Expedition Highlights
Itinerary At a Glance
Mindo cloud forest
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Mindo cloud forest field day
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Baños arrival
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Ecominga Reserve survey
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Puerto Misahuallí
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Suchipakari field day
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Yarina Lodge arrival
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Yarina lowland survey
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Napo Wildlife Center arrival
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Napo Wildlife Center field day
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Guango arrival
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Guango highland amphibian search
Click to see on mapSuitability & conditions
A practical overview of the pace, comfort, and conditions to expect on this journey.
Seasonality
Detailed Itinerary
Mindo cloud forest
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Transfer from Quito to Mindo
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Mindo Cloud Forest Herpetofauna Walk
Inspect lodge grounds, forest edges and trail microhabitats around Mindo for reptiles and amphibians at a deliberately slow pace.
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Dinner
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Mindo Cloud Forest Night Herping
Return to Mindo cloud-forest trails after dark for a careful search for frogs, snakes and other nocturnal wildlife.
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Sachatamia Lodge
Night at Sachatamia on the Mindo Valley heights, the base for the next morning's early descent to Paz de las Aves.
Mindo cloud forest field day
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Mindo Cloud Forest Herpetofauna Walk
Inspect lodge grounds, forest edges and trail microhabitats around Mindo for reptiles and amphibians at a deliberately slow pace.
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Lunch
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Macro Equipment Preparation and Rest at Sachatamia Lodge
A restorative lodge-based interval for drying equipment, backing up images and preparing macro gear before the night search.
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Dinner
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Mindo Cloud Forest Night Herping
Return to Mindo cloud-forest trails after dark for a careful search for frogs, snakes and other nocturnal wildlife.
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Sachatamia Lodge
Night at Sachatamia on the Mindo Valley heights, the base for the next morning's early descent to Paz de las Aves.
Baños arrival
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Transfer from Mindo to Baños
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Dinner
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Miramelindo Hotel
Ecominga Reserve survey
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Ecominga Reserve Herpetofauna Survey
A careful daytime survey of Ecominga Reserve trails for reptiles and amphibians, with route and pace set by the reserve guide.
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Miramelindo Hotel
Puerto Misahuallí
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Transfer from Baños to Puerto Misahuallí
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Dinner
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Misahuallí Lowland Herpetofauna Search
Search lowland rainforest around Puerto Misahuallí after the heat of the day, following recent rain and local activity for reptiles and amphibians.
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Suchipakari Lodge
Suchipakari field day
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Guided Lowland Nature Walk at Suchipakari Lodge
A gentle guided walk around Suchipakari Lodge and nearby lowland forest, kept separate from the night herpetofauna search.
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Misahuallí Lowland Herpetofauna Search
Search lowland rainforest around Puerto Misahuallí after the heat of the day, following recent rain and local activity for reptiles and amphibians.
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Suchipakari Lodge
Yarina Lodge arrival
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Transfer from Puerto Misahuallí to Coca
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Transfer from Coca to Yarina Lodge
Travel from Coca to Yarina Lodge by motorised canoe on the Napo River.
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Dinner
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Yarina Lodge Night Herping
Walk slowly through lowland forest after dark for treefrogs, snakes and other nocturnal wildlife.
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Yarina Lodge
Yarina lowland survey
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Napo River Lowland Herpetofauna Search
Combine forest and river-edge observation for aquatic reptiles, turtles and lowland forest herpetofauna.
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Lunch
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Lodge Rest and Equipment Care at Yarina Lodge
A flexible afternoon at Yarina Lodge for resting, drying equipment and preparing for the evening herpetofauna search.
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Dinner
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Yarina Lodge Night Herping
Walk slowly through lowland forest after dark for treefrogs, snakes and other nocturnal wildlife.
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Yarina Lodge
Napo Wildlife Center arrival
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Transfer from Yarina Lodge to Coca
Return from Yarina Lodge to Coca by motorised canoe on the Napo River.
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Napo River Transfer (Coca to Napo Wildlife Center)
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Dinner
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Night Walk Napo Wildlife Center
A guided flashlight walk reveals the smaller nocturnal Amazon: frogs, insects, spiders, reptiles, and sometimes night monkeys.
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Napo Wildlife Center
Napo Wildlife Center field day
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Napo Wildlife Center River-Reptile Search
Search by canoe and from river edges for caimans, turtles and other Amazon wildlife at a measured pace.
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Lunch
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Lodge-Guided Rainforest Activity at Napo Wildlife Center
A flexible lodge-guided rainforest activity at Napo Wildlife Center, shaped by current wildlife, weather and trail conditions.
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Dinner
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Night Walk Napo Wildlife Center
A guided flashlight walk reveals the smaller nocturnal Amazon: frogs, insects, spiders, reptiles, and sometimes night monkeys.
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Napo Wildlife Center
Guango arrival
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Napo River Transfer (Napo Wildlife Center to Coca)
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Flight Coca to Quito
From Coca, the flight returns to Quito, lifting out of the Amazon basin and back across the Andes to the capital.
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Transfer from Quito to Guango
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Dinner
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Guango Lodge
Altitude: 2,814m (9,232 ft)
Guango highland amphibian search
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Guango Highland Amphibian Search
Search cool, damp highland forest edges around Guango and Papallacta for amphibians and small reptiles.
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Lunch
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Transfer from Guango to Quito Airport
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay
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.
