ecuador photo tour

Ecuador Tours

Ecuador photo tours.

Welcome to Ecuador, a country rich in natural landscapes and cultural heritage. If photography is your passion, you’re in for a treat. Our Ecuador photo tours offer a sensory-rich experience. You’ll be guided through awe-inspiring locales that are begging to be captured through your camera lens.

Ecuador Photo Tours Highlights

• Andean mountains’ soaring peaks
• Amazon rainforest’s lush expanses
• Quito’s UNESCO -recognized colonial architecture
• Galapagos Islands’ unique wildlife
• Cotopaxi volcano’s dramatic landscapes

Unforgettable Galapagos Islands Tour: 7-Day Adventure & Relax

The Ultimate 13-Day Ecuador Amazon Tour: Explore and Discover

Quito Tour: A Full-Day Photography Expedition in Ecuador Capital

Ecuador: Andes, Amazon and Galapagos Islands

10-day Galapagos Islands Photo Tour: Frame Nature’s Beauty

Capture the grandeur of the andes.

Let’s start with the Andes. These mountains offer more than just elevation. They provide a wealth of photographic subjects. From clouds hanging in valleys to glistening snow-capped peaks, each frame is a story in itself.

Unveil the Mysteries of the Amazon

Next, the Amazon rainforest is a paradise for photographers. This lush green landscape is teeming with life. Capture the hues of dawn or exotic animals in their natural habitat. Your camera will be as enchanted as your spirit.

Explore Quito’s Architectural Marvels

Switching gears, Quito offers a different kind of beauty. Known for its colonial architecture, this city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cobblestone streets and vibrant façades provide a vivid palette for your photography. And don’t miss the golden light of sunset, which adds magic to your shots.

Dive into the Unique Beauty of the Galapagos

For wildlife enthusiasts, the Galapagos is a must-visit. This archipelago is home to unique species not found anywhere else. From marine iguanas to blue-footed boobies, the islands offer endless photographic opportunities. Additionally, the scenic landscapes where volcanic rocks meet azure waters create extraordinary backdrops for your photos.

Behold the Awe-inspiring Cotopaxi

Last but not least, Cotopaxi volcano is a sight to behold. Its snow-capped peak and rugged terrain offer a dramatic range of photographic opportunities. Whether you catch it in morning light or from a unique angle, you’re sure to capture its awe-inspiring beauty.

Discover Ecuador Photo Tours Today

So why wait? Our expert guides will lead you through Ecuador’s most photogenic spots. Not only will you come back with a portfolio of stunning photos, but you’ll also create memories to last a lifetime. Furthermore, your friends and family will be captivated by the visual stories you can tell. Your Ecuadorian adventure will be the envy of everyone you know.

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Please contact us by e-mail.

Urgent information?

Feel free to write us (Whatsapp) or call.

[email protected] | +230 452 3731

Ecuador Photo Tours

Oryx photo tours offers two itineraries that highlight the amazon’s wildlife splendours and some of the world’s last remaining indigenous tribes. explore the cloud forest and amazon rainforest by foot and boat, photographing its colourful jungle gems as we visit what is widely regarded as the highest biodiversity for a single region on the entire planet .

During our Cloud Forest and Amazon Photo Tour, your photography subjects will be the spectacular avifauna found here, including parrots, macaws, hummingbirds, toucans and tanagers, playful Giant River Otters, as well as quirky forest insects and reptiles. With night walks, flash set ups and macro photography learnings, the colours & contours of the Amazon await to be captured!

The Waorani people live in an area that is a biological treasure trove, close to the Equator and in arguably the most biodiverse place on Earth. They are remarkably skilled hunters and have a warlike reputation based on their willingness to fight off intruders and retain the land that is rightfully theirs, and they have for a large portion of the 21st century remained relatively untouched by the outside world.

There are currently no set departures to Ecuador. Please contact the ORYX office at [email protected] and we will be delighted to tailor-make your dream Photo Tour to Ecuador.

Ecuador Photography Tour Gallery

Destinations

• Argentina & Chile
• Papua New Guinea
• South Africa
• South Georgia

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Ecuador Photography Tour: Ecuador Wildlife and Nature Photography Expedition with roy toft

Embark on a thrilling journey through the breathtaking landscapes and pristine wilderness of Ecuador, a country renowned for its unparalleled biodiversity and natural wonders. Our Ecuador photography tour is tailor-made for passionate wildlife and nature photographers, offering an extraordinary opportunity to capture the mesmerizing beauty of Ecuador's diverse flora and fauna.

12-Day Ecuador Photography Tour Highlights:

Join award-winning and renowned wildlife photographer Roy Toft on this kaleidoscope of color photography workshop, which takes us to one of the most bird-tastic countries on Earth; Ecuador. Here we explore from near sea level to 11,483-foot Yanacocha, and make stops at Mindo, Mashpi, Santa Rosa, and finally Sumaco/Guango, the entire way enjoying opportunities for capturing magnificent images of barbets, tanagers, mountain toucans, Andean Cock of the Rock, and myriad hummingbirds with names like Gorgeted Sunangel, and Sapphire-vented Puffleg! And along the way, we’ll even make one nocturnal quest for the almost unbelievable-looking Pinocchio Lizard.

This immersive Ecuador nature and wildlife photography adventure promises to be an unforgettable experience, celebrating the splendor of Ecuador’s wildlife and preserving it through the lens of your camera. Book your tour today!

Tour Details

Price:  $6,577.00 (per person double occupancy)

Single Supplement: $350

Included: Lodging, meals, in-country transportation, guides, park entrance fees.

Not Included: Passport fees, visa fees, International airfare, alcoholic beverages, personal items, tips, travel insurance.

From:  Quito (UIO)

Minimum Participants :  6

Participant Limit:  10

Activity Level: Easy

*Download Full Itinerary

Registration

Deposit: A 30% deposit is required to reserve space on this tour.

*Download Registration Form

To book your space on the tour, please contact us at  [email protected]

Tour Leaders

Roy Toft and local guide​

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Natural Selections Tours thanks Zeiss Optics in partnering with us to advance birding, ecotourism, and conservation. Zeiss Optics is a world leader in quality optics products and service, and we are proud to work together making our world a better place by seeing beyond, together!

Tropical Photo Tours

Tour information.

The Andes of western Ecuador have some of the best and most accessible birding locations in all of South America. The wet forests of Northwest Ecuador support an enormous variety of species found only here and in neighboring Colombia.

Although Ecuador is one of the smaller countries in South America, it boasts an incredible diversity of habitats which support a wonderful array of wildlife. With a list of more than 1500 species of birds, many of which are shared only with adjacent Columbia or Peru, it is difficult to imagine a more exciting birding destination. This amazing variety, together with an excellent network of national parks and naturalist lodges, ensure a never-to-be-forgotten experience. Ecuador offers a variety of options to our clients in one of the most biodiverse parts of the world. Join us on a trip of your lifetime and come back with some of the most memorable images you will ever make!

BASIC INFORMATION

Please consult with your doctor regarding general travel vaccinations and check the CDC website for more information.

We strongly recommend you purchase trip insurance that includes trip cancellation and medical coverage while overseas.

Internet Access

Most lodges have free WIFI in the reception/dining area.

You should arrive to and depart from Ecuador’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport. Our representative will be waiting to provide your private transfer to a family run lodge nearby.

All of our services are conducted by fully licensed travel, lodge, and transport operators. This is part of our commitment to providing a professional travel experience.

Electricity

Electrical outlets are US-style. Those coming from Europe or Asia may need travel adapters. We will send more info after signup.

Main Tour – Maximum 6 – 8 people per group. Session 1: Nov 1 – Nov 10, 2024 (8 Seats available)

Cost (In USD)

(2023) $5000 per person in sharing accommodations $5500 in single supplement.

Tour Motive

Our all-inclusive photography tour in Ecuador will focus on the forested areas that are home to an incredible diversity of Pacific slope birds including Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Toucan Barbet and Black-winged Saltator, Plate-billed mountain toucan and more. The convenient Ecuador birding tour offers photographers abundant opportunites to capture birds on feeders as well in their natural habitat, while experiencing the choco-endemic fauna experience.

Photo Opportunities

• Opportunity to photograph the Andean specialities like the Plate-billed mountain toucan, Masked trogon, Tanager, Crimson rumped Toucanet, Red-headed Barbet, Toucan Barbet and more.
• Specialized photography sessions in hides.
• Technical photography experience like Multi-flash Hummingbird photography to capture the stunning Sword-billed hummingbird and more.
• Guided photography with expert guidance to make the best images of the target species and more.
• Our all-inclusive tours help you enjoy a stress-free, photography focussed days coupled with local lodging and culinary experience.

INCLUSION/EXCLUSION

• Lodging as specified.
• Meals as specified
• Stainless steel flask for water.
• Private transfers to and from hotels on first and last days.
• Professional driver/photo/nature guide and private transportation in spacious tour bus.
• Guide and Photography Skipper services
• Entrance fees for all described activities.
• Taxes on all services listed above.
• Non-mealtime snacks or meals not included.
• Non-mealtime soft drinks and bottled water.
• International/personal airfare
• Phone calls
• Cost of hospitalization and evacuation, if necessary
• Domestic flight from Campo Grande to Cuiaba and domestic flight from Cuiaba to Sao Paulo 

Email us at  [email protected]  or call us at  +1-512-508-6914   if you’d like to talk first.

Main Tour – Maximum 6 – 8 people per group. Session 1: Mar 2 – Mar 11, 2024 (Full) Session 2: Nov 1 – Nov 10, 2024 (8 Seats available)

Email us at  [email protected]  or call us at  +1-512-508-6914 / 512-806-6469  i f you’d like to talk first.

Day 1: Arrival

• Meet our representative at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Quito.
• Transfer to a family-run lodge with sprawling gardens and visiting hummingbirds.
• Overnight at Puembo lodge (meals not included)

Day 2: Cloudforest Marvels

• Early breakfast and travel to a cloudforest town north of Quito
• Private feeder photography session for tanagers and more
• Possibility of photographing Black-capped Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, Dusky Chlorospinghus, and more
• Afternoon Multi-flash photography for sylphs and coronets
• Overnight at eco-lodge

Day 3: Antpittas and Cock-of-the-Rock

• Early start for full-day photography at a private reserve.
• Capture elusive antpittas, including Chestnut-crowned, Moustached, Ochre-breasted, and Yellow-breasted Antpittas.
• Visit Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek for natural habitat shots.
• Overnight at eco-lodge.

Day 4: Cloudforest Treasures

• Head to a lush cloud forest lodge with observation towers
• Photograph Masked Trogon, Turquoise Jay, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Toucan Barbet, and more
• Afternoon photography session at Milpe area with Club-winged Manakin lek

Day 5: Hidden Hides

• Full day at private lodge with specialized hides
• Capture Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, Golden Tanager, and more

Day 6: Mashpi Amagusa Reserve

• Photograph Glistening-green Tanager, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Black-chinned Mountain, and more
• Hummingbird feeders offer chances for Velvet-purple Coronet and Empress Brilliant
• Photograph odd nocturnal bird, Oilbird, on its daytime roost
• Overnight at Puembo lodge

Day 7: Papallacta Exploration

• Travel to Papallacta region, explore lodge with hummingbird feeders
• Multi-flash photography sessions for Sword-billed Hummingbird, Collared Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, and more

Day 8: Insect Feeder Focus

• Photograph specialized insect feeder for Turquoise Jays and other species
• Continue Multi-flash photography for hummingbirds
• Target local species like Masked Flowerpiercer

Day 9: Final Feathers

• Feeder photography of hummingbirds and local birds
• Travel to Quito lodge for departure preparations

Day 10: Departure

Transport to airport for international departures.

Tour Specifics

1. Easy/Moderate walking/Most activity is at the feeders 2. Intermediate Photographers 3. Land and Water Photography

Moderate. Some light hiking may be involved. Much of the main tour will be spent near feeders which are accessed by only a short walk. There will also be optional short walks on to get to the hide and access the farms with Manakins and Cock of the Rock.

Suggested Equipments

It is recommended that each participant bring the following equipment:

• A digital SLR and your longest telephoto lens preferably 300mm or more
• A macro lens
• A sturdy tripod or monopod
• You may also bring your flash with a flash bracket Pack a ton of memory cards
• Release cable

Tour Leader

Supreet Sahoo

An avid birdwatcher and photographer from Austin, U.S. Supreet’s work has been featured in reputed publications like the BBC Earth, National Geographic Spain and Sanctuary Asia.

Reviews and Score Breakdown

Post a comment, registration.

• To register for the tour, fill out and submit the form below. A ‘NON-REFUNDABLE’ deposit of USD 1000 per person of the tour cost is required to confirm your spot.
• The remaining balance is due in full 90 days before the start of the tour.
• All figures per person. Failure to make payments within this timeline could result in TOUR CANCELLATION. Payment can be completed by credit card/PayPal or bank transfer. If you would like to mail a check, that option is available as well Please read all the Terms & Conditions for cancellation/refund policies and other important information.

Please mail your check or send money order payable to ”Tropical Photo Tours LLC” within 10 days to :

22260 Valley Ranch Pkwy Appt 6309, Porter Texas 77365 If you wish us to invoice you, please contact us at: Email: [email protected]

• A ‘non-refundable’ deposit of USD 1000 of the Tour fee as booking amount.
• All figures per person.
• Failure to make payments within this timeline could result in tour cancellation.

Email us at  [email protected]  or call us at  +1-512-508-6914 i f you’d like to talk first.

Book Your Tour With Us In 6 Easy Steps

1.Confirm your spot for the tour by paying the advance using the registration form.

2.Receive an acknowledgement email from us confirming your booking along with a welcome package and forms.

3. Book your international travel

4. Send us your travel details along with the signed package.

5. We will send you a final invoice along with some more important pre-travel details.

6. Make your full payment and pack your bags for the best Tropical experience.

Important Note

Frequently asked questions.

