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We have also included 3 nights at Copalinga lodge in the main tour as well as a visit to Yunguilla reserve for the Pale-headed Brush-Finch and a night in Cuenca for an invigorating survey of paramo specialties in Cajas. Tour starts and ends in Guayaquil. We are offering the 14 day tour for less than what a 13 day tour would run. Remember, we only count birding days so the trip including international travel is 16 days total.
A 4 day extension to Santa Elena Penninsula and Machalilla National Park allows us to observe the profusion of waterbirds at Salinas salt ponds, as well as arid Tumbesian specialists and the highly endangered Esmeraldas Woodstar.
Tour Itinerary
Day 0. Arrive Guayaquil, overnight Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
Day 1. Manglares Churute to Buenaventura.
Horned Screamer at Manglares-Churute
Photo by Roger Ahlman
We start the early morning birding Cerro Blanco for our first Tumbesians; Scrub Nightjar, Necklaced Spinetail, Collared Antshrike (ssp. Bernardi), Gray-breasted Flycatcher. Nearby at Puerto Hondo we try for Rufous-necked Wood-Rail. Later along roadside marshes east of Guayaquil looking for herons, egrets, Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, Least Grebe, Snail Kite, Savanna Hawk, Wattled Jacana, White-throated Crake, Masked Water-Tyrant and Peruvian Meadowlark. Later at Manglares Churute we scope for Horned Screamers at lake Canclón surrounded by marshes and dry forest. Afternoon drive to Buenaventura close to Piñas where we will stay 2 nights at the Umbrellabird Lodge. We make a stop at the Santa Rosa marshes on the way looking for more herons, waterbirds and waders.
Overnight Buenaventura.
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Great Black-Hawk
Photo by Peter Oxford
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Black-and-White Owl (Juvenile)
Photo by Charlie Vogt
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Guayaquil Woodpecker
Photo by Roger Ahlman
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Day 2. Buenaventura all day.
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Violet-bellied Hummingbird
Photo by Bob Pease
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Lush and clad with epiphytes, the foothill rainforest here is in stark contrast to the arid region we visited before. Situated between 600-1200m, Buenaventura reserve is home to some of the country's most threatened species due to severe deforestation in western Ecuador. Owned by the Jocotoco Foundation, this reserve is one of few protected forests left in the region. We will visit a nearby lek of the spectacular Long-wattled Umbrellabird and Club-winged Manakin both Chocó endemics. At certain times of the year (usually Oct-Dec) the endangered Umbrellabird will put on a full show by opening his head umbrella and erecting the wattle feathers, producing the most impressive avian display I have seen in the Americas. Up the road or on a forest path we might encounter the rare Brownish Twistwing and hear the Plain-backed Antpitta (the most difficult Antpitta to see). Later on we will scan for the endangered Tumbesian endemic Gray-backed Hawk and the rare Solitary Eagle among the plentiful kettles of Swallow-tailed Kites. Above on the back side of the ridge we might catch a Fasciated Tiger-Heron on our quest for the other endangered endemic the El Oro Parakeet. With luck we will see them foraging or on nest boxes which have decreased the level of nestling predation by Crimson-rumped Toucanets.
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Green Thorntail
Photo by Bob Pease
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Overnight Buenaventura.
Day 3. Buenaventura to Arenillas, Alamor, El Empalme and Jorupe
In the morning the hummingbird feeders are a frenzy of activity with Green Thorntail, White-necked Jacobin, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Green-crowned and Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Andean Emerald, Brown and Sparkling Violetear, Purple-bibbed Whitetip and the occasional White-vented Plumeleteer, Emerald-bellied Woodnymph, and Long-billed Starthroat. The endangered Tumbesian Rufous-headed Chachalaca come brazenly to the fruit feeders along with wild Coatis which even scamper across the dining hall floor! Brown-billed Scythebill, Pacific Tuftedcheek, Uniform Treehunter, the endemic El Oro Tapaculo, Rufous-winged Tyrannulet,
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White-headed Brush-Finch
Photo by Patricio Herrera
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Ochraceous Attila, Whiskered and Song Wren, Pale-vented Thrush, probably what seems to be Speckled Tanager (not seen anywhere else in Ecuador but not yet collected!), Rufous-throated Tanager and Tricolored Brush-Finch.
