Day 1: Arrival in Quito

Most flights arrive in the evening. You will be met at the airport and transferred to a hotel in Quito.

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Day 2: Zuro Loma and Yanacocha

We’ll kick off the tour at a new reserve, Zuro Loma. The main attraction here is the rare form of Chestnut-naped Antpitta, which comes to an excellent feeder site there. At various times they are also feeding Ocellated Tapaculo and Equatorial Antpitta, while the other feeder birds include Yellow-breasted and Gray-browed Brushfinches, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Sword-billed Hummingbird and Mountain Velvetbreast. After a few hours at Zuro Loma, we will move to another nearby temperate forest reserve Yanacocha for birding and lunch on site. Although the surrounding terrain is steep, walking here is easy and the birds are amazing. There are mixed flocks of gorgeous tanagers such as Scarlet-bellied and Black-chested Mountain-Tanagers, Blue-backed Conebill, and Superciliaried Hemispingus, and sometimes too Spectacled Redstart, or scarcer birds like Barred Fruiteater and Bar-bellied Woodpecker. The hummingbirds of particular interest here include Great Sapphirewing, Golden-breasted Puffleg, and Shining Sunbeam. The critically endangered and very unpredictable Black-breasted Puffleg can also be seen here very occasionally, but should not be expected. Other skulkers occur within the reserve, like Tawny Antpitta, White-browed Spinetail, Blackish Tapaculo, and Crowned Chat-Tyrant, so with luck we will pick up some of these too.

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After a full morning in the reserve, we shall take a cooked lunch on site, before departing down the Old Nono-Mindo Road towards Tandayapa Bird Lodge, which will be our base for four nights. The Old Nono-Mindo Road is a valid birding site in its own right, so rather than driving directly to Tandayapa, we will spend much of the afternoon birding along the way, searching for Andean Lapwing, Red-crested Cotinga, Golden-bellied (Southern Yellow) Grosbeak, and, as we move lower down, White-capped Dipper, Beautiful Jay, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, and Chestnut-bellied Chat-Tyrant. If we are lucky we might also find one of the regular pair of Torrent Ducks in the area, as we work our way along the road, which flanks the Rio Alambi. We’ll try to arrive at Tandayapa Bird Lodge before dark to get our first views of the incredible hummingbird feeders, which can attract up to twenty species in an hour, and a dozen species regularly, including Chocó endemics like Violet-tailed Sylph, Brown Inca, Purple-bibbed Whitetip and Western Emerald, as well as other superb species like Green and Sparkling Violet-ears, White-booted Racket-tail, Buff-tailed Coronet, and Purple-throated Woodstar.

 

Day 3: Tandayapa Valley

We’ll begin the day with a pre-dawn walk to the Tandayapa Bird Lodge blind, where birds like Zeledon’s (Immaculate) Antbird, White-throated Quail-Dove, Russet-crowned Warbler, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, and sometimes Scaled Antpitta come in to feed around dawn. While breakfasting back at the lodge, it is not uncommon to experience birds like Masked Trogon, White-winged Brush-Finch, Streak-capped Treehunter, Slate-throated (Whitestart) Redstart, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, or Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant right around the lodge. After breakfast, we depart for the Upper Tandayapa Valley. The birding can be terrific and the walking is fairly easy, as we will be birding from wide open dirt roads, along we may take short walks on forest trails if something is heard from the road that makes this sound worthwhile. The most wanted species here are the rare and local Tanager Finch, the beautiful Toucan Barbet, and the spectacular Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan. A host of other subtropical species also occur such as hummingbirds unlikely lower in the valley like Collared Inca, Speckled Hummingbird, and the endemic Gorgeted Sunangel. Mixed flocks roam the upper valley, which can hold a wide variety of species, including Turquoise Jay, Grass-green Tanager, Dusky Chlorospingus (Bush-Tanager), Blue-necked, Beryl-spangled and Golden Tanagers, and Blue-winged Mountain-Tanagers, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Flavescent Flycatcher, Sierran Elaenia, Montane Woodcreeper, Streaked Tuftedcheek, and Pearled Treerunner, sometimes along with understory species like Sharpe’s (Sepia-brown) Wren, the elusive Striped Treehunter, and Plushcap. In the evening, weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to look for nightbirds like Lyre-tailed Nightjar or the scarce Colombian Screech-Owl.