• More than 60 days before the start of the tour: Refund of workshop payment (not including deposit), less $100 convenience fee.
• 60 – 45 days before the start of the tour: Refund of 50% of workshop payment (not including deposit), less $199 convenience fee.
• Less than 45 days before the start of the tour: No refunds will be given, and all payments will be forfeited. Full payment is required no later than 45 days prior to departure. If full payment is not received by this date you will be notified by email. If you do not respond within 3 business days, your spot will be forfeited and offered to participants on the waiting list.

DURATION : 10 days and 9 nights

Physical level : easy.

Session 1: Nov 1 – Nov 10, 2024 (8 Seats available)

COST (In USD)

$5000 per person in sharing accommodations and $5500 for a single supplement.

• Domestic flight from Campo Grande to Cuiaba and domestic flight from Cuiaba to Sao Paulo.

Although Ecuador is one of the smaller countries in South America, it boasts an incredible diversity of habitats which support a wonderful array of wildlife. With a list of more than 1500 species of birds, many of which are shared only with adjacent Columbia or Peru, it is difficult to imagine a more exciting birding destination. This amazing variety, together with an excellent network of national parks and naturalist lodges, ensure a never-to-be-forgotten experience.

Ecuador offers a variety of options to our clients in one of the most biodiverse parts of the world.

Join us on a trip of your lifetime and come back with some of the most memorable images you will ever make!

DETAILED ITINERARY

Cancellation & refund policy.

• A ‘non-refundable’ deposit of USD 1000 of the Tour fee as booking amount to reserve your spot
• The remaining balance is due in full 90 days before the start of the tour. If you would like to pay the remaining balance in installments, please let us know.
• All figures in USD per person
• A deposit is your commitment to joining the workshop. These deposits don’t typically sit in an account, they are used to cover initial expenses for the workshop like hotel reservations, park permits/fees and guided tour deposits. Due to these expenses, deposits are non-refundable and tour payment made is subject to a cancellation fee.
• For Travel Insurance Quotes visit: www.insuremytrip.com
• Please note: The date of written (email) communication of intent to cancel is the date considered for calculation of the cancellation fees. CANCELLED WORKSHOPS: If we are forced to cancel a workshop for any reason, your entire payment will be transferred to another comparable workshop within one calendar year

Bird Photography And Beyond

Address: 22260 Valley Ranch Pkwy Appt 6309, Porter Texas 77365

Email: [email protected]

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Copyright © 2024 Tropical Photo Tours | All Rights Reserved

Please mail your check or send money order payable to ''tropical photo tours llc'' within 10 days to :.

22260 Vally Ranch Pkwy Appt 6309, Porter Texas 77365

If you wish us to invoice you, please contact us at: Email: [email protected]

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1. Day Tour to Santa Fe Island and Hidden Beach with snorkeling and fishing

2. Guided Birding Photography Experience

3. Beach Wildlife and Snorkel Adventure with Underwater Specialist

4. Day off in Quito? Otavalo indigenous artisan market Private Tour!

5. Full Day Private Tour of Otavalo and its surroundings

6. Walking Tour Quito

7. Private Day Tour in Cuenca and Cajas

8. Private Full Day Experience at Papallacta Hot Springs

9. Private Antisana Reserve Condors Andean Wildlife Day Tour

10. Prívate birding tour in Mindo Cloud-Forest + Mitad del mundo

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12. Otavalo and its surroundings by bike

13. Cultural walking tour in Loja

14. Hike El Cajas - Beyond the Common Trail

15. Private Navigation through Mangroves forest/ Beach time/ Chocolate experience

16. Inca Trail: El Cajas National Park

17. Just relax at Termas de Papallacta hot springs, Amazonian gateway

18. Private Quilotoa Lake Culture, Nature and Hike Day Tour

19. Cultural Tour Otavalo, Cotacachi, Cuicocha and San Pablo Lagoons

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22. Quilto's Heartbeat and the World's Divide-Equator Odyssey

23. Private Tour to Quilotoa with Kayaking and Hiking

24. 4 Days La Selva Amazon Lodge Full Board

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26. Photography Tour Quito at Night & Urban Legends

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What travelers are saying.

Ecuador Photo Tour

Ecuador, the country of the Hummingbirds, Tanagers and more, the perfect photographer’s paradise

Ecuador Photo Tour​

Ecuador photo tour​​.

Ecuador is famed for its extraordinary diversity. With a superb selection of lodges and reserves, many of them with excellent feeders, it is one of the premier bird photography destinations in South America. The jewels of the Andes, the hummingbirds, will feature heavily; fantastic feeder set-ups allow excellent photographic opportunities of these “winged gems”. While hummingbirds are undoubtedly a front and center feature of this tour, they will also be accompanied by other colorful tropical birds, including an assortment of tanagers, toucans, trogons, woodpeckers, and even the incredible, vivid scarlet Andean Cock-of-the-rock. An optional extension to Sani Lodge in the Amazon is also available.

Note: On some departures, the tour is run in reverse order.

The tour leader may modify the plan on any particular day based on weather, feeder activity, recent sighting information, newly opened sites, and other factors. As most of the tour is based in just a few lodges, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary. 

TRIP CONSIDERATIONS

Physical difficulty:

Easy to moderate. Much of the main tour will be spent near feeders which are accessed by only a short walk. At Refugio Paz, we will need to walk roughly half a mile (about 1 km) on moderately steep and often slippery trails in order to photograph some of the special birds. There will also be short walks on trails to target a few things at Milpe and Guango. Parts of at least three days will be spent at high elevations above 11,500 ft. (3500 m.), however little walking is done at these altitudes, and those nights are spent much lower at 8500 ft. (2600 m). On the extension, much more walking is required, up to 3 miles (4.8 km) a day, and sometimes on trails that are very muddy (the lodge provides rubber boots), and accessing the canopy tower requires climbing up 120 ft. (37 m.) via a sturdy and well-made staircase.

Accommodation:

Good, all have private, en-suite bathrooms, and full-time hot water. All lodges on the main tour have 24hr electricity. On the extension, electricity is provided by a generator that is turned on for limited hours, but it provides sufficient time to charge camera batteries and devices.

Usually very pleasant (mostly 55°-75°F, 13°-24°C), but cold at Papallacta and Antisana (possibly down to near freezing) and hot on the one day at Suamox and for the entire extension (up to c. 90°F/32°C). Some rain can be expected, especially in the afternoons and evenings, and intense downpours are not unexpected on the extension (good rain protection for your gear is essential).

PHOTO PHILOSOPHY

To provide our clients with unique moments of enjoying and having fun with this hobby, through Photography we can capture unique moments in contact with wildlife, birds, mammals, and landscapes our photos will help us to understand biodiversity, Bird behavior and capture moments not available on the binoculars, you can capture your own pictures and memories and take them with you to home, but mainly develop your skills and your personal relationship with your camera and gear.

A good 300mm lens (or high-end zoom that covers 300mm) and a full-frame camera are ideal for hummingbirds, but a longer lens is better for most other birds. A 500mm with a 1.4x or 600mm are the best options, but a 300mm with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters also usually does a great job. A smaller lens can be nice for scenery shots in the high Andes. A flash (where permitted) is also useful since light can be quite low early in the morning and inside the forest. 100- 400 lenses with an independent body are also important if possible. Weather permitting, there will be some opportunities for optional nocturnal macro photography, especially on the extension, where a good macro lens and flash (a ring flash or off-camera flash is best) would be useful. Flash is not permitted at Paz de las Aves or Mashpi Amaguza.

The tour starts this evening in Quito, and you will be transferred To Puembo Birding Garden, a nice and cozy place located just a few minutes from the airport. Overnight.

Our first morning of the tour will be truly spectacular and for good reason, as we visit the open grasslands surrounding the enormous Antisana volcano. This is often voted as the favorite site of the tour by many, for the wonderful surroundings in which we will be shooting. The towering peak of the Antisana Volcano itself is impressive, with a large snow-covered top, and dramatic rocky sides. The páramo (grassland) is interspersed with rocky outcrops and scenic high Andean lakes dotted with high altitude waterfowl. Indeed the scenery itself may be our biggest photo asset. Aside from these breathtaking Andean scenes, the upper páramo is carpeted with Carunculated Caracaras, a striking pied raptor that occurs here in impressive numbers. Black-faced Ibis patrol these high plains as do Andean Lapwings and large flocks of Andean Gulls. It wil be time to try for an enconter with spectacled bear and Andean Condor, but for sure great chances for Giant Hummingbird, lunch at Tambo Condor, simple but great food and late afternoon drive to Guango Lodge.

Arrive today in São Paulo, Brazil, at Guarulhos International Airport (GRU). No activities are planned for today so you can rest up from your travels. The transfer to our hotel is included; our hotel is about twenty minutes away and we can organize an early check-in as an option for those that need it. (Normally rooms can be available by noon, getting into a room earlier than that requires additional charges. Remember, you have at least 1.5 hours to get luggage and clear immigration and customs; there is a restaurant and public areas where you can relax if you don’t want to pay an early room fee.) This evening we enjoy a welcome dinner ― a chance to meet your guides and traveling companions, and learn more about our coming adventure. Those on our highly-recommended pre-trip to the Atlantic Forest will be returning to join you. We invite you to sample Brazil’s national cocktail, the caipirinha, made with cachaça (sugarcane liquor), sugar, and lime. We predict this may be the first of many. Accommodations at Hotel Matiz Guarulhos (L,D) *Note: Most flights from the USA originate Sunday, June 30 to meet this arrival date.

Weather permitting, we will venture into the páramo grasslands of the high Andes around Papallacta Pass; on clear days we can enjoy spectacular views of several snow-capped volcanoes. The high altitude birds that reside there can be remarkably confiding. Comical cinclodes bound around on the páramo, Tawny Antpittas hop along the roads, and with the use of playback, shier birds like canasteros and tit-spinetails can often be brought in close. At lunch time we will return to Guango, where will have the most of the afternoon to shoot hummingbirds, walk the forest trails behind the lodge, or scan the river alongside for Torrent Ducks. In mid-afternoon, we shall pack up and head to Puembo and return to PBG.

After leaving Quito, we’ll have four nights based in this very nice and comfortable loge, nestled within lush subtropical forest on the west slope of the Andes, an area renowned for its high bird species diversity. This is especially evident in the impressive hummingbird community found right around the lodge that will occupy much of our photographic energies. The lodge feeders attract thousands of individual hummingbirds, with 10-20 species visiting on most days. The most common is usually is the outrageous Booted Racket-tail, the male of which has a strange long tail, with two paddles at the end. Other regular drop-ins are a number of glistening species like the audacious Violet-tailed Sylph, the standout Purple-bibbed Whitetip, and the gem-like Western Emerald., dinky Purple-throated Woodstar and Vevet – purple coronet that normally visit the flowers and feeders around. If hummingbird photography is your goal, you are likely to come away with plenty of shots of over ten species of hummingbird, many of which are hard to photograph  elsewhere. Fruit feeders at the lodge can also attract  technicolor” birds like Red-headed Barbet, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, or Toucan Barbet. Other species often come in to eat insects attracted to lights, such as flycatchers, woodcreepers, and more. On its own Sacha Tamia lodge is a unique spot for bird photography, and we will spend a good amount of time shooting around the lodge (with chances for multiflash hummingbird photography); however it also serves as an excellent base to explore numerous other private  reserves in the region. The exact places that we visit on the tour, and the order, will depend on various factors like weather, feeder activity, and most importantly, up-to-date  local knowledge on which places have the best activity at the moment, and which places are best avoided. Listed below are some of the options we have available, though we will also not hesitate to do something different if we obtain info on a new site or hot sighting.

We’ll depart very early and head to one of the most important bird sites in the area, the wonderful Paz de las Aves Refuge. This beautiful reserve is set within subtropical forest where the moist, moss-covered trees are burdened with bright red bromeliads. Our early rise will let us visit an area deep within the forest where a short time after dawn the bright scarlet forms of several displaying Andean Cock-of-the-rocks will start the day off with a spectacular forest performance. However, what has made this place such a joy for photographers and birders alike is the habituating of several rare and shy species of the forest floor, especially the antpittas. Giant, Moustached, Yellow-breasted Antpittas, Ochre-breasted, and Chestnut-crowned Antpittas are all possible, with usually at least two of them cooperating on any given visit. Other birds we will be trying to photograph include Dark backed Wood-Quail, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, and White capped Dipper. Later in the morning, we may visit one of the other sites mentioned above, or we may return to Tandayapa for a few hours, before returning to Quito for the final night of the tour.

Wildlife photography in the Amazon is as tough as it gets. We had hesitated to offer a trip until we went to Sani Lodge in early June 2015, and that totally changed our minds. After a few days there, we came back with chips loaded with great photos, and were convinced that this was THE place to do it. This extension can also be done at any time as a custom tour, and longer and shorter packages are possible. *Please note: For the Amazon Extension, a Tropical Birding guide will only accompany the group if there are three or more people. For groups of only one or two people, a local, bird guide from the lodge will be used.

AMAZON EXTENSION TO SANI OR MANDI LODGE

After a short flight to the lowland city of Coca, staff from Sani Lodge will meet us and take us to adock, where we’ll board a large, covered motorized canoe for the 2.5-hour journey down the Napo River. There won’t be much in the way of photo opportunities during this trip, so just sit back in relax. Upon arrival at Sani’s dock, you’ll have a chance to unpack your camera and get ready. Here in the virgin Amazon rainforest, you never know when something amazing will pop into view and it pays to be prepared! The path to Sani goes along a boardwalk through a seasonally flooded várzea forest to another dock at the edge of the Challuayacu River, a small channel that winds through a beautiful swamp forest to an oxbow lake. Five species of kingfishers occur along here along with herons and other water-loving species. Shy species like Cocha Antshrike can sometimes be lured into view, and while the dark rainforest makes the photography challenging, with persistence, the right gear, and a little luck, great shots are still possible. We’ll have lunch at Sani, and spend the afternoon either on the lake or river or spend time around the lodge depending on the activity. We’ll have four nights total based in Sani Lodge.

