Birdwatching Tour Ecuador – Chocó Andino

Arrival in Quito in the evening and transfer to comfortable nearby accommodations. Quito is probably the most attractive of all South American colonial capitals. The city is located in a valley at the foot of the Pichincha volcano. On a clear day, the Andean peaks rise around, and the sun is bright and strong. The weather is charming: the name means “Eternal Spring” in the ancient Quechua language. At 9000 feet, Quito is the second-highest capital in the world. It’s a small capital by South American standards, making it easy to stroll through the colonial city’s streets without getting lost or discouraged by the distances. Transfer to Puembo Birding Garden or similar high-quality accommodation.

After an early refreshment of tea, coffee, biscuits, and fruit at the hotel, we will depart Quito for the Zuroloma reserve, where we will have breakfast. Zuroloma is a temperate forest area at 3100 masl, covered in mosses on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano. Near the restaurant, a 5-minute walk away, there is a spectacular hummingbird garden with feeders for tanagers. The hummingbirds will be especially active throughout the morning, providing excellent opportunities to photograph species such as Golden-breasted and Sapphire-vented Pufflegs, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Shining Sunbeam, Tyrian Metaltail, Great Sapphirewing, Mountain Velvetbreast, among others. The Black-breasted Puffleg is extremely rare and only appears in Zuroloma during September and October. Other species we may observe from the same spot and its surroundings include Red-crested Cotinga, Andean Guan, Black and Glossy Flowerpiercers, Barred Fruiteater, and the spectacular Chestnut-naped Antpitta, which feeds at a special feeder. We will walk 5 minutes along a trail at the forest’s edge to observe the small Equatorial Antpitta at another special feeder.

During our stay at these feeders, we will be on the lookout for mixed species flocks such as White-throated and White-banded Tyrannulets, Superciliated Hemispingus, Rufous Wren, Pearl Treerunner, Golden-crowned Tanager, White-browed Spinetail, Black-crested Warbler, Scarlet-bellied, Black-chested, and Hooded Mountain-Tanagers.

After our visit to Zuroloma, we will drive along the Ecoroute Paseo del Quinde on the western ridge of the Andes, descending towards the Pacific slope along the old road to Tandayapa. This forested valley is known for the quality and quantity of birds that can be seen, including Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Masked Trogon, White-capped Dipper, Cinnamon Flycatcher, many species of tanagers, and even the rare White-faced Nunbird.

After covering much of the Ecoroute, we will reach the Tandayapa Valley at 1450 masl for lunch at the Guaycapi Restaurant, a beautiful place dedicated to environmental education for the community, with more feeders for tanagers and hummingbirds. We will settle in a strategic spot on the balcony to have lunch and observe the different bird species visiting.

After lunch, we will drive 35 minutes further to reach Guaycapi Lodge, located at an elevation of 2000 masl in the middle of the cloud forest and on one of the most scenic routes in Ecuador. We will stay at Guaycapi Lodge for two nights, relatively close to Mindo.

We will spend the rest of the day birdwatching quietly from the lodge’s main balcony, admiring a variety of hummingbirds in the gardens with nectar plants, feeders, and tanager feeding stations. We will be on the lookout for species such as Violet-tailed Sylph, Collared Inca, Velvet-purple Coronet, Empress Brilliant, Brown Violetear, Booted Racket-tail, and Gorgeted Sunangel.

During these two days at Guaycapi Lodge, our goal will be to explore a wide variety of habitats in different altitudinal zones and enjoy the main attractions of the area.

Day 3:
We will focus on birdwatching in the Guaycapi reserve and its surroundings. We will start early, at 5:45 am, in the moth attraction hide, where we can observe 12 to 15 bird species, such as Streaked Trehunter, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Masked Trogon, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Brown-capped Vireo, Slaty Spinetail, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Olive-crowned Yellowthroat, Azara’s Spinetail, White-winged Brush-Finch, and Mountain Wren, among others.

We will have breakfast at 7:00 am at the lodge, from one of the best balconies in the cloud forest with views of the tanager feeders and hummingbird feeders. After breakfast, we will take a walk along a lodge trail to search for the Golden-winged Manakin and other species. Then, we will continue walking along the flat scenic route through the forest to look for the Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals, Toucan Barbet, and Powerful Woodpecker. We will return to the lodge at 12:30 pm for lunch and a short break.

In the afternoon, after lunch, we will head out in the van along the Ecoroute, with a two-hour round trip through the cloud forest, looking for mixed flocks and focusing on endemic species like Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, and Tanager Finch, among other birds. We will return to the lodge at 5:30 pm. After a brief rest, we will have dinner at 7:00 pm, and for those with energy left, we will try to spot the Colombian or Rufescent Screech Owl.

We will pack all our belongings as our next destination in the afternoon will be Sachatamia Lodge. We will start very early, at 5:00 am, with a short drive to the Paz de las Aves Refuge, where Ángel has developed one of the most impressive birdwatching examples in the world, with an emphasis on Antpitta observation. At 6:00 am, we will have the chance to see the magical Andean Cock-of-the-rock from a hide adjacent to a small lek. Occasionally, in this same spot, the Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl can be seen in the canopy, and the Rufous-bellied Nighthawk can be spotted on a horizontal perch during the day, with some luck, we may also see the Dark-backed Wood-Quail on the ground in the same area as the Andean Cock-of-the-rock lek.

