Amazonian Ecuador

Tour Code: ECU11

An 11-day birdwatching tour to the Napo River basin, looking for specialities of the Ecuadorian Amazon while enjoying the tropical forest landscapes and other wildlife of this exciting region.

We hope to run this tour in the future, but have not yet finalised dates and prices. To be added to a waiting list and be informed when details are confirmed, please click on the register interest button, or phone 01962 733051.
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

This tour visits areas of pristine lowland forest along the Shiripuno and Napo rivers in north-eastern Ecuador. It also includes a chance to venture into the Huaorani Anthropological Reserve in search of the wildlife inhabiting its ‘terra firme’ forest, and a variety of other habitats including swamps, riverside scrub, hills and ravines. At Sani Lodge (Napo River) we can expect to hear a dazzling repertoire of bird song in the gardens every morning, and we’ll enjoy searching for such canopy species as Buff-throated Woodcreeper and White-lored Euphonia, while around Shiripuno the lowland Amazonian forest is home to superb mixed-feeding flocks, including an array of woodcreeper, antwren and antbird species.

  • Look for Casqued Oropendola & Scarlet Macaw along the Shiripuno River
  • Upper Amazonian birds such as Pavonine Quetzal & elusive Rufous Potoo
  • Fiery Topaz & Spotted Puffbird possible
  • Short-billed Honeycreeper, Yellow-backed Tanager & many more from canopy tower
  • Enjoy a ‘staked-out’ Great Potoo roosting on a branch near our lodge
  • Walk trails looking for Great Tinamou & White-lored Antpitta at Sani
  • Spectacled Caiman, Night Monkey, opossums & armadillos all possible
  • Mealy, Blue-headed, Yellow-crowned & Orange-cheeked Amazon-parrots at clay-lick

Grading

This is a focused birding holiday with plenty of walking off the beaten track.

About the region

This tour is based in central north and north-east Ecuador, and visits areas of pristine lowland forest along the Shiripuno and Napo rivers.

Within the Huaorani Anthropological Reserve, the habitat is mainly primary ‘terra firme’ forest, but there are also some swamps, small oxbow lakes, riverside scrub, and some low hills and associated ravines.

The tour ‘in a nutshell’

An 11-day bird watching tour to the Napo River basin, looking for specialities of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

What birds might I see?

In tracts of thick tropical forest along the Shiripuno River we’ll look for birds such as Casqued Oropendola and Scarlet Macaw. Sought after upper Amazonian birds such as Pavonine Quetzal, Yellow-browed and Hairy-crested Antbirds, the mysterious Nocturnal Curassow, Fiery Topaz and Spotted Puffbird are possible too.

In the lowland Amazonian forest around Shiripuno mixed species feeding flocks typically consist of a wonderful array of woodcreepers, antwrens, antbirds, foliage gleaners and much more. We’ll search for birds such as Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, Black and Yellow-headed Caracaras, Ringed and Amazon Kingfishers and birds of prey such as Plumbeous Kite as well as Hoatzin, Greater and Smooth-billed Anis, Red-capped Cardinal, Violaceous Jay, and much more.

At Sani Lodge (Napo River area) we can expect to hear a dazzling repertoire of bird song in the gardens every morning. Birds of the canopy include Buff-throated Woodcreeper, White-lored Euphonia, Lesser Kiskadee and Blue-grey and Palm Tanagers. Back at the lodge, we may be lucky enough to enjoy a ‘staked-out’ Great Potoo roosting on a branch, among other species.

Our two days and three nights spent exploring the trails around Sani Lodge could enable us to add birds such as Great Tinamou, Wattled Jacana, Screaming Piha and Tropical Screech Owl to our list.

Anything else?

Spectacled Caimans, and even some nocturnal mammals such as Night Monkeys, or perhaps an opossum or armadillo.

Visit to two parrot clay-licks in search of species such as Mealy, Blue-headed, Yellow-crowned, and Orange-cheeked Amazon-parrots.

 

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Quito
Day 2
Quito to Shiripuno, via Coca
Day 3/4
Shiripuno Lodge
Day 5
Shiripuno to Sani Lodge
Day 6/9
Sani Lodge
Day 10
Quito & depart
Day 11
Arrive UK
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation: Based in basic, but comfortable lodges.
  • Food: All food included and consists of hearty Ecuadorian cuisine and international food.
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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!