The day-to-day activities here are highly subject to change based on current conditions. Local guides are keeping up with the current hotspots, and their knowledge will be vital in deciding where best to spend our days at Sani Lodge. Here are some of the most likely areas we will visit during our time at Sani Lodge: The lodge clearing. The Sani clearing can be a great place to photography numerous colorful species, especially if any trees are fruiting. White-chinned Jacamar, Scarletcrowned Barbet, various toucans and aracaris, Orange-crested Manakin, Gray-fronted Dove, Masked Crimson, and Silver-beaked Tanagers, Purple Honeycreeper, Golden-bellied Euphonia, are some of the possibilities. This is a great area to spend time in during the heat of the day, which can be slow in other locations.

Oxbow lake and Challuayacu River. Using canoes or a floating platform/blind suitable for tripods, we’ll work the edge of the oxbow lake, which is great for getting photos of Hoatzin, Black-capped Donacobius, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Capped Heron, Pale-vented Pigeon, White-winged Swallow, Lesser Kiskadee, and more. There is usually plenty of light to work with and the photography is easier than in the forest. The previously-mentioned Challuayacu River is darker but offers the chance for perched hummingbirds, manakins, various antbirds, and even monkeys and sloths. Canopy tower. Sani’s canopy tower is built into an enormous kapok tree, and the platform is the largest we’ve ever seen, allowing for lots of space to set up a tripod or to move around for the perfect angle. Activity can vary, but if a mixed flock comes through, this can be one of the best places in Sani to get great shots, and there is plenty of light. Some birds we have photographed there include Many-banded Aracari, Paradise and Opal-crowned Tanagers, Great Jacamar, Yellow-billed and White-fronted Nunbirds, Gilded and Lemon-throated Barbets, Cinnamon throated and Buff-throated Woodcreepers, Black-tailed, and Green-backed Trogons, Black-tailed Tityra, Cinnamon Attila, though many more are possible. Near the tower, there is a blind that allows good chances to photograph the dapper Wire-tailed Manakin. More blinds may be installed in the future as well.

Yasuní parrot licks. Not far from Sani Lodge are the famous clay licks that on dry days bring in hundreds and hundreds of parrots. Both have blinds and are well worth visiting. Flash is not allowed here, so a very fast lens and a tripod are recommended. The first clay lick is an active earl and is great for Yellow-crowned, Mealy, Blue-headed Parrots, and Dusky-headed Parakeets. Another lick is about a 20-minute walk into the forest and offers a chance at some rare species like Orange-cheeked Parrot, Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, and Scarlet Macaw among the hordes of Cobalt-winged Parakeets. Napo River islands. River islands hold a totally different set of birds, and the scrub and young forest make the lighting easier than inside the rainforest. It can be good to spend a few hours looking for the specialties including Oriole Blackbird, Black-and-white Antbird, Castlenau’s Antshrike, and Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant. Occasionally a roosting Striped Owl is also found here. Roosting nightbird stakeouts. Local guides usually know where at least some nightbirds are sleeping during the day, such as Common and Great Potoo, Tropical and Tawny-bellied Screech-owl, and Crested and Mottled Owls. Sometimes they are partly obscured by our badly backlit, but other times they show very well allowing for nice shots. It’s always worth checking them out. Night photography. Numerous bizarre insects, colorful frogs and reptiles, and other macro targets can be found on a night’s walk behind the lodge. If you are into macro photography or want to try it out for the first time, it’s a lot of fun. Of course, there is also a chance for a nightbird or even a night monkey as well.

Depending on flight schedules, there may be time for some early morning shooting before we have to travel back up the Napo River to Coca and fly back to Quito, where we spend a final night. Flight schedules are variable – sometimes you are back in Quito by lunch, giving you the afternoon to relax, whereas other times flights don’t arrive until late afternoon or evening.

The extension ends this morning with transfers to the airport.

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Don Mammoser Photo Tours

Ecuador Birds & Wildlife Photo Tour

Next Possible Dates – November 2026

MegaDiverse Wildlife

Ecuador is one of only 17 MEGADIVERSE countries in the world. What that means is that Ecuador contains a huge number of species compared to most other places on earth. This small South American country can boast over 1600 bird species including an incredible 130 species of hummingbirds.

Immersive Experience

We’ll photograph hummingbirds, tons of other species of birds, mammals and insects, flowers, and anything else that we can find. We’ll spend time with professional nature guides who will lead us right to the birds and animals and we’ll sleep and eat all meals at wonderful eco-lodges the entire time.

Nov. TBD ​Fly into Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in Quito, Ecuador arriving sometime during late afternoon or early evening. Our hotel has a free airport pick-up service for your transfer to the hotel. We meet at 6pm in the evening at the designated hotel in Quito, Ecuador. Nov. TBD Drive to our first lodge. Access to amazing feeding platforms where bird activity is non-stop. Work with Don on single-flash hummingbird set-ups. Nov. TBD

We’ll get up early for a special naturalist-guided photo session with rare Antpitta birds. Then you’ll have all day at the lodge and surrounding areas to explore with your camera, to learn more bird techniques with Don, to eat 3 hearty meals and to simply enjoy being in Ecuador. Nov. TBD After breakfast and more photography at the lodge feeding platforms, we’ll pack up and drive to our second lodge, located in a high elevation (9000 feet) cloud forest. Here, sightings of the amazing Sword-billed Hummingbird are common. All-day photography of the diversity found around this lodge. Nov. TBD Morning will be spent either with hummingbirds in the garden area, or walking along the river for Torrent Ducks and other species. After lunch we drive to our third lodge. This place is at a lower elevation and can have hundreds of birds buzzing around at any one time. The action here is non-stop and you’ll be happily exhausted once it comes time for meals and sleep. Nov. TBD Today we’ll have the chance to learn multi-flash hummingbird photography techniques – all equipment provided (except 1 flash unit for your particular camera). Other opportunities at this lodge include numerous tanagers, jays, mammals, insects, jungle scenery and much more. Nov. TBD We’ll get up well before sunrise today for a short drive to a special bird refuge and the chance to go with local guides searching for Andean Cock of the Rock sightings, as well as rare Antpittas and other birds. Brunch will be served at this wildlife refuge, followed by a jungle walk searching for diverse wildlife and then we drive back to our cozy lodge for dinner and perhaps a group meeting to share images.

Today we keep our schedule fl exible and you may repeat anything or re-visit places on the lodge’s grounds that you want to see again. Multi- fl ash setups will be available again for those that want. Nectar and fruit feeders will be buzzing with activity and you could feasibly spend your entire day photographing at these spots. Other options include going for a jungle walk, image review/critique sessions, or relaxing as you wish.

We’ll spend the morning doing more single flash hummingbird photography, or going for one last jungle walk. After lunch we begin driving toward Quito to the hotel near Quito’s airport. Nov. TBD Final breakfast, then we transfer to the Quito airport for our flights home.

• Tour begins and ends in Quito, Ecuador (airport code UIO).
• You should arrive into Quito as early as possible on November 2nd in order to attend the initial meet/greet at 6pm that evening.
• A professional driver with a tour sign will meet you just outside the Quito airport. He/She will take you to the first hotel.
• A travel Visa in not currently required for citizens of the US or Canada to visit Ecuador as a tourist.
• Outbound flights should be booked for November TBD.
• Most photo locations are within 1/2 mile of our lodging.
• Jungle trails can be wet and slippery – bring proper hiking boots.
• Tropical heat can be tiring for those not acclimitized.
• Drinking plenty of water or energy drinks helps. – Bring a refillable water bottle.
• 1 Lodging location is located at high altitude (9060 feet). High altitude can be tiring for those not acclimitized.
• Variable skies, some sunny, some cloudy, some rainy with daytime temperatures in the 60’s- 70’s Fahrenheit.
• Early morning/nighttime temperatures generally in the 50’s – 60’s Fahrenheit.
• Rainstorms can (and will) hit anytime in the tropics, and this means wet, slippery trails, boardwalks and walkways.
• Digital camera body or 2 in order to have a backup
• Wildlife zoom lens such as a 200-600mm, 100-400mm or similar
• Wide angle scenic lens such as a full frame equivalent of 17-40mm
• Close-up or macro lens (extension tubes or a proper diopter filter can be substituted for macro lens)
• Flash unit that attaches to the hotshoe of your camera
• Sturdy tripod
• Polarizing filter for your wide angle lens
• Extra batteries and battery charger
• Plenty of memory cards – you might shoot up to 8,000 images/day
• 9 nights accommodations.* 
• Airport pick-up and drop off. 
• All ground transportation with professional driver throughout the tour. 
• All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) from lunch on November 3rd to lunch on November 10th.
• Entry fees into all photography sites.
• Time with local guides and wildlife handlers/experts who will lead us to the best wildlife photo opportunities.  
• All guided photo sessions including multi-flash hummingbird set-ups (all equipment provided). 
• Group and/or one-on-one critique and photo sharing sessions.
• In-depth wildlife photo instruction and leadership from professional photographer Don Mammoser.
• Tons of fun and a true small group tour with a maximum of 6 participants. 

*Accommodations/tour prices are based on double occupancy. For those not traveling as a couple or with a friend, the single supplement will apply.

Not Included

• Air fare from your hometown to Quito, Ecuador and return (airport code UIO).
• Meals while in Quito.
• Alcoholic drinks. 
• Tips to local guides and drivers. 
• Passport or visa fees (visas are not required for citizens of USA or Canada).
• Travel insurance. 
• ​Gifts and items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry etc. 

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Location: Ecuador

Photography tour, ecuador galapagos islands.

Tour cost includes $650 estimated Galápagos air and national park fee and tourist card.

3 Cabins left, sign up early to have your choice of cabin

• 10-day land and cruise program to the Galápagos Islands, including Quito & Guayaquil, Ecuador.
• SIGN UP EARLY (very limited singles available on cruise) : Maximum 14 passengers to optimize your photographic experience.
• Price includes Quito/Galápagos Islands/Guayaquil Airfare and Galápagos National Park Fees.
• 7-night/8-day cruise aboard First Class 16-passenger yacht. The small boat experience provides the most in-depth and personal way to experience the islands. Twins (no bunkbeds) available for sharing.
• Features of the yacht include safety, comfort, eight air-conditioned cabins, private bathrooms, hot water, library, dining inside and out, bar, sundeck, use of kayaks, paddle boards, and snorkel equipment.
• Enjoy a city tour of Colonial Quito and time on your own in Guayaquil to explore the Santa Ana Hill or walk along the Malecon for the last of your photography sessions.
• Services of professional tour leaders and photographers Cathy and Gordon Illg .

Latin America and Caribbean

Destination, per person, double occupancy*.

This tour is not currently scheduled. Contact us if you want details when tour dates are announced, or if you are interested in running a private trip for your group.

*U.S. dollars based upon minimum of 12 participants. There is a small group surcharge of $500 if  10-11 participants. We try to accommodate travelers who request single accommodations, as well as travelers who are looking for a roommate. If a single room is requested (subject to availability), or if we are unable to find a suitable roommate, there is a single room surcharge of $295 or 1695 with cruise if available.

Tour Overview

What better way is there to celebrate being able to travel in 2022? Traveling to the Galápagos Islands is like taking a step back in time. Visit an isolated, relatively untouched place where you can be at one with nature as nowhere else. Animals have no fear of humans — birds light on your arm, curious sea lions come to get acquainted, fur seals and penguins join you for a swim in the clear waters. You will visit nurseries where young Galápagos sea lions cavort among the rocks...

What better way is there to celebrate being able to travel in 2022? Traveling to the Galápagos Islands is like taking a step back in time. Visit an isolated, relatively untouched place where you can be at one with nature as nowhere else. Animals have no fear of humans — birds light on your arm, curious sea lions come to get acquainted, fur seals and penguins join you for a swim in the clear waters. You will visit nurseries where young Galápagos sea lions cavort among the rocks under the watchful eyes of their mothers and the huge male beachmaster. You will see elegant red-billed tropicbirds with their long plumed tails, marine and land iguanas basking on black lava rocks, parrot and pufferfish, morays and Moorish idols, and brilliant Sally Lightfoot crabs. Blue-footed boobies show off their unique footwork and perform their graceful courting ritual. Throughout the islands are Darwin’s finches, whose unique adaptations helped to lead Charles Darwin to his revolutionary theory of evolution.

Prior to the cruise enjoy two evenings in Quito, with enough time to rest after your flight and enjoy a photo walk of this colonial capital. After the cruise enjoy a relaxing evening in the City of Guayaquil, you can walk or take a taxi to the Rio Guayas Malecon (the city’s riverfront playground). The picturesque barrio of Las Penas, with its colonial architecture, is perched above the river. You can hike up the winding streets and photograph the Santa Ana hill chapel and lighthouse at sunset and enjoy the brightly colored historical artist shops.

Cathy and Gordon Illg are freelance photographers specializing in nature and outdoor recreation. For more than twenty years they have been searching outstanding locations for both scenic and wildlife photography. Their work has appeared in nearly all the major nature publications and prominent travel magazines, as well as earning numerous awards in Nature’s Best International Photographic Competitions. In 2003, they earned second place in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest, and one of their participants also won an award in that contest with a photo taken on one of their tours.

They are more than just skilled photographers and instructors; they are also Certified International Tour Managers, which ensures that traveling companions will have a great time, regardless of where they are traveling and what they are doing. The job is particularly fulfilling when it involves bringing guests face to face with the great outdoors and the creatures that call it home.

If you are already an accomplished photographer, they will get you to the good locations, at the right times, and set you free. However, if you want help, they will provide as much instruction as you want. On most tours instructional presentations are provided, and participants are always encouraged to bring a sample of their work for a helpful, friendly critique or just to share with the group.

Photo Leader TBD

Photo Gallery

Tour Itinerary

March 24: home - quito.

