Black-breasted Puffleg Photo by Roger Ahlman

After enjoying our box lunches we head to the new road to Mindo stopping just past the Equator monument to look for White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant and many interandean specialties such as Ash-breasted and Band-tailed Sierra-Finch, Band-tailed Seedeater, Giant Hummingbird, Purple-collared Woodstar and Blue-and-yellow Tanager. We then bird the lower Tandayapa Valley arriving for dinner at Bellavista in a beautiful Cloud Forest Reserve at 2000m with 700 hectares of protected land and 9 km of trails.

Tanager Finch Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

Day 2

In the morning we bird around Bellavista looking for 3 spectacular Chocó endemics; Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan and Tanager Finch (the only spot in Ecuador for this unique and elusive species), also locating Tanager flocks and return for lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon we visit Tony and Barbara's place for an incredible visual feast of hummingbirds at the feeders including the great Empress Brilliant, Green-tailed Trainbearer and maybe the rare Little Woodstar (up to 24 species in one day have been seen, a world record!) as well as intercepting mixed flocks.

After dusk we shall try for Rufescent Screech-Owl (sometimes split and called Colombian Screech-Owl), Band-winged and Swallow-tailed Nightjar. Rufous-bellied Nighthawk often flies around the Lodge area.

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Day 3

Early morning birding around the lodge and after breakfast we head up to Tandayapa pass looking for Ocellated Tapaculo, Beautiful Jay. After lunch we head off to Mindo looking for mixed Tanager flocks which also contain many flycatchers, woodcreepers and ovenbirds. In particular we'll be on the lookout for Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Grass-green and Glistening-green Tanager, also Green-and-Black Fruiteater and Crimson-rumped Toucanet. Afternoon visit to Mindo Loma for Black-chinned Mountain Tanager and Velvet-purple Coronet among a dazzling array of many other Tanagers and Hummingbirds. White-throated Quail-Dove is now coming in to feed on wheat grains!  Overnight above Mindo.

Day 4

We start at the "hottest" new site, which has been written up in ABA's Birding as well as Neotropical Birding, Paz de las Aves where Rodrigo Paz has habituated Great, Yellow -breasted and Moustached Antpittas. In addition we visit a very active Cock-of-the-Rock lek with up to a dozen extravagant males displaying raucously. Overnight same lodge.

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An early start to bird the waterfall trail road above Mindo for Red-headed Barbet, Bay Wren, Crimson-rumped Toucanet and Yellow-faced Grassquit as well as a chance of Orange-crowned Euphonia. Late morning coffee break watching the Hummingbird feeders at Los Colibries Restaurant. Afternoon visit to Milpe road to begin ticking the birds described for day 6. We bird our way leisurely back to the lodge for lunch looking for Golden-headed Quetzal, Scarlet-backed and Golden-olive Woodpecker as well as Golden-rumped, Orange-bellied and Golden-crowned Euphonia. PM birding around the lodge or out the waterfall road. Overnight same lodge.

Day 6

We head off downslope starting early at the Milpe road for delectibles such as Moss-backed Tanager, great views of exquisite Club-winged Manakins displaying at a lek, Broad-billed Motmot, Chocó Toucan, Pale-mandibled Araçari, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia as well as Rufous-throated and Glistening-green Tanager.

Box Lunch by the River at Puerto Quito and off to Rio Palenque for afternoon birding and overnight. After driving many miles through oil palm and banana plantations it's a relief to find ourselves in a Lowland Tropical Rainforest refuge chock-full of birds we haven't seen before such as: Red-lored Amazon, Bronzy Hermit, Band-tailed Barbthroat, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, White-tailed Trogon, Barred Puffbird, Red-billed Scythebill along with Southwest specialties such as Rufous-headed Chachalaca, Slaty Becard, Ochraceous Attila and Pacific Royal-Flycatcher. Overnight Rio Palenque.

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Day 7

We continue to work the very bird-rich Rio Palenque through lunch looking for Dusky Pigeon , Little Cuckoo, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Orange-fronted Barbet, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Slaty-winged Foliage-Gleaner, Western Slaty-Antshrike, Pacific Antwren, Sooty -headed and Brown-capped Tyrannulets, Scarlet-browed Tanager and the seasonal Crimson-breasted Finch.

Mid afternoon we head off to PVM with some late afternoon birding before arriving at hotel.

Gray Hawk Photo by Roger Ahlman

Day 8

We bird the Silanche road (AKA Chocó patch) for many lowland species and Chocó endemics such as Black-striped Woodcreeper, Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, Chocó Warbler, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, Emerald, Gray-and-gold, as well as Blue-whiskered Tanagers.

After our box lunch we head to km 106.5 (4 Rivers) to look for Esmeraldas Antbird, Chocó Trogon, and Checker-throated Antwren.

We wind up this week's flurry of birds and drive off to Quito arrivng at the hotel in the early evening.

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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.