Ecuador Birding & Photography: Chocó to Amazon Circuit
An 18-day west-to-east transect of northern Ecuador, from the hummingbird gardens, hides and leks of the montane Chocó to the clay licks, canopy towers and blackwater channels of the Yasuní Amazon, via the condors of Antisana and the cloud forests of the eastern slope.
This is a journey across one country that holds three worlds. Starting from Quito at 2,800 m, the route drops first into the montane Chocó — the cloud forests of the Tandayapa Valley, Mindo and Mashpi — then climbs to the open high Andes of Antisana and Papallacta Pass, descends the eastern slope through San Isidro’s misty forest, crosses the Sumaco foothills, and finally reaches the Amazonian lowlands: the Napo River, the blackwater channels of Sani community territory, and the edge of Yasuní National Park at 250 m.
The western Chocó Andino has recently been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, home to about 850 bird species including 62 endemics; the Amazonian side of the route adds roughly 700 complementary species. The itinerary is designed by photographers, for photographers: hummingbird gardens, hides, feeding areas and observation towers appear at nearly every stop, so the observation continues through lunches, lodge mornings and rest hours rather than depending on luck alone.
The rhythm is deliberate. Short lodge hops link the habitat blocks; the two long transfer days (Days 11 and 13) sit between them; and the journey closes where it began, with a morning on foot through colonial Quito — the city that became Alexander von Humboldt’s base in 1802 — before the flight home.
Three Habitats, One Ecuadorian Route
Ecuador’s route moves from the montane Chocó through the high Andes and down the eastern slope to the Amazonian lowlands. The changing elevation brings very different forests, open páramo, river islands and blackwater channels within one carefully connected journey.
Designed Around Photographic Opportunities
This itinerary is shaped around places where observation can continue beyond a single trail: hummingbird gardens, hides, feeding areas, leks and a canopy tower appear across the route. The deliberate pace leaves room to watch behaviour, refine technique and wait for better light.
Expedition Highlights
Suitability & conditions
A practical overview of the pace, comfort, and conditions to expect on this journey.
The journey at a glance
Following the route
The journey moves gradually through 7 chapters.
Route shown schematically for orientation.
Detailed itinerary
Arrival in Quito and the Inter-Andean Valley (Tababela)
Landing at Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport, a private transfer brings you to Tababela in the inter-Andean valley and the calm Zaysant Ecolodge. After settling in, a relaxed stroll through the lodge grounds offers a first taste of Ecuador’s birds, including Sparkling Violetear, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Great Thrush, Saffron Finch and Blue-and-yellow Tanager, with Western Emerald and Giant Hummingbird possible. A tour orientation with Tristan covers the itinerary ahead, from the Chocó cloud forests to the Amazon headwaters, followed by an open dinner and an early night before departing into the western Andes.
Key activities
-
Arrival Briefing and First Birding in the Zaysant Ecolodge Grounds
Quito to the Tandayapa Valley
Leaving Quito, the route winds down the western foothills of the Andes into the humid montane Chocó toward the Tandayapa Valley. At the Alambi Reserve, hummingbird feeders beside the Alambi River allow close, unhurried observation, with lunch served facing the feeders. The afternoon continues up the valley to Bellavista Lodge at 2,200 m, where lodge feeders draw different hummingbird species and the surrounding cloud forest offers a first listen to the montane Chocó. Dinner is at the lodge, followed by two nights in the cloud forest.
Key activities
-
Alambi Hummingbird Feeders (Alambi Reserve)
Tandayapa Cloud Forest
Spend the day exploring the Tandayapa Cloud Forest on foot, following primary montane Chocó trails at around 2,100 m. Search the understory for quiet species and watch mixed-species flocks, known locally as rondas, along the wider road edges. Return to Bellavista Lodge, where hummingbird feeders offer a relaxed way to continue birding. Dinner is served at the lodge as the cloud forest settles into night, with two nights based high in the Tandayapa Valley.
