Small-Group Southern Ecuador Birding Tour

Reach Guayaquil, with time to prepare for the upcoming field itinerary. The planned overnight is at Hotel Palace Guayaquil.

Visit Manglares-Churute Reserve. Make the overland connection to Buenaventura. After lunch, continue birdwatching in the lower section of reserve. Overnight at Umbrellabird Lodge.

Spend the full day birdwatching at Buenaventura Reserve upper area. The day finishes with accommodation at Umbrellabird Lodge.

Start with the cooler early hours and continue birdwatching at Buenaventura Reserve. Make the onward journey to Jorupe Reserve near Macara with a birdwatching stop at El Empalme. The itinerary uses Urraca Lodge for the overnight.

Spend the full day birdwatching at Jorupe Reserve. Accommodation for the night is at Urraca Lodge.

Set out early for Utuana Reserve with a birdwatching stop near Sozoranga along the way. After morning birdwatching, transfer to Tapichalaca. The program continues with possible late afternoon birdwatching there. Stay overnight at Tapichalaca Lodge.

Spend the full day birdwatching at Tapichalaca Reserve. The overnight base is Tapichalaca Lodge.

Continue overland to Loja with birdwatching the unpaved climb toward the higher reaches of Cerro Toledo. The day finishes with accommodation at a hotel in Loja.

Begin before the day warms and continue to Rio Nangaritza Valley. After midday, take a boat trip on the river and birdwatch along the Nuevo Paraiso Road. Overnight at Yankuam Lodge.

Use the morning session to continue birdwatching at the Maycu Reserve. Continue after lunch and travel to Yantzaza to look for Spangled Coquette. Tonight's stay is at a hotel in Yantzaza.

The initial field period is used to explore Zarza Forest. Move onward to Zamora. As the afternoon winds down, spend time birdwatching at Copalinga Lodge grounds. The planned overnight is at Copalinga Lodge.

In the morning, make a field stop at Bombuscaro sector of Podacarpus National Park. The afternoon brings time to continue birdwatching around Zamora or lodge grounds. Overnight at Copalinga Lodge.

In the morning, continue birdwatching at Old Loja-Zamora Road. The afternoon brings time to travel to Saraguro with an optional stop along the way in Huashapamba community forest if timing allows. The day finishes with accommodation at a hotel in Saraguro.

Use the morning session to visit Cerro Acanama above Saraguro. The program continues with later, visit Huashapamba Reserve for a Red-faced Parrot search if missed the previous day. The itinerary uses a hotel in Saguro for the overnight.

Begin before first light, then set out toward Cerro de Arcos for a focused search for the recently described and critically endangered Blue-throated Hillstar. The second half of the day is used to continue to Santa Isabel. Accommodation for the night is at a hotel in Santa Isabel.

Begin the field day with time to spend the session at Yunguilla Reserve for a focused search for the critically endangered Pale-headed Brushfinch. In the afternoon, make the onward journey toward El Cajas, the national park northwest of Cuenca. Stay overnight at a hotel near El Cajas.

Use the morning session to make a field stop at El Cajas National Park. Continue after lunch and travel toward Guayaquil by way of the mountain road. The overnight base is a hotel in Guayaquil.

Continue overland to the airport, where the tour ends. Continue home on the scheduled international flight.