Ecuador Bird Photography: Andes & Chocó

Arrival

Reception at the airport and meeting with your guide

Transfer Quito Airport –> San Jorge Eco-lodge

Hotel Check-In

Tour Orientation

Welcome Dinner

Breakfast

Antpitta Feeding Station at San Jorge Eco-lodge

A short drive brings us to one of the Andean foothills' renowned antpitta feeding stations, where patient fieldcraft offers exceptional photographic opportunities. Rufous, Chestnut-crowned, and, with some luck, Chestnut-naped Antpittas may appear at close range, revealing these famously elusive birds. The surrounding gardens are equally rewarding, attracting colorful hummingbirds, mountain tanagers, and other cloud forest specialties throughout the morning.

Lunch

Humming bird feeders at San Jorge

Spend the afternoon photographing hummingbirds from the comfort of the lodge, where feeders and thoughtfully placed natural perches provide excellent opportunities for close-up images. Sword-billed Hummingbird, Black-tailed and Green-tailed Trainbearers, Sparkling Violetear, Tyrian Metaltail, Shining Sunbeam, and White-bellied Woodstar are among the regular visitors, with changing light offering a variety of creative photographic possibilities.

Bird Photography Around the Lodge Gardens

The lodge gardens attract far more than hummingbirds. Between photography sessions, keep an eye out for species such as Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Rufous-naped Brushfinch, Azara's Spinetail, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Southern Yellow Grosbeak, Red-crested Cotinga, and Streak-throated Bush Tyrant, all of which may offer rewarding photographic opportunities.

Dinner

Breakfast

Transfer San Jorge Eco-lodge –> San Jorge Eco-lodge Tandayapa Hummingbird Sanctuary

San Jorge Eco-lodge Tandayapa Hummingbird Sanctuary

Spend the afternoon photographing hummingbirds from the lodge's gardens, where feeders, flowering plants, and carefully selected natural perches create excellent opportunities for clean, intimate images. Regular visitors include Sword-billed Hummingbird, Black-tailed and Green-tailed Trainbearers, Sparkling Violetear, Tyrian Metaltail, Shining Sunbeam, and White-bellied Woodstar, with activity often increasing as the afternoon light softens. The gardens are equally rewarding for other Andean birds. Between hummingbird sessions, you may photograph species such as Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Rufous-naped Brushfinch, Azara's Spinetail, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Southern Yellow Grosbeak, Red-crested Cotinga, and Streak-throated Bush Tyrant as they move through the surrounding vegetation.

Lunch

Afternoon Hummingbird Photography Session at San Jorge Eco-lodge Tandayapa

Spend the afternoon photographing hummingbirds from carefully prepared natural perches around the lodge, where flowering plants and feeders attract a remarkable diversity of species. Western Emerald, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Andean Emerald, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Buff-tailed Coronet, White-necked Jacobin, Purple-throated Woodstar, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Green-crowned Woodnymph, Booted Racket-tail, and Violet-tailed Sylph are among the regular visitors, offering a wide variety of colors, behaviors, and photographic opportunities. Those who wish can also explore the nearby forest trails, where the cloud forest may reveal species such as Scaled Antpitta, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, Golden-headed Quetzal, White-winged Tanager, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Immaculate Antbird, and, with a bit of luck, the elusive White-faced Nunbird.

Dinner

Andean Cock-of-the-rock Lek Photography

Before sunrise, we head to a traditional Andean Cock-of-the-rock lek, where males gather to perform their remarkable courtship displays. From a well-positioned hide, you'll have the opportunity to photograph these brilliant orange birds as they call, display, and occasionally chase one another through the forest. Along with one of Ecuador's most iconic birds, the surrounding forest may also reveal a variety of cloud forest species.

Breakfast

Free Time

Lunch

Empress Brilliant & Velvet-purple Coronet Photography

In the afternoon, we visit a hummingbird feeding station renowned for close photographic opportunities. This site is especially known for two Andean specialties: the dazzling Empress Brilliant and the iridescent Velvet-purple Coronet, often regarded as one of Ecuador's most spectacular hummingbirds. With birds frequently approaching just a few meters away, there is plenty of time to experiment with different compositions and capture intimate portraits in natural light.

Dinner

Breakfast

Hotel Check Out

Transfer Tandayapa –> San Jorge Eco-lodge Milpe

After breakfast, we leave the Andes behind and descend into the Chocó cloud forest, reaching San Jorge Eco-lodge Milpe in about an hour. This transition into one of the world's richest biodiversity hotspots brings an entirely new set of birds and photographic opportunities, with many species found only in the Chocó region.