We set off with a box lunch driving to Arenillas, Alamor and El Empalme. Returning to the Tumbesian region we search for Tumbes Swift, White-headed, White-winged and Bay-crowned Brush-Finch. Arriving at the new Urraca Lodge at Jorupe Reserve for dinner.
Overnight Jorupe.
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Day 4. Jorupe all day
Comfortably based in Jorupe we can spend the entire day birding for the Tumbesians and local specialties including Gray-capped Cuckoo, Ochre-bellied Dove, Ecuadorian Piculet, Blackish-headed Spinetail,
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Pacific Pygmy-Owl
Photo by Peter Oxford
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Henna-hooded and Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner, Watkin's Antpitta, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Tumbes Pewee, Sooty-crowned and Gray-breasted Flycatcher and Slaty Becard. Playing the Pacific Pygmy-Owl during a lull invariably stirs up the neighborhood with a mixed flock of mobsters including Tropical Gnatcatcher, White-tailed Jay, Plumbeous-backed Thrush and Crimson-breasted Finch. For more color, add Yellow-tailed and White-edged Oriole. In the evening we have a leisurely 3 nights to bag the West Peruvian (Tumbes) Screech-Owl.
Overnight Jorupe.
Day 5. Jorupe to Zapotillo.
We continue exploring the area and then bird our way towards Zapotillo, through gently rolling landscapes that are a brilliant green now during the rainy season. Forest patches interspersed with agricultural lands and as we approach Zapotillo, we bird through deciduous scrub and desert-like areas. Many raptors abound here and we are on the look out for Hook-billed Kite,
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Comb Duck
Photo by Charlie Vogt
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Gray Hawk, Laughing Falcon and Northern Crested-Caracara. Also more chances for Tumbes Swift, Slaty Becard and Saffron Siskin.
The very dry areas around Zapotillo often holds both Tumbes Swallow and Tumbes Hummingbird. A nearby marsh often has a population of Comb Ducks, at la Ceiba reserve owned by Nature & Culture International we get more chances for Blackish-headed Spinetail and Elegant Crescentchest. Later we bird our way slowly back looking at Red-masked Parakeet, Groove-billed Ani, Striped Cuckoo, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Pacific Elaenia, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant, Baird's Flycatcher, Superciliated Wren, and Saffron Finch.
Overnight Jorupe.
Day 6. Jorupe, Sozoranga, Utuana to Vilcabamba
From Jorupe we head east and uphill to Sozoranga, Around the main plaza in Sozoranga a colony of Chestnut-collared Swallows have found their haven under the church roof. Just outside this pleasant village small patches of
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Male Parrot-billed Seedeater
Photo by Roger Ahlman
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forest still cling to the hillsides and we will be welcomed by a rich dawn chorus. Targets here include the Gray-chinned Hermit which might be split to Porculla Hermit, a good chance of the rare Little Woodstar, the rare and local Andean Slaty-Thrush, and the metallic sounding Black-and-white Tanager.
Still early before the fog rolls in, we drive to nearby Utuana. Three specialties are found here and hardly anywhere else in Ecuador; Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Black-crested Tit-Tyrant and Piura Hemispingus. We will also
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Watkins Antpitta
Photo by Janos Olah Jr.
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concentrate on the following, many of them rare and difficult elsewhere; Andean Tinamou, Rainbow Starfrontlet, Purple-throated Sunangel, Line-cheeked Spinetail, Chapman's Antshrike, Gray-headed Antbird, Loja Tyrannulet, Jelski's Chat-Tyrant and Black-cowled Saltator.
Later we continue towards Loja and Vilcabamba making several stops along the road birding for a subspecies of Amazilia Hummingbird (a.k.a. Loja Hummingird), Three-banded Warbler, another chance for Andean Slaty-Thrush, Rufous-naped Brush-Finch and Tumbes Sparrow as well as Parrot-billed and Drab Seedeater. On the outskirts of Vilcabamba we have a good chance for Plumbeous Rail.
