Birding tours
Like a field trip—but with better snacks and no permission slip.
Looking for an unforgettable birdwatching experience in Ecuador? Our guided birding tours on the eastern slope of the Andes are the no-stress way to discover cloud forest birds, rare species, and stunning scenery—all without lifting a planning finger.
We’ve got the local knowledge to set you up with the best chance to see the most bird for your buck. You just show up, and we’ll do the rest. From iconic spots like the Guacamayos Ridge to hidden gems like Reserva Chontas, we’ll take you to the best birding sites in the Quijos Valley and beyond.
Whether you’ve got a weekend or a whole week, our Ecuador birding tours are built to get you into the forest, onto the trails, and face-to-feathers with some of the most spectacular species in the tropics.
Weekend Birder
East Slope Hits in 48 Hours
Only have a couple nights to spare but still want to squeeze in some solid birding on the east slope? This one’s for you. Our Weekend Birder itinerary is designed to pack in the good stuff without overwhelming your schedule—perfect for a two-night, one-full-day escape.
We’ll hit a few hotspots, scope some feeders, and do our best to rack up the lifers while you’re here. Think quality over quantity… but also quantity.
Note:
This trip is designed to be flexible and budget-friendly, so transport to and from Quito isn’t included. If you’d like us to help coordinate that, just let us know; we’re happy to help.
Cost: $280 per person (based on two people), but if you wrangle a few friends, the price per person gets even sweeter. Drop us a line with your group size and we’ll send you a custom quote.
Easy does it
Arrive in the afternoon, settle into your cabin, and ease into the weekend with a front-row seat to the hummingbird show. Dinner’s on us.
Potential species: Long tailed Sylph, Chestnut Breasted Coronet, Azaras Spinetail, Rufous Collared Sparrow.
Lodging: Tamiaju
Big bird day
We’re off to the Guacamayos Ridge early for highland specialties, then back to the Chontas reserve in the afternoon for a change of scene (and species).
Potential species: Hooded Mountain Tanager, Black Crested Warbler, Green and Black Fruiteater, Grass-green Tanager, Rufous Collared Sparrow
Lodging: Tamiaju
One last flock
Enjoy a final morning on the Tamiaju trails, grab some lunch, and then it’s goodbye—but not forever. We’ll miss you already.
Potential Species: Long-tailed Tapaculo, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Greenish Puffleg, Rufous Collared Sparrow
Cloud forest Explorer
Five days of feathers, forests, and fancy birds.
This is our most well-rounded Ecuador birding tour—a guided five-day deep dive into the eastern slope cloud forests of the Andes, designed to make your life easy and your life list longer. From hummingbird havens and mossy ridgelines to secret leks and riparian trails, we’ve got the route mapped and the snacks packed.
You’ll visit hotspots like Guacamayos Ridge, Narupa Reserve, and a Cock-of-the-rock lek, plus hidden gems like La Vida del Kinde and the Chontas Birdwatching Spot. We’ll handle the logistics; transportation, meals, guiding, and entry fees—so all you have to do is show up and stare at birds.
It’s the full Andean east slope experience, minus the stress and spreadsheets. Let’s bird.
Cost: This 5-day birding adventure starts at $1200 per person, based on a group of two.
Got more bird nerds in your crew? The more friends you bring, the less everyone pays; just drop us a note with your group size and we’ll give you a personalized quote.
And now, your day-by-day:
Up and Over
We’ll scoop you up in Quito and head east, crossing the high Andes with a stop at Papallacta Pass for high-elevation specialties (and a chance to catch your breath at 13,000 feet). We’ll grab lunch and birds at Guango Lodge, then descend into the lush Quijos Valley. You’ll settle into Cabañas Tamiaju, where the hummingbird feeders and home-cooked dinner await.
Potential Species: Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, Superciliaried Hemispingus, Rufous-collared Sparrow
Lodging: Tamiaju
Ridge and Reserve
We’re up early to hit Guacamayos Ridge, one of the most iconic birding trails in Ecuador. We’ll go as long as our legs and lifers allow (snacks provided, of course), then head back to Tamiaju for lunch and a nap. In the afternoon, we visit Chontas Birdwatching Spot, a private reserve known for mixed flocks, great tanagers, and killer views.