Hotel Check-In

Chocó Hummingbird Photography Session

The lodge's feeders and flowering gardens offer excellent opportunities to photograph a remarkable diversity of Chocó hummingbirds. Regular visitors include White-whiskered Hermit, Green Thorntail, Green-crowned Woodnymph, Green-crowned Brilliant, White-necked Jacobin, and, at times, Long-billed Starthroat and Tooth-billed Hummingbird. Natural perches and soft forest light create ideal conditions for intimate portraits and behavioral images.

Banana Feeder Bird Photography

The fruit feeders attract a colorful mix of Chocó specialties throughout the day. Pale-mandibled Aracari, Chocó Toucan, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Red-headed Barbet, Rufous Motmot, Emerald Tanager, Lemon-rumped Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Green Honeycreeper, Thick-billed and Orange-crowned Euphonias, Buff-throated and Black-winged Saltators are among the regular visitors, while the elusive Indigo-crowned Quail-Dove occasionally appears beneath the feeders.

Lunch

Canopy Observation Deck Photography

In the afternoon, photograph birds from the lodge's multi-level observation deck overlooking the surrounding forest canopy. This elevated perspective offers opportunities to capture species such as Broad-billed Motmot, Collared and White-tailed Trogons, Blue-necked and Bay-headed Tanagers, Guayaquil Woodpecker, and, with some luck, the remarkable Long-wattled Umbrellabird moving through the treetops.

Breakfast

Transfer Tandayapa –> Balcón Tumpiki

Balcón Tumpiki bird feeders

We visit the bird feeders at Balcón Tumpiki, a rewarding stop on the western slope of the Andes. Set against the cloud forest, these feeders attract a variety of Chocó and Andean species, providing excellent opportunities for close, natural-looking photographs.

Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan Photography at Balcón Tumpiki

One of the highlights of the morning is the chance to photograph the striking Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan from a well-positioned hide. The feeders also attract species such as Sickle-winged Guan, Blue-capped Tanager, Dusky Bush Tanager, Black-chinned Mountain Tanager, and, with a bit of luck, Beryl-spangled Tanager.

Lunch

Nanegalito Hummingbird Photography

The hummingbird feeders offer a different collection of western Andean specialties. Velvet-purple Coronet, Empress Brilliant, Brown Inca, and Speckled Hummingbird are regular visitors, while the localized Hoary Puffleg occasionally makes an appearance. The combination of natural perches and soft cloud forest light creates excellent conditions for intimate portraits.

Transfer Balcón Tumpiki –> Tandayapa

Afternoon Photography at San Jorge Eco-lodge Milpe

After returning to the lodge, the afternoon is free to continue photographing the gardens and feeders at your own pace. The hummingbird stations, fruit feeders, and surrounding forest provide another opportunity to work with Chocó specialties or simply enjoy a relaxed session as activity builds toward the late afternoon.

Dinner

Long-wattled Umbrellabird Lek Photography

Before sunrise, we head to a traditional lek of the Long-wattled Umbrellabird, one of the Chocó's most distinctive endemic birds. From a dedicated hide, you'll have the opportunity to photograph displaying males as they perch, call, and move through the canopy. The surrounding forest may also produce species such as Gartered Trogon, Golden-headed Quetzal, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, and, with some luck, Ornate Hawk-Eagle.

Breakfast

Lunch

Afternoon Hummingbird Photography at San Jorge Eco-lodge Milpe Day 3 PM

After lunch, enjoy one final photography session from the lodge's restaurant and gardens. The feeders remain active throughout the afternoon, offering another chance to photograph Chocó hummingbirds and refine compositions.

Hotel Check Out

Dinner

Hotel Check-In

Transfer San Jorge Eco-lodge Milpe –> San Jorge Eco-lodge

Breakfast

Andean Condor & Páramo Bird Photography at Antisana National Park

We spend the morning exploring the roads and viewpoints of Antisana in search of Andean Condors soaring above the breeding cliffs. Along the way, we also look for Ecuadorian Hillstar, Andean Lapwing, Black-faced Ibis, Carunculated Caracara, Tawny Antpitta, Aplomado Falcon, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, and Variable Hawk, adapting our route to the day's weather and bird activity.

Antisana Lagoon Bird Photography

A stop at one of Antisana's high-altitude lagoons provides opportunities to photograph waterbirds and other páramo specialists. Depending on the season and conditions, species may include Andean Ruddy Duck, Andean Coot, Andean Teal, Silvery Grebe, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Many-striped Canastero, and Cinereous Harrier, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the Antisana Volcano.

Lunch

Giant Hummingbird & Great Sapphirewing Photography

In the afternoon, we visit a small hummingbird feeding station overlooking the surrounding Andes. Giant Hummingbird—the world's largest hummingbird—and the impressive Great Sapphirewing are regular visitors, offering a fitting finale to our journey through Ecuador's remarkable diversity of birdlife.

Farewell Dinner

Breakfast

Free Morning / Photo review or last photo session

Hotel Check Out

Transfer San Jorge Eco-lodge Milpe –> Quito Airport

End of the Adventure