Natural Treasures:

Arrive in Quito for a stay in your hotel, San Jose de Puembo hotel.

Today brings you to the vast grasslands sitting high in the Andes surrounding the enormous Antisana Volcano. The paramo (grasslands), are interspersed by rocky outcrops and scenic high Andean lakes. These natural formations allow you to spot high altitude waterfowl, Carunculated Caracaras, black-faced Ibis, Andean lapwings, and large flocks of Andean gulls. This area gives you the opportunity to encounter the spectacled bear, Andean Condor, and Giant Hummingbird. Lunch at Tambo Condor before a drive to Papallacta for a night stay at Termas de Papallacta.

Guango lodge lies as an altitude of 2,700 meters above sea level, with the surrounding area characterised by stunted trees, a thicker canopy, and a cooler climate, offering an interesting composition of birds and plants.

As we gain altitude and near the continental divide, species like Black-chested BuzzardEagle, Viridian Metaltail, and Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager become possible. Before and after lunch, we’ll have a good crack at Guango’s hummingbird feeders, which can include Tourmaline Sunangel, Sword-billed Hummingbird, and White-bellied Woodstar.

Night at Termas de la Papallacta.

Enjoy a walk into the high Andean paramo grasslands through Papallacta Pass. Here you can spot Comical Cinclodes, Tawny Antpittas, and shier birds such as Canasteros and tit-spinetails. After lunch, enjoy the afternoon to shoot hummingbirds, walk the forest trails behind the lodge, and scan the riverbank to spot Torrent Ducks.

In mid-afternoon, we pack up and return to the San Jose de Puembo hotel.

After once again leaving Quito, we will enjoy a four-night stay at Sachatamia Lodge in the Choco Region of Northwest Ecuador. This region is renown for its impressive hummingbird population found around the lodge. The feeders at the lodge attract thousands of individual birds and up to 20 different species each day. Some of these birds include; the Booted Racket-tail, Violet-tailed Sylph, Purple-bibbed whitetip, Western Emerald, Purple-throated Woodstar, Velvet-Purple Coronet, Red-headed barbet, Blue-winged Mountain-tanager and Toucan Barbet.

Day at leisure at Sachatamia Lodge for free bird-watching.

Day at leisure at Sachatamia Lodge for free bird-watching.

Day at leisure at Sachatamia Lodge for free bird-watching.

An early departure takes us to one of the most significant bird-watching locations in the area, the Paz de las Aves Refuge, which allows us to spot Andean Cock-of-the-rocks, Giant Moustached, Yellowbreasted Antpittas, Ochrebreasted, Chestnutcrowned Antpittas, Dark backed Wood-Quail, Rufousbreasted Antthrush, and White capped Dipper. We travel back to Quito for our final nights stay at San Jose de Puembo hotel.

Transfer to Quito for end of services.