Today fly to Quito*, Ecuador. At 9,000 feet in elevation, Quito is one of the world’s highest capitals. The majority of flights land late evening, all participants will be transferred to your boutique hotel in a lovely neighborhood of Colonial Quito. Overnight Quito. *PLEASE NOTE: Your international flight will need to be multi-city: Home-Quito (UIO)/Guayaquil (GYE)-Home

March 25: Quito

Due to flights arriving very late last night you will have time to relax and rest on your own late this afternoon and evening. In the morning (time to be announced) your local guide will meet the group at the hotel after breakfast and take you on the winding streets of Colonial Quito. This city reflects the Indian and Spanish culture, which dates back to the sixteenth century and is an important World Heritage Site of plazas, churches, and cathedrals. Some of our stops include Independence Square with its Presidential Palace, the dazzling gold-leafed La Compania Church, and the San Francisco Square. Begun in 1535, it is located on the site of the Inca palaces of Auqui Francisco Tupatauchi, son of Atahualpa, who ruled the northern half of the Inca Empire. Overnight Quito. (B, L)

March 26-Apr 1: The Islands

Rise early this morning as you will transfer to the airport for your group flight to the Galápagos and begin your exciting week of discovery on board your private yacht. The flight lands at Baltra airport, where the group will be met and escorted to the boat. Take some time to get situated on board, while the crew takes care of formalities ashore. Next, begin your adventure at your first photo location on Mosquera Island . It hosts one of the largest sea lion colonies. Enjoy the white sand beach as your first introduction to the islands.

What to Expect

Every morning you will be exploring an island, and then return to the boat for lunch. Early afternoons are for relaxing, as you sail on to the next destination for an afternoon shore excursion which could be on the same island or the island next door. There will be opportunities to snorkel, kayak, or paddle board. Every evening after dinner the licensed guide will brief you on the next day’s activities, the animals and habitats you will see, and the conditions encountered. Landing on the islands could be a wet or dry landing, therefore you will need footwear appropriate for both. Evenings will also be for photography instruction and reviews.

The Islands Every island has its own spectacular photographic opportunities which will make you relax, breath deep, and blend in with the surroundings.

Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island , was historically a favorite stop for pirates and whalers. Exciting wildlife-viewing opportunities here include a fur seal grotto, a lagoon that is home to pink flamingos, and the chance to see Galápagos Hawks and Vermillion Flycatchers. Puerto Egas, with its black sand beaches, was the site of a small salt mining industry in the 1960’s; a hike inland to the salt crater is an excellent opportunity to spot land birds such as finches, doves, and hawks.

Bartolome lies off the east coast of Santiago Island, and is most likely the first island in the Galápagos to have risen from the sea. It is highly volcanic and is dotted with recent craters, appearing most barren, colorful, and primitive. Photograph Pinnacle Rock, one of the landscape highlights of the islands. The swimming beach is white sand, backed by a bit of shade. Those who choose to snorkel should find the waters here most interesting; Galápagos penguins have become regulars here, and if present, may take the opportunity to swim with you as you snorkel. From time to time, green sea turtles’ nest at night on these beaches as well.

The northeastern most island in the Galápagos Archipelago , Isla Genovese or Tower Island is a small island with no real tourist visitor sites, this place is actually one of the best islands to go bird watching for various seabirds. You can see not only large colonies of red-footed boobies, but nests of frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds, storm petrels and masked boobies as well. Some other birds that have been spotted here as well include the endemic Galápagos Dove and short-eared owls. Here, you will have a walk along the Barranco path. In the afternoon there will be a wet landing, to enjoy a coral beach, short walks, photography, swimming, and snorkeling.

Visit the Interpretation Center at San Cristobal Island . This modern and sophisticated architectural space was designed for the natural interpretation of the Galápagos. You will learn about the volcanic formation of the islands, the evolution of the species, the history of human settlement, and complex systems and management models.

Española Island is home to one of the largest birds of the islands, the Albatross. This species is considered endemic to the island; you may observe these fantastic birds while taking in the beautiful landscapes. You will also see colonies of marine iguanas, zayapas crabs, masked boobies, finches, Espanola mockingbirds, and seagulls unique to the islands. Your walk will be on lava rock where you will be able to see lava tubes, and red mangroves.

Mail Bay is located on the north side of Floreana Island .  Captain James Colnett installed an empty barrel to be used as a post office for the whaling fleets that stopped at the Galápagos Islands.  You can leave postcards to your friends and relatives here and/or pick-up mail to deliver. Here you will also find a group of rocks that resemble a Crown due to the constant erosion caused by the sea. It is one of the better places to snorkel (shallow diving) in the interior and around the crown.

Santa Fé Island is one of the most picturesque anchorages within the archipelago. Its beauty is best appreciated from the trail, which climbs the fault cliff that overlooks the southern half of the bay. This plateau is also the best place to find the large land iguanas that are endemic to this island. Often they can be seen beneath the imposing Opuntia cacti that are also particular to Santa Fé.

South Plaza Island was created by the uplifting of tectonic action. The vegetation belongs to the arid zone and is represented by annual plants such as Sesuvium and by Opuntia cactus. South Plaza is a good place for observing yellow-brown land iguanas, and a large colony of sea lions which inhabits the island. Observe swallowtail gulls, tropicbirds, frigates, and blue-footed and masked boobies. From the steep cliff we may see turtles, rays, or sharks in the waters below. A tour here puts you face to face with Sea Lion pups, Land Iguanas, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, and various nesting sea birds. Seven evenings on yacht (Day 1 D; Day 2-6 B, L, D; Day 7 B)

April 2: Baltra - Guayaquil

The Charles Darwin Station is located in the main port on Santa Cruz Island; the center is the main breeding site on the islands. Animals that were in danger of extinction on the various islands are maintained in captivity.  Thanks to the dedicated work of several institutions, some species are being saved. Here lived Lonesome George, the famous last survivor of the giant tortoise species found on Pinta Island.

After your visit you will be taken to the airport for your flight to Guayaquil, where you will then be transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is free to either rest & re-pack for your flight home tomorrow, or you will find the hotel is conveniently located with-in walking distance or a quick taxi ride to the Malecon, Rio Guayas. It is vibrant day or night with several restaurants, shops, and photography along the river. There is also the picturesque barrio of Las Penas,  which you can walk up the Santa Ana hill, with its cobblestone, wandering streets to photograph the tiny church atop the hill. Overnight Guayaquil (B)

April 3: Guayaquil – Home

You will be returned to the Guayaquil airport this morning for flights home. (B)

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Tropical Birding

Photo tours and birding, with a camera  tours.

Ecuador Photo Tour

Ecuador is famed for its extraordinary diversity, but perhaps less well known as a top quality destination for a photo safari. This short tour will visit two famous hummingbird lodges: Tandayapa Bird Lodge on the west slope, which boasts extraordinarily high species numbers; and Guango Lodge on the east slope that has a very different selection, including the incredible Sword-billed Hummingbird, a living cartoon. What sets this tour apart from other hummingbird photo tours to Ecuador is that the guides also understand all that Ecuador has to offer besides hummers, so you may spend part of the day doing hummingbirds and spend other times chasing toucans, barbets, tanagers and motmots. If you hit a feeding flock the photography becomes a frenzy of opportunistic shooting; a buzz hard to get anywhere else.

Day 1: Arrival in Quito.  You will be met at the airport and transferred to a comfortable Quito hotel for the night.

Day 2: Antisana to Guango Lodge.  Our first morning of the tour will be truly spectacular and for good reason, as we visit the open grasslands surrounding the enormous Antisana volcano. This is often voted as the favorite site of the tour by many, for the wonderful surroundings in which we will be shooting. The towering peak of the Antisana Volcano itself is impressive, with a large snow-covered top, and dramatic rocky sides. The grasslands are interspersed with rocky outcrops and scenic high Andean lakes dotted with high altitude waterfowl. Indeed the scenery itself may be our biggest photo asset. Aside from these breathtaking Andean scenes, the upper paramo is carpeted with Carunculated Caracaras, a striking pied raptor that occurs up there in impressive numbers and will provide us with repeated opportunities to shoot it. Black-faced Ibis patrol these high plains as do flocks of Andean Lapwings and large flocks of Andean Gulls roam the highlands too. It is a site that will leave a lasting impression, and provide ample shots for processing at the end of the tour. After lunch at a hacienda on site, we shall drive on to one of the best hummingbird lodges in the country, Guango, where we will spend two nights.

Day 3: Guango Lodge.  Guango is a small lodge that is rightly considered one of the ultimate hummingbird lodges and will complement our later visit to Tandayapa very well. The lodge is positioned higher up in the Andes and also on the opposite side, leading to a very different hummingbird community. Like Tandayapa, Guango has a varied set of feeders that attract hundreds of hummingbirds, and again will attract well over ten species, including such extravagant species as the “cartoonesque” Sword-billed Hummingbird, the dapper black-and-white Collared Inca, aggressive Chestnut-breasted Coronet, tiny White-bellied Woodstar, and sublime Tourmaline Sunangel. The hummer feeders are also a target for other local birds, most notably the indigo blue Masked Flowerpiercer that too will make for a wonderful subject for our cameras. The temperate forest that overhangs this comfortable Andean lodge also attracts passing flocks of birds, some of which can be remarkably confiding and photogenic, that includes the cerulean-blue Turquoise Jay.

Day 4: Papallacta or Guango to Quito.  We will have two options open to us today. Those wishing to feast on the many hummingbird shots available at the lodge can remain there to do so. For those who want to do something different we will venture into the paramo grasslands of the high Andes, around Papallacta Pass (4000m/13,125ft), that on fine days may reward us with spectacular views over the Andes and shooting opportunities at neighboring volcanoes: Antisana and Cotopaxi. The other appeal of Andean habitats like the paramo is that the high altitude birds that reside there can be remarkably confiding. Comical cinclodes bound around on the paramo, Tawny Antpittas hop along the roads, and with the use of playback, high Andean birds like canasteros and tit-spinetails can often be brought in close. At lunch time we will return to Guango, where will have the most of the afternoon to shoot at hummingbirds, walk the forest trails behind the lodge, or scan the river alongside for Torrent Ducks. Once the light starts to go, in the mid afternoon, we shall pack up and head back to Quito for a night, to break our journey west to Tandayapa.

Day 5: Quito to Tandayapa Bird Lodge.  We’ll leave the capital behind and make the short journey into the forested hills of the Tandayapa Valley, for a four-night stay. The lodge is nestled within lush subtropical forest (1750m/5740ft) on the west slope of the Andes, a renowned area for high bird species diversity. This is especially evident in the impressive hummingbird community found right around the lodge that will occupy much of our photographic energies. The lodge feeders attract thousands of individual hummingbirds, and on some days over twenty different species drop in within a single hour! The valley holds a myriad of colorful tanagers, toucans, barbets, and of course, hummingbirds, lots and lots of hummingbirds. For those who cannot resist the Tandayapa Bird Lodge hummer feeders you can stick to the considerable task of shooting them and remain at the lodge for much of the day, (while others may choose to take an optional outing in the afternoon), entrenched among a myriad of glittering hummingbirds, many of which are local species not commonly photographed away from this world-class hummingbird lodge. Among the many regulars is the outrageous Booted Racket-tail, the male of which has a strange long tail, with two motmot-like paddles at the end. This bizarre hummingbird makes for a great photo subject for this reason, and on top of that it is also one of the commonest birds at the lodge. Other regular drop ins are a number of glistening species that are only found within this rich region of Ecuador and in Colombia (the so-called Choco region) like the audacious Violet-tailed Sylph, the standout Purple-bibbed Whitetip, the gem-like Western Emerald, and the more subtle Brown Inca. Less local in their range but just as spectacular and just as approachable are the numerous dinky Purple-throated Woodstars that regularly buzz around the Tandayapa balcony. If hummingbird photography is your goal, you are certain to walk away with thousands of shots of over ten species of hummingbird, many of which are hard to photograph away from Tandayapa. Fruit feeders at the lodge can also produce Technicolor birds like Red-headed Barbet, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager or even Red-tailed Squirrels.

Other birds that regular roam right around the lodge include White-winged Brush-Finches, and a delightful pair of Masked Trogons. For those who like a bigger challenge, or wish to try shots of other Tandayapa residents we will break up our time at the feeders with a visit to other areas of the valley, where passing flocks can be loaded with colorful tanagers, warblers, woodcreepers, treerunners and other flock followers, and the other areas of the valley also offer the chances of running into some of the more spectacular species of the area like the outrageously colorful Toucan Barbet and Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan.

Day 6: Tandayapa Valley and Rancho Suamox.  The morning will be spent in the rich forests of the Tandayapa Valley. In the afternoon, we’ll drive down to the lowlands where some different species await our cameras. Rancho Suamox is a local farm where the owner has set up both fruit feeders and hummingbird feeders that attract tanagers, woodpeckers, and a couple of different hummingbird species, only found in the lowlands. Golden-olive and Black-cheeked Woodpeckers, Rufous Motmot, Dusky-faced, Flame-rumped, and Silver-throated Tanagers, Ecuadorian Thrush, Buff-throated Saltator, Thick-billed and Orange-bellied Euphonias, can all often be seen and photographed at the feeders. After spending most of the day in this area, we’ll return to Tandayapa for the night.

Day 7: Milpe.  For those who want to venture into another exciting corner of the Andes we offer this side trip from the lodge, lower down slope to a small reserve within the foothills of the Andes that subsequently offers a very different suite of birds. This reserve, run by an Ecuadorian NGO, the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation, has some nice forest and a tiny café with very busy hummingbird feeders alongside. The beauty of this combining this with Tandayapa is that you will get a while new set of hummers to compliment the ones found higher up at our lodge that include the incredibly cute Green Thorntail, the exquisite, jewel-like Green-crowned Woodnymph, and butch Green-crowned Brilliant, in addition to the hyperactive White-whiskered Hermit. The area will also offer up other photo opportunities as fruit feeders both within the reserve and a local restaurant where we will lunch overlooking a stunning set of banana feeders that attract colorful tanager species, euphonias, and sometimes even motmots and small toucans.

