This tour is a great introduction to birding the mighty Andes of South America. We will explore the vast east-slope for its local specialities and visit a wide array of different habitats and elevations. Travelling from snow-capped volcanoes down to pristine cloud forests will be an incredible experience with superb birding and scenery each day! Stunning species that we will be searching forinclude Andean Condor, Carunculated Caracara, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Giant Hummingbird, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Torrent Duck, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Inca Jay, White-bellied Antpitta, San Isidro “mystery” Owl, Masked Trogon, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzal just to mention a few! Rare species that we will target include Black-faced Ibis, Andean Potoo, Red-rumped Bush Tyrant, Greater Scythebill, Bicolored Antvireo, Peruvian Antpitta, Crescent-faced Antpitta, White-capped Tanager and Masked Mountain Tanager. A great network of birding reserves together with good infrastructure, unsurpassable scenery and friendly people make the eastern Andes of Ecuador one of the world’s key birding destinations.
Andean Condor, Carunculated Caracara, Torrent Duck, Andean Teal, Andean Duck, Andean Coot, Silvery Grebe, Black-faced Ibis, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Andean Gull, Andean Lapwing, Black-winged Ground Dove, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Giant Hummingbird, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Viridian Metaltail, Collared Inca, Long-tailed Sylph, Tourmaline Sunangel, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, White-bellied Woodstar, Glowing Puffleg, Shining Sunbeam, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Blue-mantled Thornbill, San Isidro “mystery” Owl, Rufous-bellied Nighthawk, Andean Potoo, White-capped Parrot, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Black-billed Mountain Toucan, Masked Trogon, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzal, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Andean Motmot, Long-tailed Tapaculo, Paramo Tapaculo, Bicolored Antvireo, Tawny Antpitta, White-bellied Antpitta, Peruvian Antpitta, Slate-crowned Antpitta, Crescent-faced Antpitta, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Stout-billed and Bar-winged Cinclodes, Many-striped Canastero, Flammulated Treehunter, Pearled Treerunner, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Greater Scythebill, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, Paramo Ground Tyrant, Red-rumped Bush Tyrant, Agile Tit-Tyrant, Marbled-faced and Variegated Bristle Tyrants, Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet, Barred Becard, Handsome Flycatcher, Inca Jay, Paramo Pipit, Black-billed Peppershrike, Russet-crowned Warbler, Black-eared Hemispingus, Black-backed Bush Tanager, Buff-breasted, Masked, Blue-winged and Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanagers, Saffron-crowned, Beryl-spangled, Flame-faced, Black-capped, Grass-green, Golden-crowned and White-capped Tanagers, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Bluish Flowerpiercer, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Pale-naped Brushfinch, Subtropical Cacique
White-tailed Deer, Andean Fox, Mountain Tapir (rare), Spectacled Bear (rare)
paramo grasslands and highland lakes, temperate tree line forest & polylepis, temperate cloud-forest, upper and lower subtropical cloud-forest
chilly at high elevations but pleasant in the subtropics
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
easy to moderate pace
comfortable lodges
easy birding with some tricky skulkers
200 - 250
excellent, especially at Antisana, San Isidro and Guango
This was my first Rockjumper experience and it was excellent. Dušan Brinkhuizen was amazing at finding birds.
All the participants were nice and helpful in pointing out birds to others. Dusan was great and worked hard to get everyone on a bird. His expertise makes you realize how much you miss! But it also helps know what to try to find.
Dusan was an excellent guide. His knowledge of bird calls and ID were extraordinary. He is a gem.
Dušan Brinkhuizen is great bird master, very friendly and helpful. The trip was brilliant.
The tour was very good and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Dušan Brinkhuizen is an excellent guide, a superb birder whose enthusiasm is infectious. We had members of our group with differing levels of birding skills, fitness and expectations. Dušan showed a high level of professionalism and went out of his way to meet everyone's expectations of the trip.
06 Nov 2024 - 12 Nov 2024 (7 days)
USD2,895 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Robert Wilcox
Tour price (Per person): USD2,895 * GBP2,309 * EUR2,698 * AUD4,406
Single Supplement: USD300 * GBP239 * EUR280 * AUD457
Can be linked with: Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo II 2024
16 Feb 2025 - 22 Feb 2025 (7 days)
USD2,995 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: James Wade Lee
05 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025 (7 days)
USD2,995 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Adam Walleyn
Tour price (Per person): USD2,995 * GBP2,388 * EUR2,791 * AUD4,558
Single Supplement: USD390 * GBP311 * EUR363 * AUD594
Can be linked with: Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest II 2025
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & Cloud Forest I 2024 - February 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest I 2024 - February 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & Cloud Forest II 2023 - November 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest II 2023 - October 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & Cloud Forest I 2023 - February 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest I 2023 - February 2023
Ecuador - Southern Endemics 2023 - January 2023
Ecuador - Pacific Coast Extension 2023 - January 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo II 2022 - November 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & Cloud Forest II 2022 - November 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest II 2022 - November 2022
Ecuador - Rare Bird Club 2022 - October 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo I 2022 - April 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & Cloud Forest I 2022 - April 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest I 2022 - March 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo III 2022 - February 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & Cloud Forest III 2022 - February 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest III 2022 - February 2022
Ecuador - Southern Endemics 2022 - January 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo II 2021 - November 2021