The tropical foothills of the eastern Andes together with the lowlands of the Amazon basin boast some of the most impressive biodiversity worldwide. Bird wise, the area is arguably the most species-rich in the world. The Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary bird list alone surpasses 500 species while the number of bird species recorded at Sani Lodge is approaching 600! The tour will focus on finding as many species and local specialties as possible by visiting multiple habitats within the Amazonian basin. Although the list of possible targets is immense here, a couple iconic species that we will target include; Hoatzin, Zigzag, Capped 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 Potoo, 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, Screaming Piha, Golden-headed and Orange-crowned Manakins, Bare-necked Fruitcrow and dozens of antbird species!
Cinereous, Undulated, Variegated Tinamou, Blue-throated Piping Guan, Speckled Chachalaca, Marbled Wood Quail, Anhinga, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Agami, Boat-billed, Capped and Zigzag Heron, Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, King Vulture, Slender-billed Kite, Slate-colored and White Hawk, Harpy and Crested Eagle (both very rare), Black and Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Red-throated, Black and Yellow-headed Caracara, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Grey-necked Wood Rail, Chestnut-headed, Black-banded and Grey-breasted Crake, Sungrebe, Yellow-billed Tern, Blue-and-yellow, Scarlet, Chestnut-fronted and Red-bellied Macaw, Dusky-headed and Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, Black-headed, Orange-cheeked and Blue-headed Parrot, Yellow-crowned, Orange-winged and Southern Mealy Amazon, Hoatzin, Black-bellied Cuckoo, Greater Ani, Tawny-bellied Screech Owl, Black-banded Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Great and Long-tailed Potoo, 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 and Amazonian Trogon, Green-and-rufous and American Pygmy Kingfisher, Amazonian Motmot, White-eared, Yellow-billed, White-chinned, Coppery-chested and Great Jacamar, White-necked, Chestnut-capped and Collared Puffbird, Lanceolated Monklet, Brown Nunlet, Black-fronted, White-fronted and Yellow-billed Nunbird, Scarlet-crowned, Gilded and Lemon-throated Barbet, Black-mandibled, White-throated and Channel-billed Toucan, Golden-collared Toucanet, Lettered, Chestnut-eared, Many-banded and Ivory-billed Aracari, Lafresnaye's Piculet, White-throated, Golden-green, Spot-breasted, Scale-breasted, Chestnut, Cream-colored, Rufous-headed, Ringed and Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Barred, Lined, Mouse-colored, Castelnau's, Russet, Dusky-throated and Cinereous Antshrike, Yasuni, Ornate, Rufous-tailed, Pygmy, Moustached, Plain-throated, Dugand's and Yellow-breasted Antwren, White-backed Fire-eye, White-browed, Black-faced, Black-and-white, Silvered, Plumbeous, Sooty, White-plumed, Lunulated, Spot-backed, Dot-backed and Scale-backed Antbird, Black-spotted and Reddish-winged Bare-eye, Ash-throated and Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Plain-backed, Ochre-striped and Thrush-like Antpitta, Rusty-belted and White-crowned Tapaculo, Rufous-capped, Short-tailed and Striated Antthrush, Black-tailed Leaftosser, Lesser Hornero, White-bellied and Parker's Spinetail, Orange-fronted Plushcrown, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Chestnut-winged Hookbill, Cinnamon-rumped Foliage-gleaner, Long-billed, Cinnamon-throated, Amazonian Barred and Black-banded Woodcreeper, Ringed Antpipit, Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant, Slender-footed and Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, 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 and Spangled Cotinga, Screaming Piha, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin, Blue-rumped, White-bearded, Blue-backed, Wire-tailed and Golden-headed Manakin, Wing-barred Piprites, Violaceous Jay, Coraya Wren, Black-capped Donacobius, Red-capped Cardinal, Flame-crested, Yellow-bellied, Paradise, Opal-rumped and Opal-crowned Tanager, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Olive Oropendola.
Brown Woolley Monkey, Common Squirrel Monkey White-fronted Capuchin, Golden-mantled and Napo Tamarin, Pygmy Marmoset, Dusky Titi, Red Howler, Monk Saki, White-bellied Spider Monkey, Black Agouti
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
pleasant in the subtropics and foothills, warmer and more humid in the Amazon lowlands
10 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
Easy to moderate pace
top notch lodges
In general easy birding with tricky species in primary forest
400+
great, especially at the Wildsumaco feeders, NWC canopy tower and during the canoe rides at Sani Lodge
This was my first Rockjumper experience and it was excellent. Dušan Brinkhuizen was amazing at finding birds.
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.
Dušan Brinkhuizen is an awesome guide. Very knowledgeable, patient, never got tired and made sure everyone got the bird. You are fortunate to have a guide like Dušan.
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.
Dušan Brinkhuizen is a wonderfully skilled birder and he readily shares his enthusiasm for birds and their environments. He is also skilled in Spanish and knowledgeable about the country.
12 Nov 2024 - 20 Nov 2024 (9 days)
USD4,295 - 1 Space Available
Tour Leader: Robert Wilcox
13 Apr 2025 - 21 Apr 2025 (9 days)
USD4,395 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen
11 Nov 2025 - 19 Nov 2025 (9 days)
USD4,395 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Adam Walleyn
Tour price (Per person): USD4,395 * GBP3,532 * EUR4,110 * AUD6,753
Single Supplement: USD670 * GBP538 * EUR626 * AUD1,029
Flight costs: USD200 * GBP161 * EUR187 * AUD307
Can be linked with: Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & 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