Ecuador | Southern Bird Photography Tour - 14 days
Areas to Explore
Our private photo birding tour with main birding spots in the Southern Ecuador
Jocotoco Reserves
Ecuadorian Reserves
Available Extension to Ayampe Area in the Coast:
Esmeraldas Woodstar
Image Galleries
Blue-throated Hillstar
Red-masked Parakeet
Chestnut-eared Aracari
Spangled Coquette
Scarlet-fronted Parakeet
Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager
Lanceolated Monklet
Lemon-throated Barbet
Orange-throated Tanager
Pacific Parrotlet
Ornate Flycatcher
Green-backed Becard
Pale-browed Tinamou
Parrot-billed Seedeater
Peruvian Pygmy-Owl
Plumbeous Kite
Plumbeous-backed Thrush
Gray-cheeked Parakeet
Purple-throated Sunangel
Purplish Jacamar
Golden-plumed Parakeet
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
Streak-headed Woodcreeper
Tumbes Hummingbird
White-bellied Pygmy-Tyrant
White-headed Brushfinch
White-tailed Jay
Roseate Spoonbill
Whooping Motmot
Black-cowled Saltator
Blue-crowned Trogon
Chapman's Antshrike
Chivi Vireo
Crescent-faced Antpitta
Crested Caracara
Gray-hooded Bush Tanager
DEPARTURE / RETURN LOCATION
Guayaquil city. Other locations available on request
DEPARTURE TIME
Early departure from Guayaquil Hotel.
Optional: early pick up from Guayaquil airport
Include
- Accommodation
- All meals
- English speaking licensed Birding guide
- All entrance tickets
- Private transportation
NOT INCLUDED
- Tips
- Extra beverages
- Travel and health insurance
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Do not litter
- Avoid light colored clothing
- Use mosquito repellent
- Refillable water bottle (we supply water)
- Raincoat in rainy season
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Walking slowly and not make much noise
ITINERARY
– DAY 1 – Manglares-Churute
Key species:
Horned Scramer, Limpkin,Peruvian Meadowlark, Magnificent Frigatebird, Roseate Spoonbill, Royal Flycatcher, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, White Ibis, White-cheeked Pintail
Early morning
Pick up at Guayaquil Hotel and continue to Manglares-Churute which is 1 hour from Guayaquil.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Afternoon
Lunch and visit to “La Lagartera”.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Evening
Evening, 2 hours ride to Umbrellabird Lodge. Dinner and sleep.
– DAY 2 – Buenaventura Reserve
Key species:
Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Rufous-headed Chachalaca, Chestnut-backed Antbird, El Oro Parakeet, El Oro Tapaculo
Early morning
Breakfast and full day birding at Buenaventura Reserve.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Afternoon
Lunch and continue birding in the reserve.
Evening
Dinner and lodging at Umbrellabird Lodge.
– DAY 3 – Buenaventura Reserve and El Empalme
Key species:
Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Rufous-headed Chachalaca, Chestnut-backed Antbird, El Oro Parakeet, El Oro Tapaculo, White-headed Brushfinch, Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch, Short-tailed Woodstar
Early morning
Birding in Buenaventura Reserve.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Morning
After breakfast, continue to Urraca Lodge with lunch on the way and stop at El Empalme.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Evening
Dinner and lodging at Urraca Lodge.
– DAY 4 – Jorupe Reserve
Key species:
Amazilia Hummingbird, Whooping Motmot, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, White-tailed Jay, Ecuadorian Piculet, White-edged Oriole
Early morning
Full day birding in Jorupe Reserve.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Afternoon
Lunch and continue birding in this amazing reserve.
Evening
Dinner and lodging at Urraca Lodge.
– DAY 5 – Utuana Reserve
Key species:
Rainbow Startfrontlet, Purple-throated Sunangel, Line-cheeked Spinetail, Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, Black-cowled Saltator
Early morning
Early check-out and departure to Utuana Reserve which is 1 hour from the lodge.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Afternoon
Continue to Vilcabamba city.
Evening
Dinner and lodging at Vilcabamba city.
– DAY 6 – Cerro Toledo
Key species:
Neblina metaltail, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Loja Tapaculo, Black-headed Hemispingus, Masked Mountain-Tanager
Early morning
Full day birding in Cerro Toledo.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Afternoon
Continue to Casa Simpson Lodge
Evening
Dinner and lodging at Casa Simpson Lodge.
– DAY 7 – Tapichalaca Reserve
Key species:
Jocotoco Antpitta, Amethyst-Throated Sunangel, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Bearded Guan, Chusquea Tapaculo
Early morning
Full day birding in Tapichalaca Reserve.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Afternoon
Lunch and continue birding in the reserve.
Evening
Dinner and lodging at Casa Simpson Lodge.
– DAY 8 – Tapichalaca Reserve
Key species:
Jocotoco Antpitta, Amethyst-Throated Sunangel, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Bearded Guan, Chusquea Tapaculo
Early morning
Morning Birding in Tapichalaca Reserve.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Afternoon
Lunch and transportatoin to Copalinga Reserve.
Evening
Dinner and lodging at Copalinga Lodge.
– DAY 9 – Copalinga Reserve
Key species:
Great Tinamou, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Amazonian Umbrellabird, White-breasted Parakeet, Laceolated Monklet
Early morning
Full day birding in Copalinga Reserve.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Afternoon
Lunch and continue birding in the reserve.
Evening
Dinner and lodging at Copalinga Lodge.
– DAY 10 – Yantzaza Area
Key species:
Spangled Coquette, Paradise Tanager, Little Woodstar, Amethyst Woodstar, Turquoise Tanager
Early morning
Lodge check-out and birding in Yantzaza area to take photos of the Spangled Coquette and other species.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Afternoon
After lunch, continue to Saraguro Town
Evening
Dinner and lodging in Saraguro Town.
– DAY 11 – Cerro de Arcos
Key species:
Blue-throated Hillstar, Viridian Metaltail, Gren-tailed Trainbearer, Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant, Pale-headed Brushfinch
Early morning
Morning Birding in Cerro de Arcos to see the recently discovered Blue-throated Hillstar.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Afternoon
Lunch and continue in the reserve.
Evening
Dinner and lodging in Saraguro town.
– DAY 12 – Cerro Acanama
Key species:
Crescent-faced Antpitta, Chestnut-bellied Cotinga, Mountain Caracara, Andean Pygmy-Owl, Red-faced Parrot
Early morning
Full day birding in Cerro Acanama.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Afternoon
Lunch and continue birding in this area.
Evening
Dinner and lodging in Saraguro Town.
– DAY 13 – Yunguilla Reserve
Key species:
Pale-headed Brushfinch
Early morning
Hotel check-out and departure to Yunguilla Reserve.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Afternoon
Lunch and continue to Cuenca city.
– DAY 14 – Cajas National Park
Key species:
Violet-throated Metaltail, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Tit-like Dacnis, Giant Conebill
Early morning
Hotel check-out and early departure to Cajas National Park.
E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here
Afternoon
Lunch and continue to Guayaquil city to end tour.
