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BIRDING SOUTHERN ECUADOR
&
TUMBESIAN ENDEMICS
CHURUTE - BUENAVENTURA - CERRO DE ARCOS - JORUPE - UTUANA - TAPICHALACA - CERRO TOLEDO-YANKUAM- COPALINGA- CERRO ACANAMA - YUNGUILLA - CAJAS NATIONAL PARK
ITINERARY
Our Southern Ecuador tour is the most comprehensive tour of the Tumbesian Region, a diverse region, with a rich habitat diversity that host as many as 40 endemic birds species shared only with adjacent parts of northern Peru. This tour cover the coastal region, wetlands, arid scrub, deciduous forests, tropical rainforest, montane subtropical forests, high altitude elfin forests, and páramo.
DAY 1
ARRIVAL TO GUAYAQUIL
Transfer in from Guayaquil's international airport José Joaquin de Olmedo. International flights usually arrive late in the evening. Overnight in Guayaquil.
DAY 2 & 3
MANGLARES CHURUTE TO BUENAVENTURA
DAY 2 & 3: MANGLARES CHURUTE - BUENAVENTURA
You’ll depart from the largest city of Ecuador early in the morning and head south along the coastal plain to the Manglares-Churute Reserve, about 50 minutes away. This reserve has an interesting mix of habitats from lagoons and mangroves, to semi-humid forest, unlike anything else you'll see on the tour. This is one of the best places in Ecuador to find the threatened Pacific Royal-Flycatcher along with a number of other scarce species like Horned Screamer. Later, you'll continue your way to Buenaventura Reserve, one of the Jocotocos Foundation's reserves. This reserve protects over 2870 hectares (7097 acres) and covers an altitude range between 400 to 1450 m.a.s.l. (1312 to 4750 f.a.s.l.). This reserve was established in 1999 to protect the home range of the endemic El Oro Parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi), and nowadays hosts species from two of the most important endemic bird areas on the planet: the Chocó and Tumbesian bioregions. The reserve has a register of over 330 bird species, out of which 15 are globally endangered and 34 are regional endemics. Some of the possible birds here are the rare and endangered Ecuadorian Tapaculo, Chocó Toucan, Rufous-headed Chachalaca, Ochre-bellied Dove, Grey-backed Hawk, Pacific Royal Flycatcher, Pacific Tuftedcheek , Brown-billed Scythebill, Club-winged Manakin, Ochraceous Attila among many others. Early in the morning you'll have access to a LEK of the threatened and Chocó endemic Long-wattled Umbrellabird. Different types of feeders for birds and mammals are placed near the lodge where a diversity of Hummingbirds, Tanagers and Toucans can be seen alongside Coatis. You'll stay and set base there for 3 nights at Umbrellabird Lodge.
DAY 4
CERRO DE ARCOS -BUENAVENTURA
DAY 4: CERRO DE ARCOS
After a very early departure you'll drive to Cerro de Arcos located at an altitude of 3700 m (12000ft), where in 2017 a completely new hummingbird species was discovered- the Blue-throated Hillstar (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus). This unique hummingbird has been observed regularly feeding in patches of shrubs within their páramo habitat. They feed on the nectar of flowering shrubs specially from Chuquiraga jussieui. Unfortunately the species is already considered critically-endangered due to its limited and threatened habitat: above the forest line in a very restricted range of the Southern Andes of Ecuador. Researchers estimate that there are no more than 750 individuals left. Overnight at Umbrellabird Lodge.
DAY 5 & 6
JORUPE
DAY 5 & 6: JORUPE
After the morning activity and breakfast you'll have a long drive southwards, close to the border with Perú, to stay at Jorupe Reserve. Jorupe is a Jocotco Foundation Reserve which protects 1460 heacters (3608 acres) and hosts a completely different habitat with deciduous dry forest in the Tumbesian region covering an altitude range of 200 to 600 m.a.s.l. (656 to 1960 f.a.s.l.) It is a great place for Tumbesian endemics such as White-tailed Jay, Blackish-headed Spinetail, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, Slaty Becard, Loja Tyranulet, Watkins Antpitta and Western Peruvian Screech Owl. Different species of birds occur around the lodge and feeders such as Pale-browed Tinamou, Blue ground Dove, Yellow-tailed Orioles, Collared Antshrike, Plain Antvireo, Ecuadorian Piculet, Speckle-breasted Wren, and Black-capped Sparrow among others. Overnight at Urraca Lodge in Jorupe for 2 nights.
