Jocotoco Antpitta Birding Tour Ecuador
Jocotoco Antpitta Birding Tour Ecuador 2026
Our apologies, this spot is not update to 2025, so it probably has some old information. We will work on it..
For those who have chosen not to stay in the lodge of Tapichalaca Reserve, I have done a proposal which allows you the chance to visit the reserve and enjoy some of the sought after birds that you can find in this spot.
Vilcabamba Valley. Around the valley of Vilcabamba we can find some other target birds such as Elegant Crescent-chest.
Vilcabamba: After a confortable rest in some of the nice hotels in Vilcabamba, one I recomend is Izhcayluma Lodge.
Day Birding Tour from Vilcabamba Izhcayluma: Our trip begins very early in the morning, Before leave Izhcayluma and depending of light day will be possible to hear some birds around the lodge itself, these include Scrub Blackbird, Peruvian-pygmy Owl, Pacific Hornero or the melodious White-edged Oriole. Immediately we set out our trip to the Tapichala Reserve, TThe drive takes about 01h20 minutes. The road itself in some places is good for birds and mix flocks of lots of colorful birds such as Gray hooded-Bush Tanager, Black – crested Warbler, Lacrimouse-mountain Tanager, Grass-green Tanager, Golden-crowned Tanager. These flocks also holds some of the sought after such as the inconspicuous Black-headed Hemispingus or Orange-banded Flycatcher
upon arriving early in the reserve, and if we are in the breeding season that begins from october you will be able to see the endemic and endanger of extinction Golden-plumed Parakeet. Along the path also we can see some birds such as the Pearled Treerunner, Hooded-mountain Tanager, White-banded Tyrannulet, Russet-crowned Warbler and If we are lucky we will see the splendid Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan.
Casa Simpson Lodge. Dinning Room
Jocotoco Antpitta birding tour ecuador.
To get to the spot of the Antpitta takes half an hour or a little bit more if we go slow. Once in the place the park guide will be ready to call and bring it; sometimes the bird is close or sometimes it takes time to call it call it from far away; anyway with a little of patience the spectacular Jocotoco Antpitta finally comes. The bird after some years has used to being called and feed, and it have turned quite tame; that is unbelievable because we can feel the good relation that can turn between animals and the man; once they feel, know that none of these people wants to damage them, they can become in very friendly and tame birds. Here you will have the opportunity to make the best photos of one the birds symbols of Southern Ecuador. After to enjoy this marvelous moment and for those who wants to see the nocturnal birds this is the chance to experience seeing in the morning the roosting site of the Andean Potoo. Otherwise if we are unlucky we most go back in the afternoon at dusk, But this option in case we spend us the night in the lodge of the reserve. Another important bird that we don´t have to miss, is the White – capped Tanger, one of my favorites and target of the birders. On the path itself is possible to find the Chusquea Tapaculo.
Once in the lodge you will see up close lots of hummingbirds while you are enjoying a warm cup of tea or coffee.
Jocotoco Antpitta Tapichalaca Reserve. On the road itself and going down on the way to Valladolid Town you will find other kind of Tanagers such as the Flame-faced Tanager , Blue-capped Tanager, or the Saffron-crowned Tanager. Already in the town although there is not forest, in the surroundings where are some tress or in the place called las palmas is possible to see Marañon´s birds such as the Black-faced Tanager, Marañon Thrush.
This is just an overview of the unforgettable staying and watching birds in the Tapichala Reserve. I invite you to enjoy this trip. Sincerely your fiend Pablo Andrade
