Birding Photography Tours
East Slope & Yasuni Rainforest: 12 Days Luxury Birding Paradise
Experience Ecuador’s Eastern Slope and the pristine Amazon Basin on this exclusive 12-day birding tour. Crafted as a fully customizable, private experience, this tour immerses you in one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, offering the opportunity to encounter 250 – 350+ bird species while exploring several habitats—from misty Andean cloud forests to the heart of the lowland rainforest, the Yasuni National Park.
Witness spectacular wildlife moments, from mixed flocks, hummingbird feeders, antpitta photo hides, to iconic Amazonian species such as macaws, toucans, antbirds, and cotingas. Also possible Harpy Eagle and incredible mammals like monkeys, giant otters, anacondas, and with luck the Jaguar.
Overnight in Ecuador’s best birding lodges, including a Luxury Amazon lodge deep within primary rainforest, featuring canopy towers, clay licks, forest trails, paddle canoe and expertly guided by our top birding guides, for you to have an extraordinary birdwatching and wildlife photography experience.

Contact Information
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Our Lodges
Andes (Our Base)
HJ: Hacienda Jimenita
East Slope Cloud Forest
E1: San Isidro Lodge
Upper & Lower Amazon Basin
E2: Wild Sumaco Lodge
E3: Limoncocha Cabins
E4: Napo Wildlife Center or Sacha Lodge
Itinerary
ARRIVAL TO ECUADOR
Private Transfer in to our Birding Lodge, Hacienda Jimenita, located 15 minutes from the airport. No meals included.
ANTISANA CONDOR OBSERVATORY & WILDLIFE RESERVE
Pick up from our lodge at 5:30 am and drive towards the Upper Andean Valleys near Antisana Volcano. The Antisana Condor Observatory is the most impressive Andean Mount near Quito and Sanctuary of Wild Andean Condor. Upon arrival to the reserve we will observe the Condors from our Tower and other Hawks, Flowerpiercers, and Hummingbirds with an splendid view to the Waterfall. Continue to Antisana National Park making strategic stops to observe different bird species. We will have lunch viewing Secas Lagoon. After lunch, return to our Lodge surrounded with nature and birding reserve.
Targets: Andean Condor, Shining Sunbeam, Red-Crested Cotinga, Spectacled Redstart, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Caranculated Cara-Cara, Black-chested Buzzard Eagle, Variable Hawk, Black Flowerpiercer, Andean Ibis, Andean Lapwing, Many-striped Canastero, Tawny Antpitta, Giant Hummingbird, Tyrian Metaltail, Andean Duck and others.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight Jimenita Birding Lodge, King Suite with chimney

Andean Condor

Spectacled Bear

Giant Hummingbird
PAPALLACTA PASS AND GUANGO TORRENT DUCK RESERVE
Pick up at 7:00 am for the East Slope Cloud Forest, passing through dry valleys, agricultural lands, and native polylepis forests before ascending into the high páramo, where we may spot a Spectacled Bear. At Papallacta Pass, a key transition zone, we’ll search for mixed flocks and high-altitude hummingbirds if the weather permits. Continuing to Guango Reserve, we’ll explore temperate forest trails and possible Torrent Duck and Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan.
Targets: Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Giant Conebill, Black-capped and Black-eared Hemispingus, Slaty and Pale-naped Brush-Finch, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Buff-tailed Coronet, Collared Inca, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Mountain Cacique, Inca Jay, Torrent Duck, Turquoise Jay and others.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight San Isidro Lodge, Double Room

Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan

Hooded Mountain Tanager

Booted Raquettailed
WAYRA QUAIL FEEDERS, OLLIN WATERFALL AND SUMACO BIRDING ROAD
In the morning birding at Wayra Quail Feeders located in the Upper Amazon Basin, a prime birding location with several hides for Quails, Monkeys, Parrots and Hummingbird Feeders. After lunch continue to Ollin Waterfall for other Hummingbird species and Parrots. Continue to Wild Sumaco Birding Road, for other lowland and foothill birds, making it a perfect spot for birding and photography. Possible Night Owl in the surroundings of the lodge
Targets: Green-and-black Fruiteater, Handsome Flycatcher, Rufous Wren, Grass-greenTanager, Northern Mountain-Cacique, Greater Scythebill, Dusky Piha, Cliff flycatcher, Southern Mealy Amazon, Bay-headed Tanager, Black-faced Dacnis, Collared Trogon, Dusky-headed Parakeet, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Magpie Tanager and others.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight Wild Sumaco Lodge, Double Room

