The Amazon Part II (Sani Lodge area)

On one/both of these days we will make a special visit to a secluded blackwater lake, where Pink River Dolphins are often found swimming within the glassy waters. We will take a boxed lunch with us allowing us to be flexible with the afternoon plan; we can peruse for mammals from forest-lined creeks, drop in on river islands for a special selection of birds, like Oriole Blackbirds, or seek out Pygmy Marmosets around the lodge! Both nights will be spent in the Amazon, at Sani Lodge.

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Day 14: The Amazon to Quito

In the morning we shall regrettably leave the Amazon behind, returning to Quito by air, following a boat trip back to the city of Coca.

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Day 15: Departure from Quito

Departures can be taken out anytime during this day or late night the evening before, as that is when many flights depart.

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Trip Considerations

PACE: Moderate. Early starts will be needed to be out in the field early. Breakfast is typically served between 05:00-05:30am. The driving on this tour is generally on good roads, with only short periods of driving on dirt roads. The drives are not especially long on this tour, the longest being around 3 hours on . There will be some optional night walks and drives offered to try and find the nocturnal animals throughout. On some days there will be some downtime offered during the day, mainly during the Amazon section of the trip. A few packed lunches may be taken in the field. There are regular boat rides in the Amazon, with one of around 5 hours on day 8 (the latter part of this often being good for wildlife), to go in, and another of around 3 hours coming out of there on day 13. There are also shorter boat rides while based there.

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PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: Moderate. You will need to be able to walk at least 3 miles (5 km) per day on average, some of that on mountain trails. Some short sections of trails might be muddy and slippery (e.g. Guango Lodge). We will walk slowly, especially at altitude. Some parts of this tour are spent at altitude. Quito is located at 9,350 ft (2850m). Around Tandayapa on days 2-4), the altitudes covered will be between 5580-7545ft (1700-2300m). The highest days of the tour will be the last part of day 4 through the morning of day 7, which will be between 8530-13780ft (2600-4200m). However, on these days the walking is limited and almost entirely from roads, with some short forest trails walks optional there.

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CLIMATE: Highly variable. In the high Andes, it can be near freezing and windy. At Tandayapa and San Isidro it is quite pleasant (usually 53°-78°F, 12°-26°C). In the Amazon it is hot and humid (usually 72°-90°F, 22°-32°C). Some rain can be expected, especially in the afternoons and evenings.

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ACCOMMODATION: Very good to excellent, all have private, en-suite bathrooms, and full-time hot water. Electricity is available everywhere 24 hours a day, except at Sani Lodge, where the generator is turned off from about 10pm-4am. Both Napo Wildlife Center and Sani Lodge have ceiling fans, though they only operate when the generator is running. The nights in the Ecuadorian Amazon are surprisingly cool.

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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. Proof of medical insurance is required to visit Ecuador. While this is rarely checked, it is important that you have a policy that covers you in Ecuador, and to bring proof of coverage to present to immigration officials.

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WHAT’S INCLUDED?: Tips to drivers, local guides, and lodge staff; one-way air ticket from Coca to Quito on day 14; accommodation from the night of day 1 to the night of day 14; meals from dinner on day 1 (unless you arrive too late for dinner service) to breakfast on day 15 (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 throughout; Tropical Birding tour leader with scope and audio gear from the morning of day 2 to the night of day 14; local guide at Napo Wildlife Center and Sani Lodge; 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 8 in a suitable vehicle with a local driver; boat transport between Coca and Napo Wildlife Center on day 8 (may be shared with other lodge guests); private boat transport in both hand-paddled and motorized canoes for the group while at Napo Wildlife Center and Sani Lodge; boat transport between Sani Lodge and Coca on day 14 (may be shared with other lodge guests); 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).

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WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?: Optional tips to the tour leader; tips for luggage porters in the city hotels (if you require their services); international 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.