mindo forest bird

Ecuador | Southern Ecuador Birding Tour – 18 days

Areas to Explore

Our private 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 Screamer, 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 – Zumba, Marañon specialties

Key species:

Marañon Spinetail, Marañon Thrush, Tataupa Tinamou, Russed-crowned Crake, Purple-throated Euphonia, Buff-bellied Tanager

Early morning

Full day birding in Zumba, Marañon specialties.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Lunch and continue birding in this area.

Evening

Dinner and lodging at Casa Simpson Lodge.

– DAY 9 – Cajanuma area in Podocarpus National Park

Key species:

Masked Saltator, Glowing Puffleg, Barred Fruiteater, Bar-bellied Woodpecker

Early morning

Birding in Tapichalaca Reserve.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Morning

After breakfast, check-out and continue to Cajanuma area in Podocarpus National Park.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Evening

Dinner and lodging at Copalinga Lodge.

– DAY 10 – 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 11 – Copalinga Reserve

Key species:

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

Early morning

Morning birding in Copalinga Reserve.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

After lunch, continue to Yankuam area.

Evening

Dinner and lodging at Yankuam area.

– DAY 12 – Yankuam Area

Key species:

Orange-throated Tanager, White-bellied Pygmy-Tyrant, Zimmer’s Antbird, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, Blackish Pewee, Purplish Jacamar

Early morning

Full day birding in Yankuam area.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

Lunch and continue birding in this amazing birding area.

Evening

Dinner and lodging at Yankuam area.

– DAY 13 – Yankuam area and road to Yantzaza

Key species:

Bluish-fronted Jacamar

Early morning

Morning birding in Yankuam area.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

After lunch, continue to Yantzaza with birding on the road.

Evening

Dinner and lodging in Yantzaza town.

– DAY 14 – El Zarza

Key species:

Solitary Eagle, Equatorial Graytail, Spectacled Prickletail, Roraiman Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Tyrannulet

Afternoon

Lunch and continue birding in this area.

Evening

Dinner and lodging in Yantzaza town.

– DAY 15 – Yantzaza Area

Key species:

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

Early morning

Morning, birding in Yantzaza area.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

After lunch, continue to Saraguro Town

Evening

Dinner and lodging in Saraguro Town.

– DAY 16 – 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 17 – Cerro de Arcos and Yunguilla Reserve

Key species:

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

Early morning

Hotel check-out and early departure to Cerro de Arcos.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Afternoon

After lunch, continue to Yunguilla Reserve.

E-bird Hotspot Link. Click Here

Evening

Dinner and lodging in Cuenca city.

– DAY 18 – 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.

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Ecuador | Southern Ecuador Birding Tour – 18 days