Tour Itinerary

Day 0. Arrive Quito. Overnight in Hotel Sebastian.

Cream-colored Woodpecker Photo by Roger Ahlman

Day 1.  Fly to Coca, transfer to canoe for two-hour trip down the Napo River to Napo Wildlife Center or Sacha Lodge, enjoying our box lunch while watching for Cocoi and other herons, Yellow-billed Tern, Swallow-winged Puffbird and Drab Water-Tyrant. If arriving Sacha we bird the productive entrance trail through open areas and Varzea (flooded) forest followed by a short paddle in dugout canoes across the lake with wonderful views of the lake and Hoatzins, Black-capped Donacobius and Silver-beaked Tanager. If arriving NWC, we bird the Varzea forest alongside our dugout canoes during the 2 hour paddle up a small side river.

Day 2-4.  Three full days to explore the best of birding at the Lodge, including: a morning in the canopy tower for breathtaking flocks of parrots, tanagers and raptors; a visit to the legendary parrot clay lick; Terra Firme forest for Reddish-winged Bare-Eye, White- plumed Antbird and many manakins; Varzea forest with chance for Cocha Antshrike, Zigzag and Agami Heron. And last but not least, birding after dinner for owls such as Black-banded Owl and possible night roosts of other birds.

Black-banded Owl Photo by Karin Wuertz-Schaefer Right: Broad-billed Motmot Photo by Charlie Vogt

Day 5.  Depart Lodge. Leaving early in the morning, we arrive late morning in Coca, transfer to a vehicle which will take us birding the rest of the day along the lower Loreto road, looking for Blackish Rail and open country species such as Pearl Kite, White-eared Jacamar, Red-breasted Blackbird, among many others. Further on we head up into the foothills with a view over Amazonia. The Foothill zone was one of the late Ted Parker's and Paul Coopman's favorite areas to bird. We arrive at the new Wildsumaco lodge for late afternoon birding, dinner and overnight.

Day 6.  Wildsumaco Lodge

Wildsumaco Lodge protects over 500 acres of subtropical rainforest and 360 bird species (the list is growing rapidly). It is nestled at the base of Sumaco volcano which rises above the Amazon basin. Here in the eastern foothills we find one of the highest diversities of bird species in the world. Some of the species we might see today include Black Hawk-Eagle, Gray-rumped Swift, Collared Trogon, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Lafresnaye's Piculet. Regional specialties we will seek include, Striolated Puffbird, Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Equatorial Graytail, Black-billed Treehunter, Lined Antshrike, Blackish Antbird, Short-tailed Antthrush and several species of flycatchers, for example Black-and-white Tody-Tyrant, Cliff Flycatcher and Yellow-cheeked Becard. Three beautiful cotingas are possible namely Scarlet-breasted and Fiery-throated Fruiteater as well as Amazonian Umbrellabird. Other appealing species include Blue-rumped Manakin, Musician Wren, Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer and several flashy tanagers including the spectacular Paradise as well as Yellow-throated and Orange-eared Tanager. Hummingbird feeders usually yield Many-spotted & Violet-headed Hummingbird, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Napo Sabrewing, Grey-chinned Hermit, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, as well as Green & Sparkling Violetear.

At night we shall try for Tropical, Rufescent & Foothill Screech-Owl and the local Band-bellied Owl. Blackish Nightjar is also possible. Dinner and overnight at Wildsumaco Lodge.

Day 7.  Wildsumaco to Orchids Paradise.

In the morning we will continue looking for more foothill specialties such as Rufous-naped Greenlet, the recently described Foothill Elaenia, Yellow-breasted Antwren and Gray -mantled Wren (which often accompanies mixed species flocks high in the canopy) Streaked Xenops, Red-billed & Ecuadorian Tyrranulet, Lemon-browed Flycatcher and the rare White-fronted Tyrranulet. Sometimes a Black Hawk-Eagle soars high above the forest, loud flocks of Military Macaws row by or Maroon-tailed Parakeets flash through the mid canopy. We take our box lunches birding on the Loreto road arriving for dinner at a charming riverside hotel near Archidona called Orchids Paradise.

Day 8. Orchids Paradise to San Isidro.

Early rising for the 1 hour drive to El Para, situated at 750m in the transition between upper Tropical and lower Foothill zone with specialties such as Bamboo Foliage-Gleaner, Undulated Antshrike, Striated Antbird (the only site in Ecuador), Large-headed Flatbill and Euler's Flycatcher. Taking our box lunches and birding our way on the main Quito-Tena road through the Subtropical zone over the Guacamayos Ridge, we arrive at Cabañas San Isidro for a delicious dinner.

Day 9.  Birding the diverse habitats and trails of San Isidro for the upper Subtropical specialties (see Eastern Slope for complete description*).

Right: Swordbill Photo by Donald Rehn Tawny Antpitta Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

Juvenile Spectacled Owl which perched in Sacha Lodge Photo by Charlie Vogt

Day 10.  Depart San Isidro, birding along the road, arriving for lunch at Guango Lodge. Birding the varied habitats in the afternoon around the Lodge as well as watching the Hummingbird dogfights around the feeders*. Overnight at Guango.

Day 11.  Early-morning birding around Guango, birding over Papallacta pass*, arriving at your hotel in Quito before dinner.

Day 12. Transfer to airport for international flight home.

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Tour Information

Price per person: Click here for prices
Included: All lodging, meals, expert bilingual birdguide, transportation and hotel transfer.
Not included: Last night dinner; drinks; tips.
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