Meal: Dinner
Accommodation: In the hotel

Enjoy your first meal in Ecuador, whether it's dinner or another meal – depending on when your flight gets in. An introductory briefing will prepare you for the exciting journey to come.

Overnight stay in Quito.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge

Our exploration of the 1,200-hectare Yanacocha Reserve begins with a climb into its higher elevations, a protected area nestled within farmland dotted with mature forests. This reserve provides a habitat for the Black-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis), designated Quito's emblematic bird in 2005. During our explorations, we can expect to see a variety of high-altitude species such as Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Black-chested Mountain-Tanager, Tawny Antpitta, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Sword-billed Hummingbird, and many more.

As we descend the mountain, we might see Torrent Ducks in the fast streams and likely a White-capped Dipper.

Lunch will be at a lower altitude (1700 meters) in the Tandayapa Valley, amidst a vibrant hummingbird and tanager garden. Hummingbirds, such as the White-necked Jacobin, White-bellied Woodstar, and Green-crowned Woodnymph, put on a dazzling show in this lively place. Keep an eye out for tanagers, euphonias, the striking Red-headed Barbet, and—with a bit of luck—the elusive Crested Quetzal.

Late afternoon brings our journey to Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge, a sprawling 1,000-acre reserve overlooking the verdant Tandayapa Valley. Originally established in 1995, Bellavista became Ecuador´s first private protected area in 2019. Bellavista has ensured the region's long-term conservation, motivating neighboring landowners to participate in protecting this incredibly biodiverse area, to the extent that in 2025, various landowners in the valley joined the Bellavista initiative, and formed the Bellavista-Tandayapa private wildlife refuge.

Nighttime offers an excellent chance to observe the Olinguito—a species newly described in 2013—along with Kinkajous and other nocturnal creatures.

Overnight stay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge

Birdwatchers can see many species, including the Strong-billed Woodcreeper, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Turquoise Jay, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, White-sided and Masked Flower piercers, and the striking Masked Trogon, during early morning birdwatching trips near the lodge. Mammals, such as the rare Tayra (giant weasel), also visit the lodge, sometimes even using the feeding station.

Following breakfast, we'll visit Bellavista's best birdwatching spots, which feature new feeding stations designed to improve viewing and provide ideal photographic lighting. This area boasts an impressive array of avian species; you might spot the striking Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Toucan Barbet, and Green-and-black Fruiteater, along with a variety of vibrant tanagers, including the Grass-green Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Golden-naped Tanager, Golden Tanager, and Flame-faced Tanager. We might even be lucky enough to see a rare White-faced Nunbird.

Following lunch, our birding continued along the scenic ridge, with hopes of finding Rusty-winged Barbtails, Streaked Tuftedcheeks, Pearled Treerunners, Black-capped Hemispingus, and more tanager species. Further into the forest, we hope to spot Powerful Woodpeckers, Golden-headed Quetzals, Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrants, and other cloud forest treasures.

Overnight Stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge

Explore Bellavista's incredible biodiversity today with a selection of unique guided hikes. If you choose a night hike, you might encounter amazing nocturnal animals including the unusual Pinocchio frog, sleeping insects, and other exciting surprises as the sun sets. These hikes showcase the abundant wildlife of this protected cloud forest.

Overnight stay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge

Today's destination is Amaguza Reserve, a 500-meter-high haven of vibrant birdlife, notably the Glistening-green Tanager and many other colorful tanagers. Photographers will find incredible opportunities at this excellent feeding station, where you can spot birds such as the Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Pacific Parrotlet, Scaled Fruiteater, Beautiful Jay, Moss-backed Tanager, and Golden-hooded Tanager.

We'll spend the afternoon at a fascinating oilbird cave roost, watching these unique birds in their natural habitat.

Return to Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge for an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge

We highly recommend exploring Bellavista Lodge independently for a deeper connection with the environment. Independent exploration provides a personal viewpoint of the forest, adding to insights gained with a naturalist or birding guide. Endless opportunities for discovery await within the lodge's varied habitats and trail systems.

