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Birding Holiday, Ecuador: Cloud Forest (Cock of Rock) + Galapagos Cruise

Birding, Ecuador: Amazon + Cloud Forest + Galapagos Cruise

20 NIGHTS FROM:

$8,971

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights quoted separately

7ERA20Q

• Birding Holiday Ecuador

• Quito City Tour

• Yanacocha & Antpittas Reserves

• Cloud Forest

• Hummingbirds

• Macaws, Toucans & Parrots

• Cock of Rock displays

• Centre of World Monument

• Galapagos Cruise

• Guayaquil

This tailor made birding holiday in Ecuador combines the Amazon with the magnificent equatorial Cloud Forest, with its colourful neo-tropical birdlife and Cock of Rock displays. Enjoy birding along the Paseo del Quinde (Hummingbird Way), as well as in the Yanacocha & Antpittas reserves. End with a stunning Galapagos Cruise, with a choice of boats and durations. Galapagos flights, all birding & transfers included.

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

You will be met at Quito Airport and transferred to your hotel in this historic Spanish colonial city that straddles the equator and is today a World Heritage Site.

Check in and relax in this capital city in the Andean Highlands, with its many museums, monasteries and churches with golden altars. The prosperous centre of the Kingdom of Quitu during the 13th century, and later the northern capital of the Inca Empire, it has a setting that few cities in the world can match.

Day 2

This morning enjoy a half day private Quito City Tour, walking through the cobbled streets and main square of the historic Colonial Quarter - the largest and best preserved in South America. Take in its magnificent colonial architecture as you stroll along Independence Plaza - including the Cathedral, President's Palace, Archbishop's Palace and the Municipal Building.

You will see many mansions, monasteries and churches including the spectacular Church of the Society of Jesus ('La Compañía de Jesús) with its awesome gilded interior and the Monastery of San Francisco. This is one the of greatest religious buildings of the New World, with its impressive façade and atrium leading to a Moorish-influenced baroque interior and winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar. This lovely city also has many cosmopolitan galleries and boutiques filled with contemporary paintings, sculptures and exquisite traditional crafts.

Your tour ends with a ride on the TelefériQo (cable car) from where you can view at least four snow-capped volcanoes.

In the afternoon you can explore more of this lovely city independently. You can also visit the colourful indoor Iñaquito Market, where you can purchase a variety of food and handcrafts.

Note: Quito is situated at high altitude (9,350 ft / 2,850 m). As you will be visiting churches (except on Sundays, when this is not permitted), do not wear shorts or mini-skirts as these are not allowed.

Day 3

This morning transfer to Quito Airport for your light aiircraft flight across the eastern Andes to Coca (Puerto Francisco de Orellana) - the gateway to the amazing Amazon jungle.

You will be met at Coca Airport and transferred to the Napo River for your 3-hour motorised canoe ride deep into the Amazon Basin, the world's largest body of fresh water, with lunch box provided. Along the way you should see many bird species including herons, egrets, kingfishers and vultures whilst enjoying a packed lunch. There there should also be opportunities to spot some large birds such as toucans, parrots and macaws, as well as monkeys.

Your journey continues with a short walk to Challwacocha Creek, where you will board canoes for a trip through the primary flooded forest, paddling peacefully along a narrow creek with trees overhead. Birds you can hope to see here include the Cocha antshrike, Dot- backed antbird, Silvered antbird, Plumbeous antbird, American pygmy kingfisher, Rufescent tiger-heron and Capped heron.

In the afternoon we reach our lodge, when your guide will explain the activities for the rest of the day. You can either walk along one of the nearby trails or take a canoe ride. During these activities, birds you can hope to see include the Wattled jacana, Least bittern, Agami heron, Green-and-rufous kingfisher, White-chinned jacamar, Hoatzin, Red-bellied macaw, Chestnut-fronted macaw, Blue-and-yellow macaw, Cobalt-winged parakeet, Mealy Amazon parrot, Capped heron, Neotropic cormorant, Anhinga, Ringed kingfisher, Orange-winged parrot, Pale-vented pigeon, Lesser kiskadee, Cream-coloured woodpecker, Spot-breasted woodpecker and Red-capped cardinal amongst others..

