Southern Endemics Birdwatching Ecuador Tour

SOUTHERN ENDEMICS

9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS

This tour gives you the possibility to see the endemic birds of the Tumbesian region and also some of the Choco, the combination of these two ecosystems will increase your bird list with some of the most exotic birds of the world, on this trip, it is possible to see more than 500 species. If you have already visited the north of Ecuador, this is an excellent alternative for you!

DAY 1.- ARRIVAL IN GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR

At your arrival to Guayaquil, your guide will be waiting for you to meet and transfer you to your hotel, overnight.

DAY 2.- MANGLARES CHURUTE AN EXTENSIVE MANGROVE FOREST

Early departure to Manglares Churute Reserve where you can find the only known population of Horned Screamer in western Ecuador. This National Reserve has 49.984 hectares distributed from 0 to 700 msnm. It is formed by an extensive network of channels and islands that combined with a dense mangrove forest and vestiges of the tropical dry forest is the house of considerable biodiversity.

Here, it is possible to find 270 bird species such us Pacific Royal Flycatcher, Ecuadorian Ground-dove, Red-masked Parakeet, Pacific Parrotlet, grey and Gold Warbler, Red Rumped Woodpecker, Tawny crowned pygmy tyrant, Pearl kite, Savanna Hawk, Yellow warbler, White ibis, Gray-breasted Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Wattled Jacanas, Snail Kites, Ringed Kingfisher, Masked Water Tyrant, Black-necked Stilts, Jet Antbird, Ochraceous Attila, Amazilia hummingbird, and others. Besides if you are lucky you can see some mammals like the White-fronted capuchin and mantled howler monkey.

After lunch, you will continue your trip to Piñas stopping in some strategic points to observe some of the shorebirds and also some specialists of the area such as Baron´s Hermit, Ecuadorian Trogon, Jet Antbird, Superciliated Wren, Orange-Crowned Euphonia, Peruvian Meadowlark. Arrive at Buenaventura reserve place where you will have dinner and overnight.

(B.BL.D)

DAY 3.- BUENAVENTURA AND JORUPE RESERVES

Buenaventura Reserve is part of the Jocotoco Foundation, it is located near Piñas and Zaruma in El Oro province. It protects a narrow zone of cloud forest habitat on the otherwise seasonally dry west slope of the Andes in Southern Ecuador.

The target size for this reserve is 5,000 ha (12,000 acres) with an altitude range from 450m to 1100m. Here large mammals like Puma, Ocelot, Howler Monkey, Two and Three-toed Sloth are present.

This reserve supports an extremely diverse birdlife (46 species registered) including many endemics like El Oro Parakeet, Emerald-billed Woodnymph, Pacific Tuftedcheeck, Club-Winged Manakin, Long Wattled Umbrellabird, and El Oro Tapaculo. This day you will spend most of the time walking along the reserve looking for these species and other great birds such as the Andean Tinamou, Rose Face parrot, and Line-cheeked spinetail.

Early in the morning after a cup of coffee, you will walk through the trails of Buenaventura reserve spotting some of the great bird species that you can find in this place. After this visit you will continue your trip to Jorupe, another Jocotoco Foundation Reserve located close to Macará. On route, you will stop at some strategic points to look for the species of the area. Arrive at Jorupe reserve where a delicious dinner will be waiting for you, a possible nocturnal walk, and overnight.

(B.L.D)

DAY 4.- THE BIRDS OF THE TUMBESIAN REGION

During this day you will be in the middle of the Tumbesian forest which is a dry habitat ecosystem that extends from southwest Ecuador into northern Peru, is dominated by statuesque Ceiba trees. It is a conservation priority because much of it is already cleared or badly degraded.

Jorupe reserve supports many endemic and rare species of plants and animals, including populations of numerous globally threatened birds (40 species) like the Henna-Hooded foliage-Gleaner, Blackish Headed spinetail, Slaty Becard, Line Cheeked Spinetail, Loja Tyrannulet.

Early in the morning, you will spot through the trails of Jorupe looking for some tumbesian species, lunch and in the afternoon you will depart to Utuana (Jocotoco Reserve) where you can find a Montane Scrub and woodland, a great place to search for Black-Crested Tit-Tyrants, Piura Hemispungus, Gray Headed Antbird, Chapman Antshrike, Rainbow Starfrontlet, and others. Return to the lodge to diner and overnight.

(B.L.D)

DAY 5.- MACARÁ - VILCABAMBA

Early in the morning after a cup of hot coffee, you will travel to Catamayo, on the route you will stop at some strategic points to look for some of the Tumbesian species and others like the Tumbes Sparrow, Band-tailed Sierra Finch, Drab Seedeater. Box Lunch on route and departure to Loja.