Key activities
-
Full Day on the Tandayapa Cloud-Forest Trails
Chocó Bird Reserve, San Tadeo and the Mindo Valley Heights
Photography begins at the private Chocó Bird Reserve hides high in the Tandayapa Valley, where toucans, tanagers, hummingbirds, barbets and warblers move through the feeding areas. The afternoon continues at the San Tadeo Reserve hides, focusing on tanagers and other passerines, with the order of visits kept flexible around weather and regional opportunities. A short transfer then climbs to the heights of the Mindo Valley, where dinner and the night are spent at Sachatamia Lodge, the base for the next morning’s early descent to Paz de las Aves.
Key activities
-
Photography Session at the Chocó Bird Reserve Hides
-
Afternoon Hides at the San Tadeo Reserve
Paz de las Aves, Pedro Vicente Maldonado and Mashpi
After an early breakfast, the morning at Paz de las Aves centres on the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek and owner Ángel’s trails, where Giant, Yellow-breasted and Moustached antpittas allow unusually close views. Lunch is followed by an afternoon at the Fruttitour photo blind near Pedro Vicente Maldonado, watching a planted garden for Choco Toucan, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Red-headed Barbet and Club-winged Manakin. An evening transfer leads into the Mashpi Valley, with dinner at the Mashpi Amagusa Reserve lodge, the base for exploring this forest reserve.
Key activities
-
Cock-of-the-Rock Lek and Antpitta Morning at Paz de las Aves
-
Fruttitour Photo Blind near Pedro Vicente Maldonado
Mashpi Amagusa Reserve
Spend a full day exploring the Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, a mixed protection zone in the Mashpi Valley at about 1,400 m, accompanied by the reserve owner. This Ecuadorian birding destination blends lowland and montane Chocó influences, with original vegetation and conservation initiatives away from main roads. Search for flagship species such as fruiteaters, solitaires, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Moss-backed Tanager and Choco Vireo. Breakfast and dinner are included, with two nights at a forest lodge serving as the base for the experience.
Key activities
-
Mashpi Amagusa Reserve Day with the Reserve Owner
Mashpi to Milpe to Antisana
Begin at the Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve feeders, where patience in the early hours rewards birders with shy understory species. After breakfast, transfer to the Milpe Bird Sanctuary on the lower western slope, walking forest trails past manakin leks and the zone’s famous mega-flocks, with hummingbird, tanager and toucan feeders keeping activity high. In the late afternoon, cross the inter-Andean valley toward Antisana, trading cloud forest for open high Andes. Dinner and the night are at Tambo Condor, a hacienda at 3,500 m in the Antisanilla Reserve area.
Key activities
-
Mashpi-Amagusa Choco Endemics – Feeders (Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve)
-
Milpe Bird Sanctuary: Trails, Manakin Leks and Mega-Flocks
Antisana Condors, Páramo and Papallacta
Scan the condor nesting walls from an observation platform in the Antisana Ecological Reserve, then explore high-Andean páramo near 4,000 m for hummingbirds and high-altitude passerines, with a short walk along La Mica lagoon for waterbirds. Descend for lunch around hummingbird feeders and a quiet attempt to spot the Spectacled Bear. Transfer to Papallacta before evening, where dinner is open and the Termas de Papallacta hot springs offer a natural close to a day spent high in the Andes.
Key activities
-
Antisana Condors, High-Andean Páramo and La Mica Lagoon
-
Spectacled Bear Watch at the Antisana Lower Feeders
Papallacta Pass and Descent to San Isidro
Breakfast precedes birding at Papallacta Pass, where options include the thermal complex or the super-humid páramo of Cayambe-Coca reserve. From above 4,000 m, search for high-altitude species across temperate forest, lagoons, elfin scrub and Polylepis woodland, possibly reaching the antennas above 4,300 m. Descend to Guango Reserve for lunch around its hummingbird garden, then continue down the eastern foothills through elfin, high-Andean and cloud forest to San Isidro Lodge, home for two nights, with dinner at the lodge.