Note: There are no Amazon transfers on a Sunday.

Day 4

Rise early to explore the birds of the tree tops of the Amazon Basin - a 2.7-million square mile (6.7 million sq.km) conservation area that is the largest in the world, spreading across nine countries - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana.

We start by climbing a 36-metre (118 ft) Observation Tower. To get there, your guide will paddle on the Challwacocha Lake for 30 minutes, followed by a 10-minute walk. The diversity of birds here is incredible, and includes many colourful birds such as macaws, toucans, honeycreepers, tanagers, flycatchers, hummingbirds and, with luck, the rare Harpy Eagle. Birds that are virtually impossible to see from the forest floor are suddenly right beside you, oblivious to your presence. Groups of birds you can hope to see include Turquoise, Flame-crested, Opal-rumped and Opal-crowned tanagers, Golden & Orange-bellied euphonias, Green & Purple honeycreepers, Lemon-throated barbets, Spangled & Plum-throated cotingas, Great potoos, Great jacamars and Crested eagles. You may also see spider monkeys searching for fruit.

Once the treetop activity is over, we head down to spend the rest of the day in the forest, concentrating on the understory, searching for antbirds and manakins. Targets include the Lunulated antbird, Fulvous antshrike, Long-tailed potoo, Wire-tailed manakin. The lodge bar and three-storey dock offers more birding opportunities, so have your binoculars handy to spot the Silver-beaked tanager, Long-billed woodcreeper, Masked crimson tanager, Hoatzin, Yellow-rumped cacique, White-throated toucan and Many-banded aracari.

In the afternoon we walk along the Chorongo Trail, with the possibility of sighting the Brownish twistwing, Chestnut-belted gnateater, Black-tailed leaftosser, Thrush-like antpitta, Wire-tailed manakin, Blue-crowned manakin, Screaming piha and Rusty-belted tapaculo.

Note: Your daily programme is subject to change, according to weather conditions. A headlamp is essential in the Amazon and assume there will be no mobile phone coverage and weak (or non-existent) WiFi.

Day 5

After breakfast we head to the Napo River to board our boat to the parrot clay lick in Yasuni National Park, for a wonderful view of hundreds of parrots searching for a gap to land and eat the earth.

Here,you will see Mealy amazon, Yellow-crowned, Orange-winged, and Blue-headed parrots, as well as Dusky-headed parakeets. A second clay-lick is in a cave where hundreds of Cobalt-winged parakeets ingest dissolved minerals in the water accumulated on the ground, accompanied by Scarlet macaws and Orange-cheeked parrots.

We can also hike on the south of the Napo River, inside Yasuni´ National Park, which is considered to be one of the most biodiverse area in the world. Some species that cannot be found in the north might be spotted here including the White-plumed antbird, Lunulated antbird, Blue-backed manakin, Ochre-striped antpitta, Chestnut-headed crake, Yellow-billed jacamar, Purplish jacamar, Ash-throated gnateater, Rio Suno antwren, Rufous-tailed antwren and Brown-backed antwren

We return to the lodge in the late afternoon for dinner.

Day 6

Today will be dedicated to the Amazon Islands, along with Gallery Forest and secondary growth forest.

Here we search for the following highlights: Orange-backed troupial, Olive-spotted hummingbird, Fuscous flycatcher, Black-and-white antbird, White-bellied & Dark-breasted spinetails, Orange-headed tanager, Blue-and-Yellow macaw, Russet-backed oropendola, Green oropendola, Many–banded aracari, Ivory-billed aracari, Black-fronted nunbird, Speckled chachalaca, Magpie tanager and Rusty-belted tapaculo.

Each evening you can update your bird list with your guide.

Day 7

Depart from the Amazon early this morning by dugout canoe, with a final opportunity to search for additional birds, giant otters and saki monkeys as you paddle through Chawllacocha Creek.

Connect with your 3-hour motorised canoe along the Napo River to Coca and onward light aircraft flight to Quito, where you will be transferred to your hotel situated near the airport.

Note: There are no Amazon transfers on a Sunday.

