ECUADOR - AMAZONIAN ADVENTURE

This unique shorter tour is aimed at experiencing the vast range of awesome birds residing in the Amazonian lowlands of eastern Ecuador from two of the most secluded lodges currently available. We have to fly over the Andes and then drive a couple of hours before taking a motorized canoe for a thrilling 4 hour journey along the Shiripuno River to an incredibly secluded lodge that has been seldom visited by birders. With an excellent network of trails taking us deep into the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve that is the ancestral home to the indiginous Waorani People, we will see an incredible array of amazing birds. Here we will look for star birds such as Salvin's Curassow, Rufous Potoo, Fiery Topaz, White-plumed Antbird and many, many others. Moving on to Sani Lodge via a two and a half hour boat ride along the Napo River, this comfortable lodge is owned by the indigenous Kichwa community and is located beside a secluded oxbow lake in the heart of the Amazon rainforest and has earned a reputation as one of the finest places for birding in the whole of Amazonia. Nearly 600 species of birds are known from this single locality, including five species of macaw, 10 puffbirds, seven toucans and more than 40 species of antbirds! This is an amazing place to get an insight into the vast array of birdlife present by visiting the canopy tower which affords eye-level views of species such as Lemon-throated Barbet, Golden-collared Toucanet, Purple-throated Cotinga and a wide variety of other species. The oxbow lake has the bizarre Hoatzin and the elusive Zigzag Heron, there are parrot-licks with Mealy and Yellow-crowned Amazons, Blue-headed and Orange-cheeked Parrots visiting for their daily mineral fix, and a great network of trails. This is going to be an action-packed tour where we will get to see some of the rarest and localised species on the planet all set amidst the awesome Amazon rainforest.

Monday 24th April - Tuesday 2nd May 2023

KEY SPECIES

Here are just a few of the key species we will be targetting on this tour:

  • Zigzag Heron
  • Zigzag Heron
  • Agami Heron
  • Hoatzin
  • Azure Gallinule
  • Salvin's Curassow
  • Black-banded Owl
  • Crested Owl
  • Great Potoo
  • Long-tailed Potoo
  • Rufous Potoo
  • flocks of Chestnut-fronted and Red-bellied Macaws
  • Red-shouldered Parrotlet
  • Dusky-billed Parrotlet
  • Lettered Aracari
  • Golden-collared Toucanet   
  • Cream-colored Woodpecker   
  • Fiery Topaz
  • Olive-spotted Hummingbird
  • Pavonine Quetzal
  • Purplish Jacamar          
  • White-eared Jacamar
  • Chestnut-capped Puffbird
  • Collared Puffbird
  • Brown Nunlet
  • Yellow-billed Nunbird
  • Orange-crested Manakin
  • Chestnut-belted Gnateater
  • Pink-throated Becard
  • Purple-throated Cotinga                       
  • Black-necked Red Cotinga
  • Amazonian Umbrellabird
  • Cocha Antshrike
  • Hairy-crested Antbird
  • White-plumed Antbird
  • Black-and-white Antbird
  • White-cheeked Antbird
  • Ochre-striped Antpitta
  • Ochre-breasted Antpitta
  • Dugand's Antwren
  • Short-billed Leaftosser
  • Chestnut-winged Hookbill
  • White-bellied Spinetail
  • Parker's Spinetail
  • Reddish-winged Bare-eye
  • Chestnut-belted Gnateater
  • Double-banded Pygmy Tyrant
  • Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant
  • Fulvous Shrike-Tanager
  • Orange-headed Tanager
  • the macaw salt-lick
  • boat rides, canopy towers & flocks!
rufous potoo
Rufous Potoo copyright Daniel Parent

Leader:  Nick Bray and local guides.

Ground Price:  £3450.00 - Quito/Quito

Single supplement: £475.00

Deposit: £500.00

Group size: Maximum of 7.

Included in cost: Accommodations based on two persons sharing a two-bedded room. Domestic flights (Quito - Coca return), boat trips, overland transfer. Expert local guide service. All transportation, taxes & local fees, all group admissions and park entry fees are included in the tour price.

Not included: International airfare, Quito hotel on 2nd May, laundry, personal tips, drinks, souvenirs, insurance of any kind,

Tour Code:  This is a standard birding tour with all-day birding for those that wish. Expect the weather to be generally warm and humid in the lowlands, with infrequent showers. Rubber boots/wellies may well be needed. Above all, be prepared for all eventualities!

All photos copyright Juan Carlos Calvachi


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