mindo forest bird

Ecuador | Southern Bird Photography Tour – 14 days

Areas to Explore

Our private photo birding tour with main birding spots in the Southern Ecuador

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Jocotoco Reserves

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Ecuadorian Reserves

Available Extension to Ayampe Area in the Coast:
Esmeraldas Woodstar

DEPARTURE / RETURN LOCATION

Guayaquil city. Other locations available on request

DEPARTURE TIME

Early departure from Guayaquil Hotel.

Optional: early pick up from Guayaquil airport

Include

NOT INCLUDED

RECOMMENDATIONS:

ITINERARY

– DAY 1 – Manglares-Churute

Key species:

Horned Scramer, Limpkin,Peruvian Meadowlark, Magnificent Frigatebird, Roseate Spoonbill, Royal Flycatcher, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, White Ibis, White-cheeked Pintail

Early morning

Pick up at Guayaquil Hotel and continue to Manglares-Churute which is 1 hour from Guayaquil.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Lunch and visit to “La Lagartera”.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Evening

Evening, 2 hours ride to Umbrellabird Lodge. Dinner and sleep.

– DAY 2 – Buenaventura Reserve

Key species:

Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Rufous-headed Chachalaca, Chestnut-backed Antbird, El Oro Parakeet, El Oro Tapaculo

Early morning

Breakfast and full day birding at Buenaventura Reserve.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Lunch and continue birding in the reserve.

Evening

Dinner and lodging at Umbrellabird Lodge.

– DAY 3 – Buenaventura Reserve and El Empalme

Key species:

Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Rufous-headed Chachalaca, Chestnut-backed Antbird, El Oro Parakeet, El Oro Tapaculo, White-headed Brushfinch, Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch, Short-tailed Woodstar

Early morning

Birding in Buenaventura Reserve.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Morning

After breakfast, continue to Urraca Lodge with lunch on the way and stop at El Empalme.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Evening

Dinner and lodging at Urraca Lodge.

– DAY 4 – Jorupe Reserve

Key species:

Amazilia Hummingbird, Whooping Motmot, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, White-tailed Jay, Ecuadorian Piculet, White-edged Oriole

Early morning

Full day birding in Jorupe Reserve.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Lunch and continue birding in this amazing reserve.

Evening

Dinner and lodging at Urraca Lodge.

– DAY 5 – Utuana Reserve

Key species:

Rainbow Startfrontlet, Purple-throated Sunangel, Line-cheeked Spinetail, Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, Black-cowled Saltator

Early morning

Early check-out and departure to Utuana Reserve which is 1 hour from the lodge.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Continue to Vilcabamba city.

Evening

Dinner and lodging at Vilcabamba city.

– DAY 6 – Cerro Toledo

Key species:

Neblina metaltail, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Loja Tapaculo, Black-headed Hemispingus, Masked Mountain-Tanager

Early morning

Full day birding in Cerro Toledo.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Continue to Casa Simpson Lodge

Evening

Dinner and lodging at Casa Simpson Lodge.

– DAY 7 – Tapichalaca Reserve

Key species:

Jocotoco Antpitta, Amethyst-Throated Sunangel, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Bearded Guan, Chusquea Tapaculo

Early morning

Full day birding in Tapichalaca Reserve.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Lunch and continue birding in the reserve.

Evening

Dinner and lodging at Casa Simpson Lodge.

– DAY 8 – Tapichalaca Reserve

Key species:

Jocotoco Antpitta, Amethyst-Throated Sunangel, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Bearded Guan, Chusquea Tapaculo

Early morning

Morning Birding in Tapichalaca Reserve.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Lunch and transportatoin to Copalinga Reserve.

Evening

Dinner and lodging at Copalinga Lodge.

– DAY 9 – Copalinga Reserve

Key species:

Great Tinamou, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Amazonian Umbrellabird, White-breasted Parakeet, Laceolated Monklet

Early morning

Full day birding in Copalinga Reserve.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Lunch and continue birding in the reserve.

Evening

Dinner and lodging at Copalinga Lodge.

– DAY 10 – Yantzaza Area

Key species:

Spangled Coquette, Paradise Tanager, Little Woodstar, Amethyst Woodstar, Turquoise Tanager

Early morning

Lodge check-out and birding in Yantzaza area to take photos of the Spangled Coquette and other species.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

After lunch, continue to Saraguro Town

Evening

Dinner and lodging in Saraguro Town.

– DAY 11 – Cerro de Arcos

Key species:

Blue-throated Hillstar, Viridian Metaltail, Gren-tailed Trainbearer, Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant, Pale-headed Brushfinch

Early morning

Morning Birding in Cerro de Arcos to see the recently discovered Blue-throated Hillstar.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Lunch and continue in the reserve.

Evening

Dinner and lodging in Saraguro town.

– DAY 12 – Cerro Acanama

Key species:

Crescent-faced Antpitta, Chestnut-bellied Cotinga, Mountain Caracara, Andean Pygmy-Owl, Red-faced Parrot

Early morning

Full day birding in Cerro Acanama.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Lunch and continue birding in this area.

Evening

Dinner and lodging in Saraguro Town.

– DAY 13 – Yunguilla Reserve

Key species:

Pale-headed Brushfinch

Early morning

Hotel check-out and departure to Yunguilla Reserve.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Lunch and continue to Cuenca city.

– DAY 14 – Cajas National Park

Key species:

Violet-throated Metaltail, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Tit-like Dacnis, Giant Conebill

Early morning

Hotel check-out and early departure to Cajas National Park.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Lunch and continue to Guayaquil city to end tour.