Day 8: Mashpi Amagusa.  An early start is required this day to drive to the superb Amagusa reserve. Tanagers will be a sure highlight as numerous species visit the banana feeders, including the truly superb Flame-faced Tanager, Glistening-green Tanager, Golden Tanager, Moss-backed Tanager, and others. This is also the best spot to get shots of Velvet-purple Coronet and Empress Brilliant, two of the region’s top hummers (note that flash is not permitted at this site). We will spend most of the day here, as different species seem to favor different periods of the day to come in. We will spend a final night at Tandayapa Bird Lodge.

Day 9: Paz de las Aves to Quito.  On this day we will depart from Tandayapa Bird Lodge very early and head to the Mindo area to visit one of the most important bird sites in the area, the wonderful Paz de las Aves Refuge. This beautiful reserve is set within subtropical forest where the moist, moss-covered trees are burdened with bright red bromeliads. Our early rise will let us visit an area deep within the forest where a short time after dawn the bright scarlet forms of several displaying Andean Cock-of-the-rocks will start the day off with a spectacular forest performance from these vivid red cotingas. However, what has made this place such a joy for photographers and birders alike is the habituating of several rare and shy antpitta species. The highlight will be sitting quietly on a forest trail while a Giant Antpitta hops around on the trail just feet away from our trained lenses. Up to five different antpitta species occur on site, with Moustached, Yellow-breasted Antpittas, Ochre-breasted, and Chestnut-crowned being equally photogenic on many occasions too. Other birds we will be trying to photograph include Dark-backed Wood-Quail, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, and White-capped Dipper. In the afternoon, after we have returned to Tandayapa for lunch, we will drive back to Quito for the final night of the tour.

Day 10 Departure.  If not joining the Amazon extension, you will be transferred to the Quito airport for international departures home

AMAZON EXTENSION TO SANI LODGE

Wildlife photography in the Amazon is as tough as it gets. We had hesitated offering a trip until we went to Sani Lodge in early June 2015, and that totally changed our minds. After a few days there, we came back with chips loaded with great photos, and were convinced that this was THE place to do it. The staff and guides are determined to improve things, and are setting up feeders and blinds to make the most of the photo opportunities, as well as constantly looking for new stakeouts. This extension can also be done at any time as a custom tour, and longer and shorted packages are possible.

ECUADOR TRIP CONSIDERATIONS

PACE:  Relaxed to moderate. Breakfast times are typically 5:30-6:30am, with one earlier breakfast required on the day we visit a cock-of-the-rock lek. Most days will have several hours of downtime to relax or download photos – this is often in the late afternoon when the light may be poor and when it is more likely to rain, or in the middle of the day on the extension when it is hot and slow. There is a fair amount of driving involved on the main tour, with the longest drive being on day 4 at around 3 hours.

PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY:  Easy to moderate. Much of the main tour will be spent near feeders which are accessed by only a short walk. At Refugio Paz we will need to walk roughly half a mile (about 1 km) on moderately steep and often slippery trails in order to photograph some of the special birds. There will also be short walks on trails to target a few things at Milpe and Guango. Parts of days 8 and 9 will be spent at high elevations above 11,500 ft. (3500 m.), however little walking is done at these altitudes, and those nights are spent much lower at 8500 ft. (2600 m). On the extension, much more walking is required, up to 3 miles (4.8 km) a day, and sometimes on trails that are very muddy (the lodge provides rubber boots), and accessing the canopy tower requires climbing up 120 ft. (37 m.) via a sturdy and well-made staircase.

CLIMATE:  Usually very pleasant (mostly 55°-75°F, 13°-24°C), but cold at Papallacta and Antisana (possibly down to near freezing) and hot on the one day at Suamox and for the entire extension (up to c. 90°F/32°C). Some rain can be expected, especially in the afternoons and evenings, and intense downpours are not unexpected on the extension (good rain protection for your gear is essential). 

ACCOMMODATION:  Good, all have private, en-suite bathrooms, and full-time hot water. All lodges on the main tour have 24hr electricity. On the extension, electricity is provided by generator that is turned on for limited hours, but it provides sufficient time to charge camera batteries and devices.

WHEN TO GO:  This tour can be run year round. While climate has become rather unpredictable in recent years, the driest months on average are June-August, the wettest months are March-April, and the other months are intermediate. Bird activity is slower when it is very dry, but even in the dry season, some rain can be expected. Rainy season tours are usually very productive, since most days the mornings are dry, and the increased cloud cover means there is usually less harsh sunlight to deal with in the middle of the day. On the extension, rain can be expected year round, but it usually falls in short, intense bursts; December-February are usually the driest months on average in the Ecuadorian Amazon, but even then you will likely get some rain.

PHOTO PHILOSOPHY:  On the main tour, at least half the time will be spent on birds coming to feeders (with the option for some multi-flash hummingbird photography) or photographing birds that come in to eat insects that were attracted by the lights over the night. The rest of the time will be spent targeting things along roads or short tracks/trails. On the extension, only a little time will be spent at feeders, and the rest of the time will be divided between boats, the canopy tower, the boardwalk, trails, the parrot lick, and other sites depending on current conditions.

GEAR: A good 300mm lens (or high end zoom that covers 300mm) and a full-frame camera are ideal for hummingbirds, but a longer lens is better for other birds like tanagers, at Antisana where the birds are often at a distance, and, on the extension, in the canopy tower. A 500mm with a 1.4x or 600mm is the best option, but a 300mm with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters also usually does a great job. A smaller lens can be nice for scenery shots in the high Andes. A flash (where permitted) is also useful since light can be quite low early in the morning and inside forest. Weather permitting, there will be some opportunities for optional nocturnal macro photography, especially on the extension, where a good macro lens and flash (a ring flash or off-camera flash is best) would be useful. Flash is not permitted at Paz de las Aves or Mashpi Amaguza. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:  A valid passport is required; the passport must be valid for at least six months past your intended stay. Tourist visas are currently not required for citizens of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and all European countries. Visas are currently only required of a few nationalities, mostly in Asia, Africa, and the middle East. Travel requirements are subject to change; if you are unsure, please check with the nearest embassy or consulate, or ask our office staff for help.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?:  Tips to drivers, local guides, and lodge staff; accommodation from the night of day 1 to the night day 9 if taking only the main tour, and through the night of day 5 of the extension if also taking the extension; meals from dinner on day 1 (unless you arrive too late for dinner service) to breakfast on day 10 if taking only the main tour, and to breakfast on day 6 of the extension if also taking the extension (if you have a very early departing flight, you may miss the included breakfast on the last day); safe drinking water and/or juice during meals; safe drinking water as well as tea and coffee are available at Tandayapa Bird Lodge, Guango Lodge, and Sani Lodge at any time; one of our photo guides with camera and audio playback gear from the morning of day 2 to the afternoon of day 9 if taking only the main tour, and to the afternoon of day 5 of the extension if also taking the extension; one arrival and one departure airport transfer per person (transfers may be shared with other participants of the same tour if they arrive at the same time); ground transport for the group to all sites in the itinerary from day 2 to day 9 in a suitable vehicle with a local driver; if taking the extension, airport transfers to and from the Quito airport, roundtrip airfare from Quito to Coca, roundtrip boat transport from Coca to Sani Lodge (may be shared with other lodge guests), private boat transport while at Sani Lodge, and private Sani local guide are also included; entrance fees to sites mentioned in the itinerary; a printed and bound checklist to help keep track of what you have photographed (given to you at the start of the tour – only electronic copies can be provided in advance).

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?:  Optional tips to the tour leader; tips for luggage porters in the Quito hotel (if you require their services); flights (except for the included roundtrip flight from Quito to Coca on the extension); snacks; additional drinks apart from those included; alcoholic beverages; travel insurance; excursions not included in the tour itinerary; extras in hotels such as laundry service, minibar, room service, telephone calls, and personal items; medical fees; excess luggage charges; other items or services not specifically mentioned as being included.

$3290, single supplement: $340 Space available; tour will be confirmed with 1 more booking.

Amazon extension: 24-29 July $2490, single supplement: $300 Space available; we will run this extension with a minimum of 2 people

11 - 20 February 29 July - 7 August

2017 price is $3290, single supplement: $340 Space available; tour will be confirmed with 1 more booking.

Amazon extension:

20 - 25 February 7 - 12 August

$2490, single supplement: $300 Space available; we will run this extension with a minimum of 2 people

Length:  10 days Starting city:  Quito Ending city:  Quito Pace:  relaxed to moderate Physical difficulty:  moderate Focus:  photography Max group size:  6 + 1 leader

Ecuador is famous for its incredible number and diversity of hummingbirds and tanagers. These will be our main targets, but there is still so much more to focus our lenses on, not to mention breathtaking Andean scenery.

Custom and Set-Departure Bird & Wildlife Tours Around the World

Northern ecuador photo tour, tour overview:.

Ecuador is famed for its extraordinary diversity. With a superb selection of lodges and reserves, many of them with excellent feeders, it is one of the premier bird photography destinations in South America. The jewels of the Andes, the hummingbirds, will feature heavily; fantastic feeder set-ups allow excellent photographic opportunities of these “winged gems”. While hummingbirds are undoubtedly a front and center feature of this tour, they will also be accompanied by other colorful tropical birds, including an assortment of tanagers, toucans, trogons, woodpeckers, and even the incredible, vivid scarlet Andean Cock-of-the-rock. An optional extension to Sani Lodge in the Amazon is also available.

Upcoming Departures:

Main Tour: 11 - 21 January  ($4510; single supplement: $450)

Extension: 21 - 26 January   ( $3320 ; single supplement: $620)

Ready to Book?

Detailed itinerary, other tour details:.

Length:  11 Days (16 Days w/ Ext.)

Starting City:  Quito

Ending City:  Quito

Pace:  Moderate

Physical Difficulty:  Moderate

Focus:  Photography

Group size:  6 + 1 leader

This itinerary is sometimes run in a different order than listed here due to availability in the lodges and other factors, but all sites will  be visited.

Day 1: Quito

The tour starts this evening in Quito, and you will be transferred to an excellent hotel for the night. If the extension is run before the main tour, this will be the last day of the extension.

Day 2: Antisana to Guango Lodge

Our first morning of the tour will be truly spectacular and for good reason, as we visit the open grasslands surrounding the enormous Antisana volcano. This is often voted as the favorite site of the tour by many, for the wonderful surroundings in which we will be shooting. The towering peak of the Antisana Volcano itself is impressive, with a large snow-covered top, and dramatic rocky sides. The páramo (grassland) is interspersed with rocky outcrops and scenic high Andean lakes dotted with high altitude waterfowl. Indeed the scenery itself may be our biggest photo asset. Aside from these breathtaking Andean scenes, the upper páramo is carpeted with Carunculated Caracaras, a striking pied raptor that occurs here in impressive numbers. Black-faced Ibis patrol these high plains as do Andean Lapwings and large flocks of Andean Gulls. It is a site that will leave a lasting impression, and provide ample shots for processing at the end of the tour. After lunch at a hacienda on site, we shall drive to Guango Lodge, where we will spend two nights

Day 3: Guango Lodge

Guango is a small lodge with great hummingbirds; it will complement our later visit to Tandayapa very well. Guango has a varied set of feeders that attract dozens of hummingbirds, including such extravagant species as the “cartoonesque” Sword-billed Hummingbird, the dapper black-and-white Collared Inca, aggressive Chestnut-breasted Coronet, tiny White-bellied Woodstar, and sublime Tourmaline Sunangel. The hummer feeders are also a target for other local birds, most notably the indigo blue Masked Flowerpiercer that will make a tempting subject for our cameras. The temperate forest that overhangs this comfortable Andean lodge also attracts passing flocks of birds, some of which can be remarkably confiding and photogenic, that including the cerulean-blue Turquoise Jay.

Day 4: Papallacta and Guango to Quito

Weather permitting, we will venture into the páramo grasslands of the high Andes around Papallacta Pass; on clear days we can enjoy spectacular views of several snow-capped volcanoes. The high altitude birds that reside there can be remarkably confiding. Comical cinclodes bound around on the páramo, Tawny Antpittas hop along the roads, and with the use of playback, shier birds like canasteros and tit-spinetails can often be brought in close. At lunch time we will return to Guango, where will have the most of the afternoon to shoot hummingbirds, walk the forest trails behind the lodge, or scan the river alongside for Torrent Ducks. In mid-afternoon, we shall pack up and head to Quito for a night.

Days 5: Zuroloma to Tandayapa Bird Lodge

After leaving Quito, we’ll first visit the Zuroloma reserve. The feeders at this site are just fantastic, regularly attracting Sword-billed Hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast, Collared Inca, and Sapphire-vented Puffleg on the hummingbird front, but also Andean Guan, Masked and Glossy Flowerpiercers, Yellow-breasted Brushfinch, and Blue-capped Tanager too at the other feeders on site. The reserve landowners are also famous for their successful efforts to tame several shy antpitta species, and we will be hoping to connect with an Equatorial or Chestnut-naped Antpitta during our visit too. Away from the feeders, we may see Red-crested Cotinga, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, or Black-crested Warbler. By late morning, we will switch over to nearby Yanacocha reserve, where will take lunch after checking out Shining Sunbeams and Great Sapphirewings at their own feeders. In the afternoon, we'll make our way downslope to Tandayapa Bird Lodge, our base for five nights. The lodge is nestled within lush subtropical forest on the west slope of the Andes, an area renowned for its high bird species diversity.

