Welcome to Birdquest
SOUTHERN ECUADOR
Birdquest's Southern Ecuador birding tour explores the extraordinarily rich southern region of South America's most popular country for birdwatching. This exciting tour focuses on the many specialities of Southern Ecuador, including the Tumbesian endemics, Jocotoco Antpitta and Orange-throated Tanager.
Saturday 2nd February -
Monday 18th February 2013
(17 days)
Southwestern Ecuador Post-Tour Extension to Thursday 21st February
Leader:
to be confirmed
Group Size Limit: 9
Tour Category: Easy to Moderate for the most part, but two optional fairly Demanding trails
The discovery of a new antpitta for science in southern Ecuador was one of the ornithological surprises of recent decades, and now the Jocotoco Antpittas are even coming out to feed on worms the local naturalist-guides provide for them! (János Oláh)
When Atahualpa and his Inca warriors headed north on their way to Quito some five centuries ago, little did they know about the avian riches inhabiting the rugged mountain ridges and valleys they crossed in present day southern Ecuador. Here two major life zones show a high degree of regional endemism in both fauna and flora, and harbour a host of very local and little known birds. Fringed by the dry Atacama desert of coastal Peru to the south and by the earth’s wettest rainforests in northwestern Ecuador and western Colombia to the north, the deciduous and semi-humid lowlands and foothills of the country’s southwest are characterized by a highly distinct avifauna. Barely explored ornithologically until the expeditions of Cherrie and Chapman in the early days of the 20th century, this region was long neglected by birdwatchers, in spite of being home to over 40 endemic species, shared only with adjacent parts of northern Peru.
This enjoyable tour goes in search of numerous specialities that are restricted to southern Ecuador and northern Peru, as well as many more widespread South American birds, making for an enormous bird list. Ours is the ultimate itinerary in this bird-rich region, taking in more of the regional specialities than any other.
From Guayaquil, the tour starting point, we head for Ecuador’s far south. We have designed our visit to coincide with the annual rains when the otherwise dry and dusty hillsides turn to a verdant green. At this time of year resident birds such as Chapman’s Antshrike and Watkins’s Antpitta fill the air with their relentless songs, joined by breeding visitors such as Gray-capped Cuckoo and Black-and-white Tanager. In a variety of habitats ranging from scrubby desert through deciduous forests to evergreen woodland we will seek out many of the area’s specialities, including such exciting birds as West Peruvian Screech-Owl, Blackish-headed Spinetail and Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner. In addition, the complex topography of this region has resulted in a narrow tongue of humid cloud forest extending southwards along the lower, ocean-facing Andean slopes. This is home to the endemic El Oro Parakeet, the awesome Long-wattled Umbrellabird and many species of more northerly affinities. We shall also visit the recently established Yunguilla Reserve, where the critically endangered Pale-headed Brush-Finch has been discovered.
After a week in the far southwest we shall drive over the Andes to Zamora, Vilcabamba and Tapichalaca, our bases for sampling the epiphyte-laden temperate, subtropical and foothill forests on the east slope of the Andes and home to a wide range of montane species. Amidst the majestic mountain scenery of Podocarpus National Park and the adjacent Tapichalaca reserve we can marvel at the sight of dazzling hummingbirds and gorgeous tanagers, and we also stand an excellent chance of encountering such specialities as the threatened Bearded Guan, the highly localized Neblina Metaltail and the resplendent Rainbow Starfrontlet. We shall also seek the recently discovered Jocotoco Antpitta, a species so distinct that ornithologists considered the creation of a new genus, and with habitat requirements so specific that it is still known only from a very narrow elevational zone. The foothill forests at the other end of the park harbour the endemic White-breasted Parakeet and a host of birds with Amazonian affinities.
Still further east, we will venture up the Río Nangaritza to seek the legendary Orange-throated Tanager at a newly discovered and easily accessible locality.
