PRIVATE BIRDING TOUR - All Year Round Best for Birding

Day 1. Arrival to Quito, Ecuador

• Transfer in to our Birding Lodge, Hacienda Jimenita, located 15 minutes from the airport. No meals included. 

Day 2. Penas Blancas Thornbill Birding Road & Jimenita Reserve

• Morning birding in Penas Blancas Road for possible Thornbills, Spectacled Bear, Cotingas, Hawks and Antpitta. Afternoon Birding at Jimenita Reserve to explore the main feeders and viewing point for local specialities.  
• Targets: Giant Hummingbird, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Sparkling Violetear, Western Emerald, Saffron Finch, Vermillion Flycatcher, Hooded Siskin, White-bellied Woodstar, Great Thrush, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Rusty Flowerpiercer, Harris Hawk, American Kestrel, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Red-crested Cotinga, Spectacled Bear and others.
• Overnight: Hacienda Jimenita, Meals: B/BL/D

(Left) Rainbow-bearded Thornbill and (Right) Spectacled Bear. Photos taken by Diego Cruz. 

Day 3. Antisana Condor Hide and Hummingbirds 

• Pick up from our lodge at 5am and drive towards the Upper Andean Valleys near Antisana Volcano. The Antisana Reserve is the most impressive Andean Mount near Quito and Sanctuary of Wild Andean Condor. Upon arrival to the reserve we will make strategic stops to observe different bird species and Natural Treasures that Antisana offers. We will have a boxed lunch along the way and observe also several Aquatic Species. After lunch, hummingbirds observation in Tambo Condor. Return to our Lodge. 
• Targets: Andean Condor, Shining Sunbeam, Red-Crested Cotinga, Spectacled Redstart, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Giant Hummingbird, Caranculated Cara-Cara, Black-chested Buzzard Eagle, Variable Hawk, Black Flowerpiercer, Andean Ibis, Andean Lapwing, Many-striped Canastero, Tawny Antpitta and others. 
• Overnight: Hacienda Jimenita, Meals: B/BL/D

(Left) Andean Condor-female and (Right) Andean Lapwing. Photos taken by Diego Cruz. 

Day 4. Zuro Lomo Antpittdas, Old Nono-Mindo Road and Tandayapa 

• Early pick up at 530am from our lodge. Drive towards Zuro Loma Antpittas Hides located in the Pichincha Foothills. We will explore the main trails of this reserve and Sword-billed Hummingbird Feeders. Continue birding in Old-Nono Mindo Road towards Tandayapa Valley. Late afternoon arrival to our lodge in Mindo. 
• Targets: Sword-billed Hummingbird, Rufous Antpitta, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Ocellated Tapaculo, Golden-breasted Puffleg, Great Sapphirewing, Blue-backed Conebill, Burrowing Owl, White-throated Screech Owl, Cloud-Forest Pigmy Owl, Black-chested Mountain Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, others.
• Overnight: Sachatamia Lodge, Meals: B/L/D 

(Left) Sword-billed Hummingbird and (Right) Chestnut-naped Antpitta. Photos taken by Diego Cruz. 

Day 5. Angel Paz Reserve and Toucan Birding Reserve

• Early morning pick up around 530am to visit the Andean Cock of the Rock Lek and photography hides of Antpittas, Tanagers, New World Barbets, Toucan-Barbets, Quails, Hawks, and other exotic choco endemic bird species. Continue to Toucan Birding Reserve in Upper Tandayapa Valley. 
• Targets:  Andean Cock of the Rock, Masked Trogon, Dark-backed Wood-Quail, Violet-tailed Sylph, Velvet-Purple Coronet, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Red-billed Parrot, Bronze-winged Parrot, Moustached Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Ochre breasted Antpitta, Scaled Antpitta, Golden Tanager, Golden-naped Tanager, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Flame-faced Tanager, Toucan Barbet, Beryl-spangled Tanager and others.
• Overnight: Sachatamia Lodge, Meals: B/L/D

(Left) Ochre-breasted Antpitta and (Right) Andean Cock of the Rock. Photos taken by Diego Cruz.

