Arrival
and transfer from international flight,
stay at a hotel in Quito
Day
2
Flight
to the city of Cuenca where the tours begins.
Pickup from the airport and head to the
Llaviucu River for a day of birding. Spend
the night in Cuenca at the Inca Real Hotel
Day
3
A
full day of birding in Cajas Recreational
Area. Spend the night in Cuenca at the
Inca Real Hotel.
Day
4
Drive from Cuenca to Loja with birding
opportunities along the way. Spend the
night in Loja at the Hotel Bombusca.
Day
5
Departure
to the Cajanuma Ranger Station in Podocarpus
National Park. Enjoy a full day of birding
in Cajanuma. Spend the night in Loja at
the Hotel Bombuscaro.
Day
6
A
full day of birding on the road between
Loja and Zamora as we head to Zamora. Spend
the night in Zamora at the Hotel Gymifa.
Day
7
A
full day of birding in the Bombuscaro Reserve
and Bombuscaro River in the eastern section
of Podocarpus Naitonal Park. Spend the
night in Zamora at the Hotel Gymifa.
Day
8
A
full day of birding at the Bombuscaro Reserve
and Bombuscaro River in the eastern section
of Podocarpus National Park. Spend the
night at the Hotel Gymifa.
Day
9
Drive
from Zamora to Vilcabamba Valley with birding
opportunities along the way. Spend the
night in Vilcabamba at the Hotel Vilcabamba.
Day
10
A
full day spent at Quebrada Honda. Spend
the night in Vilcabamba at the Hotel Vilcabamba.
Day
11
Drive
to Loja with birding opportunities along
the way, then spend the afternoon birding
in Cajanuma Ranger Station. Spend the night
in Loja at Hotel Bombuscaro.
Day
12
Early
flight from Loja to Quito, airport pickup
and continue driving to Bellavista on the
western slope of the Andes. Spend the night
in Bellavista.
Day
13
Enjoy
a full day of birding in the Bellavista
and Mindo areas, Spend the night in Mindo
at the Mindo Gardens Hotel.
Day
14
Go
birding during the day in Mindo and in
the late afternoon return to Quito. Spend
the night in Quito at a hotel.
Day
15
Transfer
to the airport for the international flight.
Price
Includes:
-all
transfers
-flights from Quito to Cuenca and Loja
to Quito
-private transportation and driver
-expert birding guide
-all
accomodations
-all meals except while in Quito*
-all park entrance fees
-box lunches
Price
does not
include:
-meals
while in Quito, except breakfast for
guests staying at Mi Casa
-drinks during the trip
-international
departure tax (USD 25)
-tipping
-extras
Site
description for the southern Ecuador and Podocarpus
itinerary
Cuenca:
Cuenca
is the third largest city in Ecuador and
one of the most beautiful due to it's historical
colonial architecture. This is the starting
point of our trip through Southern Ecuador.
Llaviuco:
Llaviuco
is an interandean area. Llaviucu Lake is
located less than an hour drive from Cuenca.
In the early morning it can be cold and
guests will need warm clothing. In the
center of the valley is a lake, with excellent
trails surrounding it. In this valley you
may encounter the Andean Pygmy Owl, Rainbow
Startfrontlet, Swordbilled Hummingbird,
Grey breasted Mountain-Toucan, and the
Buff -breasted Mountain-Tanager.
Cajas
recreational area:
Easily
accessible 28,808 hectare reserve in the
Andean Western Cordillera Paramo between
the peaks that give the park its name.
Cajas is located above the tree line, for
this reason it can be very cold. The vegetaion
is mainly grass, with some polylepis forest.
There is the possibility to see Condors,
Thornbill, Red-Crested Cotinga, Ecuadorian
Hillstar, Stout-billed Cinclodes, and the
Giant Conebill.
Cuenca to Loja Road:
This
interandean zone has an altitude that ranges
between 2'500 and 3'000 meters. The driving
time from Cuenca to Loja is about five
hours. Three of these hours are excellent
birding spots. On this road we can see
the Red-faced Parrot, Tawny-breasted Tinamou,
Crescent-faced Antpitta, golden-plumed
Parakeet, Black-capped Tyrannulet, Brown-backed
and White- tailed Chattyrant, Plaincolored
Seedeater, and the Glossy Flower-Piercer.
Loja-Cajanuma:
This
area is only a 20 minute drive from Loja.
This well protected area ranges from 2,400
to 3,000 meters in altitude and offers
excellent birding possibilities from the
road and a few easily hiked trails inside
the forest. In this area we will encounter
the Chestnut-bellied Cotinga, Masked Mountain-Tanager,
Red-faced Parrot, Golden plumed Parakeet,
Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager, Purple-throated
Sunangel, Rainbow Starfrontlet and the
Undulated Antpitta.
Loja-
Zamora Road :
The
ride from Loja to Zamora takes us through
paramo to the Subtropics. The temperature
in this tropical area will rise to anywher
between 75 to 80F. Birding can be done
mostly from the road. On the way we will
see the White-breasted Parakeet, Yellow-throated
Tanager, Wedge-billed Hummingbird, Black-killed
Peppershrike, Black-and-chestnut Eagle,
Yellow-wiskered Bush-Tanager, White-smoked
Antvireo, and the Vermillion Tanager.
Bombuscaro
Reserve and Podocarpus National Park :
Living
in this area are birds of the eastern lowland
such as the Amazonian Umbrellabird and
White-breasted Parakeet. The Bombuscaro
Reserve is the lowest entrance to Podocarpus
National Park. There is extreme sunlight
and heat, for this reason sunblock is necessary.
In the National Park we will see Northern
and White-crowned Tapaculo, Foothill Antwren,
Elegant Mourner, Paradise Tanager and the
Orange-eared Tanager.
Bella
Vista:
We
will take a birding drive to BellaVista
Reserve, a cloud forest located in the
lower western mountain range. We will go
roadside and trail birding. There are many
bird species here, including the Giant
Antpitta, Tantager Finch, Plate-billed
Mountain-Toucan, Dark-backed Wood-Quail,
Toucan Barbet, Flamefaced Tantager, and
the Golden Tanager. Mindo is a small village
nestled in the Mindo Nambillo Reserve at
an altitude ranging from 1,250 to 1'750
meters. This is one of the best known birding
localities in North West Ecuador. Visitors
can see the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Club-winged
Manakin, Toucan-barbet, Beautiful Jay,
Glistening green Tanager, Wattled Guan,
Golden-headed Quetzal, Esmeraldas Antbird,
and the Yellow-collard Chilorophonia
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