EASTERN ANDES BIRDING TOUR

The geographical barrier that is the Andes Mountains creates extraordinary species diversity in Ecuador, with nearly 1700 species recorded in the country. Species composition is substantially different on the western and eastern slopes of the Andes and between northern and southern Ecuador. Our tour of the eastern Andes of northern Ecuador focuses on an altitudinal transect that encompasses the relatively high altitude sites around Papallacta Pass and then downslope to the lower elevation subtropical forests around Loreto.

Our tour begins in Quito with a birding transfer up Papallacta Pass, where we'll stop to seek out a variety of higher altitude specialties, before continuing down the eastern slope to famed San Isidro Lodge. We'll spend two nights birding there before continuing farther downslope, birding Guacamayos Ridge and Loreto Road before reaching Wild Sumaco Lodge. We'll spend two full days birding this fabulous site before retracing our route back upslope to Guango Lodge, located near the village of Papallacta. After an overnight stay at this wonderful lodge, we'll spend one more night outside Quito followed by a visit to Antisana National Park to look for Andean Condors and other birds of the paramo grasslands and cliffs in the park. This tour features a large variety of hummingbirds, several species of antpittas conditioned to come out of the forest for earthworms, and a large variety of tanagers and other birds found in the eastern Andes. It can be combined with our tour of the western Andes to form a longer, even more comprehensive tour of northern Ecuador.

Tour Considerations

PACE- The pace of this tour is generally easy and can be adjusted to suit the intensity level of the participants.

DIFFICULTY - Birding during the tour is mostly along roadsides except at Wild Sumaco Lodge and Guacamayos Ridge where birding is along forest trails. The trail at Guacamayos Ridge follows a ridgeline and is relative level but can be a bit muddy. Some trails at Wild Sumaco Lodge are a bit steep and can be muddy.

CLIMATE - Dry season in the northeastern Andes of Ecuador is from June to September, while wet season is from October to May. October through December is early wet season with rainfall mainly in the afternoons. The heaviest rains are during March and April. Temperatures are generally moderate but days can become somewhat hot at lower elevation around Wild Sumaco Lodge. The tour includes mornings at higher elevation above Papallacta Pass, around 4200 m (13,500 ft) and at the Antisana Condor viewpoint around (3500-3800 m (11,500-12,500 ft). Temperatures at these sites can be quite cool.

BIRD ACTIVITY - Bird activity is good throughout the year but peaks during early breeding season in January and February.

PHOTOGRAPHY - There are excellent opportunities to photograph hummingbirds at the lodges and antpitta feeding stations. Photography along forest trails is opportunistic.

• Photos from Past Tours
• Travel Information

BIRDING LOCALES
FOR THIS TOUR

• Antisana Reserve
• Guacamayos Ridge
• Guango Lodge Reserve
• Lower Loreto Road
• Philippines
• San Isidro Reserve
• Upper Loreto Road
• Wild Sumaco Reserve