Long-tailed Tyrant

Sumaco National Park

Foothill Screetch Owl
WILD SUMACO RESERVE
Wild Sumaco Reserve is a birding paradise located in the foothills of the eastern Andes, offering access to a remarkable diversity of ecosystems. This reserve is renowned for its incredible birdlife, including both Amazonian lowland species and Andean foothill specialties. The mix of cloud forest, subtropical habitats, and nearby lowland rainforest makes Wild Sumaco a prime destination for spotting trogons, tanagers, antpittas, antwrens, owls and other elusive birds. We wull explore the different trails in the reserve, hummingbird and jacamar feeders, antpitta hides and toucanet trails. Possible Night Owl in the surroundings of the lodge
Targets: Linated Woodpecker, Many-banded Aracari, White-tipped Sicklebill, Green Hermit, Wire-crested Thorntail, Goulds Jewelfront, Grey-headed Kite, Green-backed Trogon, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Channel-billed Toucan, Yellow-throated Toucan, Lined Antshrike, Blue-headed Parrot, White-backed Fire-eye, Peruvian-warbling Antbird, Musician Wren, Golden-collared Toucanet, Amazonia Motmot and others.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight Wild Sumaco Lodge, Double Room

Lined Antshrike

Goulds Jewelfront

Masked-crimson Tanager
AMARUPAKCHA COCK OF THE ROCK LEK AND LIMONCOCHA LAGOON
Early morning transfer to Amarupakcha Reserve for Andean Cock of the Rock Lek – Eastern Subspecie and other lowland specialties. Boxed Lunch along the way and arrival to Limoncocha Biological Reserve and its lagoon that are the best birding paradise in the Lower Amazon Basin. Limoncocha is located in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, this protected area is teeming with biodiversity, offering a haven for a wide range of species, including rare and endemic birds like the new registered Eastern Meadowlark that was spotted January 2025 by our guide Miguel Hipo. The Limoncocha Lagoon, with its serene waters and lush surroundings, is a prime spot for observing Amazonian wildlife. The reserve’s diverse habitats, including wetlands, flooded forests, and tropical rainforest, provide excellent birding opportunities and photography from our private canoe.
Targets: Yellow-breasted Crake, Purple Gallinule, Zigzag Heron, Straited Heron, Tiny Hawk, Southern Lapwing, Swallow-tailed Kite, Snail Kite, Squirrel Cuckoo, Yellow-rumped Cacique, Striped Owl, Red-capped Cardinal, Common Potoo, Greater Ani, White-eared Jacamar, Limpkin, Cocoi Heron, Purple Gallinule, Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Plain-brown woodcreeper, Wattled Jacana, Crested Owl, Guilded Barbet, White-throated Toucan, Eastern Meadowlark, Harpy Eagle and others.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight Limoncocha Cabins, Double Room

Military Macaws

Andean Cock of the Rock

Many-banded Aracari
LIMONCOCHA; WHITE-LORED ANTPITTA FEEDER, CEIBO FOREST TRAIL, AND AFTERNOON PRIVATE CANOE LAGOON
Morning transfer to Limoncocha to start birding at the White-lored Antpitta Feeder, then continue to Ceibo Trail for Amazonian Specialties and afternoon Private Canoe in Limoncocha Lagoon.
Targets: Striated Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Green Ibis, Red-throated Cara Cara, White-lored Antpitta, Yellow-headed Cara Cara, Black-banded Crake, Red and Green Macaw, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Red-bellied Macaw, Tawny-bellied Screetch Owl, Crested Owl, Striped Owl, Tropical Screetch Owl, Spectacled Owl, Amazonian Kingfisher, Ringed Kingfisher, White-eared Jacamar and others.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight Limoncocha Cabins, Double Room