Key activities
-
Papallacta Pass Birding across Páramo, Lagoons and Polylepis Woodland
San Isidro Cloud Forest and the Yanayacu Station
Explore the misty cloud forest around San Isidro on the eastern slope of the Andes, where humidity nurtures epiphytes, mosses, orchids, bromeliads and cacti alongside frogs, birds and small mammals. The day unfolds at field pace, letting the habitat set the rhythm. In the afternoon, visit the Yanayacu scientific station to hear researchers present projects on Ecuadorian bird reproductive biology and caterpillar parasites, with caterpillars becoming an unexpected macro-photography subject. Return for dinner at San Isidro Lodge, then head out after dark to search for the Choliba owl group.
Key activities
-
Eastern Cloud-Forest Day around San Isidro
-
Yanayacu Scientific Station Visit and Macro-Photo Session
-
After-Dinner Search for the Choliba Owl
San Isidro Hide and Transfer to WildSumaco
An early start at the San Isidro hummingbird garden and lower hide offers time to observe and photograph species, with the hummingbird feeders visited afterwards. The long transfer then crosses the inter-Andean valley, climbs to Papallacta Pass and descends into the high Amazon. The route ends at WildSumaco Lodge, in the buffer zone of Sumaco National Park at 1,500 m, where dinner is served and two nights are spent in subtropical Amazonian forest.
Key activities
-
San Isidro hummingbird garden
WildSumaco Wildlife Sanctuary
Spend a full day exploring WildSumaco Wildlife Sanctuary, a little-known sanctuary where the Amazonian piedmont meets the high Andes. Walk road edges, humid subtropical forest trails and forest creeks, with time at the feeding areas and observation platforms in front of the lodge. Conservation and research projects here have documented many usually rare species. Breakfast is included, and dinner is served at WildSumaco Lodge, your base at 1,500 m in the buffer zone of Sumaco National Park amid full subtropical Amazonian forest.
Key activities
-
Full Day at the WildSumaco Wildlife Sanctuary
Down the Napo to Sani Lodge
Travel from WildSumaco by road toward Coca, the departure point on the Napo River, with a boxed lunch fitted around the schedule. From the docks, a motorized pirogue carries you downriver through white-water Amazonian currents. Near Yasuní National Park, on Sani community territory, transfer to paddle canoes and follow narrow blackwater channels to the lagoon where Sani Lodge sits at 250 m. Settle into cabins for four nights of Amazon forest, with dinner at the lodge and days shaped by river, trails and tower.
Key activities
Clay Licks, Terra Firme and the Two Waters of the Napo
A morning boat transfer from the lagoon by paddle canoe and motorized pirogue reaches the banks of the Napo River for the Añangu clay licks, where parrot species gather at an open riverbank saladero and a forest saladero shaped like a cave. A terra firme trail near the second lick explores never-flooded forest. After lunch at Sani Lodge, an afternoon pirogue ride looks for white-water riverine birds on the Napo, before returning through blackwater channels to Sani Lodge for dinner.
Key activities
-
Añangu Clay Licks: Open Riverbank and Forest Saladeros
-
Terra Firme Trail near the Forest Clay Lick
-
White-Water River Birding on the Napo
Canopy Tower, Varzea and a Torchlight Paddle
At Sani Lodge, on the edge of Yasuní National Park, climb the Amazon Canopy Tower built beside a Kapok tree for open views over the rainforest canopy and its hard-to-see birds. Mid-morning brings a long walk through the seasonally flooded varzea forest, followed by a late-afternoon trail linking varzea and terra firme. After dinner, a torchlight paddle-canoe outing searches the dark channels for black caimans and nocturnal wildlife, closing a full day of Amazon forest experiences.
Key activities
-
Amazon Canopy Tower Session Sani Lodge
-
Long Varzea Walk in the Seasonally Flooded Forest
-
Late-Afternoon Trail between Varzea and Terra Firme
-
Torchlight Night Paddle for Caimans and Nocturnal Wildlife
Napo Vegetation Islands and a Final Choice
Explore the Napo River vegetation islands, specialized ecosystems that develop independently, visiting islands of different ages and vegetation cover. After returning during the hottest hours, choose a final outing with your guide, such as canopy observation from the tower, a terra firme or varzea trail, or paddling the lagoon edges and blackwater channels. Following dinner at Sani Lodge, a final night walk searches for nocturnal birds along the forest trails, closing the Amazon stay based at Sani Lodge near Yasuní National Park.
