Chocó Galore Special
- Chocó Andino de Pichincha - Ecuador
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Chocó Andino de Pichincha Biosphere Reserve in northern Ecuador is a biodiversity hotspot with over 270 species of mammals, 210 reptiles, 350 bird species, and 130 amphibians.
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15 Days
Medium
6 Guest
3.726 mdpl
Chocó Andino de Pichincha Biosphere Reserve is located in northern Ecuador, in the Pichincha Province, north-west of the capital city of Quito. The altitude of the area ranges from 360m to 4,480m above sea level. Its biodiversity and endemism, along with that of the Amazon and Galapagos, have made Ecuador worthy of the status of a biodiversity hotspot. The Chocó Andino region extends over two critical ecoregions: the humid forest lowlands of the Chocó – Darien, which extend from Panama to the Ecuadorian West, and the Northern Andean Mountain Forests. The region, as a biodiversity hotspot, gathers some 270 species of mammals (including the Spectacled Bear [Tremarctos ornatus]), 210 reptiles, 350 birds species, and 130 amphibians.
The region, as a biodiversity hotspot, gathers some 270 species of mammals (including the Spectacled Bear [Tremarctos ornatus]), 210 reptiles, 350 birds species, and 130 amphibians.
The Northern Ecuador – Choco Cloud Forest Tour covers all the important birding sites found north-west of the capital city of Quito. This area is part of the Chocó bioregion that hosts a great number of endemics and specialities that are only shared with neighbouring areas of Colombia to the north. We will be based in comfortable and well-located lodges, including the Piripe Lodge, Cielo Verde, Kapari Lodge, and Sacha Tamia. These lodges are near first class birding locations like Tandayapa and Mindo valleys, Mashpi Amaguza and Mashpi Wuasi reserves, Manduriacu River, and the lower Silanche area, affording us a wide spectrum of habitats to be birded. Birding in these reserves also gives us the opportunity to support local conservation projects for long-term habitat protection.
Starting with the mystical elfin forest of the temperate zone, followed by bird-rich subtropical cloud forests, we will also venture deeper into tropical foothill forests to reach the mega-diverse lowlands. Iconic species that we will be searching for include Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Giant Antpitta, Plate-billed Mountain and Chocó Toucans, Toucan Barbet, Club-winged Manakin, Glistening-green Tanager, Orange-breasted and Scaled Fruiteaters, Velvet-purple Coronet, Umbrella Bird, and many more. We’ll search for rarities like Black Solitaire, Choco Vireo, and Indigo Flowerpiercer.
A great network of birding reserves, together with excellent lodges, mind-blowing scenery, and friendly people, make the Northwest Ecuador one of the planet’s most delightful birding destinations. Join us!
Highlights:
The charming, historical city of Quito is the capital of Ecuador and conveniently located in the inner Andean Valley. Arrival and transfer from airport to hotel in the heart of the city. Mercure Hotel www.mercurequito.com.ec
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 have an early start to visit one of the best locations in the area to see the male Long-wattled Umbrellabird in full display. Other birds in this area include the Chocó Trogon and Club-winged Manakin. Depending on the results, we might come back earlier to bird the grounds of the lodge, exploring the lower of the reserve. We will then drive to Sacha Tamia. www.sachatamia.com.
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.
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