Day 8

Rise early for a day of birding with your guide, exploring the Guallaybamba Dry Forest located in the valley between the two Andean Cordilleras, in the rain shadow of the Andes.

Much of the rain falls in the cloud forests and elfin forests of the western and eastern Cordilleras, leaving this dry forest in the Inter-Andean Valley, with its own special species.

Day 9

You will be collected from your hotel very early this morning (around 05.30) and driven to your lodge situated high in the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest at 7,200 feet (2,200 m) above sea level.

Although this is only a 2.5-hour drive, you will spend the full day birding. We start by climbing to the higher elevation Yanacocha Reserve, where we stop for a boxed breakfast. This reserve covers 1,200 hectares and is surrounded by a matrix of agricultural land, with remnants of mature forest. This is the main habitat of the Black-breasted puffleg, considered the emblematic bird of Quito. You can also see lots of high elevation species such as the Scarlet-bellied mountain tanager, Hooded mountain tanager, Black-chested mountain tanager, Tawny antpitta, Sapphire-vented puffleg, Buff-winged starfrontlet, Sword-billed hummingbird and many more. As we travel down the mountain, the rushing streams sometimes reveal a Torrent duck and Whitecapped dipper.

Around midday we descend down the Paseo del Quinde ('Hummingbird Way') to the bottom of the Tandayapa Valley, where we have an included lunch in a hummingbird garden located at a lower elevation (1,700 meters) on the banks of the Alambi River. Here you can enjoy a true hummingbird spectacle - including the White-necked jacobin, White-bellied woodstar and Green-crowned woodnymph. Also hope to see many tanagers, euphonias, Red-headed barbets, perhaps Crested quetzals and more.

We continue birding here until mid-afternoon, then drive to our lodge in the Cloud Forest. This is a bird watchers paradise, as the surrounding region is home to over 500 different bird species - 36 of which are endemic. You will also see a profusion of magnificent trees and other plants, from ferns and bromeliads to hundreds of orchids. You may also see small mammals such as the coati (racoon), agouti (similar to guinea pig), tayra (giant weasel), olinguito and kinkajou (members of the racoon family) and spot a variety of insects and reptiles. Puma and spectacled bear also live here but are rarely seen.

In the evening there is a good chance of seeing an iconic Olinguito, Kinkajou and more.

Days 10 To 11

Wake up early each morning for a shared birding walk from your lodge, situated in the misty hills of the Bellavista Private Reserve with its unique birdlife, flora and fauna.

This rich eco-system offers some of the best birding in the world, with 22 different species of hummingbirds living in these cloud forests. You should see many toucans, parrots, woodpeckers, barbets, tanagers, a variety of raptors and many other species - all around the lodge. The feeding stations give good viewing options and better lighting for photography. Look out for the Plate-billed mountain toucan, Toucan barbet, Green and Black fruiteater, Grass-green tanager, Blue-winged mountain tanager, Golden-naped tanager, Golden tanager and Flame-faced tanager. Sometimes the White-faced nunbird shows up and chances are good to spot the Strong-billed woodcreeper, White-tailed tyrannulet, Turquoise jay, Chestnut-crowned antpitta, White-sided and Masked flowerpiercer, Masked trogon and many more.

After lunch explore along the ridge road - looking for the Rusty-winged barbtail, Streaked tuftedcheek, Pearled treerunner, Black-capped hemispingus and tanager flocks. And in the forest we search for birds such as the Powerful woodpecker, Golden-headed quetzal, Rufous-headed pygmy tyrant and more.

In the forest you will also see many different varieties of butterflies, orchids, medicinal plants, mushrooms, fungi, lichens, mosses, giant ferns and vines coiling in the swirling mists. Mammals include the elusive Tayra (giant weasel), which comes in to a feeding station at the lodge.

Night walks will uncover many nocturnal creatures, ranging from owls to moths as large as your hand, to miniature glass and tree frogs, Pinocchio frogs, toads, sleeping insects, spiders, rodents and fox fire (a luminous fungus). We also look out for the strange noctural Common potoo.

Day 12

After an early breakfast, your guide will drive you to Amaguza Reserve.

