Day 1 - Guayaquil
Upon arrival in Guayaquil meet your guide and transfer to the hotel. This evening is an orientation and introduction. Overnight Grand Hotel Guayaquil
|
Day 2 - Guayaquil
After an early breakfast depart from the hotel to Cerro Blanco. The reserve is composed of deciduous forest and lies in the Tumbesian center. After a picnic lunch, drive a short distance to visit the mangrove estuary of Puerto Hondo. In a paddle canoe look for specialties in this ecosystem such as the Rufous-Necked Woodquail, Roseate Spoonbill, Mangrove Warbler, and Boatbilled Heron. Drive back to Guayaquil, and if time allows stop to cross the Guayas River by boat to visit Isla Santay for birding at the river’s edge. Overnight Grand Hotel Guyaquil (BLD)
|
Day 3 - Buenaventura
Depart Guayaquil to visit Manglares Churute Reserve, an area of almost 50,000 hectares containing deciduous, moist lowland forest, and mangrove estuaries. The target species here is the Horned Screamer. Bird at three different stops before continuing south via Huaquillas. Along the way, stop at shrimp farm pools to look for sea birds and waders of the area. Continue driving towards Buenaventura Reserve in the subtropical area of El Oro Province. This reserve is located near Piñas and Zaruma, an area renowned for being one of the most biologically rich and easily accessible birding sites in Ecuador. The reserve protects a narrow zone of cloud forest habitat on the otherwise seasonally dry west slope of the Andes in Southern Ecuador. Overnight Buenaventura Reserve (BLD)
|
Day 4 - Buenaventura
Birding at Buenaventura. This private reserve of 1,680 hectares is located between 550 to 1,100 meters above sea level. It contains two important ecosystems, lowland tropical rainforest and foothill forest. This area is the only site in Ecuador that features the El Oro Parakeet and the El Oro Tapaculo. The area also includes the most reliable lek for Longwattled Umbrellabirds and species such as Club-winged Manakins, Song Wrens, Rufous-headed Chachalacas, and others. Overnight Buenaventura Reserve (BLD)
|
Day 5 - Jorupe
Morning birding at Buenaventura followed by a drive to Jorupe Reserve. The reserve is located just north of Macará near the Ecuadorian/Peruvian border. The journey features many birding stops along the way with opportunities to see specialties including Watkins’s Antpitta, Black-cowled Saltator, Whitetailed Jay, White-edged Oriole, and others. Arrive at Jorupe Reserve late in the afternoon. Overnight Jorupe Reserve (BLD)
|
Day 6 - Jorupe
Jorupe is a 1,050 hectare private reserve located in the
Tumbesian region and is one of the last surviving dry forests in southwest Ecuador. Among the many bird species here are the Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, the Rufous-necked Foliagegleaner, and the West Peruvian Screech-owl. Depending on road conditions, visit Utuana Reserve today or tomorrow. Utuana is a private reserve consisting of 250 hectares of montane forest and Tumbesian transitional forest. Its elevation of 2,650 meters
above sea level results in a diverse selection of bird species including the Black-crested Tit-tyrant, Piura Hemispingus, Gray-headed Antbird, Rainbow Starfrontlet, and Black-cowled Saltator. Overnight Jorupe Reserve (BLD)
|
Day 7 - Vilcabamba
Begin with early morning birding at Jorupe or Utuana Reserve before continuing towards Vilcabamba, including multiple stops for birding. Afternoon birding at Vilcabamba, an area known for its scenic beauty and the outstanding longevity of its residents. Overnight Izhcayluma (BLD)
|
Day 8 - Cajanuma
This morning travel to Cajanuma, located in the highland part of Podocarpus National Park. At an elevation of 2,750 meters above sea level, Cajanuma contains cloud forest, elfin forest, and páramo. It supports the highest number of bird species of any such ecotone in the world. Some of the specialties include the Masked Trogon, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Bearded Guan, Redfaced Parrot, and Chestnut-bellied Cotinga among many others. In the afternoon return to Izhcayluma for more bird observation or relaxation at the hotel. Overnight Izhcayluma (BLD)
|
Day 9 - Tapichalaca
Located between 1,800 to 3,100 meters above sea level,
Tapichalaca encompasses humid temperate forest with a high level of endemism in its flora and fauna. It was here that the recently discovered Jocotoco Antpitta was found. Other notable species are the Bearded Guan, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Whitecapped Tanager, and White-faced Nunbird. In the afternoon drive towards Valladolid to experience birding Northern Marañon, featuring specialties such as the Marañon Thrush,
Black-faced Tanager, and others. Overnight Izhcayluma (BLD)
|
Day 10 - Rio Bombuscaro
The morning will begin with some early birding at Vilcabamba before driving to Loja to bird the Loja-Zamora road. The Loja-Zamora road is 60km long and embraces elevations between 1000 and 2800 meters above sea level, encompassing the eastern foothill and subtropical forests of the Andes. Later in the afternoon you will arrive at Copalinga lodge near Rio Bombuscaro. Overnight Copalinga Lodge (BLD)
|
Day 11 - Rio Bombuscaro
Rio Bombuscaro is the low limit of the Podocarpus National Park and supports lower montane cloud forest rich in mixedspecies flocks. The bird list for the area currently stands at almost 300 species, including several threatened species such as the Whitebreasted Parakeet and Coppery-chested Jacamar. Afternoon birding at the lodge. Overnight Copalinga Lodge (BLD)
|
Day 12 - Quito
This morning bird the Zamora area and the low part of the
Zamora-Loja road before driving towards the Loja airport in
Catamayo. Before the flight back to Quito, bird the Catamayo Valley. Farewell dinner at the hotel. Overnight Hilton Colon (BLD)
|
Day 13 - Depart
Transfer from the hotel to the airport for flight home. (B)
|