* Specific birding locales subject to adjustment based on guide recommendations and local conditions.
El Cajas National Park
Yunguilla Reserve
Buenaventura Reserve
Tumbesian Endemic Area
Jorupe Forest Reserve
Utuana Reserve
Catamayo Valley
Tapichalaca Reserve
Cerro Toledo
Podocarpus National Park
Cordillera del Condor
Nangaritza River
Jan 1-16, 2011
(16 days, 15 nights)
Price $4175
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Sat
Jan 1 |
Quito
Hotel Sebastian
Included Meals: None |
Evening get-together for orientation and meeting other participants. |
Sun
Jan 2 |
Quito
Cuenca
El Cajas National Park
Yunguilla Valley
Gualaceo
Jardin del Valle Hotel
Included Meals: BLD |
Early morning flight to Cuenca. Morning birding in El Cajas National Park looking for paramo (high elevation) specialties. PM transfer to Yunguilla Valley. Overnight near Gualaceo. |
Mon
Jan 3 |
Yunguilla Reserve
Buenaventura Reserve
Umbrellabird Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
Morning look for highly endangered Pale-faced Brush-Finch and other range-restricted birds in Yunguilla Reserve. Mid-day transfer to Buenaventura Reserve near Pinas. Late afternoon birding in lower section of reserve. Overnight at lodge in reserve. |
Tues
Jan 4 |
Buenaventura Reserve
Umbrellabird Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
Morning birding upper portion of Buenaventura Reserve. Afternoon birding lower portion of reserve and viewing hummingbirds at feeders. Overnight in reserve. |
Wed
Jan 5 |
Buenaventura Reserve
Tumbes Endemic Area
Jorupe Forest Reserve
Urraca Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
Early morning birding lower portion of Reserve. Last chance to see Long-wattled Umbrellabird if not seen earlier. Mid-morning check-out and transfer to Jorupe Forest Reserve, birding en route looking for Tumbesian endemics. Overnight in the reserve. |
Thurs
Jan 6 |
Jorupe Forest Reserve
Urraca Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
All day birding in Jorupe Forest Reserve looking for dry forest specialties and restricted-range hummingbirds. |
Fri
Jan 7 |
Jorupe-Zapotillo Road
La Ceiba Reserve
Urraca Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
All day birding between Jorupe and Zapotillo, birding remnant forests and agricultural areas along the road. Look for Tumbes Swallow and Tumbes Hummingbird in very dry areas around Zapotillo. Look for Comb Duck at marshes near La Ceiba Reserve. Look for Blackish-headed Spinetail and Elegant Crescent-Chest in the reserve. |
Sat
Jan 8 |
Sozorango
Utuana Reserve
Catamayo Valley
Tapichalaca Reserve
Casa Simpson Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
Early departure for Utuana Forest Reserve. Look for Chestnut-collared Swallow around Sozoranga en route. MOrning birding evergreen forest at Utuana. Afternoon transfer to Tapichalaca Reserve, stopping in Catamayo Valley to look for open country seedeaters and finches. Overnight at lodge in the reserve. |
Sun
Jan 9 |
Tapichalaca Reserve
Casa Simpson Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
All day birding in Tapichalaca Reserve with special emphasis on seeing recently discovered Jocotoco Antpitta. Overnight in the reserve. |
Mon
Jan 10 |
Cerro Toledo
Podocarpus-Cajanuma
Loja
Hotel Castellano
Included Meals: BLD |
Very early departure, stopping to bird side road up Cerro Toledo for Neblina Metaltail and Masked Mountain-Tanager. Remainder of day birding Cajanuma (higher elevation) section of Podocarpus National Park. Overnight in Loja. |
Tues
Jan 11 |
Loja
Zaruma-Loja Road
Copalinga Lodge
Included Meals: BLD |
After breakfast departure for Zamora, birding en route along old Loja-Zamora Road. Afternoon viewing hummingbirds at lodge feeders, birding lodge grounds, along Trans-Amazonian Highway, and around nearby abandoned airstrip. |
Wed
Jan 12 |
Podocarpus-Bombuscaro
Cabanas Yankuam
Included Meals: BLD |
Morning birding Bombuscaro entrance to Podocarpus National Park. After lunch departure for Nangaritza River, arriving late afternoon. |
Thurs
Jan 13 |
Nangaritza River
Shaime
Cabanas Yankuam
Included Meals: BLD |
All day trip up the river to the Shuar indigenous village of Shaime to look especially for Orange-throated Tanager and Oilbird. |
Fri
Jan 14 |
Cordillera del Condor
Tepui Highlands
Cabanas Yankuam
Included Meals: BLD |
All day birding Tepui highlands above lodge. |
Sat
Jan 15 |
Nangaritza
Loja
Quito
Hotel Sebastian
Included Meals: BLD |
After breakfast departure for Loja, stopping en route for some birding at selected sites. Fly back to Quito, arriving early evening. |
Sun
Jan 16 |
Quito
Included Meals: B |
End of tour. International flights home. |