Days 6-9: Northwest Ecuador based out of Tandayapa Bird Lodge

Tandayapa makes a great base to explore the surrounding region, and the lodge itself is one of the best spots for bird photography in Ecuador.  This is especially evident in the impressive hummingbird community found right around the lodge that will occupy much of our photographic energies. The lodge feeders attract thousands of individual hummingbirds, with 10-20 species visiting on most days. The most common is usually is the outrageous White-booted Racket-tail, the male of which has a strange long tail, with two paddles at the end. Other regular drop-ins are a number of glistening species like the audacious Violet-tailed Sylph, the standout Purple-bibbed Whitetip, and the gem-like Western Emerald., dinky Purple-throated Woodstar that regularly buzz around the Tandayapa balcony. If hummingbird photography is your goal, you are likely to come away with plenty of shots of over ten species of hummingbird, many of which are hard to photograph elsewhere. Fruit feeders at the lodge can also attract “technicolor” birds like Red-headed Barbet, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, or Toucan Barbet. Other species often come in to eat insects attracted to lights, such as flycatchers, woodcreepers, and more. We will also make day trips to other areas within an hour or so of the lodge. Some of these include Birdwatchers House for Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Milpe Bird Sanctuary for some different hummingbird species and a chance at the unique Club-winged Manakin, and the Mashpi-Amaguza reserve, which has superb fruit feeders attracting a rainbow of species like Glistening-green Tanager, Moss-backed Tanager, and Velvet-purple Coronet.

Day 10: Paz de las Aves to Quito

We’ll depart very early and head to one of the most important bird sites in the area, the wonderful Paz de las Aves Refuge. This beautiful reserve is set within subtropical forest where the moist, moss-covered trees are burdened with bright red bromeliads. Our early rise will let us visit an area deep within the forest where a short time after dawn the bright scarlet forms of several displaying Andean Cock-of-the-rocks will start the day off with a spectacular forest performance. However, what has made this place such a joy for photographers and birders alike is the habituating of several rare and shy species of the forest floor, especially the antpittas. Giant, Moustached, Yellow-breasted Antpittas, Ochre-breasted, and Chestnut-crowned Antpittas are all possible, with usually at least two of them cooperating on any given visit. Other birds we will be trying to photograph include Dark-backed Wood-Quail, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, and White-capped Dipper. Later in the morning, we may visit one of the other sites mentioned above, or we may return to Tandayapa for a few hours, before returning to Quito for the final night of the tour.

Day 11: Departure

The tour ends this morning with transfers to the airport. If the extension is running after the main tour, this will be the first day of the extension.

Amazon Extension

Introduction:

Wildlife photography in the Amazon is as tough as it gets. We had hesitated to offer a trip until we went to Sani Lodge in early June 2015, and that totally changed our minds. After a few days there, we came back with chips loaded with great photos, and were convinced that this was THE place to do it. This extension can also be done at any time as a custom tour, and longer and shorter packages are possible.

*Please note: For the Amazon Extension, a Tropical Birding guide will only accompany the group if there are three or more people. For groups of only one or two people, a local, bird guide from the lodge will be used.  

Day 1: Quito to Sani Lodge

After a short flight to the lowland city of Coca, staff from Sani Lodge will meet us and take us to a dock, where we’ll board a large, covered motorized canoe for the 2.5 hour journey down the Napo River. There won’t be much in the way of photo opportunities during this trip, so just sit back in relax. Upon arrival at Sani’s dock, you’ll have a chance to unpack your camera and get ready. Here in the virgin Amazon rainforest, you never know when something amazing will pop into view and it pays to be prepared! The path to Sani goes along a boardwalk through seasonally flooded várzea forest to another dock at the edge of the Challuayacu River, a small channel that winds through beautiful swamp forest to an oxbow lake. Five species of kingfishers occur along here along with herons and other water-loving species. Shy species like Cocha Antshrike can sometimes be lured into view, and while the dark rainforest makes the photography challenging, with persistence, the right gear, and a little luck, great shots are still possible. We’ll have lunch at Sani, and spend the afternoon either on the lake or river, or spend time around the lodge depending on activity. We’ll have four nights total based in Sani Lodge. Note: If the extension runs before the main tour, today will be the second day, since you will need to arrive the previous day in Quito.

Days 2-4: Full days based out of Sani Lodge

The day to day activities here are highly subject to change based on current conditions. Local guides are keeping up with the current hotspots, and their knowledge will be vital in deciding where best to spend our days at Sani Lodge. Here are some of the most likely areas we will visit during our time at Sani Lodge: The lodge clearing. The Sani clearing can be a great place to photography numerous colorful species, especially if any trees are fruiting. White-chinned Jacamar, Scarlet-crowned Barbet, various toucans and aracaris, Orange-crested Manakin, Gray-fronted Dove, Masked Crimson and Silver-beaked Tanagers, Purple Honeycreeper, Golden-bellied Euphonia, are some of the possibilities. This is a great area to spend time in during the heat of the day, which can be slow in other locations.

Oxbow lake and Challuayacu River. Using canoes or a floating platform/blind suitable for tripods, we’ll work the edge of the oxbow lake, which is great for getting photos of Hoatzin, Black-capped Donacobius, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Capped Heron, Pale-vented Pigeon, White-winged Swallow, Lesser Kiskadee, and more. There is usually plenty of light to work with and the photography is easier than in the forest. The previously-mentioned Challuayacu River is darker but offers the chance for perched hummingbirds, manakins, various antbirds, and even monkeys and sloths. Canopy tower. Sani’s canopy tower is built into enormous kapok tree, and the platform is the largest we’ve ever seen, allowing for lots of space to set up a tripod or to move around for the perfect angle. Activity can vary, but if a mixed flock comes through, this can be one of the best places in Sani to get great shots, and there is plenty of light. Some birds we have photographed there include Many-banded Aracari, Paradise and Opal-crowned Tanagers, Great Jacamar, Yellow-billed and White-fronted Nunbirds, Gilded and Lemon-throated Barbets, Cinnamon-throated and Buff-throated Woodcreepers, Black-tailed and Green-backed Trogons, Black-tailed Tityra, Cinnamon Attila, though many more are possible. Near the tower, there is a blind that allows good chances to photograph the dapper Wire-tailed Manakin. More blinds may be installed in the future as well. Yasuní parrot licks. Not far from Sani Lodge are the famous clay licks that on dry days bring in hundreds and hundreds of parrots. Both have blinds and are well worth visiting. Flash is not allowed here, so a very fast lens and a tripod are recommended. The first clay lick is active early, and is great for Yellow-crowned, Mealy, and Blue-headed Parrots, and Dusky-headed Parakeet. Another lick is about a 20 minute walk into the forest and offers a chance at some rare species like Orange-cheeked Parrot, Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, and Scarlet Macaw among the hordes of Cobalt-winged Parakeets.

Napo River islands. River islands hold a totally different set of birds, and the scrub and young forest makes the lighting easier than inside the rainforest. It can be good to spend a few hours looking for the specialties including Oriole Blackbird, Black-and-white Antbird, Castlenau’s Antshrike, and Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant. Occasionally a roosting Striped Owl is also found here.

Roosting nightbird stakeouts. Local guides usually know where at least some nightbirds are sleeping during the day, such as Common and Great Potoo, Tropical and Tawny-bellied Screech-owl, and Crested and Mottled Owls. Sometimes they are partly obscured our badly backlit, but other times they show very well allowing for nice shots. It’s always worth checking them out.

Night photography. Numerous bizarre insects, colorful frogs and reptiles, and other macro targets can be found on a night walk behind the lodge. If you are into macro photography, or want to try it out for the first time, it’s a lot of fun. Of course there is also a chance for a nightbird or even a night monkey as well.

Day 5: Sani to Quito

Depending on flight schedules, there may be time for some early morning shooting before we have to travel back up the Napo River to Coca and fly back to Quito, where we spend a final night. Flight schedules are variable – sometimes you are back in Quito by lunch, giving you the afternoon to relax, whereas other times flights don’t arrive until late afternoon or evening. If the extension runs before the main tour, this will be day 6, and it will be the same day as Day 1 of the main tour.

Day 6: Departure

If the extension runs after the main tour, this is departure day, and transport to the Quito airport will be provided.

Trip Considerations

PACE:  Relaxed to moderate. Breakfast times are typically 5:30-6:30am, with an earlier breakfast required on one day of the main tour and one or two days of the extension. Most days will have several hours of downtime to relax or download photos – this is often in the late afternoon when the light may be poor and when it is more likely to rain, or in the middle of the day on the extension when it is hot and slow. A few of the days will involve several hours of driving.

PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY:  Easy to moderate. Much of the main tour will be spent near feeders which are accessed by only a short walk. At Refugio Paz we will need to walk roughly half a mile (about 1 km) on moderately steep and often slippery trails in order to photograph some of the special birds. There will also be short walks on trails to target a few things at Milpe and Guango. Parts of at least three days will be spent at high elevations above 11,500 ft. (3500 m.), however little walking is done at these altitudes, and those nights are spent much lower at 8500 ft. (2600 m). On the extension, much more walking is required, up to 3 miles (4.8 km) a day, and sometimes on trails that are very muddy (the lodge provides rubber boots), and accessing the canopy tower requires climbing up 120 ft. (37 m.) via a sturdy and well-made staircase.

CLIMATE:  Usually very pleasant (mostly 55°-75°F, 13°-24°C), but cold at Papallacta and Antisana (possibly down to near freezing) and hot on the one day at Suamox and for the entire extension (up to c. 90°F/32°C). Some rain can be expected, especially in the afternoons and evenings, and intense downpours are not unexpected on the extension (good rain protection for your gear is essential).

ACCOMMODATION:  Good, all have private, en-suite bathrooms, and full-time hot water. All lodges on the main tour have 24hr electricity. On the extension, electricity is provided by generator that is turned on for limited hours, but it provides sufficient time to charge camera batteries and devices.

WHEN TO GO:  This tour can be run year round. While climate has become rather unpredictable in recent years, the driest months on average are June-August, the wettest months are March-April, and the other months are intermediate. Bird activity is slower when it is very dry, but even in the dry season, some rain can be expected. Rainy season tours are usually very productive, since on most days the mornings are dry, and the increased cloud cover means there is usually less harsh sunlight to deal with in the middle of the day. On the extension, rain can be expected year round, but it usually falls in short, intense bursts; December-February are usually the driest months on average in the Ecuadorian Amazon, but even then you will likely get some rain.

PHOTO PHILOSOPHY:  On the main tour, at least half the time will be spent on birds coming to feeders (with the option for some multi-flash hummingbird photography) or photographing birds that come in to eat insects that were attracted by the lights over the night. The rest of the time will be spent targeting things along roads or short tracks/trails. On the extension, only a little time will be spent at feeders, and the rest of the time will be divided between boats, the canopy tower, the boardwalk, trails, the parrot lick, and other sites depending on current conditions.

GEAR: A good 300mm lens (or high end zoom that covers 300mm) and a full-frame camera are ideal for hummingbirds, but a longer lens is better for most other birds. A 500mm with a 1.4x or 600mm are the best options, but a 300mm with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters also usually does a great job. A smaller lens can be nice for scenery shots in the high Andes. A flash (where permitted) is also useful since light can be quite low early in the morning and inside forest. Weather permitting, there will be some opportunities for optional nocturnal macro photography, especially on the extension, where a good macro lens and flash (a ring flash or off-camera flash is best) would be useful. Flash is not permitted at Paz de las Aves or Mashpi Amaguza.

Other Information

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:  A valid passport is required; the passport must be valid for at least six months past your intended stay. Tourist visas are currently not required for citizens of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and all European countries. Visas are currently only required of a few nationalities, mostly in Asia, Africa, and the middle East. Travel requirements are subject to change; if you are unsure, please check with the nearest embassy or consulate, or ask our office staff for help.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?:  Tips to drivers, local guides, and lodge staff; accommodation from the night of day 1 to the night day 9 if taking only the main tour, and through the night of day 5 of the extension if also taking the extension; meals from dinner on day 1 (unless you arrive too late for dinner service) to breakfast on day 10 if taking only the main tour, and to breakfast on day 6 of the extension if also taking the extension (if you have a very early departing flight, you may miss the included breakfast on the last day); safe drinking water and/or juice during meals; safe drinking water as well as tea and coffee are available at Tandayapa Bird Lodge, Guango Lodge, and Sani Lodge at any time; one of our photo guides with camera and audio playback gear from the morning of day 2 to the afternoon of day 9 if taking only the main tour, and to the afternoon of day 5 of the extension if also taking the extension (NOTE: The extension requires a minimum of 2 people to run. If only one person signs up for the extension, we will offer the option of either cancelling the extension for a refund, or taking the extension WITHOUT the Tropical Birding photo guide, and instead having a private local bird guide while at Sani Lodge); one arrival and one departure airport transfer per person (transfers may be shared with other participants of the same tour if they arrive at the same time); ground transport for the group to all sites in the itinerary from day 2 to day 9 in a suitable vehicle with a local driver; if taking the extension, airport transfers to and from the Quito airport, roundtrip airfare from Quito to Coca, roundtrip boat transport from Coca to Sani Lodge (may be shared with other lodge guests), private boat transport while at Sani Lodge, and private Sani local guide are also included; entrance fees to sites mentioned in the itinerary; a printed and bound checklist to help keep track of what you have photographed (given to you at the start of the tour – only electronic copies can be provided in advance).

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?:  Optional tips to the tour leader; tips for luggage porters in the Quito hotel (if you require their services); flights (except for the included roundtrip flight from Quito to Coca on the extension); snacks; additional drinks apart from those included; alcoholic beverages; travel insurance; excursions not included in the tour itinerary; extras in hotels such as laundry service, minibar, room service, telephone calls, and personal items; medical fees; excess luggage charges; other items or services not specifically mentioned as being included.

Tour Reviews

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Ecuador Bird Photography Tour

• Visit the most biodiverse place on Earth: the Amazon Rainforest
• Experience the spectacular Andes mountains
• Hummingbirds galore
• Tropical bird species coming to feeding stations
• Clay licks for parrots, macaws and parakeets
• Small group size limited to a maximum of 6 people

Tour Overview

Bird photography opportunities like nowhere else: Ecuador is widely considered to be the best country on Earth for bird photography. The beauty of the birds that are found in the region speaks for itself, but Ecuador uniquely provides incredible infrastructure for visiting bird, wildlife and photography enthusiasts. The lodges here are relatively easy to get to, and perfectly designed for observing and photographing avian life. During this trip, we’ll spend time photographing birds at feeding stations set up for photography, as well as in natural forest settings.