Key activities
-
Exploration of the Napo River Vegetation Islands
-
Final Afternoon Outing Chosen with Your Guide
-
Final Night Walk for Nocturnal Birds
Up the Napo, Flight to Quito
An early paddle canoe journey leaves the blackwater channels and returns to the Napo River, reaching the national park limit where a motorized pirogue continues upstream to Coca by midday. A boxed lunch covers the travel day before the flight from Coca to Quito, lifting out of the Amazon basin and across the Andes. On arrival, a transfer with French-speaking assistance brings you to La Casona de la Ronda Boutique Hotel in Quito’s old town, leaving dinner free to explore the colonial streets.
Key activities
Colonial Quito and Departure
Breakfast is included before a guided walk through Colonial and Historic Quito, exploring republican history, cultural mestizaje and little-known quarters. The route takes in the Plaza de la Independencia and the esplanade of Plaza Santo Domingo, with stories of Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland arriving in January 1802. In the early afternoon, a transfer returns to Quito Airport, where the journey ends and you are dropped off for your flight home.
Key activities
-
Guided Walk through Colonial and Historic Quito
Target Species
A curated selection of the iconic species we aim to encounter and photograph throughout our journey.
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay
Gallery
Price Details
Our tour prices are based on a tiered pricing model. more guests = lower price, per person. That means the prices go down on a per-person basis as more people book onto a specific tour departure.
Price Base
- Price for 2 people: 11.895 USD (661 USD / day)
- Price for 3 to 4 people: 10.295 USD (572 USD / day)
- Price for 5 to 6 people: 8.295 USD (461 USD / day)
- Price for 7 to 8 people: 7.195 USD (400 USD / day)
** Prices are based on double occupancy / twin share basis.
Included
- Hotels mentioned in the program
i
Hotels mentioned in the program- Zaysant Ecolodge — 1 night · Uncategorized Hotel
- Bellavista Lodge — 2 nights · Uncategorized Hotel
- Sachatamia Lodge — 1 night · Uncategorized Hotel
- Mashpi – Amagusa Reserve — 2 nights · Ecolodge
- Tambo Condor – Antisanilla Reserve — 1 night · Ecolodge
- Termas de Papallacta (Papallacta hot springs) — 1 night · Uncategorized Hotel
- San Isidro Lodge — 2 nights · Uncategorized Hotel
- Wildsumaco Lodge — 2 nights · Uncategorized Hotel
- Sani Lodge — 4 nights · Uncategorized Hotel
- La Casona de la Ronda Boutique Hotel — 1 night · Uncategorized Hotel
- Transportation in comfortable vehicles (Car / Van), as well as Boat / Ferry
- Meals indicated in the program: 17 breakfasts, 7 lunchs, 17 dinners
- 1 cocktail before dinner
- Water is included
- Professional photographic guidance & instruction by Tristan Quevilly
- Preparation Meeting (Pre-trip briefing and final Q&A session held via Zoom)
- 1h skype session of photo editing in Lightroom or Photoshop
- Restaurant gratuities / tips
- Pre-trip planning assistance
- Detailed trip notes with practical information and cultural insights
- Access to Remote Expeditions custom travel app
Not Included
- Lunch on Arrival day, day 3, day 4, day 6, day 7, day 10, day 11, day 12, day 15, day 16 and Departure day
- Tips
- International flights
- Travel, Medical & Cancellation insurance
- Additional drinks and meals
- Expenses not specified in the program
- Camera Equipment
Deposit
- 30% (2.489 USD approx)
Payment Options
- Bank Transfer (Recommended): Free
- Credit / Debit Card: Secure payment via Revolut. A 3% processing fee applies.