 

Day 4: Paz de las Aves

Paz de las Aves is a small private reserve between Tandayapa and Mindo. It came to fame when a local farmer, Angel, began feeding a Giant Antpitta at the site over ten years ago, and since then he has had success with up to five species of antpitta, including Chestnut-crowned, Moustached, Ochre-breasted, and Yellow-breasted Antpittas too. The antpittas seen on any given day vary greatly; this remains very unpredictable with some species disappearing for periods of time, and likewise some species remaining loyal to the feeding areas for months at a time. On average, two species are seen, but up to four in a morning have been enjoyed by some groups. The reserve is much more than just an “antpitta farm”, as it has been dubbed on a number of occasions; it also offers the best lek site for Andean Cock-of-the-rock in the area; and the hummingbird feeders attract the likes of Velvet-purple Coronet and Empress Brilliant. Other Chocó specialties sometimes found in the area include Nariño Tapaculo, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Toucan Barbet, and Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager. It is also a good site for birds like Ochraceous Piha, Golden-headed Quetzal, and Crimson-rumped Toucanet. We will need to leave very early in order to arrive at the site at dawn to ensure we can witness the amazing displays of male Andean Cock-of-the-rock. The afternoon birding will depend somewhat on what we have seen already. We could spend further tome searching for Beautiful Jays along the Old Nono-Mindo Road, try again for Tanager Finch in the Upper Tandayapa Valley, or head down into the foothills near Milpe to begin our exploration of that altitudinal zone, among other options.

 

Day 5: Mashpi

This cloudforest site offers one of the longest day trips from the lodge, but is well worth it, as it offers a superb selection of Chocó endemics, many of which could be argued are some of the most highly-desired of the entire tour. Brightly-colored passerines like Indigo Flowerpiercer, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, and Moss-backed and Glistening-green Tanagers are more easily found here than anywhere else in the area; it’s also one of the best sites for Pacific Tuftedcheek, Uniform Treehunter, Esmeraldas Antbird, and Black Solitaire. Mashpi also hosts the very rare Chocó Vireo, although this has become very difficult in recent years, and therefore a lot of luck is needed to see this bird. Other more widespread species can be found here too, such as Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant, Toucan Barbet, Emerald Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Pale-eyed Thrush, White-throated Spadebill, and Ochre-breasted Tanager.

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Day 6: Rio Silanche

Silanche is another MCF reserve in the lower foothills/lowlands, a 90-minute drive downslope from the lodge. We’ll spend much of the day here, searching for species like Orange-fronted Barbet, Slate-throated Gnatcatcher, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, the very rare Blue-whiskered Tanager, and Gray-and-gold Tanager, though finding them will totally depend on our luck with the mixed-species flocks. Other possibilities in the area include Guayaquil and Cinnamon Woodpeckers, Barred Puffbird, Dusky Pigeon, and Stub-tailed Antbird. Birding will be either from roadsides or easy trails. At the end of the day we will move into a lodge in foothills of the Andes for the next two nights, near the town of Los Bancos.

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Day 7: Veintitres de Junio Reserve and Milpe

We will leave early to reach the small private reserve of Veintitres de Junio by dawn. In recent years a small population of the rare Long-wattled Umbrellabird has been found here. While not guaranteed, it is seen here fairly regularly and will likely be our best chance to see it on the tour. After checking this area for this species just after dawn, we will head to Milpe for the remainder of the day, in the foothills of the Andes. This Mindo Cloudforest Foundation (MCF) reserve provides access to the foothills where the centerpiece of the reserve is a lek of the endemic Club-winged Manakin, for which this is the very best site in Ecuador. Other regular Chocó endemics in the reserve include Blue-tailed (Chocó) Trogon, Rufous-throated and Ochre-breasted Tanagers, and Chocó Toucan. Indeed, the site is one of the best sites on the tour for toucans, with Chestnut-mandibled (Black-mandibled) Toucan, Collared (Pale-mandibled) Aracari, and Crimson-rumped Toucanet also occurring there too. The mixed flocks hold a myriad of subtle species like Lineated, Buff-fronted, and Scaly-breasted Foliage-gleaners, Red-faced Spinetail, Chocó (Golden-bellied) Warbler, Spotted and Wedge-billed Woodcreepers, Spotted Barbtail, Plain Xenops, Russet Antshrike, and Cinnamon Becard. Other possibilities in this area include Bronze-winged Parrot, Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Collared Trogon, Spotted Nightingale-Thrush, Esmeraldas Antbird, Slaty Antwren, Slaty Spinetail, Masked Water-Tyrant, Buff-rumped Warbler, Olive-crowned Yellowthroat, Green Honeycreeper, Swallow and Silver-throated Tanagers.

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Day 8: Mashpi Shungo to Las Penas via Rancho Suamox

Today we’ll return to the endemic rich Mashpi region, though this time focusing on the lower elevations at on a small private reserve, Mashpi Shungo. The reserve is more widely known for producing good quality chocolate from the locally grown cacao, but we will be there to attempt to see traditionally one of the toughest Choco endemics of all, the stunning Rufous-crowned Antpitta. A feeding station on site has made this bird more gettable than ever in recent years, and we hope this continues to the time of our visit there. After a morning chasing this, and other regional endemics, we will head north towards San Lorenzo, spending a single night in Las Penas on the way. However, we may stop in at Rancho Suamox late in the morning, to see if we can track down their local Brown Wood-Rail. We may have time in the afternoon to search for Dwarf Cuckoo and Humboldt Sapphire in the area, among others.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Following the pandemic, and sudden loss of avitourism, the Rufous-crowned Antpitta at Mashpi Shungo ceased to be fed and had still not been found again there by late 2021. If the bird has not returned by the time of this tour, another local site with Choco specialties may be visited instead.

