DAY 1 - GUAYAQUIL
International flights arrive by evening. Overnight at a hotel in Guayaquil.
DAY 2 - MANGLARES-CHURUTE & BUENAVENTURA RESERVE
We'll depart early for Buenaventura Reserve, driving south toward Manglares-Churute Reserve, located about 45-min south of the city. The habitat en route and at the reserve is a mix of semi-humid forest, lagoons, and mangroves. The open country along the way is prime habitat for seedeaters and finches such as Large-billed Seed-Finch, Lesser Seed-Finch, and Saffron Finch. We should also see the lovely little Pacific Parrotlet and have a very good chance of seeing Horned Screamers around the rice fields.
Habitat in the Manglares-Churute Reserve along the road is mainly lowland deciduous forest and scrub. Our main target species there is the Pacific subspecies of the striking Tropical Royal-Flycatcher, a possible future split. Other birds possible there include Ecuadorian Ground Dove, Gray-cheeked Parakeet, Red-billed Scythebill, and Ecuadorian Thrush. After some roadside birding, we'll continue on to the Buenaventura Reserve located between the towns of Saracay and Portovelo. Along the way we'll make some birding stops at the Santa Rosa Marshes and elsewhere to view various widely distributed wetland species including shorebirds, herons, bulls, and terns along with some woodland species in forest patches such as Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Red-rumped Woodpecker, perhaps Jet Antbird, Sooty-headed Tyrannulet, Black-tailed Flycatcher, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Lemon-rumped Tanager, and Yellow-bellied Seedeater.
We'll arrive at Buenaventura Reserve some time after lunch. Once there, we'll have time to view hummingbirds coming to feeders and flowering plants in the gardens, including White-tipped Sicklebill, White-whiskered Hermit, Long-billed Hermit, Green Thorntail, Violet-tailed Sylph, and Andean Emerald. Fruit feeders near the lodge attract birds such as Rufous-headed Chcchalaca and Pale-mantled Aracari. In late afternoon we'll hike down a short but steep trail into lowland forest of a ravine where we have a very good chance of seeing the spectacular Long-wattled Umbrellabird displaying on a lek. Overnight at Umbrellabird Lodge.
DAY 3 - BUENAVENTURA RESERVE
We'll spent much of this day birding the upper section of Buenaventura Reserve. This area is in cloud forest and can be foggy, but the fog should burn off and allow excellent birding. We'll be mainly birding along a dirt road but will likely spend a little time on some muddy, occasionally steep trails. Our main target species is the endemic El Oro Parakeet, whose main population occurs in the reserve. We may be able to visit a nest site if in season. At other times we have a very good chance of seeing a flock overhead or perched.
Many other birds occur in this section of the reserve. Possibilities include Choco Toucan, the near-endemic Esmeraldas Antbird, the endemic and difficult to see Ecuadorian Tapaculo, Brown-billed Scythebill, the near-endemic Club-winged Manakin, Tumbes Pewee, Ecuadorian Thrush, and Rufous-throated Tanager, and the more widely distributed Golden-naped Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Golden Tanager, and Swallow Tanager. Overnight at Umbrellabird Lodge.
DAY 4 - TRANSFER & JORUPE RESERVE
If we didn't see the umbrellabird the previous day, we'll hike back down into the forest to look for it again. We should be able to see it on one of those two occasions. After that, we'll depart for the Jorupe Reserve near the small border town of Macara, about a 4-hour drive. On the way there we'll pass by an area of very nice deciduous forest near El Empalme by mid-afternoon. There we'll stop for some birding, looking among giant Ceiba trees for some specialties such as Tumbes Hummingbird, Elegant Crescentchest, Baird's Flycatcher, Tumbes Sparrow, and White-headed Brushfinch. In a town along the way Chestnut-collared Swallows can normally be found nesting in some old church buildings. We'll arrive at Jorupe Reserve around dusk. Overnight at Urraca Lodge in the reserve.
DAY 5 - JORUPE RESERVE
Jorupe Reserve protects some undisturbed lowland deciduous and evergreen forest, some of the last such forest remaining in Ecuador. Pre-dawn birding will hopefully find the elusive West Peruvian Screech-Owl, which is most commonly calling early in the rainy season. At lower elevation, the forest understory is habitat for the vulnerable Blackish-headed Spinetail, which can still be reliably seen. Pale-browed Tinamous are present and sometimes calling but rarely seen. White-tailed Jays make their presence known with loud calling. More difficult are Watkins's Antpitta and Elegant Crescentchest. Other possibilities include several raptors and doves, Tumbes Swift, the nomadic Gray-capped Cuckoo, Long-billed Starthroat, Ecuadorian Trogon, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Ecuadorian Piculet, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant, Snowy-throated Kingbird, Fasciated Wren, Superciliated Wren, Black-and-white Tanager, Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch, and White-edged Oriole.
