Ecuador | Choco Andino Bird Photography Tour - 7 days
Our Choco Andino Bird Photography tour with main birding spots in Choco Andino de Pichincha & Antisana Ecological Reserve. Available Yanacocha Reserve
Tailor-made tours are also available, contact us for more information.
Multi-flash sytem for hummingbirds available!
- Departure / Return Location
Quito & airport. Other locations available upon request.
- Departure Time
11:00am. Estimated time based on pick up location. 6:00am if Yanacocha Reserve visit first day.
- INCLUDED
- Accommodation in Las Terrazas de Dana Lodge
- All meals described in the tours
- English speaking licensed Birding guide from day 2 untill day 7
- All entrance tickets
- All transportation
- Water refill, coffee, tea
- Laundry Service INCLUDED
- NOT INCLUDED
- Tips
- Extra beverages
- Travel and health insurance
ITINERARY
– DAY 1 – “Hummingbirds garden” (Optional: Yanacocha Reserve)
**** Optional Tour start with Yanacocha Reserve. Starting 6:00am from your Quito hotel. Contact us for more information adding this visit.
E-bird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1396997
– Key species Yanacocha Reserve: Sword-billed Hummingbird, Shining Sunbeam, Golden-breasted Puffleg, Andean Guan, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager.
10:00am – Pick up at your location.
* Optional: Stop at the Middle of the World. * Entrance Fee not included.
1:00pm – Arrival to Las Terrazas de Dana Lodge and lunch.
3:00pm – Visit to the Hummingbirds garden (El Descanso).
7:00pm – Dinner at the lodge.
– DAY 2 – “Silanche and Milpe Reserves”
05:00am – Departure to Silanche. E-bird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1396974
– Key species: Choco Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, White-whiskered Puffbird, Black-crowned Antshrike, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis.
06:30 – Visit to Silanche Reserve.
12:00 – Lunch at Mirador del Río Blanco.
2:15pm – Visit to Milpe Reserve. E-bird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L493675
– Key species: Club-winged Manakin
5:00pm – Return to the lodge.
7:00pm – Dinner at the lodge.
– DAY 3 – “Paz de las Aves, Alambi Reserve and Bellavista – Old Road to Mindo”
5:10am – Departure for Paz de las Aves. E-bird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L674753
05:45am – Arrival to Paz de las Aves (Located about 1.600m. / 5.250ft.).
– Key species: Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Giant Antpitta, Moustached Antpitta, Toucan Barbet
11:30am – Alambi Cloud Forest Reserve. E-bird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1019128
– Key species: Crested Quetzal, White-capped Dipper, Western Emerald, Tawny-bellied Hermit
* Lunch.
02:30pm – Departure to Bellavista – Old Road to Mindo. E-bird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1477858
– Key species: Masked Trogon, White-faced Nunbird, Gorgeted Sunangel.
4:00pm – Return to the lodge.
7:00pm – Dinner at the lodge.
– DAY 4 – “Mashpi Road, Amagusa Reserve & San Tadeo Feeder”
- 5:10am – Departure for Mashpi Road and Amagusa Reserve. E-bird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L3175551
- – Key species: Indigo Flowerpiercer, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Black Solitaire, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, White-tipped Sicklebill, Choco Vireo, Choco Parakeet, Glistening-green Tanager.
- 06:30am – Arrival to Mashpi Road and Amagusa Reserve (altitude rage is 1700m. to 750m.).
Birds: Empress Brilliant, Velvet-purple Coronet, Violet-tailed Sylph, Brown Inca, Purplel-bibbed Whitetip, and White-wiskered Hermit, Glistening-Green Tanager, Moss-backed Tanager, …
* Breakfast box.
Afternoon – visit to San Tadeo Feeder. E-bird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L4992806
Key species: Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Black-striped Sparrow, Flame-faced Tanager, Velvet-purple Coronet, Violet-tailed Sylph, Booted Racket-tail
7:00pm – Dinner at the lodge.
– DAY 5 – Santa Rosa Feeder & Ruta San Lorenzo (Mindo Cloud Forest)”
5:15am – Departure to Santa Rosa Feeder. E-bird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L6978567
* This is probably the best location in the Choco Andino to take photos. We will use our MULTI-FLASH SYSTEM in this location.
– Key species: Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Blue-capped Tanager, Hoary Puffleg
Lunch at Las Terrazas de Dana Boutique Lodge
3:00pm – Hike along San Lorenzo Road (On the way to Waterfalls sanctuary. Located about 1.400m. / 4.600ft.). E-bird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L792571
– Key species: Choco Toucan, Crested Guan, Rose-faced Parrot, Bat Falcon.
– DAY 6 – Umbrellabird reserve (Recinto 23 de Junio)
4:45am – Departure to Umbrellabird Reserve – Recinto 23 de Junio. E-bird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1741231
– Key species: Long-wattled Umbrellabird.
Lunch at Las Terrazas de Dana Boutique Lodge
Afternoon. More birding in Mindo area
– DAY 7 – “Antisana Ecological Reserve”
4:00am – Departure to Antisana Ecological Reserve. E-bird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L683386
– Key species: Andean condor, Giant Hummingbird, Ecuadorian Hillstar.
Lunch at Tambo Condor Restaurant
* Breakfast box.
- 4:00pm – Transfer to your desired location.
Some photos taken in our tours:
