South Ecuador

10 – 31 January 2024

South Ecuador

10 – 31 January 2024

Price: 71,025 SEK (excluding flight)
Single room supplement: 6,200 SEK

Blue-throated Hillstar / Jocotoco Antpitta / El Oro- and White-breasted Parakeets / Long-wattled Umbrellabird / Endemic Hummingbirds / Tanagers / Horned Screamer / El Oro (Ecuadorian) Tapaculo

South Ecuador with the most newly discovered hummingbird.

Southern Ecuador is renowned among birdwatchers for its many endemics and unique dry forest environments along the Pacific coast. We visit one of the world’s richest endemic areas – Tumbes in southwestern Ecuador. The diversity is fantastic; on this trip, we will see well over 600 bird species, of which a tenth are hummingbirds. For those who have visited northern Ecuador, there will still be plenty of new birds and many specialties! Ecuador has a fairly well-developed infrastructure, making travel easy. Yet, there is plenty of wild, beautiful nature free from human influence, both in the mountains and in the rainforest.

Have a look at one of our trip reports!

Species

Southern Ecuador is one of the world’s most biologically diverse regions, where evolution has created a number of specialties and endemic species, particularly among birds, many of which have been relatively recently discovered. The Blue-throated Hillstar was discovered in 2017 and described in 2018, making it the world’s most recently discovered hummingbird. The Jocotoco Antpitta was newly discovered to science in 1997, while the El Oro and White-breasted Parakeets are both endemic to southern Ecuador. The displaying Long-wattled Umbrellabird is such an unlikely bird that it must be seen to be believed! Additionally, some endemic hummingbirds like the Esmeraldas Woodstar, Neblina Metaltail, and Rainbow Starfrontlet are included in the program. Added to these are a good number of colorful Tanagers. One of the more well-known – and hard-to-see – is the Orange-throated Tanager. The range in bird appearance is vast, from the large primitive bird, the Horned Screamer, to obscure species like the White-headed Brush Finch, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, El Oro (Ecuadorian) Tapaculo, and many more.

Other animals

Southern Ecuador doesn’t offer as much diversity in mammals as, for example, Costa Rica, but there’s still a chance to see monkeys, coatis, agoutis, and primates like the Kinkajou, among others. Spectacled bears and tapirs are present, but, like wildcats such as the margay or ocelot, they are elusive and sightings are rare.

For whom?

The trip is a birdwatching journey with a focus on observing many of the unique species found in the area. There are also plenty of excellent photography opportunities, particularly since several lodges have bird feeders, including ones for hummingbirds. We are active during most daylight hours and occasionally even take nighttime excursions with spotlights.

Flexibility

The excursions take up the majority of the time, and on this trip, there isn’t much room for flexibility. When we stay several nights in a row at the same lodge (such as Umbrellabird Lodge, Vilcabamba, Copalinga, Urraca Lodge, etc.), there may be occasions where you can choose between staying at the lodge or joining the excursion.

Environments

We’ll be exploring a diverse range of environments, from humid rainforests on the eastern slopes of the Andes to mangrove swamps and wetlands on the coast. Further inland, we’ll encounter desert-like landscapes, ascending to higher altitudes with Polylepis forests and páramo grasslands. Southern Ecuador is renowned for its unique dry forest environments along the Pacific coast.

Local guides

We have a local guide and organizer throughout the trip, from the moment we land at the airport until we depart. In some locations, we also have a local specialist guide who is knowledgeable about the specific specialties of that area.

Food and accommodation

Most nights, we’ll stay at lodges located close to nature, specifically designed for birdwatching tourism, perfectly suited to our purposes. Additionally, we’ll spend a few nights at various hotels along the way to our destinations, all of which are of good standard with air conditioning, showers, and comfortable beds. One night, we’ll stay at a simpler lodge up in the mountains where we’ll see the Blue-throated Hillstar and other high-altitude species. Here, bathroom facilities are shared, and the temperature might be a bit cooler.

The food in Ecuador is diverse, often consisting of several dishes with rice and vegetables as the base. Occasionally, there’s an opportunity for grilled meat, and one location features a local specialty of grilled trout. While chili is common, the food is generally not very spicy. We’ll also have the chance to taste some local specialties. Beer and wine are usually available at both restaurants and lodges. Wi-Fi is available at most lodges, but its availability and quality may vary, sometimes limited to the lobby area.

Traveling and route

On this trip, we’ll travel from the Pacific coast over the foothills of the Andes and eastward to the lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin. We’ll mostly travel by comfortable bus for the majority of the journey and may switch to 4-wheel-drive jeeps for shorter excursions. The trip moves at a fairly brisk pace but doesn’t include overly strenuous hikes, mostly sticking to roads and trails.

Climate

Ecuador experiences a wide range of temperatures due to its significant elevation differences. At 3,000 meters altitude, temperatures can drop to around 0 degrees Celsius during the night and early morning. At lower elevations and along the coast, it’s warm and dry, while in between, it’s similar to a Swedish summer, mostly pleasant. Sandals and shorts are just as useful as winter clothes from Sweden (which you’ll likely wear while traveling from Sweden). Packing tips are always sent out to participants before the trip.

Season and time

Visiting Ecuador at the beginning of the year has several advantages. It’s the driest time of the year (although it can still rain occasionally), and the oppressive heat of the later months hasn’t set in yet. It’s also the start of the breeding season for many native birds such as woodpeckers, owls, quetzals, and hummingbirds. They become more stationary and easier to find. Additionally, a large number of North American migratory birds are present during this time, further contributing to the diversity.

Practical information

When: January 10th – 31st, 2024

Price: 71,025 SEK (excluding flight)

Single room supplement: 6,200 SEK

We offer to book the flight for you, ensuring that we all travel on the same flight.

What’s included: Full board in double rooms at hotels, Swedish tour leader, local guide throughout the trip, all transportation, all possible entrance fees to nature reserves and parks.

Not included: Flight, transfer to the airport in Sweden, insurance (Note: European Health Insurance Card is not valid here. Participants are required, as usual, to have travel insurance against accidents and illnesses.), alcohol, souvenirs, and other personal expenses, tips for the local guide/driver.

Vaccination: Hepatitis A&B (Twinrix), tetanus, yellow fever, bring malaria tablets.

Minimum number of participants: 6

Maximum number of participants: 10

Registration fee:
Once you have registered, we will send you an invoice for 5,000 SEK as a registration fee, guaranteeing you a spot on the trip.