Neotropical Nature & Birding

HUMMINGBIRD ROUTE
ANDEAN WESTERN SLOPES &
CHAKANA-ANTISANA

ZUROLOMA-OLD MINDO ROAD-SACHATAMIA- REFUGIO PAZ DE LAS AVES-MASHPI-MILPE-KAPARI-SILANCHE- UMBRELLABIRD LEK - CHAKANA -ANTISANA

"Birds are a miracle because they prove to us there is a finer, simpler state of being which we may strive to attain"

ITINERARY

DAY 1

ARRIVAL TO QUITO
​Transfer in from the new International Airport Mariscal Sucre in Tababela to Quito. Usually international flights arrive late in the evening. INCLUDES: transfer-in, accommodation at Ilayaku Lodge.

DAY 2

YANACOCHA & OLD NONO MINDO ROAD

DAY 2 : ZUROLOMA-OLD NONO MINDO ROAD-ALAMBI- SACHATAMIA

Experience the beauty and biodiversity of Ecuador's Andean cloud forests. Your journey begins with an early pick-up as you head northwest to Zuroloma Reserve, located on the slopes of the Pichincha Volcano. Along the way, you'll travel along the famous Hummingbird Route, passing through the old Nono-Mindo Road. The Zuroloma Reserve is a one-of-a-kind environment, featuring a diverse array of flora and fauna and stunning views of the Andean cloud forest and snowcapped volcanoes. You'll have the opportunity to witness a unique ecosystem with a complex combination of biodiversity, climate, and topographic conditions. In addition to the breathtaking scenery, the Zuroloma Reserve is also known for its hummingbirds. You'll be mesmerized by the vibrant and sparkling species that call this world-renowned destination home, including the rare Chestnut-napped Antpitta, Rufous Antpitta, and Sword-billed Hummingbird. This reserve offers some of the best bird photography opportunities for these elusive species. You’ll observe many species hopping and flitting about a strategically-located array of mossy branches at very close range, allowing for excellent photo opprotunities. This area is located in an extremely important zone for conservation for the planet, one of the last hotspots of biodiversity, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve called the Andean Choco. Your visit will support a sustainable income alternative for the local people who run this conservation initiative, a very valuable effort that resists the pressure for agricultural conversion and other ways of habitat degradation. After a productive morning we’ll continue down the old Nono-Mindo Road to Tandayapa Valley, enjoying outstanding landscapes along the way. Following the route known as the “Route of the ‘Quinde’”- the Kichwa indigenous word for “hummingbird”- you’ll make your way to Alambi Cloud Forest Reserve, a true hummingbird paradise. Over 15 species of hummingbirds visit this garden each day. Overnight at Sachatamia.

DAY 3

PLATE-BILLED MOUNTAIN-TOUCAN HIDE, TANAGERS AND HUMMINGBIRDS - SACHATAMIA

DAY 3: PLATE-BILLED MOUNTAIN-TOUCAN HIDE, TANAGERS AND HUMMINGBIRDS

Today you’ll visit a reserve located at an altitude of 1,800 meters of elevation, just off the world-renowned Nono-Mindo Road in the outskirts of the Tandayapa and Mindo Valleys. This site is a bird photographer’s paradise! Each and every element of this small reserve is designed to delight both birders and photographers, who can chalk up a hard drive’s worth of photos of hummers, tanagers, and even the fancy, multicolored Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan. This site also has light traps that attract moths during the night, and in the early morning, insectivorous birds flock to this amazing breakfast buffet. Blinds located close to these light traps are well situated for great photo ops. The garden here features a wide variety of flowering plants and also feeders, all of which attract a dizzying diversity of hummingbirds. While the hummer feeders are a big draw, the large selection of flowers makes for even more natural photo ops. Typically, you see as many as 14 different types of hummingbirds here. The “hummer highlight” for many visitors is the Hoary Puffleg, a species that generally does not visit feeders but that for months now has been a fairly regular visitor. Other hummingbirds present in this area are the endemics Violet-tailed Sylph, as well as the Empress Brilliant, Gorgeted Sunangel; and the simply stunning Velvet-purple Coronet. NOTE: Multiflash setting for hummingbird photography is available upon request, please ask for more information.