Potential Species: Greater Scythebill, Olivacious Piha, Dusky Piha, Peruvian Antpitta, Rufous Collared Sparrow
Lodging: Tamiaju
Narupa and Nectar
We’ll head to the lower elevations of Narupa for a day full of color and endemics. First stop: Narupayaku Hummingbird Garden, a buzzing hotspot for species like the Napo Sabrewing and Violet-headed Hummingbird. Then we track down the Cliff Flycatchers that haunt the roadside cliffs. After lunch, we wrap up the day at the Jocotoco Narupa Reserve—a great place to round out your list with canopy dwellers and Amazonian edge birds.
Potential Species: Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Spotted Tanager, Violaceous Jay, Lafresnay’s Piculet, Lined Antshrike, Rufous Collared Sparrow
Lodging: Tamiaju
Ducks and Display
This day’s got range. We start at Río Quijos Ecolodge for a morning of river birding—think Torrent Ducks, Andean Motmots, and scenic trails. After lunch at the lodge, we drop into La Vida del Kinde, a lesser-known gem with top-shelf hummingbirds like the Wire-crested Thorntail. Finally, we’ll sneak into the Cock-of-the-rock lek in the late afternoon to witness one of Ecuador’s weirdest and most unforgettable bird displays.
Potential Species: Golden Tanager, Southern Emerald Toucanet, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Crested Quetzal, Rufous-collared Sparrow
Lodging: Tamiaju
One More for the Road
Our last morning is spent right here at Tamiaju. We’ll hit the Tamiaju trails, watch the feeders, and soak up the last cloud forest vibes over a farewell lunch. Then it’s back on the road and off to wherever your wings take you next.
Potential Species: Peruvian Racket-tail, Green-backed Hillstar, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, White-capped Dipper, Rufous-collared Sparrow
9 days of birds!
An unforgettable Ecuador birding tour for people with just one week to spare.
Are you a normal person with a normal work schedule who just gets one week off at a time and somehow wants to max out the number of birds you can see without breaking the bank? This trip is for you. Leave home Saturday, return Sunday, and see ALL. THE. BIRDS.
If you’ve got a full week (plus a bookend weekend) and a serious case of bird fever, this is your trip.
We’ll take you from the high paramo grasslands at the foot of snow-capped Antisana Volcano, through misty Andean cloud forests, all the way down to the Amazon basin; collecting lifers at every stop. This isn’t just a vacation; it’s a full-blown bird-ingestion experience.
Over the course of nine days, you’ll chase tanagers in the treetops, scan the skies for condors, and watch the flamboyant Andean Cock-of-the-Rock throw down in his lek. You’ll sip coffee with hummingbirds at arm’s length, wander trails bursting with orchids and frogs, and rack up an eBird checklist so long it’ll make your friends question your life choices.
We handle the transport, lodging, food, and logistics — you just show up with binoculars, a rain jacket, and the will to see all the birds.
Cost: $2100/ person Same deal as above, this is based on a party of two but if you have a bigger group the deal gets even sweeter!
Get Here, Chill
Fly into Quito’s Mariscal Sucre Airport and we’ll take it from there. You’ll overnight at Puembo Birding Garden. If you arrive before dark, stretch your legs and check out the local birdlife while you relax after your travels.
Potential Species: Scrub Tanager, Saffron Finch, Hooded Siskin, Harris’s Hawk, Sparkling Violetear, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Vermilion Flycatcher, Rufous-collared Sparrow
Lodging: Puembo Birding Garden
Antisana Adventure
Up and at ‘em. We’re heading into the highlands at the foot of the Antisana Volcano. It’s a majestic snowy beast towering 19,000 feet above sea level. We’ll explore Laguna La Mica and the surrounding grasslands. Weather can be… unpredictable, bring your layers. Due to the altitude we will host a water chugging competition.
Potential Species: Andean Condor (fingers crossed!), Ecuadorian Hillstar, Giant Hummingbird, Yellow-billed Pintail, Variable Hawk, Tawny Antpitta, Rufous-collared Sparrow
Lodging: Tambo Condor
Papallacta Pass to Tamiaju
We head east, crossing the high-elevation Papallacta Pass. If it’s clear, you’ll be rewarded with condors and sweeping views. If it’s not… well, welcome to the Andes. Lunch and birding at Guango Lodge before descending into the lush cloud forest and landing at Cabañas Tamiaju.