DAY 7
UTUANA
DAY 7: UTUANA
Today you'll take the Macará-Sozoranga-Utuana road which takes you back up the mountains to experience a mist montane forest located between 2500 and 2700 m.a.s.l. (8200 and 8860 f.a.s.l). Along the way you'll try for more Tumbesian endemics like Bay-crowned Brush-Finch, Chapman’s Antshrike, Tumbesian Tyrannulet, Loja Hummingbird, and Black-cowled Saltator. Upon arrival to Utuana Reserve you'll look for scarce species like Gray-headed Antbird, Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner, Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Piura Hemispingus, and Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant. The Black-crested Tit-Tyrant is one of the site’s specialties and likely to be a highlight of this part of the tour. Hummingbird feeders attract Purple-throated Sunangel and Rainbow Starfrontlet! Overnight in Loja
DAY 8 & 9
TAPICHALACA
DAY 8 & 9: TAPICHALACA
Early in the morning you'll drive to Tapichalaca located at a breathtaking landscape 2500 m.a.s.l (8200 f.a.s.l.), on the eastern Andean slopes. Your first impression will be the presence of many Hummingbirds by the feeders: among these, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Collared Inca, Little Sunangel, and Long–tailed Sylph. The discovery of a new bird species back in 1997, the Jocotoco Antpitta set off a series of events that would forever change the history of conservation in Ecuador. Ten months after the sighting, Fundación Jocotoco was founded and the Tapichalaca Reserve was created to protect this and many other threatened species. Tapichalaca Reserve was established in 1998 and protects 8439 acres-acres of critical habitat for the Jocotoco Antpitta, a species whose total known population has remained at about twelve pairs since they were discovered at Cerro Tapichalaca by Dr. Robert Ridgely in 1997. The reserve ranges in altitude from 1,800 to 3,400 m.a.s.l. (5900 to 11150 f.a.s.l.) wich allows you to experience a cloudy montane humid forest- a cool and wet ecosystem. You will bird along the trails, visit the Jocotoco Antpitta worm feeder. Along with the Jocotoco Antpitta, the reserve protects other globally-threatened birds such as Bearded Guan, Golden-plumed Parakeet, White-breasted Parakeet, and Spot-winged Parrotlet. Other interesting birds occur here such as Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Orange-banded Flycatcher, White-throated Quail-dove, White-capped Tanager. Overnight Casa Simpson – Tapichalaca 2 Nights.
DAY 10
CERRO TOLEDO - LOJA
DAY 10: CERRO TOLEDO
You'll drive to higher elevations to Cerro Toledo, draped by beautiful elfin forest right below treeline. This is the most reliable place to observe the near-endemic Neblina Metaltail; this species will be the target due to its status as an endangered and very localized species. This area also gives you chances to find the rare species like the Red-faced Parrot and Masked Mountain-Tanager. Other species you might find in the area: Bearded Guan, the prized Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan is often heard across the valleys but is only occasionally seen, Mouse-colored Thistletail, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Red-hooded Tanager, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, and Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager. During the flowering season a variety of hummingbirds are attracted to flowers around the visitor center and along the trails such as the Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Glowing Puffleg, Amethys-throated Sunangel, and Tyrian Metaltail. Other birds in this zone include Chusquea Tapaculo, Ocellated Tapaculo, both more often heard than seen. Overnight in Copalinga.
DAY 11 & 12
YANKUAM LODGE
DAY 10 & 11: YANKUAM
Today you'll have a long drive towards the Amazonian province of Zamora, one of Ecuador's hotspots for birding. Yankuam is located at the base of the west slope of the Cordillera del Condor and next to the Nagaritza river at 900 m.a.s.l (2952 f.a.s.l.). The large Nagaritza river crosses large canyons and vast rainforest, this area is still among some of the least explored areas of the country, partly because of their remoteness and rugged terrain. The area is considered the most reliable location for the rare regional endemic Orange-throated Tanager. Other possibilities here include Speckled Chachalaca, Gilded Barbet, Blackish Pewee, Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher, Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher, Zimmer’s Antbird, White-bellied Pygmy-Tyrant, White-throated Woodpecker, Fulvous Shrike-Tanager, and Ocellated Woodcreeper, along with a plethora of foothill species and even a few birds more typical of the Amazonian lowlands. Overnight Yankuam Lodge (2 nights).