DAY 4

ANDEAN COCK OF THE ROCK LEK & ANTPITTA PARADISE AT REFUGIO PAZ DE LAS AVES

DAY 4: REFUGIO PAZ DE LAS AVES

This now-famous antpitta reserve near Mindo is considered a must visit place and a highlight of the Northwestern Route. Here, the former local farmer Angel Paz and his brother Rodrigo have switched their activities to birding and conservation. They are pioneers in the neotropics in hand-feeding several elusive species like, Dark-backed Woodquail, Moustached, Giant, Yellow-breasted, Chestnut- crowned and Ochre-breasted Antpittas with amazing and nearly miraculously success. These birds respond relatively easily to their voice, giving us a great chance to see these otherwise evasive birds. They have gained substantial fame for developing this technique of conditioning extremely rare Antpittas and other rare birds to come out onto the trail. Hummingbird feeders within the reserve attract many species species like Velvet-purple Coronet, Empress Brilliant and Brown-Violetear. Other Chocó specialties sometimes found in the area include Nariño Tapaculo, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, and Black -chinned Mountain-Tanager. It is also a good site for birds like Olivaceus Piha, Golden-headed Quetzal, Golden-winged Manakin and Crimson-rumped Toucanet. Here you’ll also visit an active Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek at sunrise. The species exhibits marked sexual dimorphism, the male has a large disk-like crest and a very unique vivid scarlet plumage. Gatherings of males compete for breeding females with each male displaying its colorful plumage, bobbing and hopping, and making strident calls. To have a successful experience at the reserve with the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek and the Antpittas, it is necessary to arrive at, or slightly before, dawn. Overnight at Sachatamia Lodge.

DAY 5

MASHPI - AMAGUSA

DAY 5: MASHPI- AMAGUSA

Mashpi Amagusa is a unique destination for nature enthusiasts and photographers in the northwestern foothills that has gained notoriety for its impressive collection of Chocó endemic bird species. The wet mossy forest along the roads in the area boasts Moss-Backed Tanager, Pacific Tuftedcheek, Orange-Breasted Fruiteater, Black Solitaire, Indigo Flowerpiercer, and the very rare Choco Vireo. You’ll visit a reserve managed by a local family from the neighboring Pacto Loma community. Sergio, the owner, has set fruit feeders with natural perches that offer great photography opportunities of many species that are difficult or rare elsewhere, like the Glistening-green Tanager, Moss-backed Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Toucan Barbet among others. Your mind will be blown by the amazing hummingbird activity in their garden. Hummingbirds regularly visit the flowers and feeders around the main house such as, Brown Inca, Violet-tailed Sylph, Velvet-purple Coronet, Green Thorntail, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Empress Brilliant, Green-crowned Brilliant among others. The reserve has some of the last well-preserved remnants of pristine cloud forest, in one of the world’s most renowned hot spots of biodiversity on the planet, the Andean Chocó rainforest. Your visit will support the efforts to preserve this invaluable forest over time. Overnight at Sachatamia Lodge.

DAY 6

MILPE- SILANCHE BIRD SANCTUARY

DAY 6: MILPE- SILANCHE

After an breakfast, we'll head out to Silanche, a Mindo Cloudforest Foundation (MCF) reserve. This is a nonprofit conservation organization founded in 2001 that works to protect critically endangered natural habitats in Ecuador. We'll get to explore this sanctuary in the Chocó-Andean foothills. Silanche is one of the last remaining accessible forest remnants found in this key life-zone—is situated in hilly lowland forest at an altitude between 300-350m. The main feature at Río Silanche is its incredible birding from an observation tower: mixed species foraging flocks, packed with many important Chocó endemic species. Many of these bird species are otherwise difficult to find without arranging a logistically far more complicated expedition to Esmeraldas province or even Colombia: Purple-chested Hummingbird, Chocó Trogon, Double-banded Graytail, Moustached/Griscom’s Antwren, Stub-tailed Antbird, Black-tipped Cotinga, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, Scarlet-and-white Tanager, Blue-whiskered Tanager. The MCF is working hard to repair and maintain a natural corridor between the Caoní and Silanche rivers, strengthening the Río Caoní IBA. In the afternoon you'll visit Milpe reserve, which was established in 2004 and has recently been expanded to 100 hectares (247 acres), now including the adjacent ‘Milpe Gardens’ which has easier access to the Chalhuayacu river valley. The Bird Sanctuary covers an altitudinal range from 1020-1150m (3350-3770 ft). Both Club-winged and Golden-winged manakins are relatively easy to observe, photograph and enjoy. Seasonally, the White-bearded Manakin is here too, popping and whirring. Overnight at Sachatamia Lodge.