Overnight stay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Milpe Lodge

We leave Bellavista early at 4:45 am and from there we'll visit the Paz de las Aves Reserve. Once we arrive, we'll take a scenic hike on a marked trail to a viewing blind for excellent views of the Cock-of-the-Rock. Males become active just before sunrise, continuing their displays throughout the early morning, particularly if a female is present.

We'll take a short walk to see if we can spot a Yellow-breasted Antpitta, then visit Angel, the Antpitta Whisperer, who can call in his friends. We might be lucky enough to spot as many as three antpitta species here: the Giant Antpitta, Moustached Antpitta, and Ochre-breasted Antpitta.

This region's distinctive, mountainous terrain fosters a rich diversity of birdlife. Next, we'll visit a beautiful nature reserve and stay at a lodge in Milpe, where we can see many hummingbirds and other birds like Aracaris, Rufous Motmots, and Choco Toucans and more. This area is notable for the active lek of the truly remarkable Club-winged Manakin.

Overnight stay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Quinta La Constanza, Tababela

This morning's excursion takes us to a prime location for spotting the Long-wattled Umbrellabird, famed for its captivating, swaying feather beard—a feature that is highly attractive to the females.

Continuing our journey, we'll explore Silanche Reserve, where road and trail birding provides excellent chances to see endemic Chocó species like the Rufous-winged Tanager, Blue-whiskered Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, Chocó Trogon, and Chocó Warbler.

Before heading back to Quito that afternoon, we'll explore a lovely little nature reserve, offering amazing views of Crimson-rumped Toucanets and even more stunning hummingbirds.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Quinta La Constanza, Tababela

Today's adventure takes us to the Antisana National Park, a little over an hour's drive into the high-altitude paramo grasslands. Famous for its Andean Condor population, we'll enjoy breakfast at a breathtaking viewpoint where these majestic birds roost and nest. Their early morning flight, catching the thermals, will be visible to us.

As we venture deeper into the park, we will look for the highly localized Andean Ibis, Andean Lapwing, Andean Gull, Paramo Seedeater, and Carunculated Caracara. On the lake, we may catch a glimpse of the small but striking Silvery Grebe, while the Andean White-tailed Deer often roams the open paramo. Antisana is an active stratovolcano, the fourth highest in Ecuador, offering a stunning landscape.

We'll also explore the newly established Chakana Reserve, known for its elusive Spectacled Bear sightings. While we can't promise a sighting, we're going on a special trip to look for this rare species.

In the afternoon, we return to the lodge for a relaxing dinner.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Sani Lodge

Our day starts with a scenic flight over the Eastern Cordillera into the Amazon Basin, arriving in Coca in the morning. Upon arrival, a driver will pick us up and take us to a small port to begin our three-hour motor canoe trip down the Napo River, Ecuador's largest Amazon tributary.

During our trip, we can enjoy a packed lunch while watching for herons, egrets, and vultures. Next, we'll take a short walk to Challwacocha Creek, where we'll board paddle canoes and explore the main flooded forest. This area is home to unique bird species including the Cocha Antshrike, Dot-backed Antbird, Silvered Antbird, Plumbeous Antbird, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, and Capped Heron.

A welcome cocktail and snacks await us upon arrival at Sani Lodge. Following a welcome talk about the lodge and its offerings, you can relax in your cabin or join a walk or canoe trip. While doing these activities, keep an eye out for birds such as the Wattled Jacana, White-chinned Jacamar, Agami Heron, Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, Hoatzin, various Macaws, the Cobalt-winged Parakeet, the Mealy Amazon Parrot, and many more.

Dinner features a diverse menu of international and national cuisine, including vegetarian and vegan choices.

We'll end the day with a night canoe trip, hoping to see Common Pauraques, Common Potoos, Black-crowned Night Herons, Boat-billed Herons, and more.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Sani Lodge

Following breakfast, we'll explore the amazing birds from Sani Lodge's 118-foot-high observation tower. We'll reach the tower after a 30-minute paddle across Challwacocha Lake and a short 10-minute walk. Here, you can see many kinds of birds, such as macaws, toucans species, honeycreepers, tanagers, flycatchers, hummingbirds, and—if you're lucky—the rare Harpy Eagle.