Overnight Hosteria Vilcabamba.
Day 7. Podocarpus National Park to Tapichalaca.
As we enter the temperate forest of Cajanuma at 2800m we search carefully for the rare Bearded Guan, near-endemic to Ecuador, as well as Scaly-naped Amazon, Highland Trogon, Turquoise Jay,
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Rufous-banded Owl
Photo by David Sewall
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Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Pearled Treerunner. In the bamboo, we try for and Chusquea Tapaculo, Plain-tailed Wren and Plushcap. Amidst the mixed flocks some beautiful Tangara tanagers like Saffron-crowned and Blue-and-black; four gaudy Mountain-Tanagers, Scarlet-bellied, Lacrimose, Hooded and Buff-breasted; the eye-popping Grass-green Tanager, Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager and Black-headed Hemispingus.
Other possiblilities include Tawny-brested Tinamou, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, White-throated Quail-Dove, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Orange-banded Flycatcher, Barred Fruiteater, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Red-hooded Tanager and Yellow-billed Cacique.
In the afternoon we bird our way south to Quebrada Honda staying 2 nights at the comfortable Casa Simpson Lodge at Tapichalaca Reserve.
Day 8. Tapichalaca all day
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White-capped Tanager
Photo by Roger Ahlman
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Quebrada Honda became famous when Robert Ridgely discovered a remarkable new species of Grallaria; the Jocotoco Antpitta. The foundation was started soon after and now protects 8 forest reserves around Ecuador which harbor many highly endangered and endemic species. We start the first morning birding the Quebrada trail towards the feeding area for the amazing Jocotoco Antpitta which is now habituated. Along the trail we listen for Golden-plumed Parakeet, Andean Pygmy-Owl and try for Chusquea Tapaculo as well as Orange-banded Flycatcher. Back at the lodge around the feeders we get White-bellied Woodstar, Shining Sunbeam, Mountain Velvetbreast, Glowing Puffleg, Tyrian Metaltail, the local Rufous-capped Thornbill and Amethyst-throated Sunangel.
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Jocotoco Antpitta
Photo by Roger Ahlman
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Other birds that we might see are White-capped Parrot, Powerful Woodpecker, Crested Quetzal, Emerald Toucanet, Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Uniform Antshrike, Blackish Tapaculo, Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, also two outstanding Tanagers; the radiant Golden-crowned Tanager and the rare White-capped Tanger.
After lunch we head downslope towards Valladolid and beyond for numerous Marañon endemics and specialties including Marañon Spinetail, Marañon Thrush, Buff-bellied Tanager, Red-crested Finch, Rufous-fronted Thornbird. Last visit I had Straw-backed Tanager (only the second time I had seen it) and Blue-naped Chlorophonia which was new for the Tapichalaca list.
Overnight Tapichalaca.
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Torrent Duck
Photo by Charlie Vogt
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Rufous-capped Thormbill
Photo by Janos Olah Jr.
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Day 9. Cerro Toledo to Loja and Zamora.
Early take off for Cerro Toledo where we drive higher into elfin forest, with stunted and gnarled trees and bushes bordering the páramo; an alpine habitat where the Mouse-colored Thistletail lives. Other targets include Neblina Metaltail, Chestnut-bellied Cotinga and the gorgeous Masked Mountain-Tanager.
Later we bird back to Loja and over the north end of Podocarpus to Zamora. As we reach the lower subtropical zone of the eastern foothills a whole new range of birds abound including Sickle-winged Guan, Red-billed Parrot, the rare Rufous-vented Whitetip, Greenish Puffleg, Golden-headed Quetzal, Yellow-vented Woodpecker, Rufous-breasted and Pale-edged Flycatcher, Dusky Piha, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Golden-winged Manakin.
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Fasciated Tiger-heron
Photo by Roger Ahlman
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Also good chances on some gorgeous but uncommon Tanagers like Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Blue-browed, Rufous-crested and Vermilion Tanager as well Yellow-whiskered Bush-Tanager. We arrive for dinner at Copalinga Lodge, owned by a Belgian couple it is the best designed lodge for birders around.
