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their habitat in many countries around the world.
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Birdwatching in Southern Ecuador
Loja City is located in the Southern Ecuadorian Andes at 2200 meters above sea level. Temperatures typically range between 12–20°C
Podocarpus National Park: It is situated in the Provinces of Loja and Zamora Chichipe and covers an area of 146.280 ha, ranging from 1000 – 3600 m of altitude. The climate is temperate permanently humid, with an annual rainfall of 850–1500 mm in the high areas, and more than 2000 mm in the low areas.
Cajanuma Cloud Forest (Loja Province): The Podocarpus National Park (PNP), with its diverse ecosystems such as the cloud or mountain forests in Cajanuma (the western part of the Park), and the tropical rain forests in Zamora (the eastern region), is one of the most important natural refuges for many species of flora and fauna. The cloud forest is mostly primary, with patches of Chusquea Bamboo
on naturally and man disturbed slopes. Proximity to the eastern Andean slope gives rise to a very wet climate, creating a forest
rich in epiphytes. The cloud forest in Cajanuma is located between 2400 and 3100 m.
"Turrent Duck"
Bombuscaro Tropical Forest (Zamora Province): The Bombuscaro River in the tropical Forest of Zamora Province is located at 900 m above sea level. The Bombuscaro zone, the second entrance to the Podocarpus has an spectacular landscape as soon as high diversity
of species of flora and fauna, especially of birds, where have been registered more than approximately 350 species. Bombuscaro is very important for the presence of the recently discovered Foothill Elaenia and two other endemics birds: the White-breasted
Parakeet and Coppery-chested Jacamar.
"Trip map"
Electronic map of Ecuador
Tour I
15 day long birdwatching tour in Southern Ecuador.
Itinerary
Expect more than 350 species of birds
Day 1.
After our meeting and welcome at the airport in Catamayo we will begin our first birdwatching in the surroundings of the Catamayo Valley. The Catamayo Valley has an average of 1000 to 1500 m. of elevation.
The vegetation of the Catamayo Valley belongs to the Matorral - seco montano de los Valles Interandinos with an average temperature of 25C and its climate is Calido Seco.
Due to this characteristic this habitant contains particular bird species of the Tumbesian Zone such as Pacific Parrolet Fasciated Wren, Pacific Hornero, Collared Antshrike, Black-cowled Saltator and other birds such as Tawny-crowned Pygmy Tyrant, Scrub
Blackbird, Shyny Cowbird, Black–capped Sparrow and Blue–back Seedeater.
We will then go to the city of Loja and have the lunch. After that we leave immediately for the Cloud Forest of Cajanuma and birdwatching here the rest of the day.
We begin our bird observation on the access road to the Podocarpus National Park which leads to the visitor center. This path is
3 Km long, and is an excellent site for birdwatching. It takes about 2 or 3 hours to complete, depending on the time we spend birdwatching.
Common species are: The Bearded Guan, Masked Trogon, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Russet-crowned Warbler, Azara’s Spinetail, Rufous-naped Brush Finch. We will also see Tanagers such as Grass-green Tanager, Lacrimouse-mountain Tanager, Buff-breasted
Mountain Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Red Hooded Tanager. Depending on the flowering season
of specific plants, we will see Hummingbirds such as Rainbow Starfrontlet, Tyrian Metaltail, Flame-throated Sunangel, Collared Inca, Green Violetear, and depending on our luck, the time of year and if the passiflora plant (taxo) is in bloom, the Sword-billed Humingbird.
A wide variety of other species such as the Barred Fruiteater, Black-chested Buzzard Eagle Smoky-bush Tyrant, White-banded Tyrannulet, Black Capped Tyrannulet can also be seen, and with luck we may see the Black and Chestnut Eagle.
You can often hear the Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan and occasionally be lucky enough to see it. The Tawny-breasted Tinamou is among the more elusive species, which can often be heard.