Potential Species: Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Turquoise Jay, Shining Sunbeam, Red-crested Cotinga, Rufous-collared Sparrow.
Lodging: Cabañas Tamiaju
Tamiaju Trails + Chontas Birdwatching Spot
Stay local today. We’ll explore Tamiaju’s trails and our neighboring Chontas Birdwatching Spot. Spoiler: it’s a rainforest. Expect some rain and some uphill hiking. Expect excellent birds.
Potential Species: Golden-headed Quetzal, Long-tailed Sylph, Black-billed Mountain Toucan, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, and White-capped Tanager (lucky duck!), Rufous-collared Sparrow. Bonus mammal: Red-tailed Squirrel
Lodgingt: Cabañas Tamiaju
Guacamayos Ridge
We’ll spend the day on Guacamayos Ridge exploring pristine cloud forest and world-class bird habitat. Start at the Virgin Mary Grotto (a legit light trap) and keep going until your feet cry mercy. Bring some rain gear, we pack a lunch, you pack binoculars.
Potential Species: Green and Black Fruiteater, Slate-crowned Antpitta, Dusky Piha, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Greater Scythebill, Rufous-collared Sparrow.
Lodging: Cabañas Tamiaju
Narupa + Amazon Foothills
Today we head downhill to the Amazonian foothills. Start at Narupayaku hummingbird garden, and check the abandoned mine site for unlikely residents like the Blackish Nightjar and check out a few cliff flycatchers hanging around. In the afternoon we’ll swing by a couple more spots depending on the groups interest and the activity level.
Potential bird species: Wire-crested Thorntail, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Yellow-throated Toucan, Paradise Tanager, Red-headed Barbet, Blue-fronted Lancebill, and maybe an Amazonian Umbrellabird, definitely a Rufous-collared Sparrow.
Lodging: Cabañas Tamiaju
Birdwatchers Valle del Quijos Tour
We visit partner properties in the Quijos Valley, where former dairy farms are becoming bird havens. Stop one: Concierto de las Aves. Stop two:La Vida del Quinde. Stop three: the Cock-of-the-Rock lek at Río Quijos Ecolodge. All bangers.
Potential Species: Andean Cock of the Rock, Torrent Duck, Flame-faced Tanager, Barred Becard, White-tipped Sicklebill, Rufous-collared Sparrow.
Lodging: Cabañas Tamiaju
Roll Out + Roadside Birds
We make our way back to Quito. If the roads are behaving, we’ll bird at El Quetzal and Finca Los Nogales. If the Black-and-chestnut Eagle decides to show, it’s gonna be a good day.
Potential Species: Western Fire-eye, and if you’re lucky, that majestic eagle, Rufous-collared Sparrow.
Overnight: Puembo Birding Garden
Depart
You fly out. We cry. Thanks for birding with us. You’ll probably see a Rufous-collared Sparrow at the airport if you didn’t get a chance to see it yet.
The little details
We keep things simple: your trip should be about watching birds, not worrying about logistics. From the moment you join us, we’ve got your meals, lodging, transport, guides, and reserve access covered. You just show up with your binoculars, curiosity, and maybe an extra layer (because Andes weather is a whole mood). The rest? We’ll handle it; so you can focus on ticking lifers off your list and soaking up the view.
Tours include:
- All accommodations listed in the itinerary
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All meals from arrival dinner to departure breakfast
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Private transportation between all tour sites
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Professional local birding guide(s)
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Entry fees to reserves, parks, and private properties
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Use of spotting scopes where available
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Unlimited bad bird puns from your guide
Tours don’t include
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Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- International or domestic flights to/from Quito
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Alcoholic beverages & specialty drinks
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Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, etc.)
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Tips for guides, drivers, or lodge staff (optional but appreciated)
- Your nemesis bird
But wait! There’s more!
The three tours we’ve outlined are just the tip of the bird iceberg. Ecuador is overflowing with feathered wonders, from the Amazon basin to the Galápagos Islands and everywhere in between. If you’re dreaming bigger, we can help make it happen. Just let us know and we’ll put together a custom add-on package—whether it’s parrots in the lowlands, penguins in the Galápagos, or anything in between.