Chocó Galore Special

We have an early start this morning to visit Zuroloma, a small-scale independent reserve which offers great opportunities to watch 3 Antpitta species, including the specialty Chestnut-napped Antpitta (probably a cryptic new species awaiting description), as well as some other special bird species, such as Barred Fruiteater, many colourful hummingbirds, and tanagers. Later, we will bird the famous Tandayapa Valley and have lunch in Guaycapi or enjoy a box lunch. In the afternoon, we will drive through Alambi to the Pacto Piripe Lodge, with birding stops along the way. www.piripelodge.com

We will enjoy a full day birding around the Piripe area. Early in the morning, we’ll visit the Cock-of-the-Rock lek at Santa Elena, and in the afternoon, we will look for birds while we visit a traditional sugar cane family project. There will be many opportunities to bird in the surrounding areas. Lunch in Piripe or a box lunch is provided. www.piripelodge.com

Today is a very special day as we enjoy our first exploration of the upper part of Mashpi Road, and visit Amagusa where we’ll enjoy birds, such as the rare Indigo Flowerpiercer, Glistening Green Tanager, Moss-backed Tanager, and a whole range of hummingbirds, including Empress Brilliant, Velvet-purple Coronet, Violet-tailed Sylph, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, and many others. We’ll have a box lunch at Mashpi Wuasi while we watch hummingbirds feeding at the feeders. In the afternoon, we’ll take a birding drive to the lodge. Cielo Verde Lodge. www.cieloverde.ec

We have an early departure from the lodge to continue birding from the middle part of the Mashpi Road down to the lower elevations, seeking birds like Black-tipped Cotinga, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Baudo Guan, Yellow-green Bush Tanager, and White-capped Dipper. We’ll have a box lunch and more birding in the afternoon, with a stop at a reservoir to look for waterbirds. Cielo Verde. www.cieloverde.ec

We’ll have a full day of exploring around Mashpi River and the vicinity looking for Choco birds, such as Rose-faced Parrot, Choco Toucan, Choco Warbler, Scarlet-browed Tanager, Indigo-crowned Quail-Dove, Orange-fronted Barbet, Blue-whiskered Tanager, Purple chested Hummingbird, and many more endemics. This area is part of a chocolate farm conservation project. We’ll enjoy lunch locally and in the late afternoon, transfer to Kapari Lodge. www.kaparilodge.com.ec

We will spend a full day of birding in the lower elevations of the Chocó area, Silanche Road, and forest reserve. This place is very special as it offers the chance to bird from a canopy tower, allowing good viewing opportunities of Scarlet-breasted and Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, and Blue-whiskered, Rufous-winged, Golden-hooded, Gray-and-Gold, and Scarlet-browed Tanagers. Dusky Pigeon is also a regular here, and so are mixed flocks of Pale-mandible Araçari, Chocó and Chestnut-mandible Toucans, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Western Slaty-Antshrike, and White-tailed and Chocó Trogons. We will have lunch in the field and overnight in Sachatamia Lodge. www.sachatamia.com

The best way to finish this amazing birding tour is by to visiting the famous Antpitta Farm for more specialities, including possibilities such as Yellow-breasted, Giant, Moustached, Ochre-breasted, and Chestnut-crowned Antpittas. We will spend the rest of the morning looking for Toucan Barbet, Golden headed Quetzal, Scaled Fruiteater, and many colorful tanagers and hummingbirds. At the end of the morning, we’ll head to the lodge for lunch and then return to Quito for our international flights home.