At higher elevation, semi-humid shrubbery and stunted woodlands offer Chapman's Antshrike, Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner, Line-cheeked Spinetail, Loja Tyrannulet, Tumbesian Tyrannulet, Silver-backed Tanager, White-winged Brushfinch, and Gray-browed Brushfinch. At the top of the ridge additional species are present. Specials include Rainbow Starfrontlet, Purple-throated Sunangel, Green-tailed Trainbearer, the bamboo specialist Gray-headed Antbird, Blackish Tapaculo, the dazzling but difficult to see Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, Rufous-crowned Tody-Tyrant, Jelski's Chat-Tyrant, Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush, Rufous-chested Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager, White-sided Flowerpiercer, Black-cowled Saltator, and Bay-crowned Brushfinch along with other species. Also possible are the difficult Scaled Antpitta, the tiny Leymebamba Antpitta recently discovered in Ecuador, and Piura Hemispingus. Overnight at Urracu Lodge.
DAY 6 - TRANSFER, UTUANA RESERVE, & TAPICHALACA RESERVE
We'll depart early to do some birding at two somewhat higher elevation sites. First stop is some patches of forest near the town of Sozoranga, located about 45 minutes away. There, we'll look for Tumbesian endemics like Chapman's Antshrike, Tumbesian Tyrannulet, Maranon Tyrannulet, Tumbes Chat-Tyrant, and Bay-crowned Brushfinch. We'll also want to see the "Loja" subspecies of Amazilian Hummingbird, a possible future split, which occurs at higher elevation and has less extensive rufous coloration than the nominate forms. From there we'll continue on to Utuana Reserve, a medium elevation forest, about an hour and a quarter farther east. This reserve offers another chance for species missed at Jorupe along with a few new species of interest, including Purple-crowned Fairy, Purple-throated Sunangel, Green-tailed Trainbearer, Mountain Velvetbreast, Peruvian Sheartail, White-bellied Woodstar, Chapman's Antshrike, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Red-crested Cotinga, Blue-capped Tanager, and Black-cowled Saltator.
After a full morning of birding at these two sites, we'll continue on to Tapichalaca, stopping for a short time en route in the Catamayo Valley to look for some dry scrub birds such at Short-tailed Field Tyrant, Tumbes Sparrow, Peruvian Meadowlark, Ash-breasted Sierra Finch, Band-tailed Sierra Finch, Paqrrot-billed Seedeater, Chestnut-throated Seedeater, and Band-tailed Seedeater. Overnight at Casa Simpson Lodge in Tapichalaca Reserve.
DAY 7 - TAPICHALACA RESERVE
The higher elevation site at Tapichalaca offers pristine cloud forest on the eastern slope of the Andes Mountains. A key target species here is the recently discovered and elusive Jocotoco Antpitta. 15 years ago, this species was notoriously difficult to see. Then a local ranger began conditioning the bird to come out on a trail inside the Bombuscaro section of Podacarpus National Park, requiring a considerable hike very early in the morning. Now, the bird is best seen at Tapichalaca, where an earthworm feeding station lures this wonderful antpitta into view. Reaching this feeding station requires a short but in some places steep hike along a trail that can be slippery and muddy. The regular feeding time is at 8:00am, so we can take our time getting up there. As a bonus, this feeding station also attracts the very shy Chestnut-naped Antpitta as well.
Much of the birding at Tapichalaca is along the road near our lodge, so the birding is quite easy. Lots of species are found in the forest surrounding the lodge and road. We can surely expect to see mixed species flocks moveing through the forest along the road. Species typically found in these flocks include Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Pearled Treerunner, Barred Fruiteater, Black-capped Tyrannulet, Black-capped Hemispingus, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Lacrimose Mountain Tanager, Blue-backed Conebill, Bluish Flowerpiercer, Masked Flowerpiercer, and sometimes even a Plushcap. In dense stands of bamboo, we look for specialist species of that habitat such as the difficult Equatorial Antpitta, Ash-colored Tapaculo, and Chusquea Tapaculo. In dense shrubbery along the road, we'll be be looking for Lined Antshrike, the range-restricted Rufous-fronted Thornbird, and the near-endemic Marañon Thrush. Overhead, we may well see a raucous flock of Golden-plumed Parakeets, and, if we're very fortunate, the stunning but scarce White-capped Tanager. Sometimes these flocks will perch in nearby trees for the best possible views.
