PLACES TO VISIT:
TAPICHALACA RESERVE, PODOCARPUS NATIONAL PARK ( BOMBUSCARO RIVER, CAJANUMA (PODOCARPUS PARK), COPALINGA RESERVE, BUENAVENTURA RESERVE.
Itinerary
Expect more than 250 species of birds.
Day 1.
Welcome at the airport of Catamayo (1400 meters of elevation). We will begin our first birdwatching in the surroundings of the Town.
Immediately after a trip of two hours we will go to the Copalinga Reserve that it is located next to the Bombuscaro River, and is characterized by cultivated zones and farms. Copalinga and its surroundings is very good for birding and walking the trails. When the Inga edulis tree is flowering, you can see the Wire-crested Thorntail, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Green Violetear, and maybe the elusive Spangled Coquete.
We may also encounter the White-banded Swallow, Long-tailed Tyrant, Mottle-backed Elaenia, and flocks of tanagers such as Black-faced Dacnis, Swallow Tanager, Guira Tanager, Orange-eared Tanager, Paradise Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager and Bay-headed Tanager. We can also hear species such as the Dark-breasted Spinetail, Lined-Antshrike and Blackish Antbird depending on the time of the year. The noisy Speckled Chachalaca may be heard and with a bit of luck be seen.
Night at Copalinga Eco-lodge.
Day 2
After an early breakfast, we start birding along the paths of the reserve.
Following the Bombuscaro River we will look for White-capped Dipper, Torrent Duck and Green Kingfisher.
The Podocarpus National Park is located 3 km from the Copalinga Reserve. To reach the Podocarpus Park and the Visitor Center will take about 40 minutes. Along this trail we will look for the Coppery-chested Jacamar, White-breasted Parakeet and see species such as Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Ornate Flycatcher, a variety of tanagers such as the Golden-eared Tanager, Golden Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Bay-headed Tanager, Flame-crested Tanager, Common-bush Tanager, Yellow-throated Bush Tanager, Subtropical Cacique and, if we are lucky, we will find the Andean Cock of the Rock and Amazonian Umbrellabird.
We will also search for other important species such as Ecuadorian Piedtail and the Highland Motmot.
Night at Copalinga Eco-lodge.
Day 3
11h00 Departure to Loja and Tapichalaca Reserve, trip which takes about three hours thirty minutes
Birding along the road towards Tapichala Reserve. Our first impression at the lodge will be the presence of many hummingbird species by the feeders around the house. Amongst these Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Chesnut-breasted Coronet, Collared Inca, Little Sunangel, Long–tailed Sylph. In the afternoon we will walk the paths around the lodge.
Possibilities are Chusquea Tapaculo, Golden Plumed Parakeet, tanagers such as Lacrimouse Mountain Tanager, Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager, Hoode Mountain Tanager, Golden-crowned Tanager, Other possibilities are and White-capped Tanager or the elusive Andean Potoo that can be seen or heard.
Night in Tapichalaca Reserve.
Day 4
We will bird along the trails early morning. After breakfast at the lodge we will walk along a trail for about 40 minutes, and if the luck is with us, we will be able to see the famous Jocotoco Antpitta. After, we will continue looking for new birds such as, Grass-green Tanager, Orange-banded Flycatcher, Ocellated Tapaculo, Azara’s Spinetail and Rufous Wren and many others.
Night in the Tapichalaca Reserve.
Day 5
Tapichalaca, birding around the lodge.
11h00 departure to Cajanuma in the Podocarpus National Park.
Whole day in Cajanuma. Target birds Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, Bearded Guan.
Night in Loja
Day 6.
Return back to Cajanuma.
11h00 Returning to Loja and then to Buenaventura Reserve. This trip takes 4 hours.
Lunch on the way to Buenaventura
Night in the Buenaventura Reserve
Day 7
After breakfast at the reserve we will begin our day in the best birding locations in southwest – Buenaventura.
Here we will have the opportunity to see species such as the Long Wattled Umbrella Bird, El Oro Parakeet, Chesnut-mandibled Toucan, Pacific Tuftedcheek, Booted Racket-tail, Tawny-bellied Hermit, White-whiskered Hermit, Baron´s Hermit, White-bearded Manakin, Club-winged Manakin, Bay Wren, Whiskered Wren, Lesser Greenlet and several tanagers such as Silver-throated and Rufous-throated Tanager. Other elusive species that we will try to see are the Choco Toucan or el Oro Tapaculo.
Other important species we may see are: Gray-back Hawk, Gray-cheeked Parakeet, Speckle-breasted Wren and Ecuadorian Thrush and many others.
Dinner and nights in the Buenaventura Reserve
Day 8
We will bird at Buenaventura Reserve for half day and then return to Loja or Guayaquil for your accommodation and flight to Quito the next day.
8 days tour price is:
Our apologies. Ask for our prices 2021 - 22
Included:
Guide, Language(Spanish/English), meals, transportation, accommodation.
Excluded:
Internal flight to Quito – Loja, personal expenses and alcoholic drinks.
Note: by define the city’s return to Quito or Guayaquil from Loja or Zamora, as well as the accommodation of the last day which is not included