Tours Within Ecuador   CHILE    BOLIVIA    PERU
 
 
Package Tours to Ecuador
Andean Odyssey proudly offers an outstanding selection of tour packages to Ecuador - from regional tours of Ecuador's coastal, highland and Amazon jungle regions, to all-inclusive ecoadventures in Quito and the surrounding Andean countryside, the Amazon rain forest and the Galapagos Islands. Andean Odyssey also offers a fabulous variety of adventure programs and special interest packages.

Regional Tours
Ecuador's coastal region features the country's largest city, Guayaquil, and the port of Manta and the beautiful surrounding tropical jungle. Here you can visit Montecristi, where the world's finest straw "Panama Hats" are made, quaint fishing villages, and see Ecuador's thriving export industries of bananas, coffee and cacao.

Andean Odyssey offers a wide variety of tour packages to the spectacular Andean highlands of Ecuador. Start in the Quito - set in a compact valley surrounded by snow-capped peaks, and filled with lovely Spanish colonial architecture, Quito is commonly called the most picturesque capital city in Latin America. From there, it is a short distance to la Mitad del Mundo - where you can step in the southern and northern hemispheres at the same time, Otavalo - with its Indian market and some of Ecuador's finest handicrafts, Cotopaxi National Park, the lovely colonial city of Cuenca, and Baņos - the gateway to the Ecuadoran jungle.

Andean Odyssey tours to Ecuador's Amazon rain forest offer you the accommodations you are looking for. Whether it's an air conditioned cruise down the Amazon or a walking tour in search of the exotic flora and fauna of the rainforest, you can't better the tours we have to offer.

Ecoadventures in Quito and Elsewhere in Ecuador
Andean Odyssey offers a superb variety of ecoadventures in Quito and other fabulous destinations in Ecuador. Choose among a variety of 8 to 16 day ecoadventures in Quito that may encompass the Galapagos Islands, the Andean city of Otavalo and its fabled marketplace and the snow-capped volcano of Cotopaxi, among other extraordinary attractions in this little gem of a country.

Adventure Programs
Adventure travel in Ecuador is at your fingertips when you plan your trip with Andean Odyssey. Trekking and other ecoadventures in Quito and the nearby Andean highlands can't get any better. Full adrenaline - Andean Odyssey tours of Ecuador have it all!

Special Interest Tours
Andean Odyssey has a variety of bird-watching tours, as well as other tailor-made special interest tours for family travel, study tours for executives and students, and experiential tourism to satisfy your desire to work with the local population.

So don't forget - whether you prefer a tour of Ecuador's coastal, highland or jungle region, one of a number of ecoadventures in Quito and elsewhere in this compact country at the center of the world, or a specialized, made-to-order educational experience, the specialists at Andean Odyssey are ready to make your vacation dream come true!
 
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     - BirdWatching
Tours Within Ecuador
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  Highlights
 
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    - Quito and Surroundings
    - Amazon Basin
Program : Quito and Surroundings
(8D / 7N)

DAY 1
YANACOCHA/ TANDAYAPA
Early transfer to Yanacocha, around 1.5 hrs. drive from Quito. Yanacocha Reserve is a high elevation temperate forest, located on the northwestern of the Guagua Pichincha Volcano, with an average altitude between 3000m to 3500m (9843ft-11483ft). The lower slopes of the Volcano are covered with Elfin forest and mountain cloud forests. In this Reserve it is possible to observe Hummingbirds and Tanager flocks.

Among others, the following species can be seen in this area:
  • Buff-winged Starfrontlet (Coeligena lutetiae)
  • Rainbow-bearded Thornbill (Chalcostigma herrani)
  • Red-crested Cotinga (Ampelion rubrocristatus)
  • Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant (Pseudotriccus ruficeps)
  • Golden-Crowned Tanager (Iridosornis rufivertex)
  • Undulated Antpitta (Grallaria squamigera)
  • Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant (Myiotheretes striaticollis)
  • Rufous Wren (Cinnycerthia unirufa)
  • Paramo Seedeater (Catamenia homochroa)
  • Ocellated Tapaculo (Acropternis orthonyx)
  • Mountain Avocetbill (Opisthoprora euryptera)
After lunch, continue your tour to Tandayapa, a Highland Rainforest (secondary lower cloud forest), with an altitude of 1600 meters (5248 feet). Tandayapa is located within the Chocó Endemic Bird Area (EBA) of northwestern Ecuador. In this Highland Rainforest it is possible to observe some threatened bird species and some Regional endemics. Around 180 species of birds have been recorded in this area including Fruiteaters, Tapaculos, Tanagers, Jays, and Hummingbirds. Overnight at Bellavista Lodge. Dinner included.

