The Ecuador Experience

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An “off-the-beaten-path” experience in one of the birdiest places on earth

10-18 January 2026

Experience the full range of elevational habitats as we bird our way down the east slope of the Andes from Quito to the Amazon. We’ll visit locally-owned farms, reserves and lodges, and learn about their history and habitat restoration efforts.

Partners:
Quijos Valley Birdwatching Collective
Fundación Sembrando Esperanza

Cost: $1950
Length: 9 days
Dates: 10-18 Jan 2026
Size: 8 people
Activity level: moderate

What makes this Experience unique?

Ecuador has long been known as one of the top birding destinations in the world. What makes this experience unique is that we won’t be just hitting up the well known birding reserves and racing from one place to the next to get more species. We will meander our way down the eastern slope of the Andes, taking the time to connect with local communities and experiencing an array of diverse habitats.

We’ll visit farms owned my members of the Quijos Valley Birdwatching Collective, a growing group of locals who care about birds and conserving native habitat. You’ll meet the farmers and birders who are promoting reforestation and sustainable farming practices, and learn how they are helping the birdlife.

And yes, there will be birds!

Led by expert local guides who live in the communities and know the local birdlife better than anyone, we will certainly also be targeting many of the special birds found in the Andes!

In the páramo and stunted forest of the high mountains, some specialties include Silvery Grebe, Andean Ibis, Ecuadorian and Chimborazo HIllstars, Andean Condor, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, and Masked Mountain-tanager.

Mid-slope we will be looking for targets such as Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Crested Quetzal, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, White-faced Nunbird, Greater Scythebill, Barred Antthrush, and Dusky Piha.

All the way down in the Amazon basin we’ll hope to encounter lowland birds such as Hoatzin, Black Bellied Thorntail, Red Capped Cardinal, Purple Honeycreeper, Yellow Bellied Dacnis and more.

Itinerary: (for an even more detailed complete itinerary, email us!)

Day 1: Arrival to Quito, airport pickup and gather at the hotel. Overnight at Puembo Birding Garden.

Day 2: Full day birding at the Antisana Reserve. Targets include Silvery Grebe, Black-faced Ibis, Andean Condor and Chimborazo Hillstar, Aplomado Falcon, Andean Ibis, and Ecuadorian Hillstar. Overnight at Puembo Birding Garden.

Day 3: After breakfast we’ll head eastward through the intermontane valley and over the continental divide. Targets in the valley include Western Emerald, Rusty Flowerpiercer, Scrub and Blue-and-yellow tanagers, and Golden Grosbeak. Reaching the highest elevations around Papallacta Pass, our targets will include Carunculated Caracara, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Andean snipe, Chimborazo Hillstar, White-chinned Thistletail, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Tawny Antpitta, Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant, Brown-backed Chat-
Tyrant, and Scarlet-bellied and Buff-breasted mountain-tanagers. Overnight at Cabañas Tamiaju.

Day 4: Full day birding the famous Guacamayos Ridge. This mid-elevation ridge is home to some highly sought after species, and our targets here include Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Crested Quetzal, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, White-faced Nunbird (very rare), Greater Scythebill, Barred Antthrush, and Dusky Piha. Overnight at Cabañas Tamiaju.

Day 5: Birding the foothills at Reserva Wayra and Narupa Yacu Reserve. Targets at these spots include ufous breasted Wood-Quail, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Rufous- vented Whitetip, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Speckled Chachalaca, Sharp-tailed Stremcreeper, and Coppery Chested Jacamar. Overnight at Cabañas Tamiaju.

Day 6: Big day out to visit the Ama Ecolodge and the Jatun Sacha Biological Station in the Amazon basin. Getting down to the low elevations will give us a whole new suite of species, and targets here include Hoatzin, Black Bellied Thorntail, Red Capped Cardinal, Purple Honeycreeper, Yellow Bellied Dacnis, and many, many more. Overnight at Cabañas Tamiaju.

Day 7: Birding the Quijos Valley. Today we’ll visit a number of great reserves owned by local farmers who are working to restore habitat and transition to a sustainable future. Target species here include White-capped Tanager, Green Fronted lancebill, Andean Motmot, Wire-crested Thorn tail, and Black throated Mango. Overnight at Rio Quijos Ecolodge.

Day 8: Birding and learning about reforestation at Rio Quijos Ecolodge. We won’t have to drive anywhere today, as the trails around the lodge offer fantastic birding. Many species of tanager, oropendulas, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Andean Motmot, Torrent Duck, Sunbittern, and countless hummingbirds are frequent around the lodge. Overnight at Rio Quijos Ecolodge.

Day 9: Travel back to Quito, making stops at Finca el Madrigal and a tree nursury run by the Quijos Valley Birdwatching Collective. Targets at el Madrigal include Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Tropical Screech-Owl, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Black-throated Mango, Rufous-tailed Saphire, and many others. Then we’ll visit Papallacta Hot Springs to finish up the trip. Overnight at Puembo Birding Garden.