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Day 9: Las Penas to Playa de Oro

We’ll begin the day near Las Penas before we’ll drive to the village of Selva Alegre, then take a motorized canoe for 90 minutes to Playa de Oro Lodge. This simple lodge is located alongside dense lowland rainforest, which is home to some of the scarcer and more difficult birds in the region, some of which are more easily seen here than anywhere else in Ecuador. We should arrive with time in the afternoon for some birding behind the lodge, where we can search for Streak-chested Antpitta, Tooth-billed Hummingbird, Uniform Crake, and others. At night, weather-permitting, we can try for nightbirds close to the lodge, including Chocó Poorwill, Spectacled Owl, and Chocó (Vermiculated) Screech-Owl.Two nights will be spent at Playa de Oro Lodge, the most rustic accommodation of the trip (although this has been upgraded considerably in recent years-see below), but the only lodge that allows access to this kind of habitat in the region.

 

Day 10: Playa de Oro

Most of the best birding here is along narrow forest trails, which are usually extremely muddy and very steep in places. This can be challenging, but the rewards are some of rarest and most difficult of the Chocó endemics. The area boasts such specialties as Berlepsch’s Tinamou, Lita Woodpecker, Griscom’s (Moustached) Antwren, Western Sirystes, Pacific Flatbill, Dagua (White-throated) Thush, Lemon-spectacled Tanager, and even the exceedingly rare Rufous-crowned Antpitta, (should it not turn up at Mashpi earlier on the tour). It is also the best place in Ecuador to find the monotypic family, Sapayoa, which is a regular follower of mixed feeding flocks that roam the area. Of course we will chances to see numerous more widespread birds as well, that might include Tawny-faced Quail, White-whiskered Puffbird, Western (Striped) Woodhaunter, Northern Barred and Black-striped Woodcreepers, Ocellated and Spotted Antbirds, Spot-crowned Antvireo, Golden-crowned Spadebill, Blue-crowned and Red-capped Manakins, Song and Scaly-breasted Wrens, and Chestnut-headed Oropendola.

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Day 11: Playa de Oro to San Lorenzo

After another morning’s birding, we’ll head back to San Lorenzo for another night. There should be time in the afternoon for some birding around San Lorenzo, where we can target rare and local species, like Brown Wood-Rail, Blue and Black-tipped Cotingas, Five-colored Barbet, Black-breasted Puffbird, and Scarlet-breasted Dacnis.

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Day 12: Alto Tambo (La Union Road) to Chical 

We’ll spend the morning birding a dirt road that goes to small Indian village. While the area is sadly being selectively logged, enough forest still remains that the birding can be extremely good, and this area is surprisingly productive for some normally difficult species like Golden-chested, Scarlet-and-white, Rufous-winged, and Emerald Tanagers, Chocó Woodpecker, Chocó Tapaculo, White-ringed and Tufted Flycatchers, Stub-tailed Antbird, Rose-faced Parrot, and the rare Yellow-green Bush-Tanager. We’ll make the most of the morning, then drive east to the Chical Road, which passes through fragmented subtropical cloudforest. It’s perhaps the best sites in Ecuador for two Chocó endemics: Fulvous-dotted (Star-chested) Treerunner and Purplish-mantled Tanager. We’ll also look for Yellow-vented Woodpecker, White-tailed Hillstar, Hoary Puffleg, Long-tailed Sylph, Rufous-crested and Saffron-crowned Tanagers, and Ruddy-breasted Seedeater. It also gives us another chance at species we may have missed earlier in the trip such as Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Glistening-green Tanager, Black Solitaire, and Beautiful Jay.

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PLEASE NOTE: This was up until recently a very muddy track, and therefore rubber boots were necessary for this site (essential). This is now a gravel road, and so far easier to bird than before. Rubber boots are still required for Playa de Oro however, where you will be birding muddy forest trails.

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Day 13: Chical Road to Quito

While it is a fairly long drive back to Quito, there is plenty to see along the way. The early hours of the morning will be spent on another search for any missing species along the Chical Road. Higher up in the Central Valley, the habitat dries out and we’ll look for the local Blue-headed Sapphire in the scrub along with Scrub Tanager, Tropical Mockingbird, Coopman’s Elaenia, and Mouse-colored Tyrannulet. We’ll make a short stop at Laguna San Pablo to look for Ecuadorian (Virginia) Rail and Subtropical Doradito before finally arriving in Quito for a final farewell dinner in the evening. Other birds we could see on and the lake include Andean (Slate-colored) Coot, Southern Lapwing, Andean Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, and Golden-bellied (Southern Yellow) Grosbeak.

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Day 14: Departure

The tour ends this morning with transfers to the airport.