Ecuador is without a doubt a must-see destination for bird-watchers. Currently 1640 distinct species of birds have been registered. That is 17% of the birds in the whole planet, in an area the size of the United Kingdom. 80% of the birds that exist in Brasil can be found in 3% of Ecuador’s territory. Those and other relevant facts make Ecuador ranks first in the world for holding the largest concentration of birds, according to the number of bird species per unit of area. Additionally we must take into consideration the fact that in Ecuador you can bird-watch all year – round, attributes enough to be called “The bird country”.

The lowlands northeast of Choco and the southeast lowlands of the Tumbesian Region on the Ecuadorian coast, have the largest number of native species according to studies carried out by Birdlife International.

There are several bioregions in Ecuador, each one with its own natural features that has resulted in unique adaptations and the evolution of a wide range of species. The various different habitats found in Ecuador are: lowlands coastal forest, mountain forest in the eastern and western Andes, dry forest, mountain scrub and paramo, and the Amazon rain forest. Plus Galapagos, been a bird-world on its own.     

See:

Bird-watching wonders near Cuenca
Bird-watching southern Ecuador
Nono Mindo road - Yancocha Reserve & Bellavista Lodge
Bellavista cloud forest

Bird-watching wonders near Cuenca

Private, Any Day, Full Day

Cuenca is strategically located near important ecosystems with an interesting diversity of birds:

EL CAJAS NATIONAL PARK (35 Km) hosts some 150 upper Andean species; the most notable is the violet-throated Metaltail (humming bird) which is practically endemic to this park. Other birds found here are the Caranculated Caracara, Tawny Antpitta, Stout-billed Cinclodes and the Ecuadorian Hillstar Hummingbird.

LLAVIUCO (17 Km), only 20 min away is the lower part of El Cajas NP. It possesses a highly interesting mixture of habitats for bird-watching: well preserved mountain forests, paramos, lakes and pastures. The mountain Toucan, Andean Guan, masked Trogon, Tourqoise Jay, colorful Tanagers and 12 species of Hummingbirds and water birds are among the highlights.

THE YUNGUILLA VALLEY (85 Km) route takes you into an inter-Andean valley which marks a transition to coastal plain, with different climatic zones and ecosystems: the western Andean foothills, the subtropical valley and the desert like zone. It is also the doorway to the Tumbesian region. Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Stripped Owl, the endemic Tumbesian Pacific Elania and Pale-headed Brush-Finch were rediscovered in 1998.

GUALACEO – LIMON ROUTE (90 Km) begins at 11500 ft and ends in the other side of the eastern Andean range at 4000ft providing different ecosystems: paramo, bushed covered paramo, mountain forerst and pre-mountain humid forest. Masked Mountain Tanager, Chestnut-bellied Cotinga, Emerald Toucanet, etc.      

TAMARINDO, MANTA REAL & SHAGAL (115 Km) is an area characterized by diverse humid foothills forests, where more than 230 bird species have been recorded. Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Choco Trogon, Choco Toucan, Lon wattled Umbrellabird are some of the birds found here.

Packed lunch included on all routes. Far routes require special arrangements and conditions.

Visit also:

Bird-watching southern Ecuador
Nono Mindo road - Yancocha Reserve & Bellavista Lodge
Bellavista cloud forest

 

Bird-watching southern Ecuador

Private, Any Day, 5 Days / 4 Nights

This privileged itinerary takes passengers to the most important bird watching sites in Southern Ecuador, from high moorland, to cloud forest areas, subtropical valleys, dry forest and tropical zones, so it gathers a wide range of great ecosystems for an abundant diversity of birds, including some endemic species.

Day 1: Cuenca - Llaviuco cloud forest & Cajas NP
Check for sites descriptions above. Afternoon time to explore the highlights of Cuenca.

Day 2:   Cuenca - Chorro de Girón - Yunguilla – Zaruma
Check for sites descriptions above. Arrival to Zaruma at the end of the day for wondering around this small town with a wonderful colonial style architecture and important mining history.

