Ecuador | Birding the Eastern Slopes and Amazon Rainforest with Jerry Wayne Davis

Upon arrival at the Quito airport, you'll be met outside the secured area of the airport and taken to the hotel. Most flights arrive in the evening. No meals are included on this day. Check-in is at 3 pm.

Depart Quito early this morning and travel to San Isidro Lodge. Along the way, stop for birding and lunch at Guango Lodge near Papallacta. The hummingbird feeders at Guango Lodge have become famous in recent years, and attract some exciting hummingbirds on a regular basis. Some of the more noteworthy species being Mountain Velvetbreast, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Tourmaline Sunangel, Golden-breasted and Glowing Puffleg, Mountain Avocetbill, and White-bellied and Gorgeted Woodstars. Other birds seen regularly include the Andean Guan, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Turquoise Jay, Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager, Black-headed, Black-capped and Black-eared Hemispingus, Slaty Brush-Finch, Scarlet-bellied, Lacrimose, Buff-breasted and Hooded Mountain-Tangers. After lunch, continue to San Isidro Lodge in Consanga.

Spend today birding in San Isidro's reserve, which encompasses nearly 3,000 acres on the eastern slope of the Andes at an elevation range of 6,069 to 7,874 feet. This is an ideal base to observe Andean birds from the lower reaches of the temperate zone down into the heart of the subtropical zone. Nearly 500 species have been recorded in the area and several - such as the mysterious Black-banded Owl, also known as San Isidro Owl, and the Peruvian Antpitta - are extremely local and rare. Birds regularly encountered include Wattled and Sickle-winged Guans, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals, Masked Trogon, Andean Motmot, Southern Emerald-Toucanet, Powerful and Crimson-mantled Woodpeckers, Speckle-faced Parrot, Chestnut-crowned and White-bellied Antpittas, the beautiful Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Black-billed Peppershrike, Green Jay (or Inca Jay), Saffron-crowned Tanager, and Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia.

Continue birding at San Isidro this morning. After lunch, depart for Wildsumaco Lodge, located in the eastern foothills of the Andes. Explore the trails around the lodge before dinner. Birding around the deck can be great and the street light on the driveway attracts species like Black-billed Treehunter, Lined Antshrike, Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant, and Dusky-capped Flycatcher.

Spend today birding in the Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary. About 500 bird species have been seen within the sanctuary and neighboring areas. This area stretches from Loreto Road, where the main highway crosses Río Pucuno at an elevation of 3,800 feet, up to the border of Gran Sumaco National Park, which has an elevation of 5,200 feet. The road passing through the reserve offers great birding opportunities, and this is one of many areas from which to see mixed flocks. Possibilities here include Blue-browed Tanager, Yellow-breasted Antwren, and Coppery-chested Jacamar. Many colorful species of tanager may be accompanied by Ecuadorian Tyrannulet and the recently described Foothill Elaenia; sometimes the Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater makes an appearance. Visitors can also see North American migrant species and more than 30 species of hummingbird. At night, Band-bellied Owl, Rufescent Screech-Owl, and Foothill Screech-Owl often call from nearby.

After breakfast, continue birding the grounds and trails looking for the Plain-winged Antwren, White-streaked Antvireo, and Wing-banded Wren, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Golden-collared Toucanet, White-tipped Sicklebill, Red-billed Tyrannulet, Rufous-naped Greenlet, Coraya Wren, Rufous-breasted Piculet, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, and more tanagers including Magpie, White-lined, Silver-beaked, Orange-eared, Spotted, Yellow-bellied and Golden-eared Tanager. From Wildsumaco's trails, it may also be possible to see Gray-tailed Piha, Blue-rumped Manakin, and the rare Yellow-throated Spadebill has territories along several of the trails. At any time, the endangered Military Macaw, or rare Spot-winged Parrotlet might fly by, or the Black Hawk-Eagle may soar overhead. Have lunch at the lodge before spending the afternoon viewing an Antpitta feeding session and birding around the grounds before dinner. In the evening, seek out nocturnal creatures on a night walk. The lodge feeders are considered some of the best in South America and include visits from species like Napo Sabrewing, Gould's Jewelfront, Black-throated and Violet-fronted Brilliant, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Golden-tailed Sapphire. Seasonally, the Ecuadorian Piedtail and Gray-chinned Hermit may also visit, and often one or two rarities. Small-billed hummers like Gorgeted Woodstar and Wire-crested Thorntail also feed on the porterweed around the lodge.

