Southern Ecuador Birding: 16 Days Tumbesian Endemics

Private transfer in to Manging Hotel located downtown Guayaquil, about 20 minutes from the airport. Overnight Manging Galeria Hotel, no meals included.

We start from Guayaquil City, birding in Lagartera Marshes along the way in this Coastal Province towards Buenaventura Reserve in El Oro Province. This habitat attracts a wide variety of waterbirds and migratory species throughout the year. Targets include Horned Screamer, herons, egrets, ibis, and numerous shorebirds. Excellent for photography and easy birding in open landscapes.

Targets: Horned Screamer, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Roseate Spoonbill, Cocoi Heron, Amazilia Hummingbird, White Ibis, Savannas Hawk, Peruvian Pygmy Owl, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, White-tailed Jay, Ecuadorian Piculet and others.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Umbrellabird Lodge, Double Room

Morning birding in the Buenaventura Reserve looking for the Long-wattled Umbrellabird. A lush Chocó foothill reserve and one of Ecuador’s premier birding hotspots for endemic species. Famous for protecting the endangered El Oro Parakeet, a key target species. It is also home to Club-winged Manakin, and vibrant tanagers. Explore the upper part of the birding trails for other bird species.

Targets: Gray-backed Hawk, White-whiskered Puffbird, El Oro Parakeet, Club-winged Manakin, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, El Oro Tapaculo, Ecuadorian Trogon, Emeral-bellied Woodnymph, Grey-breasted Flycatcher, Rufous-throated Tanager, Zeldons Antbird,  and others.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Buenaventura Lodge, Double Room

Continue birding in the Dry-deciduous and Humid Evergreen Forests. This is a unique and highly endemic ecosystem in southwestern Ecuador near the Peruvian border. It is characterized by dry forests, scrub, and seasonal habitats rich in local species. Some of the key targets include Tumbes Sparrow, Elegant Crescentchest, and White-tailed Jay. An essential region for birders seeking Tumbesian endemics.

Targets: Long-billed Starthroat, Pacific Parrotlet, Grey-cheeked Parakeet, West Peruvian Screetch Owl, Watkins Antpitta, Whooping Motmot, Peruvian Pygmy Owl, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Black and white Tanager, White-edged Oriole, Plumbeous Black-thrush and others.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Urraca Lodge, Double Room

One of the best-preserved Tumbesian dry forest reserves in southern Ecuador is Jorupe Reserve, as it offers excellent opportunities for endemic and near-endemic species. Targets include Watkins’s Antpitta, Grey-cheeked Parakeet, and Ochre-bellied Dove. A must-visit site for specialized dry forest birding.

Targets: Striped Cuckoo, Black-capped Sparrow, Elegant Crescentchest, Lesser Goldfinch, Bay-crowned Brushfinch, White-vented Plumeleteer, Black-cowled Saltator, Rainbow Starfrontlet, and others.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Urraca Lodge, Double Room

Utuana Reserve and Cerro Sabanilla are a transition zone between dry valleys and humid montane cloud forest that are rich in mixed-species flocks and less commonly visited birding areas. Targets include Gray-headed Antbird, Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, and Andean specialities.

Targets: Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Little Sunangel, Scaly-naped Amazon, Citrine Warbler, Lacrimose Mountain Tanager, Blue and Black Tanager, Green Hermit, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Maranon Thrush, Olivaceous Siskin, Silver-beaked Tanager and others.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Casa Simpson Lodge, Double Room

Visit Tapichalaca Reserve to observe the endemic Jocotoco Antpitta. The reserve is surrounded with cloud forest habitat with high levels of endemism and conservation importance. Also home to White-breasted Parakeet and a variety of mountain tanagers. We will explore the main trails of the reserve and hummingbird feeders.

Targets: Spotted Tanager, Yellow-bellied Tanager, Green and Gold Tanager, Striolated Manakin, Bay headed Tanager, Paradise Tanager, Peruvian Anpitta, Masked Mountain Tanager, Undulated Antpitta, Neblina Metaltail, Bearded Guan, Jocotoco Antpitta, Flame-throated Sunangel, Green and Black Fruiteater and others.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Casa Simpson Lodge, Double Room

Copalinga is located near Zamora on the eastern Andean slope, in lush foothill rainforest. A biodiversity hotspot with excellent forest trails and birding sites. Targets include Amazonian Umbrellabird, White-breasted Parakeet, and trogons. Ideal for observing mixed flocks and subtropical forest species.

