Birding Southern Ecuador: Endemics and Specialties
Trip Description
Brief Itinerary
A more productive birding trip for Ecuadorian and South American birders. Excellent Jocotoco Foundation lodges support bird conservation and lay the groundwork to another productive birding trip to South America. As many as 60 hummingbirds species can be seen plus both Umbrellabirds, difficult species (such as Jocotoco Antpitta and El Oro Parakeet), other fantastic species from Choco forest, Tumbesian endemics and specialities. Then off to the very birdy areas of Podocarpus National Park and the Tapichalaca Reserve.
Most trips find 450 to 500 species with well-planneditineraries and top Ecuadorian guides. Nearly 2 weeks of birding from $3,990 and many excellent extension options and some trips continuing into Peru. Trips offered each month during dryer season from September to March with additional custom options.
Day 1: Arrivals into Guayaquil
Day 2: Birding Buenaventura and Choco Forest
Days 3 & 4: Bird forested hills in Buenaventura area, focusing on Choco and Tumbesian birds
Day 5: Morning wrap up at Buenaventura and begin in afternoon focusing on additional Tumbesian species in Jorupe area
Day 6: Jorupe area birding
Day 7: AM transfer from Jorupe to Loja for birding in Cajanuma section of the Podocarpus National Park
Day 8: AM birding at Cajanuma area in Podocarpus National Park; later in day off to Zamora and the Rio Bombuscaro
Days 9 & 10: Spend two full days in the Bombuscaro area of the Podocarpus National Park birding the mosaic of primary, premontane cloud forest and secondary growth habitats
Days 11 & 12: Birding Jocotoco Foundation Reserve of Tapichalaca, including recently described Jocotoco Antpitta
Day 13/Extension Day 1: After some birding, leave Tapichalaca and travel to Loja for flights home, birding along the way. Those clients who choose to extend their trip will embark on the next leg of their journey from Loja around midday.
Key Endemics in Cajas and Yungilla Extension
Day 13/Extension Day 1: From Loja, transfer to Saraguro around midday. Nice afternoon birding near Saraguro and the lower and higher elevations of Acacana Mountain
Day 14/Extension Day 2: Early morning birding Saraguro, then drive to and bird the highlands and temperate forest of Cajas National Park
Day 15/Extension Day 3: Morning Birding the Yunguilla Reserve and bird until late afternoon transfer to Gualaceo
Day 16/Extension Day 4: Full day birding the Gualaceo Limón Road and then late afternoon transfer to Cuenca
Day 17/Extension Day 5: Flights from Cuenca to either Quito or Guayaquil, then flights home
Detailed Itinerary
Download our detailed itinerary for our Southern Ecuador tour, or read it below.
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