Booking Conditions
- Deposit: 30% to secure your booking
- Final payment: Due 90 days before departure
- Cancellation more than 90 days before departure: Deposit retained as a 4-year travel credit
- Read the full Terms & Conditions ↗
Services to Expect
Lodges, Feeders, Hides, and Canopy Viewing
Accommodation is arranged across hotels and ecolodges close to the principal birding areas. The programme includes lodge gardens, hummingbird feeders, hides, clay licks, forest trails and a 35-metre canopy tower at Sani Lodge, giving the group varied ways to observe and photograph.
Transportation on the Tour
The itinerary combines comfortable road transfers through the Andes and Chocó with river travel on the Napo in the Amazon section. Day 13 travels downriver to Sani Lodge; Day 17 returns upriver before the flight back to Quito. Two longer transfer days connect the main habitat blocks, while shorter movements link the reserves, lodges and birding sites.
Meals on the Tour
The published tour inclusions list 7 lunches and 17 dinners, together with water and one cocktail before dinner. Meals are taken during the route’s hotel and ecolodge stays and are planned around early birding departures and time in the field. The current tour record does not specify breakfast inclusion, so confirm the final meal schedule during trip preparation.
Practical Information
Altitude Changes Are Part of the Journey
The tour begins in Quito at about 2,800 metres and later reaches high-Andean sites around 4,000 metres before descending towards the Amazon. The itinerary changes altitude progressively, but guests should expect slower walking and changing conditions in the highlands.
A Deliberate Birding Rhythm
This is a photography-led birding journey rather than a rapid checklist tour. Some days combine short transfers with focused sessions at feeders, hides or forest trails; two longer transfer days connect the main habitat blocks. Sightings and wildlife behaviour can never be guaranteed.
Visa and Entry Requirements
Visa rules depend on your nationality and can change. Check the [Ecuador Ministry of Foreign Affairs](https://www.cancilleria.gob.ec/) or your nearest Ecuadorian consulate before booking and again before departure. The current Ecuador guidance indicates that a passport should generally have at least six months of validity. If your nationality requires a tourist visa, arrange it before travel and confirm the documents requested for your application.
Vaccinations and Health Preparation
Arrange a travel-health appointment at least a month before departure. Be up to date with routine vaccinations; the [CDC recommends Hepatitis A vaccination](https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/ecuador/) for unvaccinated travellers to Ecuador. Because this itinerary descends into the Amazon, ask your clinician whether yellow-fever vaccination or malaria prevention is appropriate for your route. Ecuador may require a yellow-fever certificate for travellers arriving from certain countries; check the current rules and allow at least 10 days after vaccination when a certificate is required.
Travel Insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. Check that your policy covers medical care, emergency assistance, trip interruption and the activities included in your itinerary.
Review the conditions before travelling and keep the assistance details accessible during the tour.
Physical Preparation for High Altitude
What to Expect at Altitude on the Peru Birding Tour South
This tour reaches altitudes above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) in the Andes, particularly in the high puna grasslands and around Lake Titicaca. While the birding in these zones is spectacular—featuring species like the Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and Puna Ibis—the altitude presents real physical demands. You do not need to be an elite athlete, but you must prepare for the effects of reduced oxygen.
Hydration and Nutrition
Dehydration worsens altitude sickness faster than anything else. At high elevations, you lose moisture simply by breathing. You must drink 3–4 liters of water per day. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals in the first two days at altitude.
- Bring a reusable water bottle and electrolyte packets. Your guide will point out safe refill points.
- Eat light, carbohydrate-rich meals (quinoa, potatoes, pasta) which are easier to digest and help maintain energy.
Light Exercise Before the Tour
You do not need to train like a mountaineer, but cardio conditioning makes a significant difference. Begin a routine 4–6 weeks before departure:
- Walk or hike on inclines for 30–45 minutes, 3–4 times per week.
- Use stairs or a stair-stepper to simulate uphill effort.
- If you live at sea level, practice breathing techniques (slow, deep breaths) during exertion.
