Ecuador Birding Tour

Explore Ecuador—one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth—on a thoughtfully paced birding tour through the Andes. This immersive journey moves across cloud forests, inter-Andean valleys, and high-elevation páramo, prioritizing quality wildlife encounters, flexible pacing, and meaningful time in each place.

Designed for birders and nature travelers who value depth over speed, this Ecuador birding tour blends exceptional species diversity with scenic landscapes, cultural connection, and conservation-minded travel.

This Ecuador birding tour is paced around peak wildlife activity, with early-morning birding followed by relaxed mid-day breaks and flexible afternoon exploration. The itinerary allows time to respond to weather, bird movement, and group energy, ensuring the experience never feels rushed.

Guests can expect a mix of gentle walks and moderate hikes across varied terrain, including forest trails and high-elevation environments. While some days involve several hours outdoors, the pace is unhurried and stops are frequent.

Small group sizes allow for personalized guiding, extended wildlife encounters, and a collaborative atmosphere. Interpretation focuses on bird identification, behavior, ecology, and regional context—supporting deeper understanding.

Day 1: Inter-Andean Region & Quito Valley

We arrive in Ecuador’s inter-Andean region and begin birding the dry inter-Andean forests of the Quito valley, an often overlooked but surprisingly rich habitat. This is a gentle introduction to Andean birding, allowing time to adjust to elevation while enjoying a taste of Ecuador’s diversity. Enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation.

Overnight: Puembo Birding Garden

Highlights: Western Emerald, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Scrub Tanager, and Blue-and-Yellow Tanager

Day 2: Antisana National Park & the Quijos Valley

Today we venture into the dramatic landscapes of Antisana National Park, exploring the high páramo for iconic Andean species. Snow-capped volcanoes and sweeping grasslands provide a stunning backdrop as we search for birds adapted to life at extreme elevations. In the afternoon, we descend eastward into the lush Quijos Valley on the eastern Amazonian slope.

Overnight: Rio Quijos Eco Lodge

Highlights: Andean Condor, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Tawny Antpitta, Many-striped Canastero, Carunculated Caracara, Silvery Grebe, Spectacled Bear

Day 3: Quijos Valley & the Borjas River

A full day immersed in the vibrant eastern Andean cloud forests. We visit local conservation-minded landowners and hummingbird gardens before exploring forested river valleys. In the afternoon, we enjoy one of Ecuador’s great birding spectacles with a visit to a lek of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock.

Overnight: Rio Quijos Eco Lodge

Highlights: Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Wire-crested Thorntail, White-tipped Sicklebill, Golden-headed Quetzal, Red-billed Parrot, Southern Emerald Toucanet

Day 4: Guacamayos Ridge

We bird the legendary Guacamayos Ridge, where the Andes give way to the headwaters of the Amazon Basin. This area is known for its exceptional diversity and atmospheric forest scenery. We’ll have lunch at Cabañas Tamiaju and enjoy hummingbirds like the Greenish Puffleg at their feeders. After a full day in high elevation cloud forest, we return to the Quijos Valley.

Overnight: Rio Quijos Eco Lodge

Highlights: Black-billed Mountain Toucan, Military Macaw, Slate-crowned Antpitta, Greenish Puffleg, Greater Scythebill, White-capped Tanager

Day 5: Guango River and High Elevation Cloud Forest

A short drive brings us to Guango Lodge, set along rushing mountain rivers in high cloud forest. We take our time birding lodge grounds and forest edges before settling in for a peaceful night surrounded by hummingbirds and montane species.

Overnight: Guango Lodge

Highlights: Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, Lacrimose Mountain Tanager, Torrent Duck, Turquoise Jay

Day 6: Papallacta Pass & Thermal Springs

We explore the high páramo of Papallacta Pass, searching for specialized ground-dwelling birds before descending into temperate cloud forest within Cayambe-Coca National Park. The day concludes with a relaxing soak at the famed Papallacta Hot Springs, a perfect way to unwind.

Overnight: Guango Lodge

Highlights: Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Many-striped Canastero, Tawny Antpitta, Rainbow-bearded Thorntail, Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager

Day 7: Crossing the Andes to the Western Slope

We traverse the Andes to Ecuador’s western cloud forests of the megadiverse Chocó bioregion, stopping for breakfast at the beautiful Zuro Loma Birding Reserve before working our way down the renowned Mindo–Nambillo Road. By afternoon, we arrive at a scenic locally-owned cloud forest lodge overlooking verdant valleys.

