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Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo

© Golden tanager by Adam Riley

The tropical foothills of the eastern Andes, taken together with the lowlands of the Amazon basin, boast an incredibly high biodiversity and are arguably the most species-rich regions of the world. The Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary bird list alone surpasses 500 species, while the number of bird species recorded at Sani Lodge is fast approaching 600! The tour will focus on finding as many species and local specialities as possible by visiting multiple micro-habitats within the Upper Amazonian biome. Although the list of possible birds is immense, some of the more interesting species that we have good chances of seeing include: Harpy Eagle, Hoatzin, Zigzag and Agami Herons, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Sungrebe, Scarlet, Blue-and-yellow, Chestnut-fronted and Red-bellied Macaws, Gould’s Jewelfront, Wire-crested Thorntail, Great and Long-tailed Potoos, White-throated, Black-mandibled and Channel-billed Toucans, Many-banded and Ivory-billed Aracaris, American Pygmy and Green-and-rufous Kingfishers, Gilded and Scarlet-crowned Barbets, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Rusty-belted Tapaculo, Long-billed Woodcreeper, Cinnamon Attila, Grey-tailed Piha, Screaming Piha, Golden-headed and Orange-crowned Manakins, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, Plum-throated & Spangled Cotingas and dozens of antbird species!

Top Birds

Cinereous, Undulated & Variegated Tinamous; Blue-throated Piping Guan; Speckled Chachalaca; Marbled Wood Quail; Agami, Boat-billed & Zigzag Heron; Greater Yellow-headed & King Vultures; Slate-colored & White Hawks; Harpy & Crested Eagles (both very rare); Black & Ornate Hawk-Eagles; Red-throated; Black & Yellow-headed Caracaras; Grey-winged Trumpeter; Chestnut-headed, Black-banded & Grey-breasted Crakes; Sungrebe; Blue-and-yellow, Scarlet, Chestnut-fronted & Red-bellied Macaws; Dusky-headed & Cobalt-winged Parakeets; Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet; Black-headed, Orange-cheeked & Blue-headed Parrots; Yellow-crowned, Orange-winged & Southern Mealy Amazons; Hoatzin; Black-bellied Cuckoo; Tawny-bellied Screech Owl; Black-banded Owl; Ferruginous Pygmy Owl; Great & Long-tailed Potoos; Fiery Topaz (rare); Ecuadorian Piedtail; Peruvian Racket-tail; White-tailed Hillstar; Black-throated Brilliant; Gould's Jewelfront; Gorgeted Woodstar; Olive-spotted Hummingbird; Black-tailed; Green-backed & Amazonian Trogons; White-eared, Yellow-billed, White-chinned, Coppery-chested & Great Jacamars; White-necked, Chestnut-capped & Collared Puffbirds; Lanceolated Monklet; Brown Nunlet; Black-fronted, White-fronted & Yellow-billed Nunbirds; Scarlet-crowned; Gilded & Lemon-throated Barbets; Black-mandibled, White-throated & Channel-billed Toucans; Golden-collared Toucanet; Lettered, Chestnut-eared, Many-banded & Ivory-billed Aracaris; White-throated, Golden-green, Spot-breasted, Scale-breasted, Chestnut, Cream-colored, Rufous-headed, Ringed & Crimson-crested Woodpeckers; Barred, Lined, Mouse-colored, Castelnau's, Russet, Dusky-throated & Cinereous Antshrikes; Yasuni, Ornate, Rufous-tailed, Pygmy, Moustached, Plain-throated, Dugand's & Yellow-breasted Antwrens; White-backed Fire-eye; White-browed, Black-faced, Black-and-white, Silvered, Plumbeous, Sooty, White-plumed, Lunulated, Spot-backed, Dot-backed & Scale-backed Antbirds; Black-spotted & Reddish-winged Bare-eyes; Ash-throated & Chestnut-crowned Gnateaters; Plain-backed; Ochre-striped & Thrush-like Antpittas; Rusty-belted & White-crowned Tapaculos; Rufous-capped, Short-tailed & Striated Antthrushes; Black-tailed Leaftosser; Lesser Hornero; White-bellied & Parker's Spinetails; Orange-fronted Plushcrown; Point-tailed Palmcreeper; Chestnut-winged Hookbill; Cinnamon-rumped Foliage-gleaner; Long-billed, Cinnamon-throated, Amazonian Barred & Black-banded Woodcreepers; Ringed Antpipit; Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant; Slender-footed & Ecuadorian Tyrannulets; Double-banded Pygmy Tyrant; White-eyed Tody-Tyrant; Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher; Brownish Twistwing; Orange-eyed Flycatcher; Drab Water Tyrant; Citron-bellied Attila; Amazonian Umbrellabird; Plum-throated & Spangled Cotingas; Screaming Piha; Bare-necked Fruitcrow; Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin; Blue-rumped, White-bearded, Blue-backed, Wire-tailed & Golden-headed Manakins; Wing-barred Piprites; Violaceous Jay; Coraya Wren; Black-capped Donacobius; Red-capped Cardinal; Flame-crested, Yellow-bellied, Paradise, Opal-rumped & Opal-crowned Tanagers; Golden-collared Honeycreeper; Olive Oropendola.

Top Mammals

Brown Woolley Monkey; Common Squirrel Monkey; White-fronted Capuchin; Golden-mantled & Napo Tamarins; Pygmy Marmoset; Dusky Titi; Red Howler; Monk Saki; White-bellied Spider Monkey; Black Agouti

Habitats Covered

subtropical cloud-forest, tropical foothill forest, Rio Napo river-edge forest, Rio Napo river islands, Amazon terrafirme forest, Amazon varzea forest, Amazon riparian habitat and blackwater lagoons

Expected Climate

pleasant in the subtropics and foothills, warmer and more humid in the Amazon lowlands

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader

Tour Pace & Walking

easy to moderate pace

Accommodation

top notch lodges

Ease of Birding

In general easy birding with tricky species in primary forest

Number of Species Expected

400+

Photographic Opportunities

great, especially at the Wildsumaco feeders, NWC canopy tower and during the canoe rides at Sani Lodge

What our clients say about us

Dušan Brinkhuizen
RO, Ecuador 2018

In the Rockjumper tradition, Dušan Brinkhuizen went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure the serious birders in our group found our birds. This included several later night expeditions into the forest for owls and other nocturnal critters. Dušan managed to handle everyone with great patience and skill. A very kind man, dedicated advocate for the environment, a master birder.

Dušan Brinkhuizen
JP, Ecuador 2022

This tour was fantastic. Dušan is an excellent leader. I learned a lot from him and he made the tour very enjoyable. I loved the lodges we stayed at. They were comfortable with birds and nature all around. I’m already looking into more tours in Ecuador with Dušan. Thanks Rockjumper!

Dušan Brinkhuizen
DH, Ecuador 2022

Dusan was an excellent guide. His knowledge of bird calls and ID were extraordinary. He is a gem.

Dušan Brinkhuizen
EL, Ecuador 2022

One reason I did sign up was because of the excellent reputation of Dušan Brinkhuizen. A number of people told me what an excellent guide he was and, If I was ever to go to Ecuador, I should do so on one of his tours. They were not wrong. Dušan is exceptional for knowing the vast numbers of Ecuadorian birds and their calls. He can recognize a small chip or the legs and tail or even a partial description. Dušan is also a wonderful individual, helpful and entertaining. He is obviously very fond of his adopted country and cares much about the inhabitants and their lives.

Dušan Brinkhuizen
BK - Ecuador 2022

"Really very positive indeed. I really liked Dusan, and there was no question he was an astonishing birder. I'd love to do another tour with him."

Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo II 2024

12 Nov 2024 - 20 Nov 2024 (9 days)

USD4,295 - No Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Robert Wilcox

Tour price (Per person): USD4,295 * GBP3,439 * EUR3,998 * AUD6,530

Single Supplement: USD550 * GBP440 * EUR512 * AUD836

Flight costs: USD200 * GBP160 * EUR186 * AUD304

Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo I 2025

13 Apr 2025 - 21 Apr 2025 (9 days)

USD4,395 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen

Tour price (Per person): USD4,395 * GBP3,519 * EUR4,091 * AUD6,682

Single Supplement: USD670 * GBP536 * EUR624 * AUD1,019

Flight costs: USD200 * GBP160 * EUR186 * AUD304

Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo II 2025

11 Nov 2025 - 19 Nov 2025 (9 days)

USD4,395 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Adam Walleyn

Tour price (Per person): USD4,395 * GBP3,519 * EUR4,091 * AUD6,682

Single Supplement: USD670 * GBP536 * EUR624 * AUD1,019

Flight costs: USD200 * GBP160 * EUR186 * AUD304

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