When Altitude Sickness Happens
Mild symptoms (headache, nausea, fatigue) are common and manageable. Your guides carry oxygen and are trained in altitude protocols. If symptoms worsen, we descend immediately. The itinerary includes flexibility to adjust birding locations based on group health. Your safety comes before any bird list.
Patience at Feeders, Hides, and Leks
Some of the itinerary’s strongest photographic opportunities come from waiting: hummingbird gardens, antpitta feeding stations, the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek, hides and clay licks all reward quiet observation. Allow time for changing light and natural behaviour rather than expecting every session to produce the same result.
Respectful Wildlife Photography
Follow the guidance of Tristan and local reserve, lodge and community teams. Keep a respectful distance, avoid disturbing birds at leks, feeding stations and clay licks, and let the guide decide how a session should proceed. The quality of an image should never take priority over the welfare of wildlife.
Physical Preparation
Fitness & Altitude: What to Expect
This is not a strenuous expedition, but it is an active birding tour. You will spend full days on your feet, often on uneven trails, with frequent stops for viewing. The primary physical challenge is the altitude. Several key birding sites sit above 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), and you will be hiking on slopes at those elevations.
To enjoy the trip fully, focus on cardiovascular endurance rather than raw strength. You want your heart and lungs to work efficiently in thin air. Start a routine of brisk walking, jogging, or cycling 4-6 weeks before departure. Aim for sessions that keep your heart rate elevated for 30-45 minutes, three to four times a week.
Clothing for Andes, Cloud Forest, and Amazon
Pack layers that can be adjusted as the route moves between Quito, high páramo, cool cloud forest and warm Amazonian lowlands. Include comfortable walking footwear, rain protection and clothing suitable for extended periods outdoors at feeders, hides and forest trails.
Camera Protection and Long-Lens Essentials
Bring the camera and binocular setup you can comfortably carry for a full day, with a telephoto lens for distant birds and a wide or standard lens for landscapes and lodge environments. Protect equipment from rain and humidity with suitable covers or dry bags, and carry spare batteries and cards.
Bird Photography Equipment & Clothing
Bird Photography in Colombia
Colombia is home to more bird species than any other country on Earth, offering exceptional opportunities to photograph hummingbirds, toucans, tanagers, parrots, owls, and many rare endemic species.
Bird photography requires slightly different preparation than general travel photography.
Recommended Lenses
While any camera can capture memorable bird photographs, longer focal lengths provide significantly more flexibility.
Recommended options include:
- 100–400mm
- 150–500mm
- 150–600mm
- 200–600mm
- 400mm, 500mm, or 600mm prime lenses
If your camera has an APS-C sensor, a 70–300mm or 100–400mm lens often provides excellent reach.
Camera Settings
Birds rarely stay still for long.
We recommend becoming familiar with:
- Continuous autofocus (AF-C / AI Servo)
- Subject or Bird Eye Detection (if available)
- High-speed continuous shooting
- Fast shutter speeds (typically 1/1000s or faster)
Practicing these techniques before the tour will greatly improve your success rate.
Clothing
Birds are sensitive to movement and bright colors.
For photography sessions, we recommend:
- Neutral or earth-tone clothing (green, brown, gray, or black)
- Avoid bright reds, oranges, yellows, or white clothing whenever possible
- Lightweight long sleeves and long pants for protection against insects and vegetation
- Waterproof hiking shoes with good grip
- Lightweight rain jacket
Quiet fabrics are preferable to noisy waterproof materials that can produce sound while moving.
Accessories
Useful accessories include:
- Lens hood
- Lens rain cover
- Microfiber cloth
- Small towel for wiping condensation
- Binoculars (optional but highly recommended)
- Comfortable camera strap or harness for long shooting sessions
Most importantly, remember that patience is one of the most valuable tools in bird photography. Many of Colombia’s most rewarding wildlife encounters come to those who are willing to wait quietly and observe nature.
Detailed Trip Notes, including practical tips, cultural insights, and a complete packing list will be sent to you 60 days before departure.