Day 6. Rio Silanche Observation Tower and Milpe Birding Sanctuary

• In the morning we will visit the Rio Silanche Observation Tower in the Lowlands Tropical Forest. Then continue to Woodpecker Feeders and afternoon birding in Milpe Birding Toucan Sanctuary for specialities like Toucans and Hawks from the Tropical Lowlands. 
• Targets: Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Sickle-winged Guan, White-throated Quail Dove,  Golden-headed Quetzal, Spilmanns Tapaculo, Green and Black fruiteater, Andean Solitaire, Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush, Powerful Woodpecker, White-sided Flowerpiercer, Blue-necked Tanager and others.
• Overnight: Sachatamia Lodge, Meals: B/L/D

Day 7. Umbrellabird Hide, Amagusa Feeders and Oil Bird Caves

• Early morning birding in Sachatamia Hide for possible Long-wattled Umbrella birds, Tanagers and Antpittas. Continue to Amagusa Mashpi Reserve, one of the best spots in the world for biodiversity and birding. Its one of the last foothill-forest that directly connects to the lower subtropical western forest of Ecuador. Its unique location makes it particularly attractive for birders looking for the highest biodiversity regions with choco endemic birds. After lunch continue to Oil Bird Caves and late afternoon return to Quito. 
• Targets: Glistening-green tanager, Black-chinned Mountain Tanager, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Choco Vireo, Empress Brilliant, Green Thorntail, Rose-faced Parrot, Spinetails, Chlorophonias, Rufous- throated Tanager, Broad-billed Motmot, Indigo Flowerpiercer, Oil Birds, Long-wattled Umbrellabird and others. 
• Overnight: Hacienda Jimenita, Meals: B/L/D

(Left) Andean Solitaire and (Right) Rose-faced Parrot. Photos taken by Chuck Carney. 

Day 8. Papallacta Pass, Quijos Reserve and San Isidro Owl 

• Pick up at 7am from our lodge. Our drive to the East Slope Cloud Forest will initially lead us through the drier central valley where we will pass through a mix of agricultural zones and native forests before rising up steeply to the high and windswept paramo. Papallacta Pass is a transition ecosystem between the Andes and the Cloud Forest, perfect for mixed flocks and paramo hummingbirds. Continue to Rio Quijos Reserve for Andean Motmot Feeders, where we frequently run into some of the best temperate forest flocks; best photography in our Hummingbird feeders. After lunch continue to San Isidro Lodge for night owl observation.  
• Targets: Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Giant Conebill, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Black-capped and Black-eared Hemispingus, Slaty and Pale-naped Brush-Finch, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Buff-tailed Coronet, Collared Inca, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Mountain Cacique, Inca Jay, Turquoise Jay, Black-banded Owl, and others.
• Overnight: San Isidro Lodge, Meals: B/L/D

(Left) Andean Motmot and (Right) Black-banded Owl. Photos taken by Diego Cruz. 

Day 9. San Isidro Reserve, Hollin Waterfall and Sumaco Road 

• Morning birding at the Antpitta Feeders, where we will see the White-bellied Antpitta and Moth Feeders. Box Lunch along the way and continue to Hollin Waterfall for Hummingbird specialties. Afternoon birding in Sumaco Road.  
• Targets: Green-and-black Fruiteater, Handsome Flycatcher, Rufous Wren, Grass-greenTanager, a few species of skulking tapaculos, Northern Mountain-Cacique,Greater Scythebill, Dusky Piha, Cliff flycatcher, Southern Mealy Amazon, Dusky-headed Parakeet, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Magpie Tanager and others.
• Overnight: Wild Sumaco Lodge, Meals: B/L/D 

(Left) White-bellied Antpitta and (Right) Hollin Waterfall. Photos taken by Diego Cruz. 