Once in the visitor center we will take a short break before continuing our adventure on the “Oso de Anteojos” and Bosque Nublado” paths.
Depending of the climatic conditions we will take the path “Lagunas del Compadre”. This path climbs steeply in parts and is normally muddy. It takes approximately an hour and half to arrive at the Páramo at an altitude of 3200 msnm.
Along this trail we may see Buff-winged Starfrontlet, listen to Chusquea Tapaculo and, depending on the time of year, we will hear the Ocellated Tapaculo and with a bit of luck, see it. Further along the trail at slightly higher elevations, we will look for the Neblina Metaltail, Masked-mountain Tanager and Plush-capped Finch. Once on the Paramo, the high grasslands, you may see the Pale footed Swallow and others such as the Many-striped Canastero.
Dinner and night in Loja.
"Jacotoco Antpitta"
Day 2.
Early in the morning we will again go to Cajanuma to continue birding and checking the birds that we did not seen yet. At the
visitors center we will try for Antpittas such as the Undulated Antpitta, Chesnut-naped Antpitta and Rufous Antpitta.
Breakfast along the road in Cajanuma.
We will bird until 12h00, then we go to Vilcabamba for our lunch and leave for the Tapichalaca Reserve in the Province of Zamora
After 1 hour and half of driving we will arrive at the visitors center and our lodging.
Depending of the weather and our time we will keep birding in the surroundings of the lodge or try others trails.
Our first impression at the lodge will be the presence of many Humingbirds species by the feeders around the house. Amongst these Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Chesnut-breasted Coronet, Collared Inca, Flame–throated Sunangel, Lomg–tailed Sylph. After that we will walk the paths around the lodge.
Possibilities are Chusquea Tapaculo and White-capped Tanager that can be seen or hearded.
Dinner and night in the Tapichalaca Reserve.
Day 3.
We will bird all day along the trails.
After our breakfast at the lodge we will walk along a trail for about 35 minutes, and if the luck is with us, we will be able to see the famous Jocotoco Antpitta discovered only few years ago.
Lunch in the lodge.
In the afternoon we will take another trails looking for new birds such as Lacrimouse-mountain Tanager, Grass-green Tanager and
other species like Orange-banded Flycatcher, Ocellated Tapaculo, Azara's spinetail and Rufous Wren.
Dinner and night in the Tapichalaca Reserve.
"Utuana Reserve"
Day 4 and 5.
After breakfast at the lodge, we will be birding the lower part of the reserve and arrive in the town of Valladolid (1600 mesnm)
on the way to Tapala. Trip which takes approximately 30 minutes.
Valladolid and most of it's surroundings are very cultivated, nevertheless we may encounter several species such as Marañon Thrush, Blue Dacnis, Black-faced Dacnis, Black-faced Tanager, Spotted Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Streaked Saltator, as well as a variety of Humingbirds such as Andean Emerald and Sparkling Violetear.
Dinner and night in the Tapichalaca Reserve.
Day 6.
After our breakfast at the lodge, we will continue for a couple hours looking for other bird species, that we have not seen yet and then drive to the towns of Valladolid and Tapala.
We will come back at 12h00 for our lunch in the lodge and return to Loja the way we came for Copalinga Reserve in the Zamora province, where we will arrive at 17h30.
Copalinga it is located next to the Bombuscaro River, and is characterized by cultivated zones and farms. Copalinga and its surroundings is very good for birding and walking the trails. When the Inga edulis tree is flowering, you can see the Wire-crested Thorntail, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Green Violetear, and maybe the elusive Spangled Coquete.
We may also encounter the White-banded Swallow, Long-tailed Tyrant, Mottle-backed Elaenia, and flocks of tanagers such as
Black-faced Dacnis, Swallow Tanager, Guira Tanager, Orange-eared Tanager, Paradise Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager and Bay-headed Tanager. We can also hear species such as the Dark-breasted Spinetail, Lined-Antshrike and Blackish Antbird depending on the time of the year. The noisy Speckled Chachalaca may be heard and with a bit of luck be seen.