DAY 7

23 DE JUNIO

DAY 7: UMBRELLABIRD LEK

We will leave early to reach the small private reserve of 23 de Junio by dawn. In recent years a small population of the rare and Choco endemic Long-wattled Umbrella bird has been found here. The aim of this trip is to get some great views of the Long-wattled Umbrellabird (Cephaloterus penduliger); this disperse lek forming species is a Chocó endemic specialty whose conservation status has been raised to vulnerable due to the destruction of its habitat. This bird species is locally known as the bull bird, is a species of cotinga that, just like the famous cock of the rock, uses leks to search for a partner. Leks are used by males to make their grand courtship performance where they show off their fine crest feathers, covering their heads up to the beak, like a pompadour coiffed by the most flamboyant of hairdressers. During this display of talent, a large and bizarre pendulum extends – from which its scientific name penduliger emerges – that hangs over its chest like a tie, inflating it to show all its splendor with the surrounding short and shiny feathers all erect. The umbrellabirds sing powerful songs in the leks, as if giving a good blow on a horn, a serious and heartfelt cry of love. We may encounter other rare species like Rose-faced Parrots, Moss-backed Tanager and Black Solitary. We'll explore the reserve at its different altitudinal floors where we’ll have the chance to see different species of toucans like, Chocó Toucan, Yellow throated Toucan, and the Collared Aracari (Pale-mandibled Aracari); all in a matter of a couple of hours. There are not many places in Ecuador, or for that matter in the world, where you can see all these birds in the same area. It is important for us to support local conservation efforts; through our visit we'll generate a direct positive impact and support for the local community. After lunch we’ll prepare to drive back to Quito.

DAY 8

CHAKA RESERVE - ANTISANA

DAY 8: CHAKANA - ANTISANA

This trip will take you through a great scenery in the Ecuadorian Andes. Leave Puembo early in the morning for 1 1/2 -hour drive towards Hacienda Antisanilla – Chakana Reserve, a 7,000-acre conservation land purchased in 2014 by the Jocotoco Foundation to safeguard Ecuador’s most important population of Andean Condors. Today you’ll have access to enjoy a privileged lookout to some of the most important Andean Condor roosting and nesting sites. You might see them gliding at eye level. The altitudinal range covered is from 10.000 to 12.000 ft asl. You’ll spend the entire day in the area, watching for Andean condors (should be easy!) and other beautiful birds like the unique Ecuadorian Hillstar feeding on unique flowers of the Chuquiraga shrub. You will even have to keep your eyes open for the only bear species of South America: The Spectacled Bear. The paramo is rich in important food sources for the bears’ mostly herbivorous diet; The Andean Bear’s main food source in the area is a type of ground paramo bromeliad Puya sp. which is pretty abundant in this ecosystem. The area has a road system and trails of varying difficulty, allowing you to cover a big extensions of territory in a short period time. It is right here in the paramo, east of Quito where you can increase your probabilities of a great encounter with bears and other Andean wildlife, sometimes close enough to have wonderful views and photographs!. After exploring the reserve you’ll have a well deserved break and lunch at Tambocondor where you can also observe different species of hummingbirds like the Giant Hummingbird, Shining Sunbeam, Black-tailed Trainbearer and other species. Later you'll be transfer to the airport to catch your flight back home. Plan on flights after 7:30 PM. In case you don't find a good flight match, you can overnight at a hotel we regularly use in Puembo and start fresh the following day. Please let us know this in advance so we can assist you with the arrangements and quote additional services.

ITINERARY MAP

Pricing

PLEASE NOTE: 
This itinerary is a sample and is subject to change based on weather, safety concerns, and the interests of our guests. Our goal is to provide the best possible birding experience and wilderness enjoyment, and as such, we may make changes or additions to the itinerary. If you would like to extend your trip to other premier birding destinations in the Andean Eastern Slopes, please let us know and we can provide additional details.

This birding tour offers good opportunities for photography at various reserves, but if you are a dedicated photographer, we recommend requesting more information about our photo-focused tour. We can provide additional details to ensure that you get the most out of your photography experience.

Trip considerations


ADDITIONAL DAY(S):
PLEASE ASK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
ON ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES AND DESTINATIONS TO EXTEND YOUR TRIP.
×