Depart this morning and head down-slope to Coca with birding en route. From Coca, board a motorized canoe and travel down the Napo River. Upon arrival, take a short rainforest hike and a small canoe crossing of Lake Pilchicocha to Sacha Lodge, which is a two-and-a-half hour journey. The lodge blends seamlessly into its surroundings that to the resident wildlife it's just another part of the forest. Watch giant otters duck, dive and call to each other as you eat breakfast; caimans glide under the walkway as you head back to your room; monkeys chatter outside your balcony; and even sloths hang out on trees by the cabins. Of the incredible 1,600 bird species recorded in Ecuador, 600 (37 percent) have been seen at Sacha Lodge. That's almost 7 percent of the species found in the entire world! Enjoy observing birds at the mini tower and the butterfly house before dinner at the lodge. Species that are likely to be spotted in the Sacha Reserve include the prehistoric-looking Hoatzin, Crested Owl, Red-bellied Macaw, Cinnamon Attila, Crane Hawk, and American Pygmy Kingfisher. After dinner, accompany your naturalist guide on a walk through the rainforest to view some of the hundreds of different species of animals that can only be found at night. Please note that the order of activities is subject to change due to weather conditions and current wildlife sightings.

After an early breakfast, hike the Liana Chica Trail to the canopy walk for spectacular views of the rainforest and the many different species of birds, such as Scarlet and Red-bellied Macaw, Many-banded Aracari, Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl, Common Potoo, Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Magpie Tanager, Gilded Barbet, and Yellow-rumped Cacique. The canopy walk is designed to be a self-standing rigid suspension and is one of only a few in the world. Located within Sacha's private reserve, two miles from the shores of the Río Napo and one mile from the lodge, the bird walk gives visitors the opportunity to have an up-close view of the rainforest canopy. After the canopy walk, take the Liana Grande Trail through terra firma and igapó forest habitats, where native guides will explain different species of medicinal plants that have been used in their culture for hundreds of years. Liana Grande then turns into the Higuerón Trail, which takes you through pristine primary forest with huge kapok and fig trees towering hundreds of feet above your head. After lunch, choose to take a leisurely hike along the Río Napo, where the Rufescent Tiger-Heron can be spotted, or take on the more challenging hike on the Leoncillo Trail, where you may see the elusive dusky tití monkey.

Start today with a visit to Yasuní National Park Parrot Lick and learn about the life and habits of the local parrot population. The parrot lick is an exposed clay bank where several different species, including Blue-headed Parrot, Cobalt-winged Parakeet, and Dusky-headed Parakeet, gather in the morning hours. When weather conditions are ideal (sunny and dry), the parrots can often be seen perching on and eating the exposed clay. This activity is strictly weather-dependent since the parrots do not appear when it rains. In case of rain, we will try to visit the lick the next day and activities will be substituted accordingly. In the afternoon, return to the lodge for lunch followed by birding on the lodge trails.

After breakfast, begin a hike on Lagartococha Trail. This trail offers the chance to learn more about the Indigenous communities of the region and their relationship with the forest. After arriving at Lake Lagartococha, take a tranquil canoe ride through a natural swamp, which is home to anacondas, caimans, and capybaras. After the canoe ride, a walk on the other side of Largatococha provides the opportunity to spot capuchin or squirrel monkeys playfully jumping through the trees. Return from the walk and head back to the lodge for a refreshing dip in the lake, or a nice relaxing nap in your personal hammock on your private balcony. After lunch, if desired, your local guide can teach you how to fish for the infamous razor toothed piranha. In the afternoon, embark on a silent canoe ride through the flooded Amazonian forest to spot the shy and elusive Giant River Otter, as well as the incredibly well camouflaged three-toed sloth. After a ride through the flooded forest, arrive at Sacha's 135-foot wooden tower built around an ancient Kapok tree. View many bird species, such as Cream-colored Woodpecker, Opal-crowned Tanager, Green-backed Trogon, and Chestnut-eared Aracari. A canoe ride back through the flooded forest at night makes for a different sensory experience; listen to the symphony of frogs, insects, and nocturnal birds calling, see the glowing eyes of the caimans, and watch for the several species of bats flying overhead.

Rise early for breakfast and check-out, and then travel by boat back to Coca for your flight to Quito. Upon arrival in Quito, you will be met and taken to a nearby hotel. Lunch and the afternoon are to spend on your own until gathering together for a farewell dinner at the hotel. Should you have an evening flight out tonight, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

This morning, you will be taken to the airport for your flight home.