06 Jan 2027 - 10 Jan 2027 (5 days)
USD1,900 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated, and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD1,900 * GBP1,414 * EUR1,677 * AUD2,945
Our pre-tour extension to Southern Ecuador takes us along Ecuador’s Pacific shores visiting Isla de la Plata for spectacular encounters with both Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies, possibly also Red-footed Booby, many Magnificent Frigatebirds, the odd Humpback Whale and Red-billed Tropicbird before completing our journey searching for the Endangered endemic Esmeraldas Woodstar, Grey-and-white Tyrannulet, Necklaced Spinetail, Parrot-billed Seedeater, Collared Warbling Finch, Sulphur-throated Finch, Red-lored Amazon, Roseate Spoonbill, Chilean Flamingo and the smallest bird in South America, the Short-tailed Woodstar.
Esmeraldas & Short-tailed Woodstars; Grey-and-white Tyrannulet; Grey-capped Cuckoo; Necklaced Spinetail; West Peruvian Dove; Crimson-breasted & Sulphur-throated Finches; Collared Crescentchest; Peruvian Thick-knee; Scrub Nightjar; Parrot-billed Seedeater; Short-tailed Field Tyrant; Collared Warbling Finch; Saffron Siskin; Red-lored Amazon (Lilacine Amazon); Ecuadorian Piculet; Collared Antshrike; Roseate Spoonbill; Chilean Flamingo; Blue-footed, Nazca & Red-footed Booby; Red-billed Tropicbird; Magnificent Frigatebird.
South American Sea Lion
Off-shore island, humid coastal forest, arid xerophytic scrub, salt pans, shrimp ponds, rocky seashore
Warm to hot and humid
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
UNDEMANDING: This tour is ideal for birders and wildlife enthusiasts of all experience levels. It’s suitable for most mobility levels and offers a relaxed pace, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Easy to moderate
Comfortable
Moderate with several skulkers
possible snorkeling at Isla de la Plata
Good to very good
This was my first Rockjumper experience and it was excellent. Dušan Brinkhuizen was amazing at finding birds.
Dušan is a very knowledgeable, passionate, dedicated and high-energy leader. He is also very cognizant of his charges and tries to ensure that each of us sees the target birds. At one point, it was to his detriment not being able to photograph a very rare bird so I could catch up to him as it flew away. Dušan’s easy-going personality and humorous life and birding stories not only had us in awe of his experiences but also helped create a dynamic rapport within our group which enhanced our interpersonal interactions and travels that much more. Dusan was not immune to some gentle (or not so gentle) ribbing either. All was in good fun and tolerated admirably. We however will remember fondly the “Dušan mile”.
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.
What a tour! We ended up with nearly 700 species seen and heard, and I ended up with almost twice as many lifers than I had anticipated. Dusan was excellent: Attentive to those having difficulties, enthusiastic, energetic, indefatigable, and a complete whiz at the birds. He was as excited about each new sighting as was the rest of the group, right through to the last day. We saw many very special birds, birds that I have missed over three previous trips to Ecuador as well as quite rare birds that, although specialties for this tour, require great effort and skill to unveil (think Buff-fronted Owl). Climate change affected the tour to a certain extent, but Dusan always had a clever plan or an alternative site to try for the bird again. The tour was a bit more strenuous than the itinerary led me to believe, but all at the participants willingly went the extra mile with Dusan every time. We were fortunate to have a pretty good group, a great driver, and good luck with the weather.
Dusan was simply amazing! He was the best guide we have ever had. He can identify thousands of birds by sounds. He was very gentle and patient, making the tour very enjoyable. He tried very hard so that everyone in the tour could see the birds. Indeed, we are looking for a next tour where he is the leader.
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Ecuador - Southern Endemics 2023 - January 2023
Ecuador - Pacific Coast Extension 2023 - January 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon II 2022 - November 2022
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Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest II 2022 - November 2022
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