Finally, in the mountains surrounding the colonial city of Cuenca, we shall visit the cloud forests in search of the endemic Violet-throated Metaltail and numerous other denizens of this bird-rich environment, whilst at higher elevations we shall find many typical paramo birds amidst the scenic grandeur of the mighty Andes. By the time we return to Guayaquil we shall have experienced a remarkable range of habitats at first hand, been thrilled by the dramatic scenery of the Andes and watched a superb variety of birds including some of the least known in South America.
During the optional extension we will explore some additional areas in southwestern Ecuador. After a visit to Cerro Blanco reserve in the dry Chongon Hills near Guayaquil and the dry Santa Elena Peninsula, to look for some regional endemics and other specialities of the deciduous woodlands and arid lowlands, we shall head for the environs of Machalilla National Park, home of the endemic Esmeraldas Woodstar.
Birdquest has operated tours to Ecuador since 1989.
(Note: The above is a summary of the tour. For more information please download the detailed, day-by-day itinerary. The button is at the top right of the page.)
Accommodation & Road Transport: The hotels/lodges are mostly of normal Birdquest standard. At Macará the hotel is fairly simple but all rooms have private bathrooms. Yankuam Lodge is simple yet pleasant, with good food; there are a few larger rooms with private bathrooms and several rooms with shared bathrooms. At Tapichalaca and Buenaventura we will stay at the lodges at the reserve headquarters, which are designed for visiting birdwatchers and each have five rooms with bunk beds and private bathrooms. Both are located inside the reserves, thereby eliminating long drives to reach the birding habitat. Road transport is by small coach and roads are variable in quality.
Walking: The walking effort is mostly easy to moderate, but there are two optional more strenuous trails.
Climate: Rather variable. At low and middle altitudes it is typically warm or hot, with a mixture of dry and sunny weather interspersed with overcast and rainy periods. At high elevations it is generally cool (but it can be cold and damp in the early morning). It will often be rather humid, especially at lower elevations.
Bird Photography: Opportunities are worthwhile.
Tour Price: (provisional): $4340 Guayaquil/Guayaquil. Post-Tour Extension: $910. Price includes all transportation, all accommodations, all meals, bottled water, some drinks, all excursions, all entrance fees, all tips for local drivers/guides and for accommodations/restaurants, leader services.
Single Room Supplement: (provisional): $441. Post-Tour Extension: $92. Single-occupancy rooms are generally in short supply at the fairly small reserve lodges of Buenaventura and Tapichalaca and cannot be guaranteed for those requesting them. Anyone having to share unexpectedly at either location will receive an appropriate refund.
Deposit: 10% of the tour price (excluding any single supplement).
Air Travel To & From The Tour: Our in-house IATA ticket agency can arrange your air travel in connection with the tour from a departure point anywhere in the world, or you may arrange your own air travel if you prefer. We can tailor-make your itinerary to your personal requirements, so if you would like to travel in advance of the tour (and spend a night in an hotel so you will feel fresh when the tour starts), or return later than the end of the tour, or make a side trip to some other destination, or travel business class rather than economy, we will be happy to assist. Please contact us about your air travel requirements.
The rare, virtually endemic White-breasted Parakeet of southwest Ecuador and adjacent Peru (János Oláh)
15 photos
View Gallery Photos From SOUTHERN ECUADOR
Long-wattled Umbrellabird is one of the star attractions in southern Ecuador, being one of those truly extraordinary, rather improbable 'signature birds' that we all want to see (János Oláh)
The pretty little Pacific Parrotlet is endemic to western Ecuador and northwest Peru (János Oláh)
Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner is an enigmatic flagship species of the Tumbesian deciduous forest (János Oláh)
The poorly-known Foothill Elaenia was discovered and described for science by the late Paul Cooppmans (János Oláh)
The rare and nomadic Saffron Siskin (János Oláh)
Watkins's Antpitta is another Tumbesian endemic (restricted to SW Ecuador and NW Peru) (János Oláh)
The delightful Rufous-capped Thornbill is one of the many attractions of southern Ecuador's 'hummerfest' (János Oláh)
As is the glorious Flame-throated Sunangel (János Oláh)
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