Overnight Copalinga Lodge.
Day 10. Bombuscaro.
We explore one of the richest habitats on earth; the eastern foothills of the Andes. Several threatened species are harbored in these forests of Podocarpus National Park and three are near-endemics to Ecuador; the beautiful White-breasted Parakeet, Coppery-chested Jacamar and Foothill Elaenia; a recently described species from this locality. Birding the park entrance trail in the morning we look for extraordinary birds as Spot-winged Parrotlet, Black-streaked Puffbird, Lanceolated Monklet, Equatorial Graytail, Black-billed Treehunter, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, White-streaked Antvireo, Rufous-rumped Antwren. as well as Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch and Orange-billed Sparrow.
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Coppery-chested Jacamar
Photo by Boris Herrera
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In the forest we bird for treats such as Plain-backed Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, White-crowned Tapaculo, Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant, Orange-crested Flycatcher, chance on the spectacular Amazonian Umbrellabird, Blue-rumped Manakin, Gray-mantled Wren, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, Spotted Nightingale-Thrush and Bronze-green Euphonia.
Around the feeders of Copalinga several species of hummingbirds come and visit, which are normally quiet difficult to see in these dense forests; Violet-fronted and Black-throated Brilliant, Green Hermit, and on the Verbena hedges the little-known Spangled Coquette, Wire-crested Thorntail and Amethyst-throated Woodstar.
After lunch we may road bird the abandoned airstrip below Zamora for a relaxing afternoon of easy open country birding with many Amazon species to fill a scope. We'll finish this rich day with some owling as several nightbirds can be seen here; Band-bellied Owl, Rufescent Screech-Owl as well as Blackish Nightjar.
Overnight Copalinga Lodge.
Day 11. Old Loja - Zamora Road.
In the morning we road bird especially for mixed flocks searching for Foothill Elaenia, Red-billed and Ecuadorian Tyrannulet as well as Equatorial Graytail and Spectacled Prickletail. The lower canopy allows us eye-level views of flashy tanager flocks with better chances of Paradise Tanager but also Green-and-gold, Golden-eared, Yellow-bellied and Spotted Tanager.
Green-and-black Fruiteater
Photo by Roger Ahlman
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Day 12. Copalinga to Loja, Saraguro and Giron.
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Buff-fronted Owl
Photo by Roger Ahlman
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We begin birding the Old Loja-Zamora road heading back towards Loja looking for more birds like Olive-backed Woodcreeper Golden-crowned Tanager, Ashy-headed Tyrannulet, Chestnut-bellied Thrush and Olivaceous Siskin.
Later we bird the forest of Huashipampa, just outside Saraguro. Here we have a good possibility to see the endangered Red-faced Parrot. As we head further north we shall look for Mountain Caracara, Black-winged Ground-Dove, the endangered White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant, White-browed Chat-Tyrant and the Azuay race of Streak-backed Canastero.
Overnight Hotel Sol y Agua, Santa Isabel west of Giron.
Day 13. Girón to Cuenca and El Cajas National Park.
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Pale-headed Brush-Finch
Photo by Janos Olah Jr.
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The morning's target is an Ecuador tumbesian endemic and one of the world's most threatened species, the Pale-headed Brush-Finch. Rediscovered here by Niels Krabbe, this is the only known population of this Ecuadorian endemic now with only around 130 individuals left. The land is owned by the Jocotoco Foundation and hopefully more populations will be found in the near future. Also present are Pacific Elaenia, Drab Seedeater, Rufous-chested Tanager and a chance of Buff-fronted Owl.
In the mid-morning we head to Cuenca. Just west of Ecuador's 3rd biggest city lies El Cajas National Park. Sculpted by Pleistocene glaciers, the landscape is decorated with kettle lakes surrounded by rounded hills and steep cliffs. In the elfin treeline forest, the Violet-throated Metaltail a hummingbird, has evolved here and is found nowhere else in the world. According to recent DNA studies, high altitude hummingbirds have evolved more rapidly than low altitude species! Other birds of interest are Ecuadorian Rail, Andean Ruddy-Duck, Andean Gull, Andean Pygmy-Owl, Blue-mantled and Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Andean Tit-Spinetail.