Among others, the following species have been recorded here:
  • Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan (Andigena laminirostris)
  • Tawny-breasted Tinamou (Nothocercus julius)
  • Toucan Barbet (Semnornis ramphastinus)
  • Golden-headed Quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps)
  • Ocellated Tapaculo (Acropternis orthonyx)
  • Fasciated Tiger-Heron (Tigrisoma fasciatum)
  • White-rumped Hawk (Buteo leucorrhous)
  • Rufous-bellied Nighthawk (Lurocalis rufiventris)
  • Velvet-purple Coronet (Boissonneaua jardini)
  • Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis)
DAY 2
BELLAVISTA – NONO-MINDO ROAD
After breakfast, visit the Bellavista Reserve, located on the edge of the Chocó bioregion. This Reserve has 170 hectares, 25 % of its forest is a primary forest. After lunch, take the Nono-Mindo road towards Mindo. The Nono-Mindo Road and Mindo area are famous birding sites due to its biodiversity. The forest along this road is subtropical and is easy to reach, located on the western slope of the Andes. Around 430 species of birds have been recorded along the Nono-Mindo Road, including many threatened and near threatened species. Overnight in Mindo. Meals included.

DAY 3
MINDO - TINALANDIA
In 1977 the BirdLife International designated Mindo as South America´s first important Bird Area (IBA), due to the large number of endemic species that have been found in Mindo. The main rainy season in Mindo is from March to April. From October to April we can find some migratory birds. This place is home to a lush variety of flora and fauna. In the Mindo region we find some of the world’s most endangered species of birds and some of the rarest ones. During the rainy season it is possible to observe Antpittas, Antbirds, woodpeckers, fruiteaters and Tapaculos. Early in the morning (from 4:00 to 7:00 a.m) visit Nambillo Waterfalls trails, located in the hills this place is home of the Andean-Cock-of-the Rock Lek (male congregation) for meting ritual of about ten males. In the afternoon, transfer to Tinalandia. Overnight in Tinalandia. Meals included.

Some Species along the Nono-Mindo-Road and Mindo area:
  • Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata)
  • White-throated Crake (Laterallus albigularis)
  • Fawn-breasted Brilliant (Heliodoxa rubinoides)
  • Long-wattled Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger)
  • Andean Cock-of-the Rock (Rupicola peruviana)
  • Red-billed Parrot (Pionus sordidus)
  • Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera)
  • Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii)
  • Pale-mandibled Aracari (Pteroglossus erythropygius)
  • Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager ( Anisognathus notabilis)
  • Snowy-throated Kingbird (Tyrannus niveigularis)
DAY 4
TINALANDIA – RIO PALENQUE SCIENCE CENTER
Tinalandia is an Ecolodge Hotel and Nature Reserve, located in the western foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes Mountains (Cloud Forest) at the southern end of the Chocó Bioregion. It is situated along the road from Quito to Santo Domingo, 15 kilometers east of Santo Domingo, 5 kilometers from Alluriquin, (Two and a half hours from Quito).

Tinalandia is surrounded by lowland rainforests with an altitude of 600 meters (1969 ft). There are some trails for birding along the forest, at the edge habitat, and gardens. 300 species of birds have been recorded in Tinalandia, out of which seven species are Chocó endemics. In the afternoon, transfer to Rio Palenque Science Center. Overnight in Rio Palenque. Meals included.