Day 10: Say goodbyes, fly home

Cost:

The base cost of this trip is $1950 for double occupancy rooms, with an optional additional donation to the Birding Co-op. A single supplement would bring the cost to $2500.

What’s Included in this cost:
All transport from Quito airport pickup (Day 1) and drop-off (Day 10)
All meals and some snacks
Certified, knowledgeable local guides
All lodging
Entrance fees to birdwatching sites

What’s Not Included:
International Airfare
Tips for guides and lodging
Alcoholic beverages
Personal gear
Travel Insurance
Laundry
Souvenirs
Any other expense or extra tours not listed as included above

Accommodations:

We will stay in locally run lodges, often staying the same place multiple nights for a more relaxed experience.

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You'll enter registration information for one participant at a time. $500 deposit per registrant due upfront. The balance will be due by 15 Oct.

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If you select a double room and you do not have a roommate, we will attempt to pair you with another participant. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be charged the single supplement for a single room.

Terms, Conditions, and Waiver

Terms: To register for a tour or workshop please complete the above registration form and sign below to acknowledge the terms. Registrations will be processed on a first come first served basis. We will place your name on the waiting list if your tour is full. The deposit for this trip is $500 per participant. Deposits and all signed forms are required to secure registration of your spot on the tour. Deposits are refundable less a 20% processing fee ONLY if the spot can be filled with another participant at the full tour price. Deposits received after a tour has filled will be returned and your name will be placed on a waiting list. Payment in full is due at least 90 days prior to the start of the tour. Registrants who have not paid their remaining balance will forfeit their deposit and their place on the tour. Payment by personal check is strongly preferred. If you would like to pay with a credit card, additional fees will apply. We strongly suggest you consider trip insurance to cover you in the event of a medical or other emergency that would prohibit you from joining the tour. The activity level required for each tour will be described on the tour page. Any physical or medical concerns including allergies and/or dietary restrictions should be communicated. All tours will be non-smoking during group activities including but not limited to meals, slide programs, vehicle travel and when birding/photographing in close proximity to other participants. Tour groups will be kept small for the enjoyment of all participants. Target group sizes are listed in each tour description on our web site. We reserve the right to exceed the target group size by no more than one participant. Tours will be held regardless of weather conditions. Severe weather may dictate informal discussion and/or a slide program while we wait for the weather to break. Tours will begin at the scheduled time. Tardiness may result in missing the boat, or van so to speak. There are no guarantees in nature. Tours are designed to coincide with excellent nature viewing opportunities. Decisions will be made daily to determine where the group should be to maximize opportunities. Deviation from the scheduled itinerary may be necessary. It is imperative that all participants follow rules and suggestions set forth by the leaders and/or local guides. Failure to comply could pose a safety risk to you or other tour participants. For the safety of all clients we reserve the right to restrict access to tour functions at any time. Airfare is NOT included in the price of the tour unless otherwise noted on the tour page. Registered participants will receive more specific details of what to bring as well as a more detailed outline of what can be expected on the tour upon payment in full and no later than 60 days prior to the start of the tour. Waiver: I am aware that certain risks and dangers are inherent to nature travel and photography and may occur during this event and that such risk and dangers cannot be eliminated without diminishing the quality of the workshop/tour for which I have registered. Risks include, but are not limited to, theft or other loss of equipment or personal belongings; illness, injury, accident or death; travel hazards by air, boat, automobile or other vehicle; exposure to elements and other forces of nature and acts of God; both native and non-native wildlife, insects and flora as well as political, civil or military disturbance, strike, quarantine, government restriction and terrorist threat. I understand on or off trail hiking can present risk of falls that may result in damage to camera equipment, or significant personal injury or death. I understand the organizer is not responsible for inclement weather and cannot and does not guarantee subject matter will be available for photography on any given date or location. I further understand I am solely responsible for additional expenses incurred by me due to medical emergency or other travel delays, including but not limited to the expense of extra nights lodging or flight itinerary changes. I voluntarily assume all risks and will hold the organizer, its partners and cooperating agents, the workshop leader(s), any and all coleaders, assistants and other participants harmless from any and all liability, actions, causes of action, claims, debts, and demands which arise in connection with the tour. The terms hereof shall serve as a release and assumption of risk for my heirs, administrators, and executors, and for all members of my family, including any minors accompanying me.

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Second participant: By typing your full name below, you are completing an electronic signature and accepting that you have read and agree with the above terms and conditions.*

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Third participant: By typing your full name below, you are completing an electronic signature and accepting that you have read and agree with the above terms and conditions.*

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The Ecuador Experience

The Ecuador Experience

**SOLD OUT!**

What makes this Experience unique?

And yes, there will be birds!

Itinerary: (for an even more detailed complete itinerary, email us!)

Cost:

Accommodations:

Want to join us?

First Participant

Terms, Conditions, and Waiver

Second Participant

Terms, Conditions, and Waiver

Third Participant

Terms, Conditions, and Waiver

Fourth Participant

Terms, Conditions, and Waiver

Payment

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