Later, we will go down and spend the rest of the day exploring the forest floor, searching mainly for antbirds and manakins.

Enjoy a well-deserved break with lunch at the lodge. Keep your binoculars at the ready—we'll be on the lookout for species such as the Silver-beaked Tanager, Long-billed Woodcreeper, Masked Crimson Tanager, the famous Hoatzin, Yellow-rumped Cacique, White-throated Toucan, and Many-banded Aracari.

This afternoon, we'll hike the Chorongo Trail, hoping to see Brownish Twistwings, Chestnut-belted Gnateaters, Black-tailed Leaftossers, Thrush-like Antpittas, Wire-tailed and Blue-crowned Manakins, Screaming Pihas, and Rusty-belted Tapaculos.

Overnight stay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Sani Lodge

We leave for the Napo River after breakfast, then take a boat to Yasuni National Park. The incredible experience of watching hundreds of parrots competing for spots to eat the mineral-rich clay awaits you there. This area's birdlife includes Mealy Amazon Parrots, Yellow-crowned Parrots, Orange-winged Parrots, Blue-headed Parrots, and Dusky-headed Parakeets.

Our next stop is another clay lick, a natural cave where Cobalt-winged Parakeets, often joined by Scarlet Macaws and Orange-cheeked Parrots, drink mineral-rich water.

A hike into Yasuni National Park, the world's most biodiverse area, on the south side of the Napo River, is another option. This trek will give us the chance to spot species not found in the northern regions, including White-plumed Antbird, Lunulated Antbird, Blue-backed Manakin, Ochre-striped Antpitta, Chestnut-headed Crake, Yellow-billed Jacamar, Purplish Jacamar, Ash-throated Gnateater, Rio Suno Antwren, Rufous-tailed Antwren, and Brown-backed Antwren.

In the late afternoon, we’ll return to the lodge for dinner.

Overnight stay at the lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Sani Lodge

Our birdwatching adventure today will take us to the islands, Gallery Forest, and secondary growth forests, where we hope to see many different kinds of birds.

We'll be on the lookout for birds like the White-eared Jacamar, Ivory-billed Aracari, Orange-backed Troupial, Olive-spotted Hummingbird, Fuscous Flycatcher, Black-and-white Antbird, White-bellied & Dark-breasted Spinetails, Orange-headed Tanager, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Russet-backed Oropendola, Green Oropendola, Many-banded Aracari, Black-fronted Nunbird, Speckled Chachalaca, Magpie Tanager, Rusty-belted Tapaculo

We'll spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge after a day of birdwatching. We'll add your bird sightings to the list later this evening.

Overnight stay at the lodge.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

We'll enjoy a final canoe trip down Chawllacocha Creek after an early breakfast, taking in the stunning Amazonian wildlife and peaceful sunrise. We'll then take a motor canoe down the Napo River, leaving this magical place and arriving in Coca in time to catch our flight to Quito.

Your flight's schedule allows for a smooth connection to your return flight.

Tour Ends.

Note: While our itinerary emphasizes birdwatching, we'll also encounter a wide variety of other wildlife. You'll encounter a wide array of wildlife, from monkeys to butterflies, on this tour. Here are some of the amazing things we anticipate seeing:

The list includes Guatusa, Pacarana, Linnaeus Two-toed Sloth, Giant Otter, Eastern Lowland Olingo, Jaguar, Small River Turtle, River Turtle, Black Caiman, Rinella Dapsilis, Allobates Zaparo, Rhaebo Guttatus.

This will be a fantastic and memorable end to an amazing adventure. Get ready for amazing wildlife encounters—this region's rich biodiversity guarantees a thrilling adventure!

(Be careful about flights here. Klm or Iberia via Europe leave late afternoon, flights via USA can be late night or morning. My suggestion is not necessarily to schedule international departure on the day you return from the amazon, this would need an extra night at la constanza, making a 15-day 14 night in country tour)