Limoncocha Lagoon

Hoatzin

Red-crowned Titi
LUXURY AMAZON LODGE EXPERIENCE IN NAPO WILDLIFE CENTER or SACHA LODGE
Day 8, 9, and 10. After breakfast, transfer to Coca Dock to begin your journey into Yasuní National Park, one of the most biodiverse regions in the Amazon rainforest. Enjoy a scenic motorized canoe ride along the Napo River to your Amazon lodge interpretation center, surrounded by pristine jungle habitat.
Continue by paddle canoe along forest creeks, with excellent chances to see Amazonian birds, sloths, monkeys, Giant Otters, Agami Heron, and Black Caiman. This region hosts around 550 bird species, making it a premier birding destination. Enjoy canopy towers, forest trails, and guided excursions, with your expert guide planning activities for the best wildlife opportunities.
Sacha Lodge: Canopy Bridge, Kapok Observation Tower, Danta Tower, Crane Lift, Paddle Canoe, Butterfly Farm, Lake Pool, Terra-firme Forest, River Parrot Clay Lick, and Pirahna Fishing.
Napo Wildlife Center: Observation Towers, Paddle Canoe, Terra-firme forest, Napo Parrot Clay Lick, Scarlet Macaws NWC Parrot Clay Lick, Paddle Canoe, Terra-firme forest.
Bird Targets: Hoatzin, Crane Hawk, White-throated Toucan, Orange-crowned Manakin, Gilded Barbet, Green Kingfisher, Tufted Woodpecker, Plum-throated Cotinga, Sungrebe, Flame-crested Tanager, Ivory-billed Aracari, Dot-backed Antbird, Wire-tailed Manakin, Green and Gold Tanager, Agami Heron, Leterred Aracari, Yellow-bellied Dacnis, Blue and Yellow Macaw, Scarlet Macaw, Red and Green Macaw, Chestnut fronted Macaw, Dusky-headed Parakeet, Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, Black-headed Parrot, Orange-cheeked Parrot, Blue-headed Parrot, Yellow-crowned Amazon, and others.
Mammal Target: Two and Three-toed Sloth, Pygmy Marmoset, Red-mantled Sadle-back Tamarin, Golden-mantled Tamarin, White-fronted Capuchin, Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey, Noisy Night Monkey, Red-crowned Titi, Napo Saki, Red-howler Monkey, Spider Monkey, Woolly Monkey, Black Agouti, Capybara, Jaguar, Giant Otter, Collared Peccary, Caiman, Caiman-Lizard and others
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight Napo Wildlife Center or Sacha Lodge, Double Room

Crested Owl

Saki Monkey

Paradise Tanager

Giant Otter

Woolly Monkey

Harpy Eagle
RETURN TO QUITO. LOCAL FLIGHT INCLUDED. LEISURE AFTERNOON IN JIMENITA RESERVE
Early morning transfer by shared motor boat to Coca and continue by flight to Quito. Arrival and transfer to our lodge. Leisure afternoon in our Birding Reserve.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner
Overnight Jimenita Lodge, King with chimney

Tufted Tit-Tyrant

Vermillion Flycatcher

Delicious Meals
TRANSFER OUT TO QUITO AIRPORT
24/7 Transfer out to Quito Airport after breakfast. End of Services or request an EXTENSION to Galapagos Islands either Galapagos Cruises or Galapagos Island Hopping.
Our Birding Lodges
We will overnight in the following lodges:
Testimonials
Tour Inclusions
The following outlines whats Included and Not Included in our Birding Packages:
Welcome Drink
24/7 Private Airport Transfers Airport-Hotel-Airport
Excellent Accommodations
Specialized English-speaking Birding Guide
Entrance Fees to Reserves, Hides, Feeders, Observation Towers
Delicious and Healthy Meals based on your dietary restrictions
Private Canoe in Limoncocha Lagoon and Yasuni
4 Days 3 Nights All Inclusive Amazon Lodge with Private Birding Guide
Local Flight One Way Coca-Quito
Ebird Online Birding Report
Quality Services
Special Souvenir
Personal Expenses
Alcoholic and Soft Drinks
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Community Amazon Entrance Fee $10pp
Tips
Birding and Wildlife
Private Birding Canoe
Birding Trails
Canopy Bridge and Observation Tower
Parrot Clay Licks, Toucan Feeders, Hummingbird Feeders, Cotinga Hides, Condor Observatory, Antpitta Hides
Moth and Insect Feeders
Night Owl Observation and Reptiles and Amphibians
Spectacled Bear Reserve
Waterfall Landscapes
Trip Reports

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