Itinerary

1. QUITO - ANTISANA RESERVE - QUIJOS VALLEY

   Departure at 5:45 am, we will visit the open grasslands surrounding the enormous Antisana volcano. This is often voted as the favourite site of the tour by many, for the wonderful surroundings, we will be shooting. The towering peak of the Antisana Volcano itself is impressive, with a large snow-covered top, and dramatic rocky sides. The páramo (grassland) is interspersed with rocky outcrops and scenic high Andean lakes dotted with high altitude waterfowl. Indeed the scenery itself may be our biggest photo asset. Aside from these breathtaking Andean scenes, the upper páramo is carpeted with Carunculated Caracaras, a striking pied raptor that occurs here in impressive numbers. Black-faced Ibis patrol these high plains as do Andean Lapwings and large flocks of Andean Gulls. Antisana Volcano is the home of the impressive Andean Condor. After Antisana, we will have lunch at Tambo Condor, where some high altitude hummingbirds will join us. From the paramo, we will drive to Quijos Valley and stay at San Isidro Andean Reserve and Lodge, one of the finest cuisines of the COUNTRY and home of the famous Mystery Owl. We will try to get some good shots of this unique bird, after dinner. Meals included: lunch & dinner.

2. QUIJOS VALLEY - QUITO

   We begin our journey at 6 am, at the bugs tramps, photographing tanagers, caciques, jays, hummingbirds and flycatchers; at 7.30 am. Visit a White_bellied Antpitta feeder station, and after this visit, we will have a delicious breakfast. Then, we will drive to La Brisa, for adding hummingbirds to our gallery until about noon. Next, go to Guango Lodge, Guango, which has a varied set of feeders that attract dozens of hummingbirds, including such extravagant species as the “cartoonesque” Sword-billed Hummingbird, the dapper black-and-white Collared Inca, aggressive Chestnut-breasted Coronet, tiny White-bellied Woodstar, and sublime Tourmaline Sunangel. The hummer feeders are also a target for other local birds, most notably the indigo blue Masked Flowerpiercer that will make a tempting subject for our cameras. The temperate forest that overhangs this comfortable Andean lodge also attracts passing flocks of birds, some of which can be remarkably confiding and photogenic, including the cerulean-blue Turquoise Jay, we will enjoy lunch here at Guango. After it, we will drive to Quito, where we will arrive at about 5 pm. 

   Meals included: breakfast and lunch.