Today we will arrive at our hotel located in the valley of Puembo, near Mariscal Sucre

International Airport and the capital city, Quito.

In the evening we will have a welcome dinner where we will meet all the participants, we will introduce ourselves and we will have a short meeting in which we will inform about the activities of the following days.

Hotel: San Jose de Puembo Quito Airport, an Ascend Hotel Collection

Early in the morning (6am) we will embark on our trip to the high cloud forest area.

We will make our first stop in the parish of Nono, where we will seek, within a hide, to photograph the emblematic antpitta birds, among which are Chestnut-naped antpitta (Grallaria nuchalis), Ecuatorial antpitta (Grallaria saturata). Then we will looking for an owl that lives inside the forest, White-throated screech owl (Megascops albogularis). And of course, the air dancers, the hummingbirds, among which we have: the famous Sword-billed hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera), Mountain Velvetbreast (Lafresnaya lafresnayi, Black-tailed trainbearer (Lesbia victoriae), Sapphire-vented puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani), and around 10 more species.

If we are lucky, sometimes the Barred fruiteater (Pipreola arcuata) usually arrives.

After lunch, we will descend to the Nanegalito zone, as we will be stopping at a place with a very high diversity of hummingbirds (up to 23 species have been counted). Here, we can get very beautiful pictures of hummingbirds perched, among which we have, Purple-throated woodstar (Philodice mitchellii), Fawn-breasted brilliant (Heliodoxa rubinoides), Andean emerald (Uranomitra franciae), Sparkling violetear (Colibri coruscans), Green-crowned Woodnymph (Crowned Woodnymph), among others.

Sometimes oropendola, saltators, woodpeckers and tanagers usually arrive at the feeders. Here, our goal will be the Blue-necked tanager (Stilpnia cyanicollis), which is a spectacle of colors.

Hotel: Sachatamia Lodge

In the morning we will go to a hiding place or “hide”, where we will look to make images of the Masked Trogon (Trogon personatus), Rufous motmot (Baryphthengus martii), sometimes it usually comes Barred forest falcon (Micrastur ruficollis), and if luck is with us, the famous Long- wattled umbrellabird (cephalopterus penduliger).

After breakfast we will go to a reserve to photograph the colorful Plate-billed mountain toucan (Andigena laminirostris), Toucan barbet (Semnornis ramphastinus).

Additionally, this reserve is excellent for tanagers, among which we can photograph:

Flame-faced tanager (Tangara parzudakii), Golden tanager (Tangara arthus), Blue-capped tanager (Sporathraupis cyanocephala), Black-capped tanager (Stilpnia heinei), Golden-naped tanager (Chalcothraupis ruficervix), Blue-winged mountain tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus), among others.

As in the entire cloud forest, hummingbirds also have their role, here we will focus on: Empress brilliant (Heliodoxa imperatrix), Green Violet-ears (Colibri thalassinus), Gorgeted sunangel (Heliangelus strophianus). Around 7-9 species of hummingbirds can be found here.

In the afternoon, we will go to another reserve looking for the Metallic-green tanager (Tangara labradorides), Beryl-spangled tanager (Tangara nigroviridis) and the Ocellated Tapaculo (Acropternis orthonyx).

Hotel: Sachatamia Lodge

After breakfast we will go to a transition zone between the Cloud Forest with the biodiverse Chocó Forest (1,700 to 750 meters above sea level), where we will look for birds such as the Glistening-greed Tanager (Chlorochrysa phoenicotis), Moss-backed tanager (Bangsia edwardsi), Black-chinned mountain tanager (Anisognathus notabilis), Orange-breasted fruiteater (Pipreola jucunda), Golden-collared Honeycreeper (Iridophanes pulcherrimus), Crimson-rumped toucanet (Aulacorhynchus haematopygus), Rose-faced Parrot (Pyrilia pulchra), among others

After lunch we will looking for one of the most iconic birds of the cloud forest and the world, the Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana). The males concentrate in places called “Lek”, where, in a duel of songs and dances, they court the females.

Hotel: Sachatamia Lodge

After breakfast, we will go to another place where we will take our last photographs of the Cloud Forest and its beautiful species, we will be able to observe the Pale-mandibled Aracari (Pteroglossus erythropygius), Choco toucan (Ramphastos brevis), Yellow-throated Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguous), Green honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza), Red-headed barbet (Eubucco bourcierii).

Once we finish our photos, we will start our trip to the capital of the country, Quito. *On the way we will make a stop to photograph white-bellied woodstar (Chaetocercus mulsant).

Hotel: San Jose de Puembo Quito Airport, an Ascend Hotel Collection

We start the day from Quito to the Antisana Ecological Reserve.

In the morning we will go to the “Iscos” to try to photograph the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) who is flying over the valleys.

In addition, our objective will be to photograph the Carunculated Caracara (Phalcoboenus carunculatus), nice raptors with colorful faces and mottled vest. Also the Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis), very long-beaked birds that, unlike Caracara, are not as friendly to humans.

In this area is the Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas), the largest in the world! Also, the famous Ecuadorian hillstar (Orotrochirus chimborazo)

On occasions, raptors as the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) and Variable hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma), can be seen flying over the valleys

Once this tour is over, we will go to the Eastern Cloud Forest, where we will enjoy a delicious dinner at the lodge, a very homely place.

Hotel: Rio Quijos Ecolodge

Today we will spend the morning photographing different species of birds around the hotel feeders and spots, from its deck we can photograph some species such as Mountain cacique (Cacicus chrysonotus), Masked trogon (Trogon personatus), Blackburnian warbler (Setophaga fusca), Saffron-crowned tanager (Tangara xanthocephala), Montane woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger). This is, also, one of the best places for Cock of the Rock (orange subspecies).

After lunch we will visit another reserve where it is possible to photograph: Green-backed hillstar (Urochroa leucura), Gorgeted woodstar (Chaetocercus heliodor), Tawny-bellied hermit (Phaethornis syrmatophorus), Bronzy inca (Coeligena coeligena), Violet-fronted brilliant (Heliodoxa leadbeateri), Inca jay (Cyanocorax yncas), Russet-backed oropendola (Psarocolius angustifrons), Spot-breasted woodpecker (Colaptes punctigula), among others.

Hotel: Rio Quijos Ecolodge

Today we will have a full day of hummingbirds, in which we can see: long-tailed sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii), Orange-booted racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii), Green-backed hillstar (Urochroa leucura), Violet-fronted brilliant (Heliodoxa leadbeateri), among others.

Additional, we can do multi-flash photography.

Hotel: Rio Quijos Ecolodge

Early in the morning we will go out to visit Papallacta Pass; this place is one of the best areas to observe some special birds such as Rufous-bellied seedsnipe (Attagis gayi), Rainbow-bearded thornbill (Chalcostigma herrani), Giant conebill (Conirostrum binghami), and other paramo birds.

In the afternoon we will be back at the hotel and guests will have time to shower, have dinner and pack for the next day’s return.

Hotel: San Jose de Puembo Quito Airport, an Ascend Hotel Collection

After a comfortable rest and a delicious breakfast, we are ready to return to our home.

Please check your flight time.