Situated at under 2,000 ft (500 m), this reserve is famous for the Glistening-green tanager and many other colourful tanagers, which you can photograph from an excellent feeding station. Also expect to see Black-cheeked woodpecker, Pacific parrotlet, Scaled fruiteater, Beautiful jay, Moss-backed tanager, Golden-hooded tanager and much more.

In the afternoon we visit the famous Los Tayos Cave. This is actually a deep, dark ravine where as many as 100 Oilbirds (Steatornis caripensis) have make their home.

Day 13

We leave very early today (04:45) and drive to Paz de las Aves Reserve, where we hike for 30-minutes down through the forest to the lek of raucous and startlingly beautiful Andean Cock-of-the-Rock birds from a well-situated hide.

These fiery orange birds are famous for their competitive courtship displays, which occur in the early morning and late afternoon, although this can never be guaranteed. The males become active just before dawn, and for the first few hours of the day. They are of course all the more active if a female shows up!

We then walk a little further to an area known for its Antpittas. Here we hope to have a glimpse of the Yellow breasted antpitta before continuing to the area where Angel, known as the Antpitta Whisperer, calls in his antpitta friends. Up to three species may come in (Giant antpitta, Moustached antpitta and Ochre-breasted antpitta). Elevation is everything, which explains why there is such an amazing bird diversity in this area of steep-sided mountains.

We then descend to the lower elevation of the Rio Silanche Reserve, a tropical lowland reserve that covers 70 hectares (175 acres). Situated in low foothills between 300 and 350 m, is is located along an all-weather road and it is one of the last remaining accessible forest remnants found in this key area. Birding along the roads and some trails within the reserve often reveal Chocó endemics such as the Rufous-winged tanager, Blue-whiskered tanager, Golden-hooded tanager, Scarlet-breasted dacnis, Chocó trogon, Chocó warbler, Dusky pigeon, Purple-chested hummingbird, Little woodstar, Double-banded graytail, Stub-tailed antbird, Slate-throated gnatcatcher, Scarlet-and-white tanager, Gray-and-gold tanager, Rose-face parrot, Blue-headed parrot, Marron-tailed parakeet, White-bearded manakin, Scarlet-thighed dacnis, Chestnut-mandibled toucan, Black-headed tody-flycatcher and Slaty-capped shrike-vireo among many others.

Afterwards we continue to our lodge in Milpe, which has feeders that attract yet more species of hummingbirds, aracari, Rufous motmots, Choco toucans and more.

Day 14

We rise early this morning to search for the incredible Long-wattled Umbrellabird. The male has a swaying beard of feathers, which the female finds most impressive. Observing this vulnerable species is an amazing experience, as we wait in silence then suddenly see a group of Umbrella birds flying from one tree to another looking for insects or fruits. You may hear a bird singing or see the long wattle of a male bird when inflated, which is quite unique.

We spend the rest of the morning enjoying more birding in Milpe Bird Sanctuary which is considered ‘An Important Bird Area’ by Birdlife International. It comprises 62 hectares (155 acres) that covers an altitudinal range from 1,020-1,150 m (3,350-3,770 ft) and includes two small rivers that converge at the bottom of a steep, forested valley. It is located along an all-weather road that many local birders consider to be one of the finest sites in all of Ecuador. Here 247 species were found included many of the most spectacular Choco endemic species, such as Plumbeous forest-falcon, Moss-backed tanager, Glistening-green tanager, Chocó trogon, Choco toucan, Club-winged manakin, Indigo-crowned quail-dove, Double-banded greytail, Fulvous-vented euphonia, Emerald tanager, Scarlet-and-white tanager, the near-threatened Blue-whiskered tanager.

After lunch we leave Milpe on a beautiful drive that takes us from the northwestern cloud forests, back up to the dry zone around Quito. We skirt the main area of the city, and proceed to travel into the high elevations of northeastern Ecuador to our lodge - driving up and over the Papallacta Pass at over 10,880 ft (3,250 m).