DAY 13 & 14
COPALINGA - BOMBUSCARO
DAY 12 & 13: COPALINGA
After a birding activity and breakfast you'll drive to Copalinga, a cozy lodge located within the buffer zone of the Podocarpus National Park- very close to the Bombuscaro entrance. In August 2018 Copalinga was officially added to the network of private reserves owned by Fundacion Jocotoco and became its twelfth reserve. Copalinga is located at a remarkable location considered one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet, at least 554 species of birds have been recorded in the nearby Podocarpus National Park. It's great for hummingbirds like Wire-crested Thorntail, Many Spotted Hummingbird, Glittering-throated Emerald, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Spangled Coquette among others. In one of the trails there is a blind from where you'll try for Gray Tinamou. Mixed flocks of colorful tanagers forage around the ground such as the Paradise Tanager, Green-and-gold Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager and many others. Some other target species includes Coppery-chested Jacamar, Amazonian Umbrella Bird, Coopery-chested Jacamar, Black-streaked Puffbid, Lanceolated Monklet, and White-necked Parakeet. Overnight at Copalinga Lodge (2 nights).
DAY 15
OLD LOJA ZAMORA ROAD TO SARAGURO
DAY 15: SARAGURO
You’ll start the day catching the best bird activity at dawn along the scenic dirt old Zamora-Loja road. You'll stop in some amazingly productive forest patches where you'll seek for Ecuadorian Tyranulet, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Olivaceous Greenlet, Guira Tanager, Fiery-Throated Fruiteater and Lined Antshrike. At higher elevations you'll try for other specialties such as the Vermilion Tanager, Blue-browed Tanagers, Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, among others. In the afternoon, time and weather permitting, you will make a brief stop at the nearby Huashapamba community forest to check for the rare Red-faced Parrot; afterwards, you will continue your way towards Saraguro. Overnight in a Hotel In Saraguro.
DAY 16
CERRO ACANAMA
DAY 16: CERRO ACANAMA
After an early drive towards the treeline forest above Saraguro, you'll try very hard for one of the most wanted species and one of the most beautiful Grallaridae, the Crescent-faced Antpitta, usually foraging in dense patches of bamboo. Other species of interest here are: Chusquea Tapaculo, Bearded Guan, Black-headed Hemispingus, Mouse-colored Thistletail, Flammulated Treehunter, Masked Mountain-Tanager, Glowing Puffleg, Agile Tit-Tyrant and you'll try hard for the extremely rare Chestnut-bellied Cotinga few times seen at the higher part of the antenna road . Later you'll be able to visit again the Huashapamba forest close to Saraguro in case you missed the Red-faced Parrot there on the previous day. Overnight in Santa Isabel close to Yunguilla.
DAY 17
YUNGUILLA - CUENCA
DAY 17: YUNGUILLA
Yunguilla reserve is surrounded by a dry woodland vegetation, grassland, thick bamboo patches and scrubby hillsides. This reserve was created by the Jocotoco Foundation with the purpose of protecting the last remaining habitat of the Pale-headed Brushfinch (Atlapetes pallidiceps), a species considered extinct for more than two decades. In 1998 a population of this bird was located by Niels Krabbe. Since then, and thanks to an active program to protect the bird population, the nesting pairs have more than doubled. After this you'll drive to the colonial city of Cuenca for a well deserve rest in a beautiful hotel. Overnight in Cuenca.
DAY 18
CAJAS NATIONAL PARK - GUAYAQUIL
DAY 18 CAJAS NATIONAL PARK
Within a close distance and drive from Cuenca you'll reach to the unique Cajas National Park, a perfect place to complete the best Southern Birding circuit. This reserve is escencially important because it protects some of the most important water reserves in Ecuador and also different types of biodiverse habitats; from temperate forest and scrub, windswept paramo grasslands, patches of Polylepis woodland to pristine highland lakes. Here you'll try for many high Andean specialties such as the secretive Ecuadorian Rail, Andean Teal, and Yellow-billed Pintail, the endemic Violet-throated Metaltail, the stunning Rainbow-bearded Thornbill and the local Mouse-colored Thistletail. Reaching out the grassy paramo you'll have the chance for Tawny Antpitta, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Many-striped Canastero, Stout-billed Cinclodes, and others. At the scattered Polylepis patches you'll have the best opportunities to see Tit-like Dacnis, and Giant Conebill. In the afternoon you'll continue your way to Guayaquil. Following this, if not joining the available extension to the coast or other destinations, you will be transferred to Guayaquil's international airport for your flight back home. If you need an additional night to rest and start fresh the next day please let us know so we can make the arrangements.
ITINERARY MAP
*Ask us about our options to extend your trip to the Coast or to other destinations.