Overnight Hotel Carvallo, a beautiful boutique hotel in Cuenca.
Day 14. El Cajas National Park to Guayaquil.
We pack up and return to Cajas for more chances on the birds above as well as Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant, Giant Conebill and the unique Tit-like Dacnis. We continue birding downslope past Molleturo and arrive for dinner in Guayaquil.
Overnight Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
Day 15. International departure or continue on extension.
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Gray-and-white Tyrannulet
Photo by Charlie Vogt
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Early departure towards Salinas, we bird the dry scrub and thorn forest on the Santa Elena peninsula for arid Tumbesian endemics such as Necklaced Spinetail, Gray-and-white Tyrannulet, Tumbesian Tyrannulet, Sulphur-throated Finch.
Around Salinas we bird the Ecuasal salt ponds and oceanside for plentiful shorebirds and waterfowl including possibly Great Grebe (recently new for Ecuador), Hudsonian Godwit, Surfbird, Chilean Flamingo plus hundreds of Wilson's Phalarope and a handful of Red-necked Phalarope. Peruvian Pelicans consort with Brown Pelicans as we scan the skeins of Brown Boobies for Peruvian Boobies. Peregrine Falcon and Merlin occasionally whip up a storm of birds.
In the twilight we watch Scub Nightjars strafe the dry thorn woodland and later pan our spotlights for Peruvian Thick-knee stalking the sand like a gawky ET.
Overnight Punta Carnero, a very comfortable hotel perched on a sea cliff.
Day 16. Salinas to Puerto Lopez.
Heading up the coast we explore the undulations of humid and dry forest. Drier areas occur in more exposed seaward promontories while humid forest is tucked in valleys remote from the cold Humboldt current and on higher ridges swathed in clouds. The changing mosaic provides a curious juxtaposition of Chestnut-mandibled Toucans near cactus coastline.
We arrive late afternoon for dusk song and sunset at the adorable Manta Raya Lodge.
Day 17. Rio Blanco Valley, Machalilla National Park.
Today we bird the Rio Blanco Valley just east of Puerto Lopez the nearby fishing village and tourist haven. With the mosaic of humid and dry ecosystems we enjoy the sympatry of Chocó and Tumbesian endemics. Pale-mandibled Araçaris gang up on the Cecropia fruits while Pale-browed Tinamou and Watkin's Antpitta whistle in the undergrowth.
After lunch we visit los Frailes for a chance of Elegant Crescentchest moving in the open understory. We have likely heard them before on the trip but they are often hidden in dense ground cover.
Overnight Manta Raya Lodge.
Day 18. Rio Ayampe.
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Esmeraldas Woodstar
Photo by Roger Ahlman
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Rio Ayampe is a reknowned birding site just south of our lodge. It is presently unprotected but in the future may become a reserve. One of our main targets here is the highly endangered tumbesian, the Esmeraldas Woodstar, a seasonal hummingbird that haunts the lower valley. In the tangles we will also look for Jet Antbird as well as Pacific Royal-Flycatcher. In addition we have more chances for Ochre-bellied Dove, Ecuadorian and Olivaceous Piculet, Gray-breasted Flycatcher, Ochraceous Attila, Superciliated and Speckle-breasted Wren.
In the afternoon we explore the Cantalapiedra road just south of Ayampe for more chances on the above as well as Henna-hooded Foliage-Gleaner, Slaty and One-colored Becard, Black-capped Sparrow and Saffron Siskin.
Overnight Manta Raya Lodge.
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Day 19. Ayampe to Guayaquil.
We spend the morning cleaning up at Rio Ayampe and after lunch head over the coastal ridge to Jipijapa and on to Guayaquil.
Overnight Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
Day 20. International flight home.
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle
Photo by Janos Olah Jr.
Tour Information
Price per person: Click here for prices
Included: All lodging, meals, expert bilingual birdguide, transportation, hotel transfer and entrance fees.
Not included: Last night dinner; drinks; tips.
See our Payment and Cancellation Policy page for important information.
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