Ecuador (mainland and Galápagos) Birding Tours

The Mindo area is similarly famous and species-rich and also synonymous with Mr. Angel Paz, who was the first person who dared to feed one of the most difficult families to observe in the Neotropics, antpittas, to the point that now with a little luck they can be watched only meters from the observer while feeding on earthworms. Giant Antpitta, Moustached Antpitta, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, and Rufous-breasted Antthrush are frequent visitors to these feeding stations.

Over the famous Papallacta mountain pass one reaches the eastern slope of the Andes to look for the endemic subspecies of Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe and visit Antisana Ecological Reserve, where Andean Condor and Andean Ibis are important targets. The famous Cabañas San Isidro host Black-banded Owl (once thought to be a different species, “San Isidro Owl”), White-bellied Antpitta, Andean Potoo, Torrent Duck, White-capped Tanager, and Crested Quetzal. The Wildsumaco Lodge located in the tropical foothills at the base of the Sumaco volcano is another mega site, providing species such as Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater, Grey-tailed Piha, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Plain-backed Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Yellow-throated Toucan, a large collection of colorful tanagers, and a fantastic set of hummingbirds including Napo Sabrewing, Ecuadorian Piedtail, and Wire-crested Thorntail.

In addition to this incredible northern Ecuador route the country offers you the chances to do more than one journey, such as the southern Ecuador tour, a trip developed for more intrepid birders who are in search of jewels like Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Jocotoco Antpitta, El Oro Parakeet, Orange-throated Tanager, Grey Tinamou, Bearded Guan, and Golden-plumed Parakeet.

A Galápagos Islands cruise is a dream of every birder and naturalist since the times of Charles Darwin. Our Galápagos cruise lets us explore San Cristobal, Floreana, Española Baltra, Santa Fe, Santiago, Bartolomé, Isabela, and Santa Cruz, focusing on the wonders of this archipelago such as large colonies of Waved Albatrosses, Swallow-tailed and Lava Gulls, Blue-footed, Nazca and Red-footed Boobies, Red-billed Tropicbird, Galapagos Penguin, Flightless Cormorant, Galapagos Hawk, Magnificent Frigatebird, the amazing set of 14 endemic finches of the islands, Galapagos Dove, the Galápagos subspecies of Short-eared Owl and Marine Iguanas.

The Amazon speaks for itself as the heart of diversity of the planet, and the forest located along the Napo River holds great species of birds, including Black-necked Red Cotinga, Hoatzin, Sunbittern, Sungrebe, White-plumed Antbird, the elusive Zigzag Heron, several canopy dwellers such as Black-headed Parrot, White-throated Toucan, Curl-crested Aracari, and with luck Harpy Eagle.

We invite you to check our selection of Ecuador tours and join our enthusiastic leaders in the next Birding Ecotours adventure. We also run day tours in Ecuador. Please visit our  Ecuador Day Tours page for more info. You can also read through our Neotropical field guides blog to find our recommendation on which field guide to take with you to Ecuador.