Your Dream Bird Photography Tour

Day 2 – Birdwatchers House and Guaybo Verde

Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan | ©Vinicio Perez, Birdwatchers House & Lodge

Birding begins early at The Birdwatchers House. Using well-situated blinds, we will enjoy photographing birds hunting insects in the early morning light. Then, after a delicious breakfast, we will photograph several species of colorful tanagers and other birds that often pose at fountains and other various water features on the property.

Our prime target will be a regular visitor, the spectacularly colored Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan. Also, many species of hummingbirds visit the hummingbird garden including the Collared Inca, the Gorgeted Sunangel, and the Speckled Hummingbird.

Our hosts will provide an enjoyable homemade lunch. In the afternoon, we will drive to Pacto. Our lodging and meal for the evening will be provided by the owners of Guayabo Verde, a rural farm with comfortable cabins and tasty local food.

Day 3 – Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve and Oilbirds

Glistening Green Tanager; Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve | ©Vinicio Perez

An early morning start will get us to the Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve, a privately-owned forest in the new protected important bird area (IBA) Mashpi-Pachijal. This 130-hectare reserve protects the last foothill forest directly connected to the lower subtropical western forest of Ecuador.

The unique location makes it particularly attractive for photographers and birders looking for Choco-endemic birds like the Glistening-green Tanager, the Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, the Golden-naped Tanager, and the Moss-backed Tanager. There are also many fantastic species of hummingbirds like the Empress Brilliant, the Velvet-purple Coronet, the Violet-tailed Sylph, and the White-whiskered Hermit. With so many birds to photograph, we will enjoy breakfast and lunch at this unique spot.

Later in the afternoon, we will also see Oilbirds, a nocturnal species of birds that roost during the day. Next, we will arrive at our hotel in Mindo, a small town famous for its excellent access to the outdoors and nature. That evening, we will choose between a few good restaurants for dinner.

Day 4 – Rancho Suamox and Laguna de Cube

Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Rancho Suamox | ©Bill Pohley

With an early morning arrival at Rancho Suamox, a private farm in the lowlands, we will start our day at the fruit feeders photographing tanagers, woodpeckers, and more. A few of the species we might see are the Golden-olive Woodpecker, the Black-cheeked Woodpecker, the Rufous Motmot, the Dusky-faced Tanager, the Flame-rumped Tanager, the Silver-throated Tanager, the Ecuadorian Thrush, the Buff-throated Saltator, the Thick-billed Euphonia, and the Orange-bellied Euphonia. Additionally, hummingbird species that are only found in the lowlands will visit several hummingbird feeders. We hope to see the Green-breasted Mango, the Violet-bellied Hummingbird, the Purple-crowned Fairy, the Stripe-throated Hermit.

Following this productive photo session, we will drive to our next spectacular destination, having lunch en route at a local cafe. We will arrive mid-afternoon at Laguna de Cube, a year-round lake (despite the lagoon reference) located at the southeastern limit of the Cordillera Mache-Chindul, just south of the Chocó Bioregion. 

Our lodge at Laguna de Cube will be very basic. However, the fauna, flora, and landscapes will be unforgettable!  We will enjoy a simple dinner made with local produce before heading out for a nocturnal photography session by the lake.

Day 5 – Laguna de Cube and birding en-route to Milpe

After breakfast, we will enjoy our second photography session at Laguna de Cube. This glorious lake is part of a delicate ecosystem that includes anhingas, herons, bitterns, grebes, ducks, jacanas, and more! The lodge also offers several hiking trails full of stunning flora & fauna, an excellent opportunity for some macro photography.

We will lunch at the lodge before heading out to Milpe, stopping along the way to photograph birds in their native environment. After a long day of taking photos and traveling, we will dine at our hotel, located very near our next day’s photography site.

Day 6 – Milpe Reserve and Mindo Cloudforest Foundation

Choco Toucan; Mindo Cloudforest Foundation, Milpe | ©Angela Drake

We will have an early wake-up but a very short drive to a small reserve run by an Ecuadorian non-profit called the Mindo Cloud Forest Foundation. This small reserve protects the montane evergreen forest of the Andean foothills. The terrain offers a different suite of birds than the nearby Tandayapa Valley.

The reserve hosts an excellent hummingbird garden outside its tiny cafe where we will eat both our breakfast and lunch. The lush forest provides the perfect backdrop for photos. These species of hummers will complement the ones found at higher elevations. They include the Green Thorntail, the Green-crowned Woodnymph, the  Green-crowned Brilliant, and the White-whiskered Hermit.

The area also offers other photo opportunities at the fruit feeders which often attract colorful tanager species, euphonias, motmots, and toucans. For those who don’t mind a short hike, it is sometimes possible to observe the outlandish Club-winged Manakin’s courtship display.

After this awesome day, we will have dinner at a local restaurant and spend the night in Mindo.

Day 7 – San Tadeo Gardens and birding en-route to Quito

An early 5 am departure will allow us to arrive at the San Tadeo Gardens before dawn in order to observe and photograph the bright scarlet forms of several displaying Andean Cock-of-the-Rocks. This spectacular forest performance is only the beginning of our wonderful day in this cloud forest setting.