Some species of Tinalandia:
  • Pale mandibled Aracari (Pteroglossus erythropygius)
  • Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis)
  • Ecuadorian Thrush (Turdus maculirostris)
  • Chocó Toucan (Ramphastos brevis)
  • Band-tailed Barbthroat (Threnetes ruckeri)
  • Masked Water-Tyrant (Fluvicola nengeta)
  • Checker-throated Antwren (Myrmotherula fulviventris)
  • Maroon-tailed Parakeet (Pyrrhura melanura)
  • Little Tinamou (Crypturellus soui)
  • Lanceolated Monklet (Micromonacha lanceolata))
  • Broad-billed Motmot (Electron platyrhynchum)

DAY 5
RIO PALENQUE SCIENCE CENTER
Rio Palenque Science Center is a private Reserve with 180 hectares, out of which 87 hectares are still mature forest, with an altitude of 200 meters. It is located 50 Kilometers south of Santo Domingo, and 56 Kilometers north of Quevedo in the western lowlands. 370 species of birds have been recorded in Rio Palenque Reserve; some of these are threatened or near threatened species, some are a mixture of Choco and Tumbesian endemics. Overnight in Rio Palenque. Meals included.

Some species of the area:
  • Plumbeous Hawk (Leucopternis plumbea)
  • Rufous-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis erythroptera)
  • Lanceolated Monklet (Micromonacha lanceolata)
  • Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris)
  • Scarlet-rumped Cacique (Cacicus microrhynchus)
  • Black-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes pucherani)
  • Black-tailed Trogon (Trogon melanurus)
  • Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens)
  • White-whiskered Hermit (Phaethornis yaruqui)
  • Berlepsch´s Tinamou (Crypturellus berlepschi)
  • Black-and-White Owl (Strix nigrolineata)
  • Slaty-capped Flycatcher (Leptopogon superciliaris)

DAY 6
CHIRIBOGA ROAD – QUITO
Early departure to the Chiriboga Road, located southwest of Quito. Along this road, we can stop in different areas for birding, such as montane cloud-forest, lower montane cloud-forest, and premontane cloud-forest. The altitude along this road is between 900 m. to 3200 m. The Chiriboga Road has 97 kilometers long from Quito to Santo Domingo, and it is located in the Southwest, crossing the west Andean Slope. The vegetation along the road is mostly secondary. About 260 species of birds have been recorded along the road, some of them are Chocó endemics, others are threatened or near threatened. After arrival in Quito, transfer to San Jorge Eco Lodge. Overnight . All meals included.

Some species along the Chiriboga Road are:
  • Buff-tailed Coronet (Boissonneaua flavescens)
  • Purple-bibbed Whitetip (Urosticte benjamini)
  • Esmeraldas Antbird (Myrmeciza nigricauda)
  • Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager (Anisognathus notabilis)
  • Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata)
  • Carunculated Caracara (Phalcoboenus carunculatus)
  • Tawny- bellied Hermit (Phaethornis syrmatophorus)
  • Russet-backed Oropendola (Psarocolius angustifrons)
  • Blue-and-White Swallow (Notiochelidon cyanoleuca)
  • Golden-faced Tyrannulet (Zimmerius chrysops)
  • Roadside Hawk (Buteo magnirostris)
  • Bicolored Hawk (Accipiter bicolor)
DAY 7
SAN JORGE BOTANICAL RESERVE
San Jorge Botanical Reserve is a Highland Rainforest, private Reserve with 200 acres and an altitude of 10824 feet (3200 meters). San Jorge is located in the Pichincha foothills at only seventeen minutes from Quito airport. Around 120 species can be observed in this Reserve, including hummingbirds. The Eco Lodge in the Reserve is a conditioned 18th century farm. Overnight in San Jorge. Meals included. Some species of birds in areas surrounding the San Jorge Eco-Lodge
  • White-banded Tyrannulet (Mecocerculus stictopterus)
  • Golden-rumped Euphonia (Euphonia cyanocephala)
  • Rufous Antpitta (Grallaria rufula)
  • Spectacled Whitestart (Myioborus melanocephalus)
  • Paramo seedeater (Catamenia homochroa)
  • Gorgeted Sunangel (Heliangelus strophianus)
  • Variable Hawk (Buteo polyosoma)
  • Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas)
  • Black Flowerpiercer (Diglossa humeralis)
  • Band-winged Nightjar (Caprimulgus longirostris)
  • Tufted Tit-Tyrant (Anairetes parulus)
  • Lyre-tailed Nightjar (Uropsalis lyra)
  • Ash-colored Tapaculo (Myornis senilis)

DAY 8
TRANSFER OUT
After breakfast, transfer to the airport. END OF THE PROGRAM

 
*We provide vegetarian meals
 
e-mail : tours@andeanodyssey.com    www.andeanodyssey.com