TRIP EXTENSION
PENINSULA DE SANTA ELENA - AYAMPE - MACHALILLA
INTINERARY 4D / 3D
DAY 1
GUAYAQUIL - SANTA ELENA PENINSULA
DAY 1: SANTA ELENA PENINSULA
Santa Elena Peninsula is located west of the city Guayaquil . The road to the coast leads to the Ecuasal Salt Ponds, located near Salinas about 100 miles from Guayaquil, right at sea level. This coastal dry scrub holds a bunch of local species such as Parrot-billed Seedeater, one of the commonest passerines, Short-tailed Woodstar, Gray-and-white Tyrannulet, Collared Antshirkes, Necklaced Spinetail, Tumbesian Tyrannulets, Collared Warbling- Finches, Short-tailed Field-Tyrant and West Peruvian Dove. You'll continue drive to hit the coastal strip and check the coastal lagoons of Ecuasal which are ususally packed with hundreds of shorebirds. Here you'll look for Chilean Flamingos, Wilson's Phalaropes, Sandpippers, Dowitchers, Plovers, Terns and Gulls. After lunch you'll head head further north to the scenic small vilage of Ayampe. Overnight in Ayampe
DAY 2
AYAMPE - MACHALILLA
DAY 2: AYAMPE - MACHALILLA
The Río Ayampe Reserve was established to protect the critically endangered Esmeraldas Woodstar (Chaetocercus berlepschi), a species of hummingbird found only in a small area on the west coast of Ecuador. Much of the land where the Woodstar breeds is owned by the local community of Las Tunas. In 2011, a formal agreement between the community and Ecuadorian non-profit conservation group Jocotoco Foundation was signed to work together to protect the Woodstar. After breakfast, we will venture into the deciduous woodland alongside the Ayampe River, a stronghold for the critically endangered Esmeraldas Woodstar. The area also holds scarce Tumbesian species we could have missed on the main tour such as Slaty Becard, Ochre-bellied Dove, Pacific Royal Flycatcher, Gray-backed Hawk, and Saffron Siskin. There are also a number of humid forest birds in the wetter forest patches, where we could find Gartered Trogon, Lesser Greenlet, Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner, White-backed Fire-eye, and others. After lunch back at our chilled out resort, we could either return to Ayampe or bird dry forest farther north along the coast for skulkers like Pale-browed Tinamou and the stunning Elegant Crescentchest.
DAY 3
AYAMPE - GUAYAQUIL
DAY 3: AYAMPE - GUAYAQUIL
You'll will begin your day birding in Ayampe, this area has a wide diversity of flora and fauna, due to it's unique high humidity micro-climate where 328 species of birds have been registered. After a delicious lunch you'll make our way south back towards the Santa Elena Peninsula and Guayaquil (around 5 hours away). Back in Guayaquil is time to celebrate a successful trip and share a final farewell dinner.
DAY 4
DEPARTURE
The extension ends this morning with a transfer to the international airport.
EXTENSION TOUR ITINERARY MAP
Pricing
2023 PRICE PER PERSON
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
2023 PRICE PER PERSON
PRICE PER PERSON:
- Groups of 4 or more participants.
- Solo travelers or private tours, please contact us for more information.
- USD $6150 in double occupation room.
- Extension tour to the coast $1150 per person
INCLUDED
-Private service of a specialized birding & naturalist bilingual guide
-Private transportation
-Accommodation in double occupation, single room occupation adds $610 to the total price p.p
-All meals with soft drink and purified water
-Transfers In-Out
-All excursions and activities listed in itinerary
-Entrance fees to all the reserves and activities
NOT INCLUDED
-International airfare
-Alcoholic Beverages
-Tips
-Personal expenses
-Trip Cancellation & Health Insurance
-Any other item not specified
PLEASE NOTE:
This is a sample itinerary subject to change due to weather conditions, safety, and particular interests of guests. Changes and additions are made in order to maximize your birding experience and wilderness enjoyment.
This is a birding tour with good opportunities for photography at feeders at different reserves, however if you are a serious photographer please request more details about our photo focused tour.
Trips considerations
WEATHER
PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY
WEATHER
Due to the complex topography, weather is highly variable. In the lowlands in the west and east it can be rather hot (usually 68°-90°F, 20°-32°C) and very humid and sunny. Most of the rest of the tour is at middle elevations of the Andes where it is quite pleasant (usually around 50°-75°F, 10°-24°C). At higher elevation, it can be near freezing and windy. Some rain can be expected throughout the tour, especially in the afternoons and evenings.
PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY
The tour is considered moderate to intense according with the participants fitness level and physiological response at different elevations.There will be a mixture of trail, feeders and road birding. In most places the trails and roads are in good condition and partially flat, although there will be some steeper and moderately difficult trails were you might find useful to have walking sticks. You can expect to walk around 2-3 miles (3.2-4.8 km) per day on average. At Cerro de Arcos, Acanama, El Cajas you’ll spent good birding time at high elevations ranging from about 10,000-13,000 ft (3000-4000 m), but the walks are fairly easy.