Targets: Grey Tinamou, Little Tinamou, Amazonian Umbrellabird, White-capped Tanager, Golden-eared Tanager, Speckled Chachalaca, Peruvian Racket-tail, Gliterring-throated Emerald, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Andean Cock of the Rock, Swallow Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, Bronze-green Euphonia, Red-crested Finch, Gilded Barbet and others.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Copalinga Lodge, Double Room

The Zamora Birding Road is one of Ecuador’s most productive birding corridors along the Andean foothills. It offers access to diverse habitats and exceptional hummingbird activity like the Spangled Coquette. Highlights include Wire-crested Thorntail, Ecuadorian Piedtail, and other specialties.
We will explore the feeders and roadside birding provide close and rewarding encounters. Afternoon arrival to Yankuam Cabins.

Targets: Green-backed Trogon, Amethyst Woodstar, Black Caracara, Slender-billed Xenops, Black-faced Dacnis, Purple Honeycreeper, Golden Tanager, Orange-fronted Tanager, Spangled Coquette, Wire-crested Thorntail and others.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Yankuam Cabins, Double Room

Yankuam Reserve is located in the remote southeastern Amazon foothills near the Nangaritza Valley, it protects vast areas of pristine rainforest with exceptional biodiversity. It is one of the last places to observe the endemic Orange-throated Tanager. Morning birding begins around the lodge and along forest trails, where mixed flocks and understory species are highly active. Key targets include Orange-throated Tanager, Military Macaw, White-plumed Antbird, and a variety of Amazonian specialties.

Targets: Lemon throated Barbet, Swallow Tanager, Yellow bellied Dacnis, Purplish Jacamar, Green and backed Trogon, Tropical Screetch Owl, Paradise Tanager, White-eared Parakeet, Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher, Flace-crested Tanager and others. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Yankuam Cabins, Double Room

After breakfast, we begin a scenic drive toward Saraguro in the Andean highlands, passing through the city of Loja and enjoying breathtaking panoramic views along the way. We will make strategic birding stops across high-Andean páramo and montane forest habitats, targeting a variety of hummingbirds, finches, and regional Andean specialties. This journey offers a rewarding combination of landscapes and birding opportunities as we transition into southern Ecuador’s highland ecosystems.

Targets: Zone-tailed Hawk, Gray-lined Hawk, Ivory-billed Aracari, Purplish Jacamar, Golden-collared Toucanet, Blue-headed Parrot, Peruvian-warbling Antbird, Chestnut-crowned Beccard, Yellow-backed Tanager,  Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Spangled Cotinga, Bearded Guan and others.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Inti Wasi Hotel Saraguro, Double Room

An early morning transfer takes us to Cerro de Arcos, a spectacular high-altitude páramo site and one of the best locations to search for the recently described and endemic Blue-throated Hillstar. This rare hummingbird inhabits these remote, windswept landscapes, offering a unique and highly sought-after birding opportunity. The open páramo also supports a range of high-Andean specialists and raptors, making this a rewarding stop for both birding and scenery in Ecuador’s southern highlands.

Targets: Blue-throated Hillstar, Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager, Mountain Caracara, Mouse-colored Thistletail, Sharp-shinned Hawk and others

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Posada del Angel Cuenca Hotel, Double Room

After an enjoyable arrival in Cuenca, a charming colonial city, we will explore Cajas National Park, one of Ecuador’s most iconic high-Andean landscapes. This national park features a mosaic of lakes and páramo ecosystems, providing key habitat for waterfowl and high-altitude species. Targets include Giant Hummingbird, Tit-like Dacnis, Andean Teal, and various rail species, along with other important Andean endemics. Afternoon return to Cuenca.

Targets: Violet-throated Metaltail, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Giant Conebill, Shining Sunbeam, Great Sapphirewing, Red-rumped Bush-tyrant, Tit-like Dacnis, Andean Gull, Andean Teal and others

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Posada del Angel Hotel Cuenca, Double Room

Morning exploring Downtown Cuenca and then continue our return to Guayaquil. We will stop at few spots along Cajas National Park and the transition zone to the pacific coast. Late afternoon arrival to Guayaquil Hotel.

Targets: Horned screamer, Wood Stork, Pearl Kite, Snail Kite, Tricolored Munia and others.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Manging Galeria Guayaquil Hotel, Double Room

After breakfast private transfer to Guayaquil Airport. End of services or extension to Galapagos Islands.