Dinner and night at Copalinga Eco-lodge.
Day 7.
After early breakfast, we will begin birding along the paths of the reserve, and also look for White-capped Dipper, Torrent Duck and Green Kingfisher by the Bombuscaro River. We will then travel towards a site called “La Fragancia”, which is located on the old highway Loja-Zamora.
This is another special place for birdwatching and we will look for, Glitering-throated Emerald, Guira Tanager, Orange-eared
Tanager, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Silver-beaked Tanager, Red-headed Barbet, Ecuatorial Graytail, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet and Yellow-olive Flatbill. Other species such as Olivaceous Greenlet, Ash-browed Spinetail, Lined Antshrike
and Grayish Saltator can be heard and often seen.
We will bird until 12h00 and come back to Copalinga and have our lunch.
After lunch we will go to the Podocarpus National Park following the Bombuscaro River located 3 km from the Copalinga Reserve.
To reach the Podocarpus National Park and the Visitor Center will take about 40 minutes. Along this trail we will look for the Coppery-chested Jacamar, White-breasted Parakeet and see species such us Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Ornate Flycatcher, a variety of tanagers such as the Golden-eared Tanager, Golden Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Bay-headed Tanager, Flame-crested Tanager, Common-bush Tanager, Yellow-throated Bush Tanager, Subtropical Cacique and, if we are lucky, we will find the Andean Cock of the Rock and Amazonian Umbrellabird.
We will also search for other important species such as Ecuadorian Piedtail and the Highland Motmot.
Dinner and night in the Copalinga Reserve.
Day 8.
Breakfast at the lodge and leave for Podocarpus National Park to try to see bird species that we haven´t seen yet.
Dinnner and night in the Copalinga Reserve.
"Golden-plumed Parakeet"
Day 9.
Breakfast at the lodge and we will bird the Podocarpus National Park until 10h00 trying to find birds that we missed yesterday. We then return to the reserve, return to Loja and leave immediately for Macará. This trip will take about 4 and half hours.
Dinner and night at Macará hotel
Day 10.
After early breakfast we will go to the Jorupe Reserve a trip of 15 minutes, where we will bird all morning.
Typical birds we will find at Jorupe are: Harris´s Hawk, Watkin´s Antpitta, Collared Antshrike, Pacific Elaenia and with a little
bit of luck, we will see the Henna-hooded Foliage Gleaner and Blackish Spinetail.
Around noon we will enjoy a picnic lunch in the forest and then leave for the Utuana Reserve taking one hour by car. The 1 km long gravel access road leading to the main entrance is an excellent site for birdwatching and takes about 2 to 3 hours to complete. We will have the entire afternoon birding in the Utuana.
Dinner and night at hotel in Macara.
Day 11.
We will bird the Utuana Reserve and Quebrada Suquinda, which is located near the town of Sozoranga, in the morning. We will look
for endemic species that we have not found yet, such as the Ecuadorian Piculet, Elegant-crescent Chest, Speckled–breasted Wren, White-winged Brush Finch and Black-capped Sparrow.
At 12h00 we come back to Macará for lunch, and in the afternoon continue birding in the Jorupe Reserve.
In Utuana we will find species such as the Plain-breasted Hawk, Rufous-necked Foliage Gleaner, Chapman’s Antshrike, Black-cowled Saltator. We will also look for the Gray Headed Antbird and Black–crested Tit-Tyrat, one of the rarest species found in the
reserve. Other species that we could find here are the Variable Hawk, Raimbow Starfrontlet, Green-tailed Trainbearer, White-banded Tyrannulet, Dusky-capped Flycatcher.
Dinner and night at hotel in Macara.
Day 12.
After early breakfast we will drive to Tambo Negro located 20 minutes from Macará on the way to Jorupe.
