Focusing on Ecuador’s Amazonian lowlands, this tour is designed to be an introductory foray into the richest avifauna on earth. To immerse ourselves in the diversity of birds, we’ll be based at a single lodge, which, although it takes some effort to reach, is well worth it as it will be our base for short trips, most of which simply involve walking (or canoeing!) from our rooms! Although our tour is not designed to produce a huge list of birds, we should none-the-less encounter more than 350 species, providing a taste for the avian richness of South America, aptly named “the Bird Continent.”
As a buffer against travel delays we’ll spend the first day of birding in the Andes near Quito — with the possibility of 20 species of hummingbirds (!). The next day we’ll take the short flight to Coca and continue by canoe downriver to Yuturi Lodge, on the south bank of the Río Napo. A good network of trails and access by canoe to excellent várzea (seasonally flooded) forest will allow us to sample the region’s remarkable avifauna of over 500 species. On our way back upriver to Coca we’ll probably overnight at Yarina Lodge, where there is a spectacular canopy tower offering eye-level viewing of a world apart from the forest floor.
Day 1: The tour begins at 6 p.m. in Quito. Night in Quito.
Day 2: Because of the potential for travel delays, we’ve allowed this first day for birding around Quito before we head down to the Amazonian lowlands. We’ll spend the day on the famous Nono-Mindo road, which winds its way down the west slope of the Andes through temperate and subtropical forest. One day can hardly scratch the surface of this area, where possibilities include Toucan Barbet, White-capped Dipper and glittering arrays of hummingbirds and tanagers. We’re sure to see more than enough to keep us busy! Night in Quito.
Day 3: This morning we’ll take a flight to the town of Coca, in the “Oriente” (Ecuador’s eastern lowlands), and board our launch for the trip to Yuturi Lodge. This relatively new lodge is about four-and-a-half hours down-river, and along the way we’ll have our first taste of the avifauna as we see Greater Yellow-headed Vultures soaring over the forested banks, Swallow-winged Puffbirds perched atop dead snags, fancy White-banded Swallows twinkling low over the water, and groups of parrots and oropendolas flying overhead. We’ll arrive in time to have a welcome drink and settle into our cabins before dinner. Night at Yuturi Lodge.
Days 4-7: We’ll spend four full days birding along trails and from canoe in the vicinity of Yuturi Lodge, exploring a variety of habitats. The lodge is set on a rise between excellent varzea forest and terra firme forest, the two main forest habitats in western Amazonia. From the bar one can watch Hoatzins flop around, Plum-throated Cotingas pick off berries and King Vultures soar overhead. Among the 500 species possible around Yuturi is the spectacular Blue-and-yellow Macaw as well as Ochre-striped Antpitta, Lunulated Antbird, Orange-crowned Manakin, Cream-colored and Ringed Woodpeckers and Paradise Tanager. On river islands in the nearby Río Napo we’ll look for island specialists such as Olive-spotted Hummingbird and Black-and-white Antbird, and we might even run into a group of River Dolphins! Nights at Yuturi Lodge.
Day 8: After a final morning at Yuturi, we’ll take a boat most of the way back to Coca. We’ll overnight at Yarina Lodge, owned and operated by the same family that owns Yuturi Lodge, arriving in time for birding on lodge property before dinner. The mix of birds here is slightly different from that at Yuturi and there is a great canopy tower. We can expect to see a number of new species. Night at Yarina Lodge.
Day 9: We’ll make an early start for the short final leg of our canoe ride back to Coca, followed by a flight up to Quito, where we’ll arrive at our hotel in early afternoon with time to relax. Night in Quito.
Day 10: The tour concludes this morning in Quito.
Updated: 27 July 2006
Prices
- 2007 price about $2,940
- Single Occupancy Supplement $390
Notes
Maximum group size seven and one leader.