Ecuador 2.0

2027 Adventure to Ecuador Information Below

DAY 01 - 10JAN - We arrive in Quito and settle into Puembo Birding Garden, resting at 7,500–8,000 ft (2,300–2,450 m) in the dry inter‑Andean valley, where gardens and native scrub create our first birding landscape.

DAY 02 - 11JAN - We begin at Puembo Birding Garden before climbing to Reserva Maraksacha at 9,000–9,500 ft (2,750–2,900 m) in upper Andean cloud forest, then descend into the foothill cloud forests of Alambi Reserve at 4,500–5,000 ft (1,350–1,500 m) and Guaycapi Lodge at 6,000 ft (1800-2100 m) for a lush mix of feeders, forest edge, and mid‑elevation habitat.

→ Day 2 Target Birds

DAY 03 - 12JAN - We leave Guaycapi and drop into the Chocó lowlands at Río Silanche Bird Sanctuary, just 1,000–1,200 ft (300–370 m) in humid lowland rainforest, continue to the slightly higher foothill rainforest and agroforest of Sendero Frutti at 1,600–1,900 ft (370–430 m), and return to the foothill cloud forest at Guaycapi.

→ Day 3 Target Birds

DAY 04 - 13JAN - We ascend from Guaycapi to the Chocó foothill cloud forest of Mashpi‑Amagusa Reserve at 4,200–5,000 ft (1,500–1,800 m), climb higher into the elfin and humid montane forest of Zuro Loma Reserve at 10,000–10,500 ft (3,050–3,200 m), and finish the day back in the dry valley gardens of Puembo Birding Garden.

→ Day 4 Target Birds

Option 2 - DAY 04 - 13JAN - We ascend from Guaycapi to the Chocó foothill cloud forest of Mashpi‑Amagusa Reserve at 4,200–5,000 ft (1,500–1,800 m), leave Mashpi to have lunch at Restaurante Mirador Guaycapi then head to Mitad del Mundo, and finish the day back in the dry valley gardens of Puembo Birding Garden.

→ Day 4 Target Birds

DAY 05 - 14JAN - We travel into the sweeping high Andean páramo of Antisana National Park, ranging from 12,500–13,500 ft (3,800–4,100 m), descend to Tambo Cóndor at 10,800–12,000 ft (3,300–3,650 m) amid páramo cliffs and Andean shrublands, and return to the inter‑Andean valley at Puembo Birding Garden.

→ Day 5 Target Birds

DAY 06 - 15JAN - We depart PBG and climb to the stark páramo and elfin forest transition of Papallacta Pass Area at 13,000–14,000 ft (3,960–4,270 m), then drop into the eastern Andean foothill river valley around Baeza at 5,800–6,200 ft (1,750–1,900 m), ending our day in the eastern slope cloud forest of Cabañas San Isidro at 6,500–7,200 ft (2,000–2,200 m).

→ Day 6 Target Birds

DAY 07 - 16JAN - We begin in the cloud forests of San Isidro, climb to the upper montane cloud forest of Wayra Reserve at 8,500–9,200 ft (2,600–2,800 m), descend to the humid foothill rainforest of Wildsumaco at 4,700–5,000 ft (1,450–1,520 m), and return to the eastern slope cloud forest at San Isidro.

→ Day 7 Target Birds

DAY 08 - 17JAN - We spend the morning in the cloud forests of Cabañas San Isidro  at 6,500–7,200 ft (2,000–2,200 m), continue to the eastern foothill forest of El Quetzal Bosque Protegido at 5,800–6,200 ft (1,750–1,900 m), and finish the day in the cool upper montane cloud forest and river corridor of Guango Lodge at 8,800–9,600 ft (2,700–2,900 m).

→ Day 8 Target Birds

DAY 09 - 18JAN - We explore the temperate Andean cloud forest around Guango Lodge at 8,800–9,600 ft (2,700–2,900 m) before descending once more to the dry inter‑Andean valley gardens of Puembo Birding Garden at 7,500–8,000 ft (2,300–2,450 m) to conclude our journey.

→ Day 9 Target Birds

DAY 10 - 19JAN - Flights out (some may leave night before)

Miscellaneous Info

🌦️ ECUADOR BIRDING WEATHER DASHBOARD

• 🌴 WEST SLOPE  (MSN Weather Website)

• 🏔️ HIGH ANDES  (WeatherBug Website)

• 🌿 EAST SLOPE CLOUD FOREST  (MSN Weather Website)

• 🌋 FOOTHILL TRANSITION ZONE (Meteoblue Website)

Hospital & Medical Clinic Info

MEDICAL CLINICS

• Centro de Salud Tipo "A" Mindo https://maps.app.goo.gl/zRnbSdHe612jYYtX9 

• Hospital Básico Baeza https://maps.app.goo.gl/dCPBLqyKRN8gS1PAA  

MAJOR HOSPITAL

Hospital de los Valles in Quito https://maps.app.goo.gl/nRJVMYjRjWGZwBxz8 

In emergency dial 9-1-1