Day 3: Buenaventura - Vilcabamba
This reserve is located near Piñas and Zaruma in El Oro province. The area is renowned for being one of the ornithological richest and easily accessible sites in The Ecuadorian Andes. It protects a narrow zone of cloud forest habitat on the otherwise seasonally dry west slope of the Andes in Southern Ecuador. The reserve is the type locality of the El Oro Parakeet and the El Oro Tapaculo and is home of species like the Club-winged Manakin (small passerine bird which is a resident breeding species in the cloud forest on the western slopes of the Andes Mountains of Colombia and northwestern Ecuador). The manakins are a family of some sixty small bird species of subtropical and tropical Central and South America. Late arrival to Vilcabamba for a great and relaxed atmosphere. 

Day 4: Tapichalaca Reserve – Zamora
This reserve was established to protect the type locality and only known range of the newly discovered Jocotoco Antpitta (Grallaria ridgelyi). The reserve, which protects an unusually wet area of temperate-zone forest on the east slope of the Andes, is located along the trail to Quebrada Honda below Cerro Tapichalaca. In addition to the Antpitta, the reserve is also home to other vulnerable restricted range birds such as the Bearded Guan, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Rufous-capped Thornbill , and Masked Saltator. The reserve is also home to the Spectacled Bear and Woolly Mountain Tapir. Late arrival to Zamora, a gateway town to the Amazon rain forest.

Day 5: Bombuscaro (Podocarpus N P) – Loja
Podocarpus is considered one of the richest areas in the world with regard to diversity of birds. Within the park more than 560 species have been identified.  For this reason it has become one of the most visited areas in the world for bird watching. We will visit the low part of the park known as Bombuscaro, which is already in the eastern Andean foothills and connected with the Amazon rain forest environment. Some of the specialties here include Maroon-tailed and White-breasted Parakeets, Amazonian Umbrella bird, Highland Motmot and a spectacular number of colorful tanagers. At the end of the trip passengers can be dropped off at Loja’s airport or return by car to Cuenca.

Overview:

• Overnight at local hotels and at reserve’s lodges
• Easy to moderate activities of 6 – 8 hours a day
• Highland to lowland terrain elevations from 800m to 4,100m
• Some long days and bad roads
• Hotels standards may vary depending on location, so we use best accommodation available.

Visit also:

Bird-watching wonders near Cuenca
Nono Mindo road - Yancocha Reserve & Bellavista Lodge
Bellavista cloud forest

Nono Mindo road - Yanacocha Reserve & Bellavista Lodge

Private, Any Day, Full Day

If you are a serious birder, we offer the option to travel out via the famous Nono - Mindo road, arriving at Bellavista for a late lunch, and taking a packed breakfast from Quito.  Departure is usually very early morning (we suggest 5- 5.30 a .m.)  You will travel with a specialist bird guide in a 4-wheel drive, or high-clearance vehicle. One of the highlight stops en route will be at Yanacocha Reserve, where occasionally the endangered Black-breasted Puffleg hummingbird can be seen, and chances for Sword-billed Hummingbird and such species as Hooded Mountain-Tanager are high. You return to Quito late afternoon.

Visit also:

Bird-watching wonders near Cuenca
Bird-watching southern Ecuador
Bellavista cloud forest

Bellavista cloud forest

Private, Any Day, 2 Days/1 Night

A trip to the heart of an amazing cloud forest, situated just 2 hours west of Quito. A pleasant destination where clouds and trees blend, exploring a protected reserve with a profusion of wildlife. It's a place for adventure, relaxation and deep contact with nature, home to hundreds of species of plants, birds and other animals. Accommodation, meals and activities at Bellavista lodge (or similar) such as visits to private humming bird, butterflies and orchids reserve are included.  

Day 1:  Quito - Bellavista Cloud Forest
Day 2:  Full day in Bellavista – Return to Quito

This trip could be extended to 3 days providing a deeper experience of this amazing site.

Overview:

• Overnight at local hotels or Haciendas
• Easy excursions
• Moderate trekking

Visit also:

Bird-watching wonders near Cuenca
Bird-watching southern Ecuador
Nono Mindo road - Yancocha Reserve & Bellavista Lodge