* Daily schedule is approximate and may change at the leader's discretion.
Mindo Valley
Refugio Paz
Bellavista Reserve
Tandayapa Valley
Papallacta Pass
Guango Reserve
San Isidro
Nov 7-19, 2010
(13 days, 12 nights)
Price $3575
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Sun
Nov 7 |
Quito
Hotel Sebastian
Included Meals: None |
Evening get-together for orientation and meeting other participants. |
Mon
Nov 8 |
Tandayapa Valley
Tandayapa Bird Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
Early breakfast and departure for Tandayapa Bird Lodge, arriving mid-morning. Rest of day photographing hummingbirds and other birds near feeders around lodge veranda and finding birds to photograph along trails near the lodge. |
Tues
Nov 9 |
Tandayapa Valley
Mindo Valley
Septimo Paraiso Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
Early morning breakfast and then exploring trails above lodge and around canyon, looking especially to photograph Beautiful Jay. Late morning transfer to Septimo Paraiso Lodge near Mindo. Mid-day photograph hummingbirds at feeders in front of lodge. Afternoon optional excursion photographing birds along Mindo-Nambillo Road through forest reserve. |
Wed
Nov 10 |
Cock-of-the-Rock Lek
Refugio Paz
Mindo-Nambillo Forest
Septimo Paraiso Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
Very early visit to Refugio Paz, arriving while it's still dark. Walk down trail to Cock-of-the-Rock lek. Make photographs at lek. Then watch and photograph antpittas lured onto the trail by Angel Paz. Try to photograph Dark-backed Quail-Dove, Golden-headed Quetzal, and Toucan Barbet along forest trails. Late morning photograph hummingbirds coming to feeders at Refugio Paz. Remainder of day at Septimo Paraiso. After lunch and rest, photograph hummingbirds at feeders in front of lodge, explore forest trails, and enjoy the spa at the lodge. |
Thurs
Nov 11 |
Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary
Mirador Rio Blanco
Septimo Paraiso Reserve
Septimo Paraiso Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
Early breakfast and departure for Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary. All morning and early afternoon photographing birds in the reserve. Box lunch. Mid-afternoon stop at Mirador Rio Blanco to view hummingbirds at feeders. Remainder of afternoon at the lodge. |
Fri
Nov 12 |
Mindo Junction
Milpe Bird Sanctuary
Bellavista Reserve
Bellavista Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
Early breakfast and visit to Mindo Junction to photograph birds drawn by moths to the streetlights. Continue on to Milpe Bird Sanctuary. All morning photographing birds there. Return to lodge for lunch. After lunch transfer to Bellavista Cloud Forest. Remainder of afternoon at Bellavista photographing hummingbirds at feeders and forest birds from veranda outside restaurant. |
Sat
Nov 13 |
Bellavista Reserve
Quito
Hotel Sebastian
Included Meals: BLD |
Morning photograph birds at Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve. Depart after lunch for Quito, arriving by late afternoon. |
Sun
Nov 14 |
Papallacta Pass
Cayambe-Coca Reserve
Hotel Termes de Papallacta
Included Meals: BLD |
Early breakfast and departure for Papallacta Pass and the eastern Andes. Photograph birds while ascending the pass. Visit Cayambe-Coca Reserve above the pass to photograph Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, all the while keeping an eye out for Andean Condors soaring overhead. Arrive Termes de Papallacta in mid afternoon. Those wanting to use spa facilities should make arrangements in advance. |
Mon
Nov 15 |
Papallacta Water Plant Road
Guango Reserve
Guango Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
Early morning photograph high elevation birds along private road at Papallacta Water Plant, an excellent area for scrub habitat birds. Late morning checkout and transfer to nearby Guango Lodge for lunch. After lunch photograph hummingbirds at feeders and birds in the private gardens around lodge. |
Tues
Nov 16 |
Guango Reserve
Cabanas San Isidro
Included Meals: BLD |
Early morning photograph specialty birds in the gardens around the lodge. Mid-day photograph hummingbirds at feeders. After lunch transfer to San Isidro, arriving mid-afternoon. Rest of day photograph hummingbirds and other birds around the lodge. |
Wed
Nov 17 |
San Isidro Reserve
Cabanas San Isidro
Included Meals: BLD |
Early morning photograph antpittas at San Isidro. Rest of day photograph birds around the lodge and along the roads and trails through the private forested reserve, hoping especially to photograph Golden-headed Quetzal and Crested Quetzal. |
Thurs
Nov 18 |
San Isidro Reserve
Papallacta Pass
Quito
Hotel Sebastian
Included Meals: BLD |
Morning photograph birds around the lodge and in the private reserve. After lunch, depart for Quito, stopping in Papallacta Pass to look again for Andean Condors. Arrive in Quito by late afternoon. |
Fri
Nov 19 |
Quito
Included Meals: B |
Early breakfast at hotel. End of tour. International flights home. |