(B,BL,D)

DAY 6.- VILCABAMBA: CAJANUMA (PODOCARPUS NATIONAL PARK)

Early in the morning you will visit Cajanuma, part of Podocarpus National Park where you will look for some spectacular birds like Red-Hooded Tanager, Bearded Guan, Gray Breasted Mountain-Toucan, Plumbeus Rail, Golden-plumed parakeet, White-Browed Spinetail, Elegant Crescent-Chest, Chusquea Tapaculo, Three Banded Warbler, Barred Fruiteater, Golden-Crowned Tanager and others.

Podocarpus National Park is located in the South of Ecuador near the Peruvian border and spanning 360,000 acres, Podocarpus National Park includes cloud forests, high-altitude grasslands, and a series of small Andean lakes.

The Podocarpus National Park area has one of the largest concentrations of bird species in Ecuador, with more than 500 registered species, although some experts believe that number could be as high as 800. Some of the most threatened birds in Ecuador have healthy populations in and around the park, such as coppery-chested jacamar, bearded guan, Equatorial gray tail, and Peruvian antpitta.

More than 40 mammal species occur in the area, including the jaguar, wooly tapir, Andean bear, pudú (the smallest deer in the world), giant armadillo, and Neotropical otter. Besides, Podocarpus is a paradise for plants, with around 3,000 different species of vascular plants, many of which are endemic.

Lunch in Vilcabamba and departure to Tapichalaca, this is the first reserve created by Jocotoco Foundation. At our arrival, you will have time to enjoy the hummingbirds that fly around the feeders of this lodge-like Flame Throated Sunangel, Ocellated Tapaculo, Rufous-capped thornbill, Chesnut Breasted Coronet, and Long Tail Sylph. Dinner and overnight in Tapichalaca Lodge.

(B,L,D)

DAY 7.- TAPICHALACA AND THE JOCOTOCO ANTPITTA

You will spend the full day in Tapichalaca to try to find most of the species of this place and its surroundings. Jocotoco Foundation bought the land of this reserve in order to protect the habitat of the Jocotoco Antpitta, species that were found in this area for the first time and also known that most of the world’s population of this specie occurs in this reserve.

The major highlight of this area is Dusky Headed Parakeet, White Capped Parrot, Swallowtail nightjar, Gray Breasted Mountain-Toucan, Ash-Browed Spinetail, Chesnut-naped Antpitta, Rufous tail Tyrant, Yellow Cheeked Becard, Black-faced Tanager, White Capped Tanager. Dinner and overnight in Tapichalaca Lodge, and the endemic white-breasted parakeet.

The reserve, which includes Cerro Tapichalaca, encompasses approximately 2,000 ha, ranging from an elevation of 2000 m to 3400 m. It is adjacent to the southern part of Podocarpus National Park, which increases it's conservation value. The target size for the Tapichalaca Reserve is approximately 5,000 ha (12,000 acres).

Large mammals like the Mountain Tapir (globally Endangered) and Spectacled Bear (Vulnerable) are present in the reserve. About 140 endemic plants have been recorded, of which 1 is Critically Endangered, 25 are considered endangered and 95 are vulnerable. Over 30 species of orchid are known only from the area of the reserve.

(B,L,D)

DAY 8.- LOJA- QUITO

This day you will have the last opportunity to search for the specialties of this area, like the Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Lined Antshrike, Foothill Elaenia, Andean Cock of the Rock, Blue-Browed Tanager, Chesnut-Vented Conebill. Return to Catamayo where you will drive around the airport to look for the Tumbesian birds that you have not seen, arrive at the airport to catch your flight back to Quito. Transfer to your hotel overnight.

(B, L.)

DAY 9.- QUITO – INTERNATIONAL OR NATIONAL FLIGHT

After an early breakfast, your guide will pick you up to transfer you to the airport to catch your international or national flight.

(B)

END OF THE SERVICES

A NOTE ON THE ORDER OF THE ITINERARY:

Itinerary subject to change based on local conditions. It could be flexible according to the client’s interests.

*******************************************************************

B- Breakfast; L-Lunch; BL- Box Lunch; D-Dinner

PRICE INCLUDE:

Private transportation, bilingual naturalist guide (specialized on birdwatching), accommodation based on the double room in all the hotels detailed in the itinerary (s.supp. under request); meals as described on the itinerary, local flights: Loja – Quito; entrance fee to Manglares Churute, Podocarpus National Park and Utuana Reserve

NOT INCLUDE:

Meals not specified, alcoholic drinks, tips, and personal expenses.

HOTELS CATEGORY: 1 Pax 2-3 Pax 4-5 Pax 6-9 pax 4**** SUPERIOR