To get there we will have to cross the river Sabiango on foot (we will provide rubber boots). Not to worry, the water is very low
and we will follow the path toward the communal house that is the access to the forest.
There are not current facilities at Tambo visitor center. However there are a number of paths through the forest, which provide a
flat and easy walk into the forest. Several species can be seen here such as: Savanna Hawk, Pacific Pygmy-Owl, Pacific Parrotlet, Grey-cheeked Parakeet, Ecuadorian Piculet, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Pacific Hornero, Blackish Spinetail, Collared Antshrike, Fasciated Wren. We may see White-tailed Jay, Gray-breasted Flycatcher, Pacific Elaenia, Ochraceous Attila, One-colored Becard, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Ecuadorian Thrush, White- edged Oriol, and the Yellow-rumped Cacique.
We will look for other scarcer species such as Pale-browed Tinamou but they may be hard to find.
The Rio Sabiango is a good place to see waterbirds such us the Neotropic Cormorant, Ringed Kingfisher and Killder.
At 12h00 we return to Macará for lunch and then leave for Buenaventura, a trip of 3 and half hours.
Dinner and night in the Buenaventura Reserve.
Day 13 and 14.
After breakfast at the reserve we will begin our day in the best birding locations in southwest Ecuador - Buenaventura.
Here we will have the opportunity to see species such as Choco Toucan, Chesnut-mandibled Toucan, Pacific Tuftedcheek, Booted Racket-tail, Tawny-bellied Hermit, White-whiskered Hermit, Baron´s Hermit, White-bearded Manakin, Club-winged Manakin, Bay Wren, Whiskered Wrens, Lesser Greenlet and several tanagers such as Silver-throated and Rufous-throated Tanager.
Other elusive species that we will try to see are the El Oro Parakeet, El Oro Tapaculo and Wattled Umbrella Bird.
Other important species we may see are: Gray-back Hawk, Gray-cheeked Parakeet, Speckle-breasted Wren and Ecuadorian Thrush.
After lunch at the reserve we will continue birding.
Dinner and night in the reserve.
Day 15.
We will bird Buenaventura Reserve for half day and then return to Loja at 18h00.
Dinner and night in Loja.
Day 16.
Transfer to the airport in Catamayo
15 day tour price per person in single room.
2 people: US$ 3150 per person.
3 people: US$ 2625 per person.
4 people: US$ 2550 per person.
15 day tour price per person in double room.
2 people: US$ 3000 per person. (1 double room).
3 people: US$ 2500 per person. (1 double room and 1 single room).
4 people: US$ 2400 per person. (2 double room).
Convert your tour cost into your currency of choice.
Included:
Guide, Language(Spanish/English), Meals, Transportation, Accommodation.
Excluded:
Internal flight Quito – Loja – Quito, Entrance fee: Podocarpus National Park, Loja and Zamora. US$20 per person, Utuana reserve
US$15 per person and Jorupe reserve US$15 per person, Personal expenses and alcoholic drinks.
Notes.
The above birding itineraries are based on what are essentially popular routes for birders. It can be shortened or extended.
All the date of itineraries include arrival and departure dates.
Availability year round
For booking allow minimum six(6) weeks prior to departure.
To check availability for tours on short notice, fill out “Request for Quote” form with desirable dates.
Fitness and equipment:
Any person taking such a trip has to be in good physical condition and able to walk the trails at high attitude.
Recommended Packing List:
Personal items: Insect repellent, Sun Protection (sun cream/sunglasses/hat or cap), Lightweight long pants and long sleeved shirts for walks, Shorts and short sleeves for the lodge, Bathing suite, Comfortable shoes, Small day pack, Rain Jacket, Plastic bags to protect cameras, binoculars, film , etc, from rain, Flashlight (torch), A small Medicine kit, Sandals, Extra Socks, Warm clothes for the highest parts and a small Umbrella (optional).
