NORTHERN ECUADOR TOUR
Chocó Andino Reserve & Mindo
10 Days
Best season from September to March
OVERVIEW
Northern Ecuador is one of the world’s best birding destinations. It has a great network of natural reserves with many endemic and special bird species, excellent lodges, stunning sceneries, friendly people, and delicious food.
The UNESCO Chocó Andino de Pichincha Biosphere Reserve, located in the northern part of Ecuador, is a paradise for birders. This biodiversity hotspot is home to many different species of mammals, reptiles, and at least 500 species of birds, among them over 70 that are endemic.
This tour covers a whole range of altitudes, from the cool temperate forests of Yanacocha to the humid lowlands, targeting as many species as possible, like Moss-backed Tanager, Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Blue-tailed Trogon, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Glistening-green Tanager, and many beautiful hummingbirds, like Velvet-purple Coronet and Violet-tailed Sylph.
During the tour we will spend some days in Mindo, a mountainous watershed in the western slopes of the Andes, where two of the most biologically diverse ecoregions in the world meet: the Chocoan lowlands and the Tropical Andes. This zone is especially attractive, because there are many feeders with fantastic chances to see antpittas, toucans, tanagers, wood-quails, and woodcreepers. Would you like to join us?
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival to Quito and transfer to the hotel. / Night at a hotel in Quito.
Day 2: Transfer to the Zuro Loma Reserve and birding around the zone all morning. In the afternoon a transfer to the Tandayapa Valley. / Night at the Piripe Lodge.
Day 3: Full day of birding in the Piripe area. / Night at the Piripe Lodge.
Day 4: Transfer to the Mashpi Road and a visit to the Amagusa feeders, a great place for birding. / Night at the Cielo Verde Lodge.
Day 5: Full day of birding in the middle and lower part of the Mashpi Road. / Night at the Cielo Verde Lodge.
Day 6: Birding around the Mashpi River, looking for Chocó bird species. / Night at the Kapari Lodge.
Day 7: We will start to ascend the valley to look for the Long-wattled Umbrellabird and in the afternoon a transfer to the lower part of Sachatamia. / Night at the Sachatamia Lodge.
Day 8: We will spend a full day of birding in the lower parts of the Chocó area, Silanche Road, and the forest reserve. / Night at the Sachatamia Lodge.
Day 9: The best way to finish this amazing birding tour is by visiting the famous Antpitta Farm. In the afternoon a transfer to Quito. / Night at a hotel in Quito.
Day 10: Transfer to the airport in Quito for a flight home.
KEY SPECIES
Indigo Flowerpiercer, White-capped Dipper, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Rose-faced Parrot, Collared Aracari, Chestnut-tipped Toucan, Choco Toucan, Choco Warbler, Indigo-crowned Quail-Dove, Dusky Pigeon, Orange-fronted Barbet, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Choco Black-thrusted Trogon, Blue-tailed Trogon, Club-winged Manakin, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Western Slaty-Antshrike, Toucan Barbet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Scaled Fruiteater, Black-tipped Cotinga, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Baudo Guan.
Chestnut-napped Antpitta, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Giant Antpitta, Moustached Antpitta.
Empress Brilliant, Velvet-purple Coronet, Violet-tailed Sylph, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Purple-chested Hummingbird.
Glistening-green Tanager, Moss-backed Tanager, Yellow-green Tanager, Scarlet-browed Tanager, Blue-whiskered Tanager, Rufous-winged Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, Gray-and-Gold Tanager.
TOUR DETAILS
Group Size: Max 8 + tour guide.
Tour and walking pace: Easy to moderate. We will cover some high parts during this tour, where we will keep the walking to a minimum.
Accommodation: Basic to comfortable.
Transportation: Private car/van.
Habitats Covered: Andean Mountains and Valleys, Puna, Elfin Forest, Cloud Forest, Chocó lowlands.
Climate: During this tour we will be going through many different habitats and landscapes, from the warm lowlands of the Chocó Region to the cold Paramos close to Quito.
Altitude: 700 – 4400 meters above sea level.
Possible extensions:
– Amazon of Ecuador.
For the detailed itinerary, prices, or if you have questions, please get in touch with us.
Si desea recibir el itinerario detallado en español, por favor háganoslo saber.
Kuntur Nature and Adventure EIRL
Company Address: Av. Industrial Conj. Hab. FOVIPOL. Nr 104 – Santiago – Cusco – Peru
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