Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated, and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD7,600 * GBP5,972 * EUR6,739 * AUD11,959
Tour Leader: Adam Walleyn
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated, and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD7,900 * GBP6,208 * EUR7,005 * AUD12,431
Our South Ecuador endemics birding tour takes us to one of the most diverse range of habitats in the world to look for a whole host of special and endemic birds. Within 200 miles of the Pacific Coast, one can travel from the arid xerophytic habitat, through semideciduous tropical forest, over the continental divide’s treeless paramos and down to lush, wet, foothill forests of the eastern Andes and Amazon basin. Within these varied, pristine habitats, the evolution of many fine endemic species has occurred; and on our new South Ecuador Endemics tour, we will sample seven distinct habitats in search of these endemics and other Ecuador bird specialties. Targets include El Oro and White-breasted Parakeet, El Oro (Ecuadorian) Tapaculo, Watkins’s and the fantastic Jocotoco Antpitta, White-headed Brush Finch, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, the fabulous Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Rainbow Starfrontlet and the vociferous, colorful and extremely localized Orange-throated Tanager.
Blue-throated Hillstar, Grey Tinamou, Horned Screamer, Bearded Guan, El Oro, White-breasted (White-necked) & Grey-cheeked Parakeet, Watkins’s, Chestnut-naped & Jocotoco Antpitta, Pale-headed, White-headed & Bay-crowned Brushfinches, Bamboo, Henna-hooded & Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner, Elegant Crescentchest, Long-wattled & Amazonian Umbrellabird, Ochraceous Attila, Orange-throated Tanager, Band-bellied Owl, Pacific (Peruvian) Pygmy Owl, Blackish & Anthony’s (Scrub) Nightjar, Ecuadorian Trogon, Golden-headed Quetzal, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Yellow-cheeked Becard, Coppery-chested & Purplish Jacamar, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Blue-rumped & Club-winged Manakin, El Oro (Ecuadorian), Chusquea & Northern White-crowned Tapaculo, Barred & Black-streaked Puffbird, Equatorial Greytail, Great & Chapman’s Antshrike, Esmeraldas, Jet & Grey-headed Antbird, Foothill Antwren, Grey-mantled Wren, Foothill Elaenia, Fiery-throated, Scarlet-breasted & Scaled Fruiteater, Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher, Necklaced & Line-cheeked Spinetail, Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant, Short-tailed Field Tyrant, Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, Red-billed Scythebill, Orange-banded & Pacific Royal Flycatcher, Grey-and-gold & Three-banded Warbler, Wiolet-throated & Neblina Metaltail, Rainbow Starfrontlet, Black-cowled Saltator, Chestnut-collared Swallow
Coatimundi, Kinkajou, Spectacled Bear (rare)
xerophytic scrub, deciduous, dry scrub, semideciduous tropical forest, pacific deciduous forest, moist foothill forest, treeless paramo, lagoons, estuaries, freshwater wetlands
chilly at higher elevations to hot and humid at lower elevations
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader
fairly brisk pace, mostly undemanding walks
comfortable lodges
moderate birding with some tricky species
+-550
excellent, especially at feeders
I had a great time on the two Ecuador tours. I have been wanting to bird with Lev Frid since I viewed his webinar on Mexico, and he was every bit as fun and as good a guide as I thought that he would be. Lev's cheerful energy and care for his tour members were always evident, and his bird finding and identifying skills were superb. He worked hard to make sure that everyone was able to see the birds whenever possible, and he dealt with the varying experience levels of the various tour members very well. The list of tour members changed from tour to tour, with a wide range of ages, birding agendas, and personalities. Lev took it all in stride and provided what I considered to be an excellent experience for all. He worked particularly well with the local guides, with whom he shared friendship and respect, and his ability in speaking Spanish was an excellent asset. The local guides were all excellent, and worked hard to give us the best birding experience possible. Our driver kept us safe on the road and got us where we needed to go. The lodges were all great, with comfortable accommodations and excellent food. I picked up several birds that I had missed on an earlier tour through the area, and got a good look at a Mountain Tapir, as a rare bonus mammal. All in all, it was an excellent trip, and I look forward to future trips with Rockjumper.
Dusan was an outstanding tour leader. His knowledge of the birds, their habits, and calls was amazing as was his ability to manage the needs and goals of the tour participants. Both tours completely fulfilled my expectations. Thank you for an excellent experience.
We were so fortunate to be able to experience the top notch birding skills of Dušan. He is very professional but also so personable. It is a tricky thing to manage many different personalities and keep everyone happy but Dusan made our trip so enjoyable.
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.
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.
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon I 2025 - April 2025
Ecuador - Lester & Lloyd & friends 2025 - February 2025
Ecuador - Southern Endemics 2025 - January 2025
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon II 2024 - November 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes II 2024 - November 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest II 2024 - October 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon I 2024 - April 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes I 2024 - February 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest I 2024 - February 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes II 2023 - November 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest II 2023 - October 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes 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 II 2022 - November 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes II 2022 - November 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest II 2022 - November 2022