Booking this tour means you agree to our full Terms and Conditions. Below is a summary of the key points. As life is unpredictable, we strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance.
- Deposit: A 30% deposit is required to secure your booking. This deposit is refundable for 7 days (less transaction fees), after which it becomes a non-refundable credit, transferable to a future tour offered by Remote Expeditions within 4 years of the cancellation date, less any non-recoverable costs already paid on your behalf.
- Final Payment: The remaining balance is due 90 days before the tour begins.
- Cancellation more than 90 days before departure: You will receive a full refund of any payments made, except for the 30% deposit. Your deposit will be converted into a travel credit valid for 4 years on a future tour Remote Expeditions.
- Cancellation within 90 days of departure: 100% of the tour price is forfeited. There are no refunds or credits.
* This is a summary only. Please read our complete
Terms and Conditions
for full details before booking.
** We strongly recommend all travelers purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, medical emergencies, and other unforeseen events.
A few kind words
Colombia Photography Tour 2026
Top notch photographic experience for enthusiasts of nature, culture, and portraits. Tristan is well connected to the area and the local communities with a specialty in indigenous tribes and less-visited areas. Additionally, he is an excellent teacher and will provide incredibly helpful instruction on exposure, lighting, and composition. Our tour was incredibly well organized and ran on time, with full days of photography. I fully recommend Remote Expeditions for your photographic travels!
You are in good hands with Tristan!
Tristan does an amazing job at putting together a culturally rich experience. He also does a great job at adapting to his clients needs and interests. He responds well to feedback. He is both professional and personable. I feel as though I had the opportunity not only to photograph many different elements of Colombia, but that I truly experienced the country and its culture. Our adventure took us from birding in the mountains outside of Cali, to visiting remote indigenous tribes, to visiting active fishing villages, to learning about local and historical musicians and customs, to beautiful settings in the mountains and along the seashore.
I give Tristan the highest recommendation as a guide for Colombia.
Colombia Birding Tour
I visited Colombia with Tristan of Remote Expeditions and would highly recommend him. He put together a wonderful itinerary with great knowledge of the areas and attention to details to give us a wonderful sampling of the country. He is personally very gentle and fun by nature and you will return home feeling very happy and satisfied. Whatever your special interest is, I’m sure he can make an itinerary to exceed your goals.
The difference is in the details
Journeys shaped by experience
Every route is built from time spent in the field: knowing when to linger, when to move on, and which small details are worth noticing.
Room for the unexpected
The best moments are not always on the itinerary. We leave enough flexibility to follow a good conversation, an unusual sighting, or a changing landscape.
Local relationships that open doors
Our journeys are grounded in long-term relationships with people who know their home intimately and are proud to share it in their own way.
A small group, properly looked after
With only a few travellers, decisions remain personal. We can adapt the pace, answer questions, and make sure everyone feels part of the journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most Remote Expeditions journeys are arranged privately, so the pace and rhythm can be shaped around the people travelling together. When a scheduled group departure is offered, it is typically limited to four or five travellers.
No. Photography is one of the ways we observe and connect with a place, but it is not a requirement. Our journeys also welcome travellers drawn to slow travel, wildlife, culture, trekking, landscapes, and genuine encounters. You can join with professional equipment, a simple camera, or just your curiosity.
Every itinerary has its own rhythm. Some journeys are gently paced, while others include long walks, trekking, uneven terrain, altitude, or substantial travel days. The practical details on each tour page explain the expected walking, terrain, altitude, distances, and overall physical level so you can decide whether the journey suits you.
Tristan designs the itineraries and personally leads many Remote Expeditions journeys. Depending on the destination and the character of the trip, trusted local guides, drivers, cultural hosts, or specialist leaders may also join part of the route. This combination gives you direct personal support alongside local knowledge.
Often, yes. Private journeys can usually be shaped around your interests, pace, and available time. Fixed group departures have a defined route and dates, but it may still be possible to arrange additional nights, private extensions, or other travel before or after the main journey. Tell us what you have in mind and we will explain what is practical.