We will eat an ample breakfast before exploring this efficiently laid out private residence which features two different feeder set-ups. We will photograph several species of tanagers like the Black-capped, Beryl-spangled, and Golden-naped, as well as other birds like the Pale-mandibled Aracari, the Red-headed Barbet, and the Crimson-rumped Toucanet.

After visiting San Tadeo, we will drive to Quito, stopping en-route at a local cafe for lunch while also taking the opportunity to observe and photograph several bird species that are restricted to the dry valley ecosystem outside of the capital city. We will arrive at our hotel around 5 pm where we enjoy dinner and a peaceful evening.

Day 8 – Antisana Wildlife Reserve and Tambo Condor

Sparkling Violetear Hummingbird; Tambo Condor | ©Angela Drake

Another early morning departure at 5:30 AM will bring us to the open grasslands surrounding the enormous Antisana Volcano. In order to take advantage of the early morning light, we will have breakfast al fresco in the Antisana Wildlife Reserve Many visitors have voted this location as their favorite destination.

The Antisana Volcano is impressive with a large snow-covered top and dramatic rocky sides. The páramo (grassland) is interspersed with rocky outcrops and scenic high altitude Andean lakes dotted with waterfowl. Indeed the scenery itself may be our biggest photo asset in this location.

The upper páramo is carpeted with Carunculated Caracaras, a striking pied raptor that occurs here in impressive numbers. Black-faced Ibis patrol these high plains as do Andean Lapwings and large flocks of Andean Gulls. The Antisana Volcano is also home to the impressive Andean Condor.

After our visit to the Antisana Wildlife Reserve, we will drive to Tambo Condor, a rural cafe that specializes in local cuisine. We will eat lunch with several species of high altitude hummingbirds including the Sparkling Violetear, the Tyrian Metaltail, the  Black-tailed Trainbearer, and the Shining Sunbeam. From Tambo Condor, we will drive to Quijos Valley and lodge at a comfortable hotel. We will have dinner at a local favorite, Gina’s Cafe.

Day 9 – Wayra Reserve, Laguna Paikawe, and Cabañas San Isidro

Hoatzin, Upper Cuyabeno River | ©Angela Drake

After an early wake-up in Quijos, we head to the Wayra Reserve, a family-operated nature reserve protecting the evergreen montane forest of the Andean East Slope. Our hosts will provide a traditional, regional-style breakfast. We will set up shop in their beautifully designed garden that attracts many species of hummingbirds including the Many-spotted Hummingbird, the Golden-tailed Sapphire, the White-tailed Hillstar, the Wire-crested Thorntail, and others.

Next, we will drive to Laguna Paikawe, a small, pristine lake with an adjoining 13 hectares of primary Amazonian forest in the Napo province. The owners, the Aguinda family, recently received recognition for their conservation efforts and were awarded an official government designation as the Misahualli Wildlife Center.

During a one-hour canoe trip, we will see prehistoric-looking Hoatzins, many colorful tanagers, stately kingfishers, and the large-beaked Greater Ani. A highlight will be the Spider Monkeys, especially if they hang from the tree branches near the water’s edge, and the harder to see Tamarin Monkeys that often scurry along tree trunks. Lunch will be in the river town of Misahualli where we will enjoy local fare.

After this pure Amazon adventure, we will drive to the San Isidro Andean Reserve and Lodge, one of the first designated Private Protected Areas in Ecuador. San Isidro’s montane humid forest is home to the famous Mystery Owl, a yet unidentified species. Many are hopeful that it is altogether a new species of owl. We hope to get some good shots of this unique bird. Dinner will be at the lodge which offers one of the finest cuisines to be found in Ecuador.

Day 10 – San Isidro, Las Brisas, and Guango Lodge

Chestnut-breasted Coronets, Cabañas San Isidro

We will begin our day at 6 AM at the light traps where we will photograph tanagers, caciques, jays, hummingbirds, and flycatchers eating their morning meal. At 7.30 AM, we will visit the White-bellied Antpitta feeding station followed by a short walk back to the main lodge where we will enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet.

The morning makes a great time for photography in the San Isidro hummingbird garden where the Long-tailed Sylph, the Fawn-breasted Brilliant, the Chestnut-breasted Coronet, and others sip from feeders and native flowers.
Late morning, we will drive to Las Brisas in order to add more hummingbirds to our gallery! We will see the East-slope “version” of the stunning Booted Racket-tail, an often hard-to-find bird!

Around noon, we will drive to Guango Lodge and enjoy even more hummingbirds attracted to feeders hanging in a naturalized forest setting. These will include extravagant species like the  Sword-billed Hummingbird, the Collared Inca, the White-bellied Woodstar, and the Tourmaline Sunangel. The hummingbird feeders are also a target for other local birds, most notably the indigo-blue Masked Flowerpiercer, a tempting subject for our cameras. 

The temperate forest that overhangs this comfortable Andean lodge also attracts passing flocks of birds, some of which are approachable and photogenic, including the cerulean-blue Turquoise Jay. We will enjoy lunch and early afternoon here before our return to Quito, arriving about 5 p.m.

At this point, Alejandro can drive you to a hotel in Quito that you have already reserved or he can drop your party at the Quito International Airport for your evening flight. Please make these arrangements prior to booking your trip.