Hotspots

Tandayapa Bird Lodge

Target Species

Sword-billed Hummingbird Ensifera ensifera

Mountain Velvetbreast Lafresnaya lafresnayi

Sapphire-vented Puffleg Eriocnemis luciani

Hooded Mountain Tanager Buthraupis montana

Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager Anisognathus igniventris

Chestnut-naped Antpitta Grallaria nuchalis

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Zuro Loma & Yanacocha

This day will explore two different Cold, Wet Temperate Cloud Forest reserves: Zuro Loma and Yanacocha, 90-minutes drive from Quito. After a cooked breakfast with spectacular Andean scenery at Zuyro Loma we’ll exploring their feeding areas, as Sword-billed Hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast, and Sapphire-vented Puffleg are regular visitors, while the fruit feeders can attract Hooded and Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanagers. The site is also famous for its antpittas, Chestnut-naped and Equatorial Antpittas both regular attendees to forest feeding stations. We will then visit slightly higher Yanacocha, to take lunch and check their feeders for Shining Sunbeam, Great Sapphirewing, and Black-chested Mountain-Tanager. In mid-afternoon, we will drive to Tandayapa Bird Lodge, a 90 minute-drive away, for an overnight stay

Day 2: Birdwatcher’s House

We will start at Birdwatcher’s House Santa Rosa, a higher cloud forest than the lodge and the best place to photograph the spectacular Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan. We will also be on the look-out for Gorgeted Sunangel and Speckled Hummingbird. After lunch at a local restaurant with a view, we will visit Birdwatcher’s House in Milpe, within lower cloud forest in the foothills, where we will be hoping for more toucans, such as Choco or Yellow-throated Toucans, or Pale-mandibled Aracari, along with the chance of two species of motmot, among a horde of foothill birds. We will depart back for the lodge in the late afternoon, being only an hour away.

Day 3: Tandayapa Bird Lodge

Our focus today will be at the lodge itself, in lower cloud forest than experienced the day before with a totally different suite of birds. This is where hummingbird diversity is at its highest, and it is not uncommon to photograph 13 hummingbird species in a single day. We will spend much time photographing these, and use flash set ups to aid this too, and get those choice “frozen” images that only flash photography can achieve of these hyperactive birds. Among the species we hope to photograph will be Andean Emerald, White-booted Racket-tail, Violet-tailed Sylph, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Buff-tailed Coronet, and Purple-throated Woodstar. We will also have one eye on the nearby fruit feeders, as they may bring in Toucan Barbet, Rufous Motmot, Pallid Dove, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, and Golden and Golden-naped Tanagers, among others.
We will depart the lodge at 4:00pm, arriving back in Quito at around 6:00pm.

-Sites Covered: Zuro Loma, Yanacocha, Tandayapa Bird Lodge, Birdwatcher’s House Santa Rosa, Birdwatcher’s House Milpe.
-Altitudes Covered: 3610-11,155ft (1100m-3400m).
-Habitats Covered: Cold, Wet Temperate Cloud Forest & Cool, Moist Subtropical Cloud Forest, and Warm, Humid Foothill Cloud Forest.

PICK UP / DROP OFF:
-Pick up Time from Quito (05:30am from a Quito hotel*)
-Drop off Time back in Quito (at the end of day 3): 6:00pm to a Quito hotel*
*NOTE: The Quito hotel nights are NOT included in these packages.

BEFORE YOU GO:
-Binoculars / Camera Small flashlight
-Lightweight clothing, Rain and warm jacket, Hat or cap, Waterproof hiking boots
-Insect Repellent, Sunscreen (SPF 30+ is recommended), A photocopy of your passport.

✓ What's included

Meals from the first day’s breakfast to the final day’s lunch.
Basic drinks like tap water, coffee and tea.
Accommodation for stays of 1 to 6 nights.
Professional bilingual birding or photography guide included.
All transportation is included, with pickup and drop-off in Quito.
All entrance fees specified in the itinerary are included.
Multiflash equipment.

✕ Not included

Gratuity Guidelines for Guides and Hotel Staff.
International Flights.
Alcoholic beverages and any soft drinks consumed outside of included meals.
Travel Insurance.
Excursions Not Included in the Itinerary.
Laundry services.
Medical Fees.
Any items or services not expressly included.
Hotel en Quito

Group pricessave up to 9.001,61 €

2 people2.857,65 €save 1.866,40 €
3 people3.402,39 €save 3.683,69 €
4 people3.964,99 €save 5.483,12 €
5 people4.509,73 €save 7.300,41 €
6 people5.170,57 €save 9.001,61 €

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Duration 3 days, 2 nights

Group size 6 (min 1)

Languages English, Spanish

Countries Ecuador

The Hummingbirds & Colors of Northwest Ecuador