AMAZING WEST AND EASTERN SIDE

Transfer in,  we will  meet  you  at the  airport and transfer to  your  hotel. Night in  Quito

After breaskfast , we will drive to  Zuro loma  reserve there we will enjoy how the local people start  feeding the  Chestnut-naped and Equatorial  Antpittas  , Barred Fruiteater , Andean Guan , Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch  plus  we will see and photograph the amazing  Sword billed Hummingbird, Buff-winged starfrontlet, Mountain Velvetbrest , Sapphhire vented Puffleg, Tyrian Metaltail, Black-tailed Trainbearer  and   many more  We will enjoy a picnic lunch while taking in the grandiose montane vista, then we will begin the drive to Mindo via the Old Nono Mindo Road, birding along the way.  This road offers spectacular views of the forest and excellent birding and  photo  opportunities  with the possibility of such sought-after birds such as Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper.

After that We will drive to  Septimo Paraiso Lodge in Mindo.

Night:  Septimo Paraiso Lodge.

After an early breakfast, we will drive downslope to the  Silanche Reserve.  At 1000 feet, this is the lowest preserve we will visit, and we will spend a few hours at the Canopy Tower looking for Choco endemics such as Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, Rufous-winged and Blue-whiskered Tanagers, Scarlet browed Tanager , Gray and Gold Tanager , Tawny crested Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager.

 In the afternoon, we will visit the Milpe Bird Sanctuary in the afternoon to search for Choco endemics such as Moss-backed, Rufous-throated, and Glistening-green Tanagers,as well as Club-winged Manakin.

Night:  Septimo Paraiso Lodge

After breakfast,    We will  drive  to  Masphi  reserve  there we  will look  for  Moss-backed, Glissenig green, rufous throated tanagers , Velvet purtple Coronet, Black solitaire, Indigo  Flowerpiercer, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Black Solitaire  and many more  and then we will travel an hour’s drive to the Oilbird Cave in hopes of seeing this enigmatic bird! , Ecuador has the best  Place to  see  and photography  this bird. 

Night: Septimo Paraiso.

Today ,we will visit Santa rosa reserve to photograph the endemic Plate billed Mountain-Toucan, plus Gorgeted Sunangel and hoping to see and  photographed the rare Hoary puffleg plus 15  more species of  hummingbird  plus  we will look for the stripe Treehunter, Tricolores or Choco Brush-Finch, Golden headed Quetzal, Green and Black Fruiteater, Flame-faced, Blue-capped, Golden. Black capped tanagers and many more birs.. 

After that   we will drive  to paseo  del Quinde road ( the old Nono-Mindo road) looking for mix flocks.

Night: Septimo Paraiso

Early this morning we will head to Paz de las Antpittas Reserve to observe the Andean Cock of the Rocks at their lek, where males assemble during the mating season and engage in competitive displays that attract females.  Afterwards we will join Angel (the owner of the reserve) as she draws her “charges” in for breakfast Maria the Giant Antpitta, Willi the Yellow-breasted Antpitta, and Susan the Moustached Antpitta!   We will enjoy our local breakfast and  we will be  birding around the reserve

 We will drive back to Quito in. the afternoon. Night in Quito.

After breakfast, we will head for Antizana National Park where  we will search for Andean Condor, Black-faced Ibis, Paramo Pipit,Black-winged Ground-Dove, and other paramo specialties.  On our way to Papallacta Pass we will target the Giant Hummingbird, which feeds on the strange Puya Puya plant, then take the Old Papallacta Route to look for Viridian Metaltail and the rare Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant.

When we get to the pass, our main targets will be the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe and the Ecuadorian Hillstar.  Afterwards we will explore the unique Polylepis Forest (the only tree hardy enough to grow at an altitude of over 9500 feet) and look for mixed flocks which will hopefully will include such sought-after birds as Giant Conebill , White chinned Thistletail, Black backed Bush-Tanager.  Then we will hike to Suco Lake in search of Silvery Grebe and other waterbirds before arriving at our lodge for the night.

 Night:  Guango  Lodge

The feeders at Guango allow “in-your-face” views of many highly sought-after hummingbirds, star among which is the amazing Sword-billed Hummingbird!  Other special hummers include Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Mountain Velvetbreast, Tourlamine Sunangel, and Mountain Avocetbill.  We will walk the nearby trails looking for mixed flocks and also check the Papallacta River for Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper.

We will drive to san isidro in the afternoon and  on the way we will stop to visit a nice hummingbirds feeders with Peruvian Racket-tail, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Long-tailed Sylph, Speckled Hummingbird, Gorgeted and white bellied Woodstar. Night: San isidro.

We will spend the day exploring the trails around the lodge  property, looking for such gems as Crested Quetzal, Masked Trogon, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, and Inca Jay.  Few birds can compete with the tanagers when it comes to “feathered jewelry”, and we will search for as many as we can find, including White-capped, Saffron-crowned, Golden-naped, Beryl-spangled, Blue-and-black, and Blue-winged Mountain Tanagers.  Come nightfall, we will search for the “San Isidro Owl”, the lodge’s famous “mystery owl” which may eventually be designated a new species!  Night:  San Isidro Lodge.

After an early breakfast we will  drive to Wayra Reserve where the owners are feeding the Rufous Breasted Wood-Quail and then we continue  on  Loreto road in the foothills of the Andes, known for its wide variety of birds such as Paradise, Orange eared, Golden eared, Magpie Tanagers,  Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Cliff Flycatcher, and Orange-breasted Falcon, Golden Collared Toucanet and we will enjoy the mix flogs here.   Night: Sumaco wildlife Lodge

After enjoying an early breakfast we will explorer the trails or the road is very good for mix flocks, Coppery chested Jacamar,Gray tailed Piha, Blue rumped Manakin, and  we will enjoy the hummingbird feeders  at least 15 species  , It included Napo Sabrewing, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Many spotted Hummmingbird, Booted Racket-tail,(orange legs), and much more . At dusk , we will try  for  Band bellied Owl and Foothill Screch Owl.

We continue to look for species such as Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Golden-collared Toucanet, White-tipped Sicklebill, Blackish Rail, Red-billed Tyrannulet, Yellow-breasted Antwren, Rufous-naped Greenlet, Coraya Wren, Foothill Antwren, Rufous-breasted Piculet, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, more species of tanagers including Magpie, White-lined, Silver-beaked, Blue-browed, Orange-eared, Spotted, Yellow-bellied and Golden-eared.   Night: Sumaco Wildlife Lodge

After breakfast,  birding Back to Quito, we will try to get the species that we missed before and  we  will make  different stops on the road.

Night in Quito.

Transfer  Out.