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
Dušan was an outstanding guide, with comprehensive knowledge of Ecuador's birds including their behaviours, habitats, calls, and identification. He is a pleasure to bird with, as he is passionate about all of the birds and has a unique ability to view even difficult situations in a positive light. He worked hard for the entirety of the trip tenaciously pursuing each target bird, and I never saw him take a break in the 30 days I was with him. He ensured that everyone in the group (or as many as possible) saw each bird, and regularly asked if everyone had seen birds that were called out. He also worked hard to ensure everyone's needs and requests were met, including an extra afternoon outing in the Galapagos per some participants' request. He was extraordinarily patient with clients, even when some became frustrated or difficult, and treated everyone as one would a good friend.
Overall the three consecutive tours were very very good. Tuomas was a superb, highly experienced/knowledgeable leader. It is amazing all the songs and calls he has mastered. He was most congenial, patient and always helpful to everyone. Highly recommend him as a leader. Local leaders and staff were all very good and most kind. Accommodations were comfortable and food was very tasty and well prepared.
"This tour was great and Dusan was fabulous, an incredible birder, guide and person. I don't need to say more because I'm sure you've heard many accolades about him. It was a great tour though harder than I expected but I'm old and age makes a difference. I definitely would go again with Dusan. There was a disparity of physical abilities among the clients and Dusan handled the situation very well, taking care of the one person who could do the least physically and I think keeping her happy under the circumstances. This really speaks to his people skills. The three of us who were the weakest physically were the oldest. I was elated because I saw the oil birds and Sapayoa(s!!) and why I signed up not even considering the difficulty of canopy birding and what hilly jungle trails entailed. I'm so glad I went and would have hated being dissuaded. So thank you..."
Dusan was an excellent guide. His knowledge of bird calls and ID were extraordinary. He is a gem.
Dusan Brinkhuizen our guide was exceptional. He knew all the birds, their calls and where to find them. Dusan had so much patience and went to great lenths to make sure we saw the brids. Allen and I would highly recommend Dusan as a guide to Ecuador.
06 Nov 2024 - 12 Nov 2024 (7 days)
USD2,895 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Robert Wilcox
Tour price (Per person): USD2,895 * GBP2,313 * EUR2,698 * AUD4,441
Single Supplement: USD300 * GBP240 * EUR280 * AUD460
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 * GBP2,393 * EUR2,791 * AUD4,594
Single Supplement: USD390 * GBP312 * EUR363 * AUD598
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