Hummingbirds galore: At many of the lodges where we stay, dozens of hummingbirds are continuous visitors to feeders and flowers, where they exhibit no fear of humans. It’s a photographer’s dream! Their behaviour here makes it so much easier to capture amazing images, and work on photographic technique. From sylphs, to violetears, to sunangles, to woodstars, the Andes boasts incredible diversity of hummingbirds, with equally incredible names. About 40% of all hummingbird species on Earth can be found in Ecuador, and over 40 hummingbird species may be encountered on this trip.

Incredible biodiversity from the Amazon to the Andes: Experiencing the Amazon Rainforest is often considered the top “bucket list” item for nature lovers, and it’s easy to see why. With the highest biodiversity on the entire planet, we are sure to encounter a multitude of spectacular bird species, as well as amazing wildlife: monkeys, reptiles, amphibians, and more, all in some of the most spectacularly lush rainforest imaginable. This itinerary combines the Amazon with the adjacent Andes mountains, another “must visit” destination for nature lovers. Here, breathtaking mountain scenery is combined with spectacular bird life that often has little to no fear of people.

Dates & Prices

Dates & prices, what's included, tour price includes.

• All accommodation
• Full time guiding
• All transportation between locations during the tour
• Entry fees into reserves
• Gratuities to local guides and drivers

Tour Price Does Not Include

• Flights to and from the trip start/end point (Quito)
• Travel insurance
• Items of a personal nature

Day 1: arrival in Quito

Our workshop begins in Quito, the beautiful and historic capital city of Ecuador, where we’ll have an evening orientation and dinner. Night in Quito.

Days 2-5: the Amazon

Our trip begins with a journey into the most biodiverse place on Earth: the Amazon Rainforest. After a short regional flight to the town of Coca, we’ll travel by boat downriver into the vicinity of Yasuni National Park, where we’ll be based at an amazing and comfortable lodge for 4 nights. This region is home to an incredible array of birds, with over 600 species recorded in the near vicinity, similar to the number of species recorded in the entire country of Canada!

During our stay, we will visit an amazing canopy tower, where we can get a unique vantage point on canopy dwelling birds. We also plan to experience a clay lick, where parakeets, parrots and macaws visit to ingest minerals from the soil. In addition to an incredible array of birds, we may also encounter other wildlife, such as several monkey species, caimans, and various other reptiles and amphibians as we explore the region by canoe and trail.

Days 6-7: the east slope

After our time in the Amazon, we’ll head west to the east slopes of the Andes, where Cabañas San Isidro will be our base for two nights. Here, we’ll begin to get a taste of the spectacular hummingbird diversity of the Andes, with species such as the breathtaking Long-tailed Sylph and Chestnut-breasted Coronet being regular visitors to the lodge grounds. The San Isidro Black-banded Owl is often encountered in this area, as well as a multitude of other bird species.

Days 8-9: the high Andes

On days 8-9, we’ll make our way to the higher slopes of the Andes. This region is particularly spectacular, with jaw-dropping mountain views and impressive rivers and waterfalls. Our base for these two nights will be the lovely Guango Lodge, just downslope from Papallacta Pass. At this beautiful cloud forest hideaway, we’ll be surrounded by more hummingbirds, including several new species for our trip.

In the mornings, insects attracted to lights near the lodge attract a diversity of cloud forest bird species onto closeup perches, including flocks of beautiful Turquoise Jays, among many others. A short walk from the lodge leads us into the habitat of other cloud forest species, such as Torrent Ducks, White-capped Dippers and Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucans.

In addition to time spent at the spectacular lodge grounds, we’ll also visit higher elevation habitats. Unique alpine species such as the Chestnut-winged Cinclodes and Many-striped Canastero are common here, and we’ll watch for other high-altitude specialists such as the Carunculated Caracara and Andean Condor.

Days 10-13: Tandayapa Valley and Mindo area

On days 10-13, we travel west of Quito to visit what is arguably the hummingbird photography capital of the world: the Tandayapa Valley. Well over a dozen hummingbird species regularly visit the feeders at our base, Tandayapa Bird Lodge, where they have no fear of people. Meanwhile, tanagers, Rufous Motmots, Crimson-rumped Toucanets, and Toucan Barbets are frequent visitors to fruit feeders. While at the lodge, we’ll practice photography and lighting techniques with some photography setups at the feeding stations.

The surroundings of the lodge are equally spectacular for birds, and we’ll visit additional reserves in the area to look for and photograph some of the other amazing species of this region, such as the Sword-billed Hummingbird, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan and several antpitta species. On the afternoon of day 13, we’ll make our way back to Ecuador’s capital, Quito, for our final night of the tour.

Day 14: departure from Quito

The morning will provide one final chance to reminisce about our experiences over breakfast as our trip comes to its conclusion.

What to Expect

A typical day: Most days will begin with optional early morning bird photography around the grounds of our lodge, where many species can be seen up-close visiting feeders and foraging through the rainforest from the first light of dawn. After breakfast, we’ll commence our day’s formal activities, which may include more on-site photography, or trips to adjacent reserves. On some days, we may have early morning departures to get to reserves where certain bird activity happens first thing in the morning, such as the lek of the Andaean Cock-of-the-Rock. We’ll be back at our base lodges for dinner. After dinner hours, we will have optional technique workshops and post-processing time on some nights. During the trip, we may also have optional evening nocturnal activity walks, using flashlights to look for a variety of nighttime creatures on the trails around our lodge. While small, there are some spectacular amphibians, reptiles and insects that are worthy of our attention, but easily overlooked.

What level of physical activity is required? While the vast majority photography activities on this trip won’t require extensive physical activity, some of the sites we visit will require short hikes (~1km) on uneven terrain. While hiking is not a large part of the trip, good footwear for muddy and uneven trail conditions are recommended if you wish to explore the rainforest on foot. All activities are optional, and incredible photography opportunities can be found in the immediate vicinity of all of our lodges. So, there is much to keep one entertained if you wish to opt-out of any activities in favour of more relaxed photography opportunities. One lodge we will stay at has a 100 meter staircase leading to the entrance, and the ability to climb some stairs will enable you to visit a canopy observation tower in the Amazon. Finally, altitude may be a consideration for some. Quito, the capital city of Ecuador where our trip begins and ends, is at 2850 meters elevation (9350 feet), which will be our highest overnight location of the trip. During the day, we may make one or two short (few hour) excursions up to 4000 metres elevation (13120 feet) during the “high Andes” portion of the trip.

How will we get around? During the trip, we will utilize several modes of transportation to get around. Included in the trip cost is a short (40 minute) flight from Quito to Coca, our gateway to the Amazon Rainforest. From Coca, we’ll be travelling to our lodge by boat. Transportation into the amazon rainforest lodge itself and exploration of the lodge surroundings is often done by canoe. Following our return to Coca after our first lodge of the trip, we will get around by vehicle. While the main highways are paved, you can except some of the smaller side roads used to travel to some lodges and reserves in the Andes to be winding and bumpy at times.

Will we do photography setups at bird feeding stations? Ecolodges and reserves in Ecuador, including the ones where we will stay and visit, often have several types of feeding stations. Fruit feeders attract tanagers, toucans, barbets, and more. Nectar feeders attract hummingbirds. Many lodges also have a “moth light”. These lights attract insects overnight, and a variety of forest birds (woodcreepers, flycatchers, sparrows, and more) can often be found visiting in the morning to forage on insects. We will also visit a couple reserves where local caretakers feed worms to elusive forest birds, such as antpittas. Many of the feeding stations at the lodges and reserves are set up with mossy perches, providing photographers with a photogenic setting to capture images. Flowers can also be used at hummingbird feeding stations, to help capture images of hummingbirds. For those who want, there will also be opportunities during this trip to do “multi-flash” hummingbird photography, a technique using artificial lighting that can capture remarkable studio-like images of hummingbirds in flight.

What will the climate be like? We are likely to experience a great range of weather conditions during this trip! It is likely to be the warmest in the Amazon, where the average high temperature is 30°C (86°F)., and the average low is 22°C (72°F). It is likely to be the coldest on the higher slopes of the Andes, where the average daily high is 12°C (53°F) and the average low is 4°C (40°F). Some precipitation in this region is to be expected (it is a rainforest, after all), and it’s normal to have both periods of sun and periods of rain in a single day. In other words, pack variety of clothes for a variety of expected conditions! The sun is strong at the equator, so be sure to pack sunscreen as well.

What will the accommodation and food be like? With the exception of the first and last night in a modern hotel in Quito, we’ll be staying at eco-lodges in the rainforest. These accommodations are high-quality and clean, designed to provide the comfort that visitors would expect back home. Some are a bit more rustic and cozy in feel, others are more high end and fancy in feel, but they all provide fantastic opportunities for bird and wildlife photography in their immediate vicinity. Food is often considered to be a highlight at these lodges. Each lodge will have a professional chef on site, and you can often expect to enjoy a variety of meals, from traditional Ecuadorian dinners, to gourmet international cuisine. When we venture out for day trips to other reserves, we’ll bring packed lunches and snacks with us, or have meals provided by the chefs at other reserves.

What photography equipment should I bring? A telephoto lens with a focal length of 300mm or greater is recommended for this trip. However, we will have closeup encounters with birds and wildlife where wide angle (eg. 15-35mm) and mid focal length lenses (eg. 70-200mm) may be useful. Wide angle and mid-focal length gear will also be useful for photographing landscapes of our scenic surroundings. As some of our time will be spent walking on trails, a portable setup that you are able to handhold is may be a good idea for some (for example, a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a lightweight telephoto lens such as a 100-400mm, 200-500mm, 150-600mm, etc). A tripod is also recommended (though not required), as we’ll spend time photographing birds near feeding stations where we will be stationery, and some environments we visit can have low light.

Featured Wildlife

While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds or mammals listed below, we believe that encountering these species is quite likely during this tour.

• Over 1000 bird species have been recorded across all the locations we will visit, and we are likely to encounter hundreds of these, as well as several species of other animals. There’s too many to list, but a small sample of our many target species include Torrent Duck, dozens of hummingbird species including the Long-tailed Sylph and Sword-billed Hummingbird, Hoatzin, Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Scarlet Macaw, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Turquoise Jay, Green Jay, Golden Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, and many, many more. In addition to the birds, we are likely to encounter several species of reptiles, amphibians, and primates.

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Birds of Ecuador Tour

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About the Photo Tour

For ten days we will travel along the rich ecosystems that Ecuador has within a relatively small territory, which provides the facility to observe and photograph a great diversity of birds throughout the year.

It’s time to get the most out of the natural wealth of these ecosystems through your photos because, throughout this birds of Ecuador photo tour, we want you to vibrate every second while discovering the world of birds.

10 -21 Marzo 2020

Activity level

Available spaces, about the route, daniel mideros.

Born in Ecuador. Professional photographer graduated in Advertising Communication and Marketing at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. From an early age he showed a fascination with nature, photography and outdoor activities.

In his professional life he has dedicated himself mainly to the field of ecotourism, linked to visual communication and sustainability . This has led him to tour majestic places and feel unique experiences; all this emotional, experiential energy prompted him to undertake his own project with the desire to share these places and adventures with more people.

Javier Zurita

Born in Ecuador, Javier graduated from Tourism and Conservation at the Technical Equinoctial University of Quito (UTE). He is a nature photographer, specialized in birds and high speed .

He currently works as an expert photographer guide , in addition to the adaptation of bird feeders and the development of photographic hiding places , commonly called “hide”.

Early in the morning we will embark on our trip to the high cloud forest area.

We will make our first stop in the parish of Nono, where we will seek, within a hide, to photograph the emblematic tororoi birds or ampitas, among which are the Chestnut-naped Antpitta (Grallaria nuchalis), Chestnut-crowned Antpitta (Grallaria ruficapilla) and Rufous Antpitta (Grallaria rufula); Then we will look to take pictures of the air dancers, the hummingbirds, among which we have: Buff-winged Starfrontlet (Coeligena lutetiae), Black-tailed Trainbearer (Lesbia victoriae), Sapphire-vented Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani), Great Sapphirewing (Pterophanes cyanopterus), Collared Inca (Coeligena torquata), and the famous Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera).

In the morning we will go to a hiding place or “hide”, where we will look to make images of the Masked Trogon (Trogon personatus), Plate-billed Mountain Toucan (Andigena laminirostris), Masked Flowerpiercer (Diglossa cyanea), several species of tanagers such as the Golden Tanager (Tangara arthus), Flame-faced Tanager (Tangara parzudakii), Black-capped Tanager (Tangara heinei), Blue-winged Mountain Tanager (Anisognatus somptuosus), Sickle-winged Guan (Chamaepetes goudtii), and other bird species. In the afternoon, we will take high-speed photography; On this site you can find the Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis), Booted racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii), Gorgeted Sunangel (Heliangelus strophianus), Empress Brillant (Heliodoxa imperatrix), among others.

After breakfast we will go to a transition zone between the Cloud Forest with the biodiverse Chocó Forest (1,700 to 750 meters above sea level), where we will look for birds such as the Glistening-greed Tanager (Chlorochrysa phoenicotis), Black-chinned Mountain Tanager (Anisognathus notabilis), Golden-naped Tanager (Tangara ruficervix), Moss-back Tanager (Bangsia edwardsi), Rufous-throated Tanager (Tangara rufigula), Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster), among others. If luck accompanies us, we will see other bird species such as the Orange-breasted Fruiteater (Pipreola jucunda), and the Toucan Barbet (Semnornis ramphastinus) that usually arrive.

Today, our objective is one of the most emblematic birds of the Cloud Forest, the Cock of the Rock (Rupicola peruviana). The males are concentrated in places called Lek, where, in a duel of songs and dances, they court the females who will choose the highest bidder as their reproductive partner.

