Frozen-in-MN
Well-known member
Hi all –
My wife and I have booked a general tourist tour to Ecuador and now I’m trying to determine how to accomplish as much birding during it as possible.
I suspect we won’t have a lot of free time as we whip around the country in a bus, so I’m trolling through the internet to find out as much as I can about the birding at the places we’re staying – the best trails nearby, hummingbird feeders, etc. It looks like it gets light around 6am and dark just after 6pm, so that doesn’t leave a lot of time.
We go in August and hit these locations:
Quito – a full day tour of Quito at the start, and almost a full day on our own at the end. So far a recommendation for the Botanical Gardens and the Metropolitan Park.
Cabanas del Lego, Otavalo – arrive late afternoon, so there may be some time. In morning head to market in Otavalo, then Cotacachi, then Paguche waterfall. In afternoon head to Papallacta.
Termas de Papallacta – arrive afternoon. I’m hopeful to have a bit of time to walk around here. Would they have feeders here? After breakfast head to La Punta Ahuano.
Casa del Suizo on the Napo river – should have the first afternoon and the whole next day and next morning here – depending on what planned ‘activities’ I’m likely to skip.
Leave in morning and hit Puyo, Banos, El Pailon del Diablo.
Hacienda Manteles near Banos – arrive late afternoon.
Leave in the morning and hit Hacienda La Cienega, and then a rose plantation on the way back to Quito.
It’s our first trip to South America – so it’s likely all the birds will be lifers – I’ll go for quantity rather than rarity. Showy birds (Toucans, parrots, etc.) are always more fun to photograph.
Any tips from people that have been to these places is appreciated!
Thanks,
Robin
My wife and I have booked a general tourist tour to Ecuador and now I’m trying to determine how to accomplish as much birding during it as possible.
I suspect we won’t have a lot of free time as we whip around the country in a bus, so I’m trolling through the internet to find out as much as I can about the birding at the places we’re staying – the best trails nearby, hummingbird feeders, etc. It looks like it gets light around 6am and dark just after 6pm, so that doesn’t leave a lot of time.
We go in August and hit these locations:
Quito – a full day tour of Quito at the start, and almost a full day on our own at the end. So far a recommendation for the Botanical Gardens and the Metropolitan Park.
Cabanas del Lego, Otavalo – arrive late afternoon, so there may be some time. In morning head to market in Otavalo, then Cotacachi, then Paguche waterfall. In afternoon head to Papallacta.
Termas de Papallacta – arrive afternoon. I’m hopeful to have a bit of time to walk around here. Would they have feeders here? After breakfast head to La Punta Ahuano.
Casa del Suizo on the Napo river – should have the first afternoon and the whole next day and next morning here – depending on what planned ‘activities’ I’m likely to skip.
Leave in morning and hit Puyo, Banos, El Pailon del Diablo.
Hacienda Manteles near Banos – arrive late afternoon.
Leave in the morning and hit Hacienda La Cienega, and then a rose plantation on the way back to Quito.
It’s our first trip to South America – so it’s likely all the birds will be lifers – I’ll go for quantity rather than rarity. Showy birds (Toucans, parrots, etc.) are always more fun to photograph.
Any tips from people that have been to these places is appreciated!
Thanks,
Robin