High elevation 'paramo' means specialities such as the Rufous-bellied seedsnipe, Ecuadorian hillstar, Blue-mantled thornbill, Andean tit-spinetail, Many-striped canastero and White-chinned thistletail. After a short time at high elevation, we will descend to our lodge at an elevation of 8,860 ft (2,700 m). The lodge garden contains many flowers and feeders that are highly attractive to hummingbirds, such as Chestnut-breasted coronet and Mountain velvetbreast. Other hummingbirds we can expect to see include Glowing and Golden-breasted pufflegs, the lovely Tourmaline sunangel and, if we are fortunate, the very rare Mountain avocetbill. The area around the lodge offers an exciting range of habitats, from a fast-flowing river to cloud-forest and bamboo thicket. Torrent duck, Bar-bellied woodpecker, Rufous-breasted flycatcher, Slaty-backed chat-tyrant, Barred becard, White-capped dipper, Blue-backed and Capped conebills, Buff-breasted mountain tanager, the beautiful Plush-capped finch and Northern mountain cacique are among birds usually seen here, with the possibility of Grey-breasted mountain toucan or maybe even a Chestnut-naped antpitta.

Day 15

Early this morning we will hike along the Papallacta Trails near our lodge, looking for more species such as the Andean guan, Plushcap, Slaty finch, Gray-breasted mountain toucan, Pale-naped brush finch, Gray-hooded bush tanager, Hooded mountain tanager, Pearl treerunner, Mountain avocetbill, Tourmaline sunangel, Torrent duck, White-capped dipper and more.

Afterwards we travel through the Papallacta region towards Antisana. This area has well conserved patches of Polylepis forest and it is an excellent place to observe high mountain bird species. The 4,000 m high paramo holds a fascinating group of high-altitude species like the Variable hawk, Many-striped canastero, Tawny antpitta and Andean condor. Other species expected in this area are the Sword-billed hummingbird, Great sapphire-wing, Scarlet-bellied mountain tanager, Torrent duck, Torrent tyrannulet ,the superb White-capped dipper and the Rufous-bellied seedsnipe.

After a boxed lunch along the way we arrive at Antisana National Park, where we visit Mica Lake. Here we hope to see Silvery grebe, Andean teal, Andean ruddy duck, Yellow-billed pintail, Andean coot as well as many land birds such as the Aplomado falcon, Andean gull, Andean lapwing and Carunculated caracara. Here you also have a high probability of seeing the majestic Andean condor and other species like the Black-chested buzzard-eagle and Variable hawk, Black-faced ibis, Paramo ground tyrant, Paramo pipit, Sedge wren, Baird's sandpiper, Cinereous harrier, Bar-winged and Stout-billed cinclodes, Black-faced ibis, Shining sunbeam, Red-rumped bush-tyrant, Paramo pipit, Giant conebill and Spectacled whitestart.

In the late afternoon we continue to Quito where we check in to our hotel conveniently situated near the airport.

Day 16

This morning take the free hotel shuttle to Quito Airport for your flight to the spectacular Galapagos Islands, with a touch down in Guayaquil.

You will be met at Baltra Airport and transferred by bus to the boarding jetty. Here you will embark on your Expedition Cruise through this magnificent archipelago, situated on the equator in the Pacific Ocean some 560 miles (900 km) west of the Ecuador mainland.

These volcanic islands are famous for their vast number of endemic species, studied by Charles Darwin during his historic voyage on the Beagle, which contributed to his Theory of Evolution by natural selection. Check in and relax in this astonishing marine reserve, where the unique wildlife does not seem perturbed by human visitors - allowing for extremely close-up encounters.

Note: You need to be relatively mobile to enjoy an expedition cruise in the Galapagos, as you will be embarking and disembarking by panga boat (zodiac). All sightseeing with a naturalist guide, marine fees, snorkelling and medical care aboard the boat are included, but not the cost of medicines. Wetsuits are available for hire. Children < 6 years are not allowed on an expedition cruise.

Days 17 To 19

Enjoy cruising through the marine-rich waters of the world-famous Galapagos Islands, with shore excursions each day with a naturalist.

Your exact routing will depend on your departure date and the vessel you have selected. This will be confirmed before you book.

Day 20

Disembark from your expedition cruise today and transfer to Baltra Airport for your flight, via Guayaquil, to Quito.

On arrival at Quito Airport take the free shuttle to your hotel situated near the airport.

Day 21

Take the free hotel shuttle to Quito Airport for your flight home.

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