NOTE : For this event it is very important to have patience and stealth, since we will be very close to the Lek, a sensitive place. Respect for these animals will be our priority.

After this show, we will see amazing birds that leave the forest to feed, among which are the Chestnut-crowned Antpitta (Grallaria ruficapilla), Giant Antpitta (Grallaria gigantea), Moustached Antpitta (Grallaria alleni), Dark-backed Wood Quail (Odontophorus melanonotus), among others.

In the afternoon, we will do high speed photography.

After breakfast, we will go to another place where we will take our last photographs of the Cloud Forest and its beautiful species, we will be able to observe the Pale-mandibled Aracari (Pteroglossus erythropygius), Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza), Roufus-throated Tanagerb (Tangara rufigula), and if we are lucky the Chestnut-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos swainsonni), Chocó Tucán (Ramphastos brevis) and Club-winged Manakin (Machaeropterus deliciosus).

Once this event is finished we will undertake our trip to the capital of the country, Quito.

We start the day from Quito to the Antisana Ecological Reserve.

Already in the heart of the park, our objective will be to photograph the Carunculated Caracara (Phalcoboenus carunculatus), nice raptors with colorful faces and mottled vest. Also the Bandurrias or Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis), very long-beaked birds that, unlike Caracara, are not as friendly to humans.

In this area is the Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas), the largest in the world! Also the Black-tailed Trainbearer (Lesbia victoriae), Sparkling Violetear (Colibrí coruscans), among others.

If we are lucky, we can see the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) flying over the valleys.

Once this event is finished we will come back to the capital city, Quito.

We will leave early in the morning from Quito in the direction of the city of Coca (option of land transport or plane).

In the city of Coca we will embark on comfortable canoes covered with roof. We will sail around two and a half hours, enjoying a snack, delighting in the beautiful view of the Napo river basin, we will have sporadic sightings of animals. In port, visitors are cordially welcome with a refreshing drink and are then led to the comfort of their cabins.

After a rest, we will go by boat sailing along the beaches of the river in search of birds that are usually hanging around its banks.

With the sun waking up over the horizon we will prepare to go to the first observation tower. The platform is at a height of 36 m and was built to the highest standards of quality and safety, it is regularly inspected by its builders. Once in the heights, we will have the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful Amazonian landscape and observe flocks of colorful tanagers, macaws, toucans, and other species of birds and fauna.

Then we will go to the parrot and macaw clay lick; a place where our cameras will witness one of the most beautiful and colorful natural spectacles in the Amazon. In silence and with patience we will wait for dozens of parrots of different species to come down to eat the mineralized clay.

In these strategic sites you can see around 11 species of parrots and parakeets, and in certain seasons even scarlet macaws. The visit – of course – depends on weather conditions, although it is usually successful.

After breakfast we will go to another observation tower, which is located at a height of 45 m above the canopy of the glass of an imposing Ceibo tree. On this site you can see other types of birds that often perch on branches near the tree.

After this event we will seek to photograph one of the most emblematic birds of the Amazon, the Wire-tailed Manakin (Pipra filicauda), if we are lucky we will be able to see it.

On our return we will paddle through a lagoon in search of Oatzin, herons and other semi-aquatic birds.

We will leave the hotel early to navigate the Napo River towards the city of Coca. On the return trip, there is the possibility of bird sightings that are usually perched along the river.

Upon arrival at the port, we will take our transfer / plane to return to Quito.

We will experience three types of climates .

In the first part of the trip, in the cloud forest region , we will have a mild climate and sometimes cold nights .

On the second route, in the Antisana Ecological Reserve , located in the Andean region that is above 3000 m.a.s.l. there will be cold currents , so it is important to wear warm and waterproof clothing .

For our last destination, the  Amazon region  of  hot and humid weather , we recommend bringing  long pants, shirts or long-sleeved shirts and a lightweight material that help perspire less and avoid mosquitoes  that can be quite annoying, since the region is between 100 and 800 meters above sea level.

For a better experience, it is important to know a couple of factors which will facilitate your stay in Ecuador:

If you’d like to take home a couple of  souvenirs , we recommend bringing a little extra cash  in order to acquire these at the different locations we will be staying at (Ecuador’s currency is the US dollar). Most places only take cash. We recommend bringing  small bills or coins , as most places do not accepts bills larger than $20.

The tropical regions have a lot of mosquitos, so bringing  mosquito repellent is very important.

Flashlight  (a headlamp is preferable).

Bags to store wet clothes.

Water bottle .

As photographers, we know how difficult it is to decide how much equipment to take on trips, as we always want to take all of our equipment with us so that we can take advantage of our experiences.  Here is a list of equipment we recommend bringing :

• Wide angle lens
• Zoom lens, range 100-600
• Equipment protector for the rain
• Battery chargers
• Cleaning equipment
• Plug adaptor

Accommodation .

All tour meals .

Expert photographer guide .

Quito – Coca – Quito air ticket/Transfers ( depends on the choice ).

Reserve fees .

International air tickets and airport taxes.

Additional nights .

Quito Hotel .

Alcoholic beverages, snacks and drinks that are not part of the meals.

Laundry service.

Personal expenses .

Any other  service not specified  in the document.

Featured sightings

THE MAGIC BIRDING CIRCUIT - ECUADOR

Welcome to the Magic Birding & Bird Photography  Circuit of Ecuador , the first of its kind in South America, carefully designed for birding  and bird photography  inside one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Enjoy seeing and photographing the most amount of Ecuador 's 1700 bird species. The Magic Birding Circuit of  Ecuador  visits the most important and biologically-diverse birding  and bird photography locations including our 7 strategically located private bird photography  reserves and our 5 award-winning bird photo  Eco-lodges.

We offer the most complete birding  and bird photo trips in Ecuador , the Amazon jungle, and, the Galapagos Islands. Enjoy our scheduled and custom trips with the most knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate birding and bird photo  guides in  Ecuador .

BIRD PHOTO TOURS

Unparalleled bird photo tours carefully perfected to photograph Ecuador's most spectacular and iconic bird species. Learn a wide range of techniques next to the best bird photo guides of the country.

Detailed day-to-day Itineraries

BIRDING TOURS

Unparalleled birdwatching trips carefully crafted to see the most amount of Ecuador's 1700 bird species inside the most important birding reserves and eco-lodges. The best birding guides of the country.

CUSTOM & PRIVATE TOURS

A more personalized tailor-made birding or bird photo experience to Ecuador's wildest and most biodiverse destinations. Trips completely customized to your dates, preferences, pace, focus, and budget.

Click here for details

BOOKS & FIELDGUIDES

Hummingbird Photo Tour: Ecuador Cloud Forest Photography Tours

In Hummingbirds of Ecuador , Upcoming Workshops by Matt Shetzer May 26, 2022

May 10 - May 16, 2025 (SPACE AVAILABLE)

Important Details

• $4,995 USD per person
• Single supplement (private room) $500

Deposit: $1,000

Group Size: Max. 4 photographers—2 photographers per light setup.

Duration: 7 days, 6 nights

Skill Level: Beginner to pro

• Non-photographers get $250 off!
• Save $500.00 when you book this trip and a Galapagos Workshop: Galapagos Photo Workshop: West Galapagos Photo Tour: East .

Over the course of the hummingbird photography workshop you will learn specialized techniques to create stunning images of hummingbirds as they feast on native flowers. In pursuit of this goal, we will journey over mountain passes and across the equator into Ecuador’s famous cloud forests.

Trip Discount: Save $500.00 when you book the Hummingbirds Photography Workshop with one of our Galápagos Photo Workshop: Galápagos West Galápagos East

Why Ecuador for our Hummingbird Photography Workshop?

Ecuador is home to over 120 species of hummingbirds and has the best hummingbird photography opportunities than any country in the world. The lodges across Ecuador have dedicated viewing areas for various species of hummingbirds and we visit several of the most impressive hummingbird lodges, where we will photograph a rainbow of hummingbird species.

You’ll experience incredibly comfortable weather in Ecuador, ranging from 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during our trip, perfect for wildlife observation.

Small Groups Only! The best hummingbird photography is in small groups to maximize your time in the setups.  Only 2 photographers per setup on this trip.

These lodges cater specifically to photographers, and have time-tested systems for attracting rare and diverse groups of hummingbirds, allowing our guests to capture many different species of hummingbirds without having to travel more than is necessary.

Although Ecuador is a beautiful country, our main purpose here is to photograph the birds!

How Do You Photograph Hummingbirds?

On this photography trip, we use advanced multi-flash setups to help us freeze these notoriously fast birds in their tracks.

We’ll be guide you in the cutting-edge, state-of-the-art techniques used to photograph hummingbirds.

These tiny birds can flap their wings up to 80 times a second, which can present quite the challenge for a photographer.

Images Taken on Our Photo Tours

A violet-tailed sylph hummingbird drinks from a local flower in the Cloud forest.

We have perfected our hummingbird photography setup by using a series of seven to eight flashes synchronized by wireless radio transmitters. The multi-flash technique creates a strobe effect and freezes hummingbird wings in their tracks.

The effect is very impressive; you will notice details in your photos which would be impossible to observe in real life.

Topics we will cover:

• Master the Multi-Flash hummingbird light setup
• Balancing flash and natural light
• Natural light techniques for creating sharp and blurred wing images
• Priority exposures vs manual exposure – Benefits of each mode
• Different metering modes
• Techniques for sharp and high quality images
• Learn attractive compositions with local flowers
• Create natural looking images with flash
• Manual flash configuration to gain control
• Remote flash techniques and flash placement
• Focusing techniques for hummingbirds in flight
• Image post processing with Lightroom and Photoshop
• Best Photoshop Plug-ins to speed up post processing

Hummingbirds found at the lodges we visit

• Velvet-purple Coronet (Boissonneaua jardini)
• Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera)
• Booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii)
• Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis)
• Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii)
• Tourmaline Sunangel (Heliangelus exortis)
• Andean Emerald (Amazilia franciae)
• Brown Inca (Coeligena wilsoni)
• Brown Violetear (Colibri delphinae)
• Buff-tailed Coronet (Boissonneaua flavescens)
• Buff-winged Starfrontlet (Coeligena lutetiae)
• Chestnut-breasted Coronet (Boissonneaua matthewsii)
• Collared Inca (Coeligena torquata)
• Fawn-breasted Brilliant) (Heliodoxa rubinoides)
• Glowing Puffleg (Eriocnemis vestita)
• Gorgeted Woodstar (Chaetocercus heliodor)
• White-whiskered hermit (Phaethornis yaruqui)
• Lesser Violetear (Colibri cyanotus)
• Green-crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula)
• Mountain Velvetbreast (Lafresnaya lafresnayi)
• Purple-bibbed Whitetip (Urosticte benjamini)
• Purple-throated Woodstar (Callipholox mitchellii)
• Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl)
• Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis)
• Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans)
• Speckled Hummingbird (Adelomyia melanogenys)
• Tawny-bellied hermit (Phaethornis syrmatophorus)
• Tyrian Metaltail (Metallura tyrianthina)
• Wedge-billed Hummingbird (Schistes geoffroyi)
• Western Emerald (Chorostilbon melanorhynchus)
• White-bellied Woodstar (Chaetocercus mulsant)
• White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora)
• Empress brilliant (Heliodoxa imperatrix)
• Green-crowned woodnymph (Thalurania colombica fannyi)

We encourage hummingbird enthusiasts and photographers of all skill levels to join us on our Hummingbird Photography Workshop.

See Even More Hummers: Book your spot on our other hummingbird photography workshop to explore more hummingbird hotspots!

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Ecuador’s Waorani people living under the exploitation of the oil industry

Photographer Felipe Jacome spent time documenting the Waorani people’s way of life in the Ecuadorian rainforest.

It probably wouldn’t matter what time period I was writing from to understand that humans tend to destroy the things around us. It was true 1,000 years ago, 100 years ago, 10 years ago and still today.

Whether we are scouring the Earth and ravaging it under the guise of empire expansion or goods extraction, we just seem hellbent on violence in its many forms.

As enlightened as we like to think we are, it’s hard to understand the difficulties we put ourselves through unless we look at everything through ideology, capitalism, democracy, autocracy and so forth.

One thing’s for sure, there’s very little new under the sun, and history seems to be full of failed promises and the replaying of mistakes we never learn from.

One of the most tried and true ways we destroy things, of course, is in the pursuit of ever more power and wealth. And we don’t have to look much further than the oil industry’s plundering of the Earth’s resources to satisfy our avaricious energy needs.

Photographer Felipe Jacome has spent the past decade traveling to Ecuador’s Yasuní National Park to document the way of life of the Waorani people, inhabitants of the Ecuadorian rainforest who have been living under the thumb of an exploitative oil industry.

For 50 years, the Waorani people’s land has been coveted by the oil industry.

In a statement about his project, “Spill,” Jacome says that before the oil companies encroached on their land, “They had lived for centuries in the jungle as hunters and gatherers, fiercely defending their territory against any intruders.”

After the oil companies came in, the Waoranis’ lives took on some of the trappings of so-called modern life. Unfortunately, that meant, according to Jacome “oil exploitation and the devastation that accompanies it: oil spills, pollution, logging, prostitution and alcoholism.”

But there is some good news!

As Jacome told In Sight:

“On Aug. 20, 2023, Ecuadorians approved a referendum to halt oil drilling in the Yasuní National Park, home to the Waorani people, as well as to two other Indigenous communities living in voluntary isolation, the Tagaeri and Taromenane. While the popular decision is set to result in the loss of about 12 percent of Ecuador’s crude oil output, it sends a clear message that the people reject the country’s dependence on oil revenues and hope for a different model for growth and development.”

Jacome’s photos of the Waorani people were made after visiting them over a dozen times. The photos are printed on cotton paper and then stained with crude-oil marks. Jacome said the process of making the images this way hopefully communicates “the violence and the destruction of extractive industries and its brutal impacts on Indigenous peoples.”

You can find out more about Jacome and his work on his website .