The birdwatching dynamics this morning will be adrenaline-filled as we then try to spot the Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, and Giant Antpitta. Each territory for each Antpitta species is different. Once we have seen these species, we will have breakfast at the reserve’s restaurant at 8:00 am, and then visit the other three territories and feeders for three different Antpitta species: Ocher-breasted, Moustached, and Chestnut-crowned Antpittas. During this tour, there is a chance of seeing the enigmatic Ocellated Tapaculo, though this would require considerable luck.

As the morning progresses, walks along the trails may reveal Golden-headed Quetzal, Olivaceous Piha, Toucan Barbet, Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Scaled and Orange-breasted Fruiteaters, colorful tanagers, and various hummingbird species around the reserve, among other surprises.

After completing the activities at the Paz de las Aves Refuge, we will head to our next ecolodge, Sachatamia Lodge, for lunch.

Sachatamia is an ideal location for birdwatchers and photographers, situated close to Mindo, in a strategic place within the forest. The lodge has a lovely garden for observing hummingbirds and mixed tanager flocks from the balcony and feeders, including the spectacular White-necked Jacobin, Green-crowned Woodnymph, White-whiskered Hermit, Brown Violet-ear, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Andean Emerald, and Booted Racket-tail.

In the afternoon, we will walk around the lodge in the lower part of the forest (1200 masl) to look for Pale-mandibled Aracari, Choco Toucan, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Masked Trogon, and other species. We will return to the lodge for dinner at 7:00 pm and an optional owling walk at 8:30 pm.

We’ll start the day at 6:00 am with birdwatching at the Sachatamia hide until 7:00 am. Afterward, we’ll have breakfast from 7:00 to 8:00 am before heading to the town of Mindo, just 15 minutes away from Sachatamia. In Mindo, we’ll visit the Ornithological Point Reserve to search for the Sunbittern and other birds. This tour will take approximately an hour. Afterward, we’ll go to the center of Mindo for a chocolate tour and souvenir shopping.

We’ll have lunch at Sachatamia at 1:00 pm. At 2:30 pm, we’ll begin our journey to the Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve, where we’ll spend 2 nights. The drive will take about two hours, with some stops along the way for birdwatching.

Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve, located at 1,100 masl, is one of the most visited birding sites in the Chocó region, with iconic and rare birds that are easy to see and photograph at special feeders. Species such as Moss-backed, Glistening-green, Flame-faced, and Golden Tanagers; Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Black Solitaire, Scaled and Orange-breasted Fruiteaters, Indigo Flowerpiercer, Pacific or Buffy Tuftedcheek, Rose-faced Parrot, and Yellow-collared Chlorophonia can be observed here. These feeders operate all day, but it’s recommended to see the most individuals in the morning. We’ll start birdwatching early at 6:00 am, observing species like Broad-billed Motmot, Uniform Antshrike, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Lineated Foliage-gleaner, Uniform Treehunter, Slaty-capped, Golden-bellied, and Ornate Flycatchers, Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant, Black-billed Peppershrike, Brown-capped and Chivi Vireos, Black-striped Sparrow, Tricolored and Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Olive Finch, Slate-throated Redstart, Ocher-breasted Tanager, and Dark-backed Wood-Quail, among others.

The endemic Choco Vireo, one of the rarest birds in Ecuador, will be a focus of a half-morning dedicated to finding it in one of the mixed flocks during walks along the scenic route near the lodge within the reserve.

We’ll arrive at the lodge around 5:00 pm and have dinner at 7:00 pm. Between the time of arrival and settling into our rooms, we’ll observe bird species around the area, taking it easy as there will be better opportunities for sightings with better light the next day.

Day 6: In the morning of Day 6, we will dedicate time to birdwatching at the light trap from 6:00 am to 8:00 am. Then, we will have breakfast from 8:00 to 8:40 am and continue with a visit to the tanager feeders and hummingbird drinking stations. Lunch will be at 1:00 pm.

In the afternoon, from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm, we will visit the Sacha Guatusa Reserve, which is a 10-minute drive by van from Mashpi Amagusa. Here, we will try to spot three very special bird species: Purple-chested Hummingbird, Emerald Tanager, and Gray-and-gold Tanager. If necessary, we will make stops along this short route in case we encounter a mixed bird flock or a special sighting. Our dinner will be at Mashpi Amagusa at 7:00 pm.

Day 7: The itinerary for Day 7 will be similar to the previous day in the morning, dedicating time to birdwatching and breakfast at similar times. In the afternoon, we will explore lower elevations by van, not far from the lodge, passing through Sacha Guatusa and the Eco-route. Dinner will again be at 7:00 pm.

In the morning of Day 8, we will repeat the same birdwatching itinerary as the previous days. After breakfast, we will walk along the lodge’s scenic route to try to spot the Choco Vireo.

At 11:00 am, we will depart by van towards Quito/Puembo. We will have lunch at Guaycapi Restaurant along the way. After lunch, we will visit the hummingbird gardens at Alambí for about 30 minutes, which will be our last birdwatching stop before concluding our adventure and returning to Quito/Puembo.