OVERVIEW
To dramatically boost your bird photography experience in Ecuador, welcome to the exploration of our privileged Amazon region. While the Amazon basin falls within several South American countries, a singularity occurs in Ecuador's Amazonia. The Equator line, the Andes mountain range, and, our Amazon territory blend together to give place to the most bio-diverse ecosystem in the world! Brace yourself for a bird photography trip jam-packed with unique bird species.
Our upper Amazonia trip visits the best location to see the fabulous Rainbow-bearded Thornbill © Jorge Luis Cruz Alcivar
Our first chapter covers the Upper Amazon basin, stretching from 3000 m (9800 feet) all the way down to 1200 m (4000 feet). Our bird photography trip covers the Amazon's mountainous region made up of lush montane forest, 
deep-green foothill forests, and, crystal clear rivers that feed into the largest tributary of the Amazon river. This region is exceptionally good for bird photography for its highly sought-after mountain-toucans, mountain-tanagers, fruiteaters, tanagers, jays, caciques, antbirds, and, notably, for its abounding hummingbird species, most of which don't occur in the Choco slope (5 & 8 day trips). This region is unfortunately missed by most bird photographers, who, unknowingly skip this must-see! wildlife photography area by flying directly from Quito to Coca city into the Lower Amazon which we offer as a separate trip.
CONTINUATION OF OUR 8 DAY TRIP - FOR DAYS 6-TO-8 CLICK HERE!
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 9
Bird Photo Papallacta Pass, Cayambe-Coca National Park & Cuyuja River:
Now that we've covered the best bird photography locations of the Choco (Western slope), we embark into an essentially new world, the enchanted