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From the moment we landed at our destination, we were looked after and expertly led for the whole of the holiday. It was primarily a bird tour and was the fulfilment of a long-standing ambition to visit South America and particularly the Andes and see a number of target birds. We had hopes of what the holiday would be like prior to going, but all those hopes were not only met, but exceeded by the trip. They [Naturetrek] expertly organised everything and took all the pressure away from going to a strange country. The tour guide Andrea and the driver Jose were brilliant and took us safely to places to see the birds and wildlife that only local knowledge made possible. Andrea’s bird knowledge and the way she led the group was excellent as was Jose’s driving and taking care of everyone’s baggage.
D.S. Surrey, Nov 22
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Ecuador - On the Trail of the Jocotoco Antpitta
Tour Code: ECU17A 12-day birdwatching tour to the forests of Ecuador in search of the rare Jocotoco Antpitta and a wealth of other Neotropical birdlife.
£4,295 (Inc flights)
£3,395
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
It was only in 1997 that birders combing the cloudforests of southern Ecuador were assailed by a loud sound they didn’t recognise. The caller turned out to be a species new to science, skulking but large and distinctive, the Jocotoco Antpitta. Nowadays the birds come to worms at a special feeding station, but the thrill of that original discovery somehow still hangs in the misty Andean air. If you like antpittas, the chances are that you’ll love all the Tumbesian endemics and other specialities on this very special tour, such as El Oro Parakeet and Long-wattled Umbrellabird, and hummers such as Wire-crested Thornbill and Spangled Coquette.
- A birding tour to see some rare and localised species of the south Ecuadorean Andes
- Headline act is the recently discovered Jocotoco Antpitta at Tapichalaca Reserve
- Hummingbird heaven at Copalinga Lodge feeders on edge of Podocarpus National Park
- Three nights at Buenaventura Reserve for El Oro Parakeet and Long-wattled Umbrellabird
- Tumbesian endemics at Manglares-Churute Reserve, including Ecuadorean Trogon and Superciliated Wren
- Andean Condors near Quito to end tour
When the Jocotoco Antpitta was discovered back in 1997, deep within the moss-draped cloudforests of the eastern slopes of the southern Ecuadorian Andes it greatly excited the ornithological world. Heading the small team of five which discovered the bird were Bob Ridgely and John Moore. Their team’s goal had actually been for John to obtain further sound recordings for his work on the ‘Vocalizations of Birds of the Neotropics’ and for Bob to tidy some loose ends prior to the publication of the seminal ‘Birds of Ecuador’. It was this new bird’s distinctive ‘jo-jo-jo-jo-jo-jo’ which alerted the group to the undescribed species. Interestingly, locals were familiar with the calls of the bird, but had never seen what made them!
More than 20 years on, this new tour takes us first to the Manglares-Churute Reserve, not far from Guayaquil. Here we should see Pacific Royal Flycatcher and our first Tumbesian endemics in the form of Superciliated Wren and Ecuadorian Trogon. We then drive on for a 3-night stay at Buenaventura Reserve where star birds include El Oro Parakeet (for which the reserve was originally set up to protect), Long-wattled Umbrellabird and numerous hummingbirds and tanagers. Our next base, again for three nights, is Copalinga Lodge on the edge of the Podocarpus National Park. The feeders in the grounds of the lodge will be buzzing with hummingbirds such as Wire-crested Thorntail, Spangled Coquette and many others, while Blackish Nightjar and Gray Tinamou can be seen nearby.
The tour nears conclusion with two nights at Tapichalaca Reserve where, two decades after its discovery, we will be able to see Jocotoco Antpitta as it comes out to feed confidently on earthworms at an antpitta feeding station. A flight to Quito and a day at Antisana for Andean Condors and spellbinding scenery rounds off this exciting new itinerary, which can be combined with our established ‘Cock-of-the-Rock’ itinerary in northern Ecuador (website tour code ECU05).
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
Comfortable hotels and birders' lodges.
- Food:
All included, except evening meals in Guayaquil and Quito.
Reviews
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
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Our bargain birdwatching tours suit keen birders who want an active, fast-paced birding holiday with a dedicated focus on searching for birds rather than on looking at the area’s other wildlife or cultural highlights.
We offer a wide selection of long-haul holidays to many destinations in South America, Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere.
What can I expect?
- An expert English-speaking local ornithologist leader
- Outstanding value for money
- Dawn-to-dusk birding with limited time for rest, relaxation and outside interests
- Enviable bird lists
- Focused searches for endemics and regional specialities
Who are these tours best suited to?
- Keen & active birders – whether expert or making their first visit to a country or continent
- People looking for an action-packed bird-focused tour
Where can I go?
Naturetrek's selection of birdwatching holidays includes many South and Central American countries including Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Panama.
In Africa our selection includes Malawi, Ethiopia and South Africa, while in India and Nepal we offer a choice of 17 bargain birdwatching tours! Here are a few more choices:
- Endemics of Western Australia
- Argentina's Mar Chiquita
- Birds of Brazils Atlantic rainforest
- Colombia – home to the world’s richest avifauna
- Sri Lanka’s endemic birds
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
All Bargain birdwatching Tours
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
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!