Should you only need a guide for a day or two please contact us for details.
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Pablo Andrade, your local Birdingpal guide
Pablo Andrade is an ornithologist with more that 15 years experience leading ornithological tours in Ecuador. Pablo has participated in many important bird research projects and has written literature about the birds of Southern Ecuador. Also an avid bird painter many of his paintings can be found in nature and birding guides. Undoubtedly, Pablo's work has contributed to educate the people of Ecuador with respect to birds and their conservation. |
Testimonial.
February 2005. We hired Pablo to guide for us during our stay near Podocarpus. He drew up an itinerary that included all of the best birding areas in/near the Park, allowing us to visit as many habitats and elevations as possible. The end result was a wonderfully intense and rewarding six days that yielded 250 + species, including four antpittas and three tapaculos. We even visited a particular area of dry forest that is apparently not on the “regular” birding-group circuit, and which gave us a long list of new birds. The biggest thrill, for me, was seeing the Jocotoco Antpitta in the reserve established for them. It took us two visits to tick the bird, but, in the end, we got a very close look at one by using a tape, then we saw two more up the trail without the tape. At that point, they were calling all around us – what a wonderfull and exiting experience. In Fact, when I saw the first one, I will admit to you that I cried. Pablo´s English is good and getting better. We had no trouble understanding each other. And, not only does he know the birds´ common names, he knows most of their Latin names, as well.
His passion for birds is obvious. He has been a birder since he was very young, and he did an outstanding job of finding and identifying, both by sight and sound, the species we would likely encounter in the various sites we visited. In the rare instance when Pablo was unsure of an identification, he readily said so and consulted the plates.
Pablo is punctual, organized, and persistent. With regard to the last, he did not allowed me to give up – I came close! – when we almost dipped on a very elusive Gray–headed Antbird. In the end, I did see the bird, thanks to Pablo, as well as, in that same area, Black–crested Tit Tyrant and Black–cowled Saltator. It was a very rewarding trip, loads of intense good fun chasing birds.
By the way, writing this letter was my idea, not Pablo´s. I just wanted you to know about this guide´s passion and expertise. If you ever do need a competent and reliable local guide, keep Pablo Andrade in mind.
Betsy Rogers, Pullayup, WA betsyloveswalking(AT)hotmail.com
Some facts about Ecuador.
One of the smallest countries in America, it lies on both the northern and the southern Hemispheres and is divided by the Equator, thus the name of the country.
It has the biggest bio diversity per area in the world, ranked among the 17 “mega diverse” countries.
The richness of Ecuador lies in its diversity both natural and cultural. Ecuador has 4 diverse and unique regions: The Amazon Rainforest, the highland Andes, the coast and the Galapagos Archipelago. Besides its exuberant bio diversity, Ecuador is home to an impressive variety of ethnic groups, including communities, who still practice ancient cultural traditions.
Area: 270.670 square km.
Population: Approximately 13 million.
Language: The first language is Spanish, however, most of the indigenous population speaks Quichua.
Climate. The Climate throughout the country ranges from tropical equatorial rain in the Amazon to perpetual snow on the top of the mountains. Cities in the highlands have temperatures that vary from 50ºF to 70ºF, while costal cities temperatures vary from 60ºF to 80ºF during the day. The weather in the jungle is constant: rainy, humid and warm.
More facts about Ecuador.
Guide books and CD’s recommended:
The Birds of Ecuador: Field Guide, Volume I and II by Robert S. S. Ridgely, Paul J. Greenfield, and Frank B. Gill
Find lowest prices here
Bird Recordings
The Birds of Eastern Ecuador. Volume 1: The foothills and lower subtropics.
The Birds of Southwest Ecuador.
www.wildsounds.com
Note: To ascertain tour/seat availability and best pricing, select a week for departure date. e.g. Sep 01 - 07
Need more information please email us.
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