Overnight: Guaycapi Lodge

Highlights: Sword-billed Hummingbird, Velvet-purple Coronet, White-booted Racket-tail, Andean Guan, Equatorial and Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Plate-billed Mountain Toucan

Day 8: Western Slope Reserves & Lower Elevations

Today focuses on western-slope endemism. Morning birding brings close encounters with hummingbirds, parrots, and mixed flocks, followed by exploration of lower-elevation Chocó forest habitats rich in colorful tanagers, toucans, and manakins.

Overnight: Guaycapi Lodge

Highlights: Rose-cheeked Parrot, Moss-backed Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Emerald Tanager, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Club-winged Manakin, Orange-fronted Barbet, Chocó Toucan

Day 9: Cultural Connection & Western Lowlands

We spend the morning with members of the Tsa’chila Indigenous community, learning about traditional knowledge, medicinal practices, and contemporary life. In the afternoon, we explore western lowland habitats near the Andean foothills before returning to our lodge.

Overnight: Guaycapi Lodge

Highlights: Purple-crowned Fairy, Long-billed Starthroat, Crimson-breasted Finch, Brown Wood-Rail, Yellow-throated Toucan

Day 10: Antpittas & Return to Quito

A morning highlight brings close encounters with some of Ecuador’s most secretive forest birds at the renowned Paz de las Aves, followed by additional birding in mid-elevation reserves. In the afternoon, we return to the inter-Andean valley for a final evening together reflecting on the journey.

Overnight: Puembo Birding Garden

Highlights: Giant Antpitta, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Moustached Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Crested Quetzal, Ocellated Tapaculo, Toucan Barbet, Red-crested Cotinga

Day 11: Departure

Morning departure from Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport.

Overnight: None

Ecuador’s extraordinary biodiversity is shaped by steep elevation gradients across a compact landscape. This tour follows those gradients intentionally, moving through Andean valleys, cloud forests, and páramo to reveal how geography and ecology drive species diversity.

Starting in Quito (9,350 ft) allows for gradual acclimation before reaching higher elevations, including Papallacta Pass (approx. 14,400 ft). Rather than covering as much ground as possible, the itinerary emphasizes meaningful time in each ecosystem.

The tour partners with conservation-focused lodges, landowners, and community projects, ensuring that wildlife observation directly supports habitat protection and local livelihoods.

Birding highlights may include Sword-billed Hummingbird, Giant Hummingbird, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Violet-tailed Sylph, Wire-crested Thorntail, Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Golden-headed Quetzal, Toucan Barbet, and Andean Condor, amongst many others. Encounters emphasize behavior, habitat use, and quality viewing rather than brief sightings.

Real experiences from recent Birding Man Ecuador tours

Dates: November 15 – 22, 2026

Duration: 8 days, 7 nights

Description: Venture into the Amazon rainforest, the most biodiverse region on Earth, where you’ll stay at three world-renowned lodges: Wild Sumaco, Yachana Lodge, and Sani Lodge. These lodges are strategically located at different elevations, increasing the diversity of bird species and overall wildlife encounters. The lodges are surrounded by the pristine forests of Sumaco and Yasuní National Parks; Yachana an Sani are located along the banks of the majestic Napo River, one of the principal tributaries of the Amazon River.

This tour will be led by local bilingual, knowledgeable and experienced naturalist guides. You will stay in full-service lodges complete with a wide array of amenities and easy access to world class birding, committed to making sure you enjoy the best Ecuador has to offer.

“This Ecuador birding expedition was one of the most extraordinary and satisfying trips we’ve ever taken. Ryan’s expert guiding—by sight and sound—ensured that everyone in our small group had meaningful, unhurried views, while the tour delivered remarkable diversity across the Andes. What truly set the experience apart, however, was Ryan and Sandra’s deep commitment to conservation and community partnership. Traveling alongside exceptional local guides and supporting reforestation efforts added purpose and meaning to the journey. The experience went far beyond birding alone, leaving us inspired by Ecuador’s nature, culture, and the thoughtful way this tour was run. We would enthusiastically travel with Birding Man Wildlife Tours again.”

-Harle T. and Minda B., Ecuador 2025