January 23:

Arrive in Quito, where you will be met at the airport and brought to the beautiful Hotel San Jose de Puembo, with stunning views of the snow-capped Andes and large gardens, the perfect spot to relax and begin your Ecuadorian nature exploration! There may even be a llama or two in the yard…

January 24:

We will drive west over the continental divide to spend the morning at Zuro Loma Reserve, a renowned community-led ecotourism and conservation project, situated at an altitude of 3,200 meters (10,498 feet) on the slopes of the Pichincha Volcano. This beautiful landscape is home to many amazing hummingbirds such as the rare Sword-billed Hummingbird, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Mountain Velvetbreast, and the critically endangered Black-breasted Puffleg, found only on this and one other volcano nearby. The refuge also has worm-feeders that attract the rare & shy Equatorial Antpitta and Chestnut-naped Antpitta.

Time permitting, we will head even higher into the sub-paramo and elfin cloud forest of the nearby Yanacocha Reserve, maintained by the Fundacion Jocotoco. This reserve is home to rare species of the highlands such as Imperial Snipe, White-throated Screech-Owl, and Black-chested Mountain-Tanager.

From there we will head west down the western slope of the Andes towards the Mindo region and Guaycapi Lodge, a beautiful new lodge with sweeping cloud forest views.

Dinner and overnight at Guaycapi Lodge.

January 25:

We will awake at dawn perched high above Ecuador’s enchanting Tandayapa Valley to bird the grounds of Guaycapi Lodge.

Wake to the sounds of tanagers and toucans, sip your morning coffee while dozens of hummingbirds visit nearby feeders, and spend the day exploring a network of scenic trails that wind past waterfalls, moss-draped trees, orchids, and ferns. From the lodge’s panoramic deck, breathtaking views stretch across rolling green ridges, creating the perfect setting for relaxation, photography, and birdwatching.

Comfortable private cabins with forest-view balconies provide a tranquil place to unwind after a day of exploration, while the lodge restaurant serves delicious meals featuring fresh local ingredients.

We will seek out Chocó specialties such as Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Velvet-Purple Coronet, Violet-tailed Sylph, Flame-faced Tanager, and more.

Dinner & Night at Guaycapi Lodge.

January 26:

We will bird at Guango Lodge again in the morning, and then perhaps visit a few other high-elevation locales nearby. After lunch at a more moderate elevation, we will drive to Zuroloma Reserve, an Andean gem where the hummingbird feeders attract the Sword-billed Hummingbird, the bird with the longest bill relative to body length. Several other hummingbirds and rare and hard-to-see Antpitta species are found here, as well as other high-altitude specialties of the west slopes of the Andes. We will then drive to Mashpi Amaguza reserve, an amazing spot with bird feeders, water, and native plantings that attract over 450 species of birds (!).

A couple of years ago, Sergio & Doris, the local couple who are caretakers of Mashpi Amagusa, had the opportunity to purchase the property they’d been caring for before it was sold to logging and mining interests. I’m proud to say that my friends & followers helped raise over $8,000 towards this effort, and now we will be one of the first groups to stay in the new eco-lodge they’ve built on the property! It’s wonderful to see their vision become a reality, and their stewardship is reflected in the incredible diversity of birds and other wildlife found here.

Dinner and night at Mashpi Amagusa.

January 27:

We will spend the day at Mashpi Amagusa. You can relax in the lovely cabins, watching the hummingbird feeders, or exploring the trails on the property. The trails and feeders are rich with Chocó endemics.

Target birds include Black Solitaire, Glistening-green Tanager, Moss-backed Tanager, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Indigo Flowerpiercer, Choco Vireo, Velvet-purple Coronet, Empress Brilliant, and many more.

Dinner and overnight at Mashpi Amagusa.

January 28:

Morning at Mashpi Amagusa, then we head north towards El Refugio de Intag Cloud Forest Lodge, Gabriel’s lodge in the heart of the Intag Valley, in the shadow of the dormant Cotacachi Volcano (a 16,000+ ft snow-capped peak).

En route, we will meander through the foothills of the west slope of the Andes, and time permitting will stop to look for the unique & bizarre Oilbird at a place where they nest.

Dinner and night at El Refugio de Intag Cloud Forest Lodge.

January 29:

Full day at El Refugio de Intag Cloud Forest Lodge. Relax in your cabin, in a hammock by the river, or join Gabriel on a hike on the trails to look for Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, many dazzling Tanager species, and spectacular hummingbirds like the Andean Emerald and White-booted Racket-tail.

Meals & Overnight at El Refugio de Intag Cloud Forest Lodge.

January 30:

Explore the culture & history of Otavalo, especially its legendary craft & textile market. This colorful indigenous market takes place each Saturday and features some of the finest woven products in the region including ponchos, sweaters, wall hangings and shawls. It is one of the largest markets in South America, and has been a center for textile weaving and trade since Pre-Incan times over 1,000 years ago. This market is full of gorgeous alpaca & wool scarves, blankets, and ponchos as well as hand-woven straw hats, leather goods, and more.

Lunch in Otavalo, followed by birding in the mountains on the way back to El Refugio de Intag Cloud Forest Lodge.

Dinner & Night at El Refugio Cloud Forest Lodge.

January 31:

Breakfast and birding at El Refugio Cloud Forest Lodge, after which we pack up and head back to Quito, arriving at the airport by noon.

Return home that afternoon/evening from Quito, or you may choose to spend additional night(s) in Quito or a nearby ecolodge (not included).