Day 10. Wild Sumaco Reserve

• Early birding around the lodge for possible Wrens and Antbirds. We will explore the main feeders of the lodge and have breakfast. Continue birding in the Wild Sumaco Trails for possible Toucans, Tanagers, Cuckoos, Woodpeckers, Eagles, and others. In the afternoon continue birding the reserve for new spectacular bird species.
• Targets: Linated Woodpecker, Many-banded Aracari, Orange-cheeked Parrot, White-tipped Sicklebill, Green Hermit, Wire-crested Thorntail, Goulds Jewelfront, Grey-headed Kite, Collared Trogon, Green-backed Trogon, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Channel-billed Toucan, Yellow-throated Toucan, Lined Antshrike, Blue-headed Parrot, White-backed Fire-eye, Peruvian-warbling Antbird, Musician Wren, Golden-collared Toucanet, Amazonia Motmot and others. 
• Overnight: Wild Sumaco Lodge, Meals: B/L/D  

(Left) White-tailed Hillstar and (Right) White-tipped Sicklebill Hummingbird. Photos taken by Diego Cruz. 

Day 11. Andean Cock of the Rock and Limoncocha Lagoon 

• Early morning visit the Eastern Andean Cock of the Rock Lek and trails of the reserve. Continue to Limoncocha Biological Reserve. Afternoon birding with Private Canoe in Limoncocha Lagoon Paradise. 
• Targets: Zigzag Heron, Straited Heron, Tiny Hawk, Roadside Hawk, Southern Lapwing, Swallow-tailed Kite, Snail Kite, Squirrel Cuckoo, Yellow-rumped Cacique, Striped Owl, Red-capped Cardinal, Common Potoo, Greater Ani, White-eared Jacamar, Limpkin, Cocoi Heron, Purple Gallinule, Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Plain-brown woodcreeper, Wattled Jacana, Guilded Barbet, Scarlet Macaw, White-throated Toucan and others.
• Overnight: Sevilla Hotel, Meals: B/L/D   

(Left) Spot-breasted Woodpecker and (Right) Hoatzins. Photos taken by Diego Cruz and Ivan P.. 

Day 12. Limoncocha Lagoon and Ceibo Trail 

• Morning observation of White-lored Antpitta and Black-banded Crake Feeder. Continue to El Ceibo Trail for new forest trail bird species. Afternoon explore Limoncocha Lake with Private Canoe. Alternative, if possible, visit Harpy Eagle Nest (when in Season).
• Targets: Harpy Eagle, Crested Owl, Dusky-headed Parakeet, Scarlet-shouldered Parakeet, Scarlet Macaw, White-plumbed Antbird, Great Jacamar, Yellow-billed Jacamar, Golden-headed Manakin, Blue-crowned Manakin, Blue-backed Manakin, Sooty Antbird, Reddish-winged Bare-Eye, Collared Pecari, Golden-mantled Tamarin, Saki Monkey, Dusky-Titi Monkey, White-fronted Capuchin and others.
• Overnight: Sevilla Hotel, Meals: B/L/D   

(Left) White-lored Antpitta and (Right) Red-throated Caracara. Photos taken by Diego Cruz. 

Day 13. Full Day Yasuni National Park, Parrot Clay Licks and Observation Tower

• Morning transfer with Private Canoe to Yasuni National Park - Anangu Observation Tower. Continue to Parrot Clay Licks for possible 8 types of parrots including the Scarlet Macaw, Blue and Yellow Macaw, Dusky-headed Parakeet, Blue-headed Parrot and others. Continue to Pilche Community for Lunch and visit Napo Islands. Return to Pompeya Norte and Shushufindi. 
• Overnight: Sevilla Hotel, Meals: B/L/D  

(Left) Yellow-tufted Woodpecker and (Right) Scarlet Macaws. Photos taken by Diego Cruz.  

Day 14. Return to Quito & Guango Torrent Duck Reserve. 

• After breakfast return to Quito around 5 hours with stop for Lunch at Guango Reserve. Possible to observe Sword-billed Hummingbird and Torrent Duck. Continue to our Lodge in the Andes. Farewell Dinner. 
• Overnight: Hacienda Jimenita, Meals: B/L/D  

(Left) Spectacled Bear and (Right) Torrent Duck. Photos taken by Chris Nenov. 

Day 15. Transfer Out to the Airport. 

• After breakfast transfer out to the Airport. 

Birding Reports

• Birding Report 1
• Birding Report 2
• Birding Report 3

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