Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

Later we will reach Guango Lodge at around 2700m which maintains a beautiful garden with many flowers and feeders for Hummingbirds.  Up to 12 species can be seen in one day and this must be the best place in the world to see Sword-billed Hummingbird. Other special hummers here include the very rare Mountain Avocetbill, Tourmaline Sunangel, Glowing and Golden-breasted Puffleg. At dusk we will look for Rufous-bellied Nighthawk.

Night at Guango Lodge.

White-capped Dipper Photo by Charlie Vogt Doing the list by a comfy fire at Guango

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Day 2 – Guango Lodge to Cabanas San Isidro.  

White-capped Tanager Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

After lunch we will depart for Cabanas San Isidro. As we drop in altitude new birds show up, and we will specially search for mixed species flocks. If it is a sunny day several species of raptors could be seen like Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Short-tailed and White-rumped Hawk. Later in the afternoon we arrive at Cabanas San Isidro; a privately owned lodge with almost 1200 hectares of protected land and a birdlist of over 300 species. 

Highland Motmot Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

Some specialties that we will look for include Sickle-winged Guan, White-throated Quail-Dove, White-capped Parrot, Barred Parakeet, Powerful and Yellow -vented Woodpecker, Highland Motmot, Crested and Golden-headed Quetzal, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Rusty-winged and Spotted Barbtail, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Striped Treehunter, Slate-crowned and White-bellied Antpitta, Barred Antthrush, the beautiful Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant, Handsome and Pale-edged Flycatcher, the rare Dusky Piha, a lek of Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Inca Jay, Black-billed Peppershrike, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, several gorgeous Tanagers as well as Subtropical and Yellow-billed Cacique.

At night we shall look for Rufous-banded Owl and a high elevation Black-banded Owl that might be new species!

Over night at Cabanas San Isidro.

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Day 3 – Cabanas San Isidro and Guacamayos Ridge.

Torrent Tyrannulet Photo by Charlie Vogt

After lunch we will go towards the Guacamayos ridge east of San Isidro, where we will bird the whole afternoon until dusk. This ridge drops down towards the Amazon so here we have a chance for a lot of new species not found at the higher elevation of San Isidro. We shall look for Scaly-naped Amazon, White-tipped Sicklebill, Booted Racket-tail, Wire-crested Thorntail, White -tailed Hillstar, Greenish Puffleg, the near endemic Coppery-chested Jacamar, Black-streaked Puffbird, Rufous-rumped Antwren, Variegated Bristle-Tyrant, the rare Olivaceous Piha, Golden-winged Manakin, Gray-mantled Wren, Chestnut-bellied Thrush, Vermilion Tanager, chance on the very rare White-rimmed Brush-Finch.

Just after dusk we might find Swallow-tailed and Band-winged Nightjar, and White-throated Screech-Owl.

Night at Cabanas San Isidro.

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Flammulated Treehunter
Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

Day 4 – Cabanas San Isidro to Orchids Paradise.

Rufous Antpitta Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

After lunch we bird our way towards Archidona, a village situated at 800m, and we spend the rest of the afternoon birding this area. We look for Fasciated Tiger-Heron, sometimes seen on the fast flowing rivers, White-eyed Parakeet, Smooth-billed Ani, Short-tailed Swift, Blue -fronted Lancebill, Ringed Kingfisher, Little and Yellow-tufted Woodpecker. Other birds that might appear include Ruddy Foliage-gleaner, Great Antshrike, Warbling Antbird, Sooty-headed Tyrannulet, the beautiful Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tyrant, Thrush-like Wren and the curious Black-capped Donacobius. Black-billed Thrush is common as well as several species of tanagers; Black-faced Dacnis, the dimorphic Swallow Tanager, the showy Magpie, Blue-necked and Turquoise Tanager.

At dusk we listen for Tropical Screech-Owl near our hotel.

Overnight at Orchids Paradise.

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Common Potoo Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

Day 5 - Archidona and Loreto Road.

In the morning we shall continue exploring the remnant patches of rainforest east of Archidona. Though mainly degraded and cut over, these secondary patches thrives with birds. We shall look for Coraya Wren, Black Antbird, the warbler-like Orange-fronted Plushcrown, Dusky-billed Parottlet, White-shouldered and White-lined Tanager and the elusive Black-banded Crake. In this area we will also have a chance on some rare and difficult to see birds such as Black Bushbird, Rufous-breasted Piculet, Striped Manakin and the spectacular Hairy-crested Antbird. After enjoying our box-lunches we shall explore the beginning of the Loreto Road. Many common birds abound here in the secondary forest and adjacent pastures. Yellow-browed Sparrow, Dark-breasted Spinetail, Olive-chested Flycatcher and Tropical Kingbird are just a few of the inhabitants we will encounter. As we drive along the road the scenery changes and we will have some spectacular views of the east Andean foothills as well as the Amazonian lowlands. We will make several stops at lush patches of tall rainforest looking for Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer and with luck Spot-winged Parrotlet and Military Macaw. Along the steep roadcuts several Cliff Flycatchers can be seen sallying for insects together with Blue-and -white Swallow. We will make a prolonged stop at one of the taller cliffs scoping for the rare Orange-breasted Falcon. Other birds here include the shy Wing-banded Wren and the near endemic Coppery-chested Jacamar. In the evening we return to Orchid's Paradise for dinner and overnight.

Fasciated Tiger-Heron Photo by Bob Pease

Day 6 - Wild Sumaco.

An early start as we have some distances to travel today. Our destination is the excellent birding area along the Loreto-road, 1 hour away, at the base of the Sumaco volcano. Here, in the foothills of the eastern Andes rising from the Amazon, we find one of the highest diversities of bird-species of any area in the world. We will concentrate on mixed species flocks and flowering trees that attract many species of hummingbirds as well as other nectar craving visitors. Some of the birds we might see today include Black Hawk-Eagle, Gray-rumped Swift and hummers like Violet-headed Hummingbird, Ecuadorian Piedtail and Golden-tailed Sapphire. Other possibilities are Collared Trogon, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Lafresnaye's Piculet, 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. Two colorful cotingas are possible namely Scarlet-breasted and Fiery-throated Fruiteater and we have a chance on Amazonian Umbrellabird. Other interesting 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.

At night we shall try for Rufescent Screech-Owl and the localized Band-bellied Owl. Foothill Screech-Owl and Blackish Nightjar are also possible. Dinner and overnight at the new Wild Sumaco Lodge run by Jonas's foundation which protects over 500 acres of Foothill rainforest harboring over 325 species with many foothill specialties.

Taking a break on the Loreto Road

Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

In the morning we will continue looking for more birds and of special interest in this area is Rufous-naped Greenlet, the recently described Foothill Elaenia, Yellow-breasted Antwren that often accompanies mixed species flocks high in the canopy together with Gray-mantled Wren, Streaked Xenops, Ecuadorian Tyrranulet, the rare White-fronted Tyrranulet and Lemon-browed Flycatcher. Sometimes a Black Hawk-Eagle soars high above the forest or a loud flock of Maroon-tailed Parakeets flashes through the mid canopy. Overnight Wild Sumaco Lodge.

Day 8 - Wild Sumaco and back to Quito.

In the morning we continue to clean up on foothill specialties and later in the afternoon we reluctantly leave this birding El Dorado and head back towards Quito looking for more birds along the way.

Dinner and overnight at Hotel Sebastian in Quito.

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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.
See our Payment and Cancellation Policy page for important information.