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Ecuador — Andes Tours
Ecuador is one of the smallest South American countries, equivalent in size to the state of Colorado. Ecuador was formerly part of the Inca Empire, and then a Spanish colony, before gaining independence during the 1800’s. The stately Andes mountains (running north to south) essentially divide Ecuador into eastern and western halves. The Andes range, coupled with the cool Humboldt Current to the west, provides for an amazing diversity of habitats and distinct climates. These attributes account for the fact that more than 1,600 bird species have been recorded in Ecuador. This avian richness provides for the premiere Neotropical birding experience, and we expect to see more than 400 species of birds on this tour!
We have designed this itinerary so that most days will provide us with a procession of dazzling hummingbirds and flashy tanagers, interspersed with toucans, trogons, antbirds, flycatchers, and other birds! We should see 50+ hummingbird species on each tour, including such beauties as Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Booted Racket-tail, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, and Shining Sunbeam. We’ll also expect to find 60+ tanager species and 70+ species of flycatchers. The tour begins in Quito, a colorful colonial city nestled in the Andes. Several airlines provide non-stop service to Quito, from departure points in the U.S. We divide our birding time between the west and east slopes of the Andes mountains. We’ll first spend time on the west slope, exploring highland and subtropical rainforests, along with Andean cloud forests. We will also visit the Choco lowlands there, which are home to several Choco endemic species found only on this western Andean slope. Our target species here include such gems as Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Beautiful Jay, Toucan Barbet, and Moss-backed Tanager. We then proceed to the temperate forests, high plains, and paramo of the east slope. Here we’ll search for a different assortment of birds that include Andean Condor, Torrent Duck, and Paradise Tanager. This tour spends a minimum amount of time in driving, which allows us a maximum amount of time in the field.
Our tour accommodations are located in areas of exceptional natural beauty. Our base for operations on this tour is at the San Jorge Ecolodge, located in the Pichincha foothills, overlooking the Quito valley. San Jorge is situated on 200 acres of native vegetation, with exotic gardens and courtyards that compliment this peaceful mountain setting. This lodge is less than a half-hour drive from the Quito airport. Our west slope accommodations are at the San Jorge de Milpe Ecolodge. This brand new facility has the comfort and rustic elegance typical of a fine rainforest lodge. The grounds here have pristine birding trails and several majestic waterfalls. We’ll spend six consecutive nights here. Our east slope lodging will be at Cabanas San Isidro, in the picturesque Quijos Valley. Accommodations here are very comfortable and relaxing. San Isidro is also renowned for its warm hospitality and superb meals. The guest rooms at our lodges feature traditional décor, private bathrooms, and hot showers. All three lodges serve excellent Ecuadorian and international cuisine. They all have hummingbird feeders, fruit feeders, and an abundance of native flora that all help attract a spectacular array of birds! Websites for all of our accommodations can be found on our Links page.
While birding, we’ll make a concerted effort to see and identify some of Ecuador’s extraordinary orchids and wildflowers. Photographic opportunities will be numerous, particularly at the various fruiting trees and feeder locations, where many of the birds will be within a few feet of us. Most of our birding time will be spent at elevations between 4,000-8,000 feet. Although, we will make visits to areas that are above 10,000 feet, and Quito itself is located at an altitude of over 9,000 feet. Our leader, John Shipley, will be joined by a local Ecuadorian guide on most segments of these tours, which will further enhance the overall experience for our 8 tour participants. Come join us and fully immerse yourself in all that is Ecuador: wonderful birds, abundant orchids and wildflowers, snow-capped volcanoes, verdant valleys, and much more! Day 1 (Saturday): Plan to arrive in Quito this afternoon or evening. Night in Quito at San Jorge Ecolodge.
Day 2 (Sunday): Destinations—Yanacocha Reserve and San Jorge Botanical Reserve. Expected Species—Red-crested Cotinga, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Golden-breasted Puffleg, Great Sapphirewing, Tyrian Metaltail, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Hooded Siskin, Cinereous Conebill, Masked Flowerpiercer, Eared Dove, Spectacled Whitestart, Sparkling Violetear, White-bellied Woodstar, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Pearled Treerunner, and perhaps Black-breasted Puffleg (an Ecuadorian endemic). Night in Quito at San Jorge Ecolodge. Days 3-8 (Monday-Saturday): Destinations—Several locations on the west slope of the Andes, including most of these destinations: Old Nono-Mindo Road, El Pahuma
Orchid Reserve, San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve, Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve, Mirador Rio Blanco, Cala Cali Monument, San Miguel de los Bancos, Los Colibries, Verde Cocha, Loma Linda, Four Rivers, San Jorge de Milpe Reserve, Pedro Vicente Maldonado (Rio Silanche Reserve), Tandayapa Bird Lodge, and Mindo Loma Reserve. Expected Species—Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Choco Toucan, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Grass-green Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Black-capped Tanager, Golden-naped Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager, Lemon-rumped Tanager, Metallic-green Tanager, Golden Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, White-capped Dipper, Powerful Woodpecker, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Blue-and-white Swallow, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Long-tailed Antbird, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Cinnamon Becard, Ecuadorian Thrush, Great Thrush, Ruddy Pigeon, Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Red-billed Parrot, Bronze-winged Parrot, White-collared Swift, Red-headed Barbet, Bay-headed Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Thick-billed Euphonia, Black-winged Saltator, Choco Trogon, and several species of hummingbirds including Brown Inca, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Empress Brilliant, Velvet-purple Coronet, Purple-crowned Fairy, Green-fronted Lancebill, Collared Inca, Speckled Hummingbird, and Fawn-breasted Brilliant. Nights in Mindo at San Jorge de Milpe Ecolodge.
Day 9 (Sunday): Destinations—Paz de las Aves. Expected Species—Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Dark-backed Wood-Quail, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Giant Antpitta, Golden-headed Quetzal, Toucan Barbet, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Scaled Fruiteater, Crested Quetzal, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Andean Solitaire, and Plushcap. Night in Quito at San Jorge Ecolodge. Days 10-11 (Monday-Tuesday): Destinations—Antisana and several locations on the east slope of the Andes, including San Isidro, Guango Lodge, Guacamayos Ridge, and San Jorge de Cosanga-Yanayacu Reserve. Expected Species—Andean Lapwing, Black-faced Ibis, Andean Condor, Andean Gull, Andean Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Silvery Grebe, Andean Coot, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, White-rumped Hawk, Slaty Brush-Finch, Sickle-winged Guan, Barred Antthrush, White-bellied Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Black-chested Fruiteater, Yellow-vented Woodpecker, Masked Trogon, Highland Motmot, Ecuadorian Cacique, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Red-hooded Tanager, Blue-backed Conebill, Black-billed Peppershrike, along with new and different hummingbird species including Ecuadorian Hillstar, Mountain Avocetbill, Glittering-throated Emerald, Long-tailed Sylph, Bronzy Inca, and Wire-crested Thorntail. Nights in Cosanga at Cabanas San Isidro. Day 12 (Wednesday): Destinations—Cuyuja and Papallacta Pass. Expected Species—Blue-mantled Thornbill, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, Giant Hummingbird, Andean Siskin, White-chinned Thistletail, Giant Conebill, White-capped Tanager, and Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. Night in Quito at San Jorge Ecolodge. Day 13 (Thursday): The tour concludes at 8:00 a.m. in Quito.
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