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Offered languages
- English
- Spanish
Embark on the ultimate high-altitude avian adventure! Perched above 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) in the Ecuadorian highlands, the majestic Antisana and Guango Reserve are a world-class sanctuary and a bucket-list destination for wildlife photographers and birdwatchers alike. From the high-altitude paramo, we descend to 2,700 meters (8,850 feet) into a lush, upper montane cloud forest ecosystem, offering an incredible contrast of habitats in just one trip. This specialized tour gives you exclusive access to premier birding habitats designed for unobstructed viewing. Get up close and personal with rare Andean species using our strategically placed bird blinds (photography hides), observation platforms, and active feeder stations that guarantee unforgettable wildlife encounters.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
The guide will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby. He will introduce himself and confirm the passengers’ first and last names.
Itinerary
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1Quito
Early departure around 5:00 a.m. from our hotel in Quito, followed by a drive through the southeastern side of the city. Upon entering the Chakana reserve, we will take the dirt road heading uphill, which will take us about 30 minutes. The maximum altitude point will be around 4,000 meters above sea level. From here, we will patiently wait for the Andean Condors to start taking off from the cliff to capture the best poses and take the finest photos. This entire activity will take us until mid-morning.
3 hours • Admission ticket free -
2Antisana Ecological Reserve
Afterward, we will head down to venture deeper into Antisana National Park and continue searching for beautiful bird species along the way. An imposing landscape of mountains and Andean vegetation will unfold before our eyes. In fact, our eyes will feast on the light green color of the straw grass that covers 90% of the Andean Paramo—the unique name given to this ecosystem.
1 hour • Admission ticket included -
3
Our final destination will be La Mica Lagoon. This site holds great importance for the people of Quito, as 70% of the fresh water supplying the city comes from here. In other words, the water system pumps nearly 1,700 liters per second. At La Mica Lagoon, we can observe native or migratory waterbirds, depending on the months of the year.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
4Tambo Condor
Finally, inside Antisana National Park, we will visit Tambo Condor—one of the first places dedicated to protecting this ecosystem and a frequent hotspot for spotting various hummingbird species, including the giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas), the largest hummingbird in the world. The return to Quito is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
2 hours • Admission ticket free -
Antisana Ecological Reserve (Pass by)
Iconic birds in the Antisana National Park: Andean Condor, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Tyrian Metaltail, Great Sapphirewing, Giant Hummingbird, Streak-backed Canastero, Yellow-breasted Brushfinch, Andean Ibis, Andean Lapwing, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Andean Gull, Carunculated Caracara, American Kestrel, Many-striped Canastero, Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Grass Wren, Black-crested Warbler, Spectacled Redstart, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Cinereous Conebill, Plumbeous Sierra Finch, Paramo Seedeater, among others.
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5
We will be ready at 6:00 a.m. to begin our second day of birding. We will explore several trails within the Guango Lodge reserve and walk along the banks of the Papallacta River, where nature will reward us with sightings of the torrent duck. Upon reaching the upper part of the reserve, it will be time to watch for the arrival of the gray-breasted mountain-toucan. There is a specific feeding station here that regularly attracts it, allowing us to enjoy its elegant
3 hours • Admission ticket free -
6Parque Nacional Cayambe - Coca
After this fantastic morning of birdwatching, we can head back to Guango Lodge to have breakfast and recharge our energy. Following some time to rest, we will continue our journey toward Cayambe-Coca National Park.Here, we will search for highly sought-after birds like the rainbow-bearded thornbill (Chalcostigma herrani) and the blue-mantled thornbill (Chalcostigma stanleyi). This exploration will take about two hours, after which we will spot other species along the way. At the end of the tour, we will return to the city of Quito.
3 hours • Admission ticket included -
Parque Nacional Cayambe - Coca (Pass by)
Iconic birds in the Cayambe-Coca National Park: Crowned Chat-Tyrant, Masked Mountain Tanager, Black-backed Bush Tanager, Golden-crowned Tanager, Black-chested Mountain Tanager, Viridian Metaltail, Golden-breasted Puffleg, Shining Sunbeam, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Mountain Velvetbreast, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Equatorial Antpitta, Tawny Antpitta, Paramo Tapaculo, Pearled Treerunner, Andean Tit-Spinetail, White-browed Spinetail, White-chinned Thistletail, White-banded Tyrannulet, White-throated Tyrannulet, Tourmaline Sunangel, Long-tailed Sylph, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, among others.
Quito - Antisana National Park - Guango Lodge Reserve
Guango Lodge Reserve - Cayambe Coca National Park - Quito
Additional info
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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