Photo Tour
Birds & Wildlife of Ecuador
| Starts | Nov 30th 2019 |
|---|---|
| End | Dec 9th 2019 |
| Price | $4,400 |
| Deposit | $1,000 |
| Participants | 8 (Full - Accepting waitlist) |
| Register |
Experience the wonders of the Andean cloudforest as we photograph birds and other wildlife of the Tandayapa Valley and Sumaco foothills. Stand upon the paramo where condors soar and encounter a completely different set of high elevation species. Photograph some of the most stunning subjects Ecuador has to offer! Then join us for an optional extension to Sani for a genuine journey into the most biologically diverse place in the world, deep in the heart of the Amazon!
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Logistics
We designed this tour to take you into the heart of some of the richest locations Ecuador has to offer. We will be staying at top rated lodges that offer not only exceptional comfort and good food but also extraordinary photographic opportunities. In addition to the rich flora and fauna at the lodges, we have a series of field trips planned throughout the tour. These include excursions give us access to unique species otherwise not seen.
Itinerary
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Day 1
November 30
Arrive in Quito, Transfer to hotel
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Days 2 thru 4
December 1 thru 3 – Tandayapa Valley
We will stay at one of the most famous birding locations in Ecuador and use this as our base as we not only photograph birds around the grounds but also go on excursions as we explore the western slope of the Andes. During these field trips, we will visit hots-pots designed for photographers. We will be in the cloud forest one day and up at an elevation of 12,000 feet another as we track different Choco endemics present at different elevations. High-speed flash to capture hummingbirds in flight will be just one of the highlights during these days.
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Days 5 thru 6
December 4 thru December 5 – Tandayapa Valley (Lodge 2)
This all new lodge is a bird photographers paradise with blinds setup for insect eating birds and an incredible reflecting pond for birds to drink at. This location has also proven itself extremely productive as another spot to do great high-speed as well as perched hummingbirds
Andean Cock-of-the-Rock and antpittas will be the other stars for this part of the tour. Through our connections, we will take excursions to special locales to see these species as well as others found in the area.
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Day 7
December 6 – Guango Area
We visit this lodge mainly for the incredible swordbill and Chestnut-breasted Coronet Hummingbirds, as well as many other species of bird including the Torrent Duck
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Day 8 and 9
December 7 and 8 – Sumaco Volcano Area
This is a wild area that will give us a glimpse into the wildlife of the Amazon. Our lodge is set on a ridge on the eastern side of the Andean foothills. Panoramic views of the Rio Punco Valley, the Andes mountains and beyond can be enjoyed as we discover and photograph incredible diversity of birds, frogs, butterflies and more.
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Day 10
December 9th – Transfer day
On this day non-extension travelers will spend the morning at the lodge and later in the day return to Quito to spend the night.
For those lucky enough to be joining us on our Amazon extension we will be departing for the most biologically diverse location on the globe.
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Day 11
December 10th Travel day
Non-extension travelers transfer to Quito airport for flight home
Deposit of $1,000 due with your reservation
Balance of $3,400 due September 1st 2019
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Included
- – All lodging while in Ecuador
- – All meals
- – All ground transportation
- – Field trips to Photo Locations
- – *Pricing based on double occupancy
- – *Single Supplement (if still available) $650/person
- – Roundtrip airfare from your home to Quito
- – gratuities
- -any alcoholic beverages
- -travel insurance
Optional Extension
Amazon Ecuador Extension
| Starts | Dec 9th 2019 |
|---|---|
| End | Dec 13th 2019 |
| Price | $2,150 |
| Deposit | $650 |
| Participants | 8 (Registration now open!) |
| Register |
Getting to our destination is part of the unique adventure of this trip. We will take a motorized canoe along the Napo River and then transfer into other boats that take us along the black-water channels to our lodge. The lodge, operated by a local tribe, will be our base as we explore and photograph wildlife and wild habitats that surround us. We will visit a clay lick to see parrots and parakeets, scan the trees for howler, squirrel and tamarind monkeys, watch the rivers for giant otters, caiman, iguanas and more, go out at night for frogs and insects, and peek under giant tree leaves for roosting bats. This will be a photographic adventure with subjects at every turn. The colors, the sights, the sounds, they will excite your senses and spark your creativity!
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Logistics
Thanks to Mike Whear for the video from our 2018 trip! To see some of his incredible photography visit his facebook page
Itinerary
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Day 1
December 9 Arrive Sani
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Days 2 thru 3
December 10 thru 11 Sani Area
With canoe rides through the jungle, walks along trails, and excursion opportunities day and night, our opportunities to photograph wildlife and nature at its richest is here. The lodge here is in the heart of the Amazon with palm-thatched cabins connected via a boardwalk to the spacious outdoor deck and other common areas all overlooking the river and jungle beyond.
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Day 4
December 12 Transfer to Quito.
After a canoe ride back down the river, we will take a short flight back to Quito for overnight.
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Day 5
December 13 Travel day
Transfer to Quito airport for flight home.
Deposit of $650 due with your reservation
Balance of $1,500 due April 1, 2020
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Included
- – All lodging while in Amazon and Quito
- – All meals
- – All ground transportation
- – Flight from Coca back to Quito
- – All field trips to Photo Locations
- – *Pricing based on double occupancy
- – *Single Supplement (if still available) $500/person
- – Roundtrip airfare from your home to Quito
- – gratuities
- -any alcoholic beverages
- -travel insurance