Many other birds make their presence known as well. We are very likely to see species such as Chestnut-collared Swift, Powerful Woodpecker, Speckle-faced Parrot, White-browed Spinetail, Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Turquoise Jay, Plain-tailed Wren, Rufous Wren, Glossy-black Thrush, Yellow-breasted Brushfinch, Citrine Warbler, and Black-crested Warbler. We may do some birding along the road below the lodge where Chestnut-crested Cotinga sometimes appears.
Hummingbird feeders around the lodge attract Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Little Sunangel, Long-tailed Sylph, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Glowing Puffleg, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, White-bellied Woodstar, and others. We'll also do some birding in early evening looking for nocturnal species such as the scarce Andean Potoo as well as White-throated Screech-Owl and Peruvian Pygmy-Owl. Overnight at Casa Simpson Lodge.
DAY 8 - TRANSFER, CERRO TOLEDO, & CAJANUMA
We'll depart very early for a birding excursion up Cerro Toledo while on our way to the city of Loja. The unpaved road reaches the upper slopes of this mountain to elfin forest where our primary target species, the near-endemic, high-altitude Neblina Metaltail occurs. This very localized species is known from only a very few sites in Ecuador and northern Peru. This same site is also home to Great Sapphirewing and Rainbow-bearded Thornbill along with Scaly-naped Parrot, Paramo Tapaculo, Mouse-colored Thistletail, White-throated Tyrannulet, Crowned Chat-Tyrant, Glossy Flowerpiercer, and Paramo Seedeater.
From there, we'll drive to Loja, arriving in time for lunch. After lunch, we'll drive up the mountain to the Cajanuma sector of Podocarpus National Park. Possibilities there include Purple-collared Woodstar, Barred Fruiteater, Pale-footed Swallow, and Red-hooded Tanager. Overnight at a hotel in Loja.
DAY 9 - TRANSFER & RIO NANGARITZA
We'll depart early for our next destination in the rather remote Nangaritza River Valley of the Cordillera del Condor. The transfer takes about 3½ hours of driving, but the last two hours are along a birdy stretch of dirt road, so we'll stop for some birding en route and not arrive until lunch. We can expect to see Channel-billed Toucan, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Little Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tyrant, Violaceous Jay, Yellow-browed Sparrow, Masked Tanager, and Chestnut-bellied Seedeater. During mid-day, we'll spend some time on the veranda behind the lodge viewing hummingbirds visiting the feeders. The main species there is the Gray-breasted Sabrewing. Of more interest is the Peruvian Racket-tail, a recent split from the Booted Racket-tail.
That afternoon we should have time for a boat trip through spectacular scenery down the Nangaritza River. Along the river, White-banded Swallows are common. The usual plan is to take the boat to a place to step ashore along the Nuevo Pariso Road about half way to Shaime. We'll then bird our way along this dirt road back toward the cabanas. Possible birds along this road include Speckled Chachalaca, Black Caracara, Laughing Falcon, Bat Falcon, Red-billed Parrot, Gray-rumped Swift, Greeb-backed Trogon, Amazonian White-tailed Trogon, Purplish Jacamar, Gilded Barbet, Lemon-throated Barbet, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Dark-breasted Spinetail, Long-tailed Tyrant, Crowned Slaty Flycatcher, Yellow-cheeked Becard, Thrush-like Wren, Fulvous Shrike-Tanager, Yellow-bellied Tanager, Masked Tanager, and more. An early evening excursion may turn up the magnificent Band-bellied Owl. Overnight Yankuam Lodge.
DAY 10 - MAYCU RESERVE & YANTZAZA
We'll devote all morning this day to birding the Maycu Reserve near our lodge. This reserve protects some nice lower foothill gallery forest. The primary target bird at this site is the lovely Orange-throated Tanager, known only from a few locales in southern Ecuador and northern Peru. It's very possible we will have encountered this species the previous afternoon, but we have another morning to seek it out. A variety of other interesting species are present as well, including White-throated Woodpecker, Dusky-cheeked Foliage-gleaner, Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher, Red-billed Tyrannulet, Cinnamon Manakin-Tyrant, Wing-banded Wren, and and Golden-collared Honeycreeper.
A long list of more widely distributed species also occur in this area, so we'll have a very productive birding morning, many of which we've likely seen the previous afternoon. These include White Hawk, White-eyed Parakeet, Black-eared Fairy, Gray-breasted Sabrewing, Green-backed Trogon, Lemon-throated Barbet, Gilded Barbet, Scale-breasted Woodpecker, Red-stained Woodpecker, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Dark-breasted Spinetail, White-shouldered Antshrike, White-browed Warbling Antbird, Peruvian Warbling Antbird, Black-faced Antthrush, Long-tailed Tyrant, Violaceous Jay, Spangled Cotinga, Yellow-bellied Tanager, Opal-crowned Tanager, Opal-rumped Tanager, and Fulvous Shrike-Tanager.
After lunch we'll drive north to the town of Yantzaza. about a 2-hour drive. We'll stop at a nearby local reserve to look for the scarce and local Spangled Coquette. Overnight at a hotel in Yantzaza.
DAY 11 - ZARZA FOREST & COPALINGA LODGE
We'll devote this morning to a remote section of the Cordillera del Condor near the Peruvian border. The isolated El Zarza Wildlife Refuge is infrequently visited on birding tours, but it's home to some very good birds. The habitat is mainly tropical rainforest that transitions into montane cloud forest. Our main target species are the very localized Spectacled Prickletail and Roraiman flycatcher and the near-endemic Bar-winged Wood-Wren. Other excellent birds there include Black-streaked Puffbird, Equatorial Graytail, Rufous-browed Tyrannulet, and Chestnut-bellied Thrush.
After lunch back in town, we'll drive south to the town of Zamora, gateway to the lower section of Podacarpus National Park. The drive will only take about an hour. After arrival, we'll have time to view hummingbirds coming to feeders around our lodge. Species likely to appear include Pale-tailed Barbthroat, Wire-crested Thorntail, Spangled Coquette, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Blue-tailed Emerald, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Many-spotted Hummingbird, and Glittering-throated Emerald. After dark, we'll look for Band-bellied Owl, which often calls near the lodge. Overnight at Copalinga Lodge.
DAY 12 - BOMBUSCARO & ZAMORA
This morning will be devoted to birding the Bombuscaro sector of Podocarpus National Park. Birding is along an excellent trail through subtropical forest. A combination of Amazonian lowland and foothill birds are found here. The travel is mostly level, wide, and easy walking. One target species is the nomadic White-breasted Parakeet that sometimes puts in an appearance. Another is the scarce Lanceolated Monklet. Other specialties possible along this trail include Coppery-chested Jacamar, Black-billed Treehunter, Equatorial Graytail, Blue-rumped Manakin, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Foothill Elaenia, and Olive Finch.
Other more widely distributed species normally seen in this bird-rich forest are Gray-fronted Dove, Andean Motmot, Lineated Woodpecker, Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher, Streak-necked Flycatcher, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Inca Jay, Three-striped Warbler, Yellow-throated Chlorospingus, Orange-eared Tanager, Yellow-bellied Tanager, Spotted Tanager, Golden-eared Tanager, Swallow Tanager, and Subtropical Cacique. More difficult and less often seen are Foothill Antwren and Western Striped-Manakin.
After lunch back at the lodge, we'll drive toward Zamora and do some birding outside town. There's an abandoned airstrip there where birds such as Little Cuckoo, Long-tailed Tyrant, Black-capped Donacobius, Magpie Tanager, and Chestnut-bellied Seedeater. Overnight at Copalinga Lodge.
DAY 13 - OLD LOJA-ZAMORA ROAD & SARAGURO
The morning will be spent birding the Huashapamba Forest Reserve near Saguro. The main target species are the rare and difficult to see Crescent Antpitta and Red-faced Parrot. Other specialties that may be found are Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, Ocellated Tapaculo, Orange-banded Flycatcher, Black-headed Hemispingus, and Red-hooded Tanager. More widely distributed species include Masked Trogon, Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Sierran Elaenia, Golden-crowned Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager, and Pale-naped Brushfinch. Possible hummingbirds include Mountain Velvetbreast, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Glowing Pufflet, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, and Tyrain Metaltail. Mid-day transfer to the town of La Untion, with some birding en route that may produce Shining Sunbeam, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Black-billed Tyrant, Chiguanco Thrush, Black Flowerpiercer, and Hooded Siskin. Night at a hotel in La Union.
