Itinerary
Day 1
After arriving in Guayaquil, we will be picked you up at the airport and transfer to your hotel.
Night: Gran Hotel Guayaquil or Similar.
Day 2
After breakfast , we will start our driving to Salinas and on the way we will stop at cerro Blanco Reserve, there we will look for some Tumbesian endemics like Collared Antshrike, Ecuadorian and Croaking Ground Dove, Ecuadorian Trogon, Short tailed woodstart, whopping Motmot, white-browned Gnatcacher, Streaked headed Woodcreeper, we will look for the Saffron Siskin, Gray-cheeked Parakeet , Pacific Pygmy-Owl and many more,
We will stop on the road for lunch and the continue to check in our Hotel at Ayangue rest for little bite and then drive to Balsas Reserve where The Lilacine Amazon go to roost, it is spectacular to Watch hundreds and hundreds of amazon flying together.
The Lilacine Amazon is endemic to Ecuador .
Then Drive back to Our Hotel Night in Ayangue.
Day 3
After breakfast, we Will visit Ecuasal Lagoon to look for Chilean Flamingo, White-cheeked Pintail, Gray and Gray-headed Gulls, and many shorebirds such as Black-necked Stilt, Short-billed Dowitcher, and Willet. Peruvian Meadowlark, and many more
Lunch will be at Salinas Beach.
After lunch , we will drive to Puerto Lopez , where we will spend the next three nights Night at Mantarraya Lodge or Similar.
Day 4
After an early breakfast we will hike the Ayampe River part of Machalilla National Park. This area is wet dry forest and offers the best chance at the rare and endemic Esmeraldas Woodstar. We will also search for Ecuadorian Trogon, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Necklaced Spinetail, White-backed Fire-eye, and Baron’s Hermit, among others.
After an exciting morning of birding and a tasty lunch, we will head to the community of Aqua Blanca, whose people depend on ecotourism for their livelihoods. We will look for West Peruvian Screech-Owl, Red-billed Scythebill, Ecuadorian Piculet, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, White-edged Oriole, and other dry forest specialists. Night: Mantarraya Lodge
Day 5
After breakfast we will take a 1.5 hour boat ride to Isla de la Plata. On the way we will see Brown and Peruvian Pelicans, and further out to sea we will find Black and Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrels, plus other pelagic species. (An added treat from July to September is the migration of Humpback Whales!) We will make a “wet landing” on the island, enjoy a snack, and then take the Machete Trail, where we will enjoy Waved Albatross and three species of booby (Blue-footed, Red-footed, and Nazca). Potential songbirds on the island include Collared Warbling-Finch, Short-tailed Woodstar, and Gray-and-white Tyrannulet. Time permitting, we will also enjoy some snorkling. Night: Mantarraya Lodge
Day 6
Today, we will be birding back to Guayaquil, trying to wrap up any missed species from previous days.
Night: Gran Hotel Guayaquil.
Day 7
Transfer out
Tour prices include in-country transportation, guide and driver fees, lodging, meals outside Quito, and entrance fees to all reserves visited, boat ride, flight Quito Coca-Quito.
Tour prices do NOT include airport taxes, tips, personal expenses, alcoholic beverages, and meals in Quito.
