Expedition Highlights
Itinerary At a Glance
Quito - Tandayapa - Nanegalito
Click to see on map
Nono Parish - Nanegalito
Nanegalito - Mindo
Nanegalito - San Miguel de los bancos - Mindo
Quito
Quito Airport
Suitability & conditions
A practical overview of the pace, comfort, and conditions to expect on this journey.
Detailed Itinerary
Quito - Tandayapa - Nanegalito
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Arrival
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Reception at the airport and meeting with your guide
Meeting with Tristan at the airport. -
Transfer Quito –> Tandayapa
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Hotel Check-In
Upon arrival, check in and get settled in your rooms. Take a short break to relax before we move on to the next activity. -
Tour Orientation
First meeting to get acquainted. Tristan will cover the key points of the itinerary and give you some initial tips on how to make the most of your trip. -
Welcome Dinner
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Tandayapa Bird Lodge
Nono Parish - Nanegalito
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Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel, included each morning of the stay. -
Transfer Tandayapa Bird Lodge –> Zuroloma Reserve
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Zuro Loma antpitta & hummingbird hides
Early morning visit to a high-Andean reserve; worm-feeding stations lure Chestnut-naped and Equatorial antpittas; hummingbird feeders host Sword-billed Hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast and Black-tailed Trainbearer.
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Transfer Zuroloma Reserve –> Yanacocha Reserve
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Lunch
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Yanacocha Hummingbird Station
Photograph Golden-breasted and Sapphire-vented Pufflegs, Sword-billed Hummingbird and Great Sapphirewing at the feeders. Scan for Barred Fruiteater, Bar-bellied Woodpecker and Superciliaried Hemispingus along the trail.
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Transfer Yanacocha Reserve –> Tandayapa Bird Lodge
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Dinner
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Tandayapa Bird Lodge
Nanegalito - Mindo
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Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel, included each morning of the stay. -
Transfer Tandayapa Bird Lodge –> Refugio Paz de las Aves
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Refugio Paz de las Aves – Antpitta Experience
Watch Angel Paz call in Giant, Mustached and Yellow-breasted antpittas; at fruit feeders photograph Sickle-winged Guan, Crimson-rumped Toucanet and Toucan Barbet.
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Cock-of-the-rock lek at Refugio Paz de las Aves
Pre-dawn hike to a blind overlooking an Andean Cock-of-the-rock lek; photograph males displaying on mossy limbs.
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Lunch
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Refugio Paz de las Aves
Photograph Velvet‑purple Coronet, Brown Inca and Booted Racket‑tail at the reserve’s feeders
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Transfer Refugio Paz de las Aves –> Sachatamia Lodge
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Hotel Check-In
Upon arrival, check in and get settled in your rooms. Take a short break to relax before we move on to the next activity. -
Dinner
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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.
Nanegalito - San Miguel de los bancos - Mindo
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Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel, included each morning of the stay. -
Bellavista Lodge feeders
Spend a morning among lush epiphyte-laden trees; hummingbird feeders draw Violet-tailed Sylph, Booted Racket-tail and Andean Emerald. Walk trails for Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan and Toucan Barbet.
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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.
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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.
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Milpe Bird Sanctuary
Visit Jocotoco's mid-elevation reserve; watch Club-winged Manakin at the lek and photograph Moss-backed Tanager and Purple-chested Hummingbird at feeders.
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Lunch
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Dinner
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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.
Quito
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Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel, included each morning of the stay. -
Hotel Check Out
Take a little time to relax and gather your things as we get ready to check out. -
Mashpi-Amagusa Choco Endemics – Feeders (Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve)
The day starts back at the lodge's feeding areas, waiting patiently for additional understory species to come in. Feeders reward stillness, and the early hours are when the shyest birds tend to appear.
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Lunch
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Transfer Reserva Mashpi Amagusa –> Hacienda Jimenita
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Hotel Check-In
Upon arrival, check in and get settled in your rooms. Take a short break to relax before we move on to the next activity. -
Evening backup and image review
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Farewell Dinner
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Hacienda Jimenita
Altitude: 2,814m (9,232 ft)
Quito Airport
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Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel, included each morning of the stay. -
Free Morning / Photo review or last photo session
Depending on your preferences, you can enjoy a quiet morning and breakfast at the hotel, free time for souvenirs or a photo review, a photoshop session and advice with Tristan. -
Hotel Check Out
Take a little time to relax and gather your things as we get ready to check out. -
Transfer Hacienda Jimenita –> Quito Airport
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End of the Adventure
We’ll drop you off at the airport for your flight back home. We hope you had an incredible adventure with us!
Hotels
Tandayapa Bird Lodge
Tandayapa Bird Lodge is a classic birding lodge in the cloud forest west of Quito, with twelve rooms looking out over forest-filled valleys. Meals are included and served in the dining room while hummingbird feeders and fruiting trees keep birds close. Free Wi-Fi and parking are available, and the surrounding trails are among Ecuador's best for birdwatching and photography.
Sachatamia Lodge
Nestled in Ecuador's lush cloud forest, Sachatamia Lodge offers birders and photographers unparalleled access to private reserve trails right from their doorstep. The lodge's active fruit and nectar feeders attract a dazzling array of hummingbirds and tanagers, allowing for spectacular, close-up shots in natural light. Its quiet, secluded setting ensures peaceful nights before early-morning excursions, while spacious rooms provide ample space for organizing camera gear. After a rewarding day in the field, guests can relax in comfort, surrounded by the soothing sounds of the subtropical rainforest.
Hacienda Jimenita
Altitude: 2,814m (9,232 ft)
Nestled within a private ecological reserve near Quito, Hacienda Jimenita offers an exceptional base for birders. Its lush gardens and active feeders attract dozens of colorful hummingbird species, allowing for superb close-up photography right on the property. Comfortable, spacious rooms provide ample area for organizing heavy camera gear, while the quiet natural setting ensures a restful night before early morning departures. This peaceful haven perfectly combines immediate habitat access with the seamless logistics required for a successful Ecuadorian tour.
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 1 person: 1.995 EUR (333 EUR / day)
- Price for 2 people: 1.195 EUR (199 EUR / day)
- Price for 3 to 4 people: 995 EUR (166 EUR / day)
- Price for 5 to 6 people: 795 EUR (133 EUR / day)
- Price for 7 to 8 people: 695 EUR (116 EUR / day)
** Prices are based on double occupancy / twin share basis.
Included
- Hotels mentioned in the program
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Hotels mentioned in the program- Tandayapa Bird Lodge — 2 nights · Uncategorized Hotel
- Sachatamia Lodge — 2 nights · Uncategorized Hotel
- Hacienda Jimenita — 1 night · Uncategorized Hotel
- Transportation in comfortable vehicles (Car / Van)
- Meals indicated in the program: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunchs, 5 dinners
- 1 cocktail before dinner
- Water is included
- Professional photographic guidance & instruction by Tristan Quevilly
- 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 and Departure day
- Tips
- International flights
- Travel, Medical & Cancellation insurance
- Additional drinks and meals
- Expenses not specified in the program
- Camera Equipment
Deposit
- 30% (269 EUR 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 ↗
Where does your investment go?
A transparent look at how your bespoke itinerary is funded.
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.
