Ecuador Bird Photo Tour
DURATION :
LOCATION :
9 Nights & 10 Days Tour
The Cloudforest Paradise
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
Medical
Please consult with your doctor regarding general travel vaccinations and check the CDC website for more information.
Insurance
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.
Airport
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.
Certified
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.
TOUR DATES
Main Tour – Maximum 6 – 8 people per group.
1. March 2nd – 11th 2023/2024
2. May 1st – 10th 2023/2024
3. Sep 1st – 10th 2023/2024
4. Nov 1st – 10th 2023/2024
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.
Cost (In USD)
2. (2023) $5000 per person in sharing accommodations $5500 in single supplement.
Email us at info@tropicalphototours.com or call us at +1-512-508-6914/512-806-6469 if you’d like to talk first.
ITINERARY
Upon arrival you will meet our representative at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport and transfer to a family-run lodge nearby. The hotel has sprawling gardens and many visiting hummingbirds and other birds.
- Overnight at lodge in Puembo, meals are not included this day
- Elevation: 2359m
We meet at 7 am for an early breakfast and head to our first cloudforest town, 70 miles north of Quito which is home several cloudforest speciliaties and gives us easy access for bird photography. We go to a private feeder where in some of our recent trips we’ve have spent hours here shooting the constant stream of tanagers and other species that visit. Some of the possibilities include Black capped Tanager, Blue gray Tanager, Dusky chlorospinghus and more.
Based on the hummingbird activity at the feeder, in the afternoon, we will also indulge in some Multi-flash photography to capture sylps, coronets and more. We arrive at our the lodge for dinner.
- Overnight at eco-lodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 1250m
Today we meet at the restaurant dining area at 5.00am to start our full day photography session at a private reserve whose owner is well-known for feeding and calling the elusive antpittas, including Chestnut-crowned, Moustached, Ochre-breasted, and Yellow-breasted Antpittas.
We will have a sumptious local breakfast at the reserve, followed by local Ecuador birding Tour photography at the feeder.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Andean Cock of the rock lek to photograph these beautful marvels and experience the opportunity to see them in their natural habitat. We return to our lodge in the evening to enjoy some local hospitality.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 1250m
This morning we carry some packed breakfast and head to a lush cloud forest lodge, with beautiful observation towers and primary forest to photograph the Masked trogon, Turquoise Jay, Strong-billed woodcreeper, Toucan barbet and many more.
We grab some local lunch and then head to the Milpe area for our afternoon photography session. The reserve is home to the lek of the endemic Club-winged Manakin and other regular visitors include Collared (Pale-mandibled) Aracari and more.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 1250m
Today we spend the entire day at a private lodge that hosts multiple specialized hides and also is well equipped for Multi-Flash photography.
We alternate between the numerous hides that the property hosts to photograph the stunning visitors from a confortable distance. We will get a chance to see Plate-billed mountain toucan, Blue-winged mountain tanager, Golden Tanager, Velvet-purple coronet, Long-tailed sylph and more.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 1250m
We pack some breakfast today morning and leave for the Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, which has some of the best birding in the area. Some of the highlight species include tanagers namely Glistening-green Tanager, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Black-chinned Mountain, Golden-naped Tanager and more hummingbird feeders offer chances at two of the best hummers around, the glowing Velvet-purple Coronet and the impressive Empress Brilliant. In the afternoon, we’ll visit a spot where an odd nocturnal bird, the Oilbird, can be photographed on its daytime roost. This is one of the best sites to shoot this species in the world –there are caves with greater numbers, but the location of the birds at this site makes them much more photo-friendly.
We enjoy some local lunch and then head back to our lodge in Puembo, Quito to prepare for our next day soujourn to the Papallacta area.
- Overnight at lodge in Puembo, B-L-D
- Elevation: 2359m
After an early breakfast this morning, we head to the papallacta region to our next lodge nestled cozily amongst the trees and flowing waterfalls.
The lodge has a varied set of feeders that attract dozens of hummingbirds, including species as the Sword-billed Hummingbird, the black-and-white Collared Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, White-bellied Woodstar, and Tourmaline Sunangel. We will indulge in 2 days of Multi-flash photography session here to photograph the stunning residents.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 2700 m
This morning we will inspect and photograph the specialized insect feeder to photograph the Turquoise Jays and many other species that feed on the insects attracted by the light in the nighttime.
Post breakfast, we will resume our Muti-flash photography session to get try get the best images of the numerous visiting hummers. We will also target local species like the indigo blue Masked Flowerpiercer during this stay.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 2700 m
This morning we continue feeder photography of hummingbirds and local birds at the lodge and post lunch leave for our lodge in Quito for next day departures.
- Overnight at lodge in Puembo, meals are not included this day
- Elevation: 2359m
Tour Specifics
1. Easy/Moderate walking/Most activity is at the feeders
2. Intermediate Photographers
3. Land and Water Photography
Tour Pace
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
7.0
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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.
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- A ‘non-refundable’ deposit of USD 1000 of the Tour fee as booking amount.
- 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.
- Lodging as specified.
- Meals as specified
- Stainless steel flask for water.
- Private transfers to and from hotels on first and last days.
- Land/Domestic air transportation during the tour
- 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.
- Visa fees
- International/personal airfare
- Insurance
- Phone calls
- Laundry
- Tips
- Cost of hospitalization and evacuation, if necessary
Email us at info@tropicalphototours.com or call us at +1-512-508-6914/512-806-6469 if 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
2.Tropical Photo Tours holds the rights to modify a reservation at any time during a workshop. As a company, we always try to comply with what we have promised but due to several unforeseeable circumstances such as weather, natural calamity, political, environmental, cultural we may have to make changes to our reservations.
3.All amounts are in USD unless specifically mentioned otherwise
Frequently asked questions
• 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
• Failure to make payments within this timeline could result in tour cancellation.
• 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.
- 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.
Alternatively, we can also find a perfect roommate for you based on your gender, age, and interests. If a roommate is not available, the single supplement will be charged.
Please note that we calculate the cost of the single supplement by taking the actual cost of a single room and subtracting one-half the cost of a double room (plus any applicable taxes).
• Your longest telephoto lens preferably 300mm or more
• A wide-angle lens if you are interested in capturing landscapes
• You can also bring your flash with a flash bracket
• Pack a ton of memory cards
• A macro lens is highly recommended
• A sturdy tripod or monopod is required
• Release cables
Other essentials: Good hiking boots, Laptop, memory card readers, bug spray, sunscreen, silica gel sachets to keep your camera dry. Since, it is likely that there might be rain and mosquitoes especially in dense rainforests, so you must pack your rain jacket and a bug jacket.
You can carry medicines that are for common illnesses like colds, cough, fever, diarrhea, altitude sickness, headaches, heartburn or severe acidity and sore throats to name a few. Those who take regular medication for hypertension, blood sugar, allergy, and asthma should carry an adequate supply of medicines.
We tend to travel to remote places, it is best you have your medicines handy. Though most of our trips require moderate stamina, it is best if you are high on energy and stay fit to get the most out of the experience.
Please note that this is a general information, it is recommended that you check with your physician and doctor to determine what medicines you need to carry.
Our team will get back to you with assistance.