We'll depart after early breakfast to do some very fine birding along the first stretch of the old Loja-Zamora Road. The bushes and scrub along the road is home to a surprising diversity of species, some most easily seen there. Among these are the more orange-collared Andean Cock-of-the-Rock along with Lined Antshrike, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, and Olivaceous Greenlet. Sometimes, mixed species flocks appear comprisec of species such as Montane Foliage-gleaner, Spotted Tanager, Paradise Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Chestnut-vented Conebill, and Bananaquit. Other birds often found along the road and river include Green-fronted Lancebill, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Short-tailed Hawk, Spectacled Bristle-Tyrant, Russet-backed Oropendola, Orange-eared Tanager, Yellow-bellied Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, and Golden-eared Tanager.
We'll then continue driving north toward Loja and beyond to the town of Saraguro. If we have the time, we'll stop at the nearby Huashapampba community forest along the way to look for the rare Red-faced Parrot, a species most commonly seen in afternoons. Overnight at a hotel in Saraguro.
DAY 14 - CERRO ACACANA & HUASHAPAMBA REESRVE
This morning we'll drive up a mountain road into the forest near the treeline of Cerro Acacana. Our primary target bird is the striking Crescent-faced Antpitta, a denzien of bamboo-laden cloud forest high in the Andes. This very localized near-endemic inhabits the undergrowth of this forest below the treeling. It will take some effort to coax this species into view as it occurs mainly in dense patches of bamboo. Other notable birds of this forest include Bearded Guan, Glowing Puffleg, Flammulated Treehunter, Agile Tit-Tyrant, Masked Mountain Tanager, and Black-headed Hemispingus. After returning to town for lunch, we'll likely revisit the Huashapamba community forest that afternoon. Overnight at a hotel in Saraguro.
DAY 15 - CERRO DE ARCOS & TRANSFER
We must depart very early this morning to reach our next birding locale, the temperate forest on Cerro de Arcos. In 2017 a new hummingbird species was found on this mountain, the Blue-throated Hillstar. This critically endangered species is only known from three sites in the southern Ecuadorian Andes. Cerro de Arcos is the only one of these that is easily accessible. We have all morning to find this species, and we're very likely to succeed. That afternoon we'll transfer to the town of Santa Isabel. Overnight at a hotel in Santa Isabel.
DAY 16 - YUNGILLA RESERVE & TRANSFER
The morning will be spent birding a small reserve at Yunguilla. The reserve was created to protect the critically endangered Pale-headed Brushfinch, which was thought to be extinct until a small population was discovered at this site in 1998. With the assistance of a local guide, we'll walk the fairly easy trail into the reserve, where we can be confident of seeing this species.
Other interesting species include Black-lored Yellowthroat, along with birds such as Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Striped Cuckoo, Purple-collared Woodstar, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Gray-browed Brushfinch, Black-crested Warbler, and Yellow Grosbeak. We can also hope to see the scarce Little Woodstar and Blue Seedeater. From there transfer north through the historic colononial city of Cuenca to the vicinity of El Cajas National Park. After arrival, we'll have a little time for a bit of birding around the lodge. Overnight at a hotel near El Cajas.
DAY 17 - EL CAJAS NATIONAL PARK & TRANSFER
We'll devote the morning birding the higher elevation site at El Cajas. We'll stop to do some birding at a lake along the road going up the mountain where we can expect to see Andean Teal, Slate-colored Coot, Ecuadorian Rail, and possibly Streaked Tuftedcheek, Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet, and Superciliared Hemispingus nearby. A target species farther upslope is the very localized Violet-throated Metaltail, present in open scrub along the road. Near the crest of the pass, we'll check flowering Chuquiragua shrubs for the near-endemic Ecaudorian Hillstar. Other birds in this scrub habitat include Blue-mantled Thornbill, Tawny Antpitta, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Chestnut-winged Cinclodes, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Many-striped Canastero, Streak-backed Canastero, Paramo Ground Tyrant, Red-rumped Bush Tyrant, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, White-browed Chat-Tyrant, and Plumbeous Seedeater. Some patches of Polylepis elfin forest on the highest slopes that are home to the very localized Tit-like Dacnis and the more widely distributed Giant Conebill. Also possible are a couple high altitude lakes are home to Andean Duck and Andean Gull, while raptors such as Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Variable Hawk, and Carunculated Caracara are sometimes seen nearby.
After a full morning of birding these higher elevation sites along the road, we'll drop down the western slope, driving through a scenic gorge back to Guayaquil. Overnight at a hotel in Guayaquil.
DAY 18 - END OF TOUR
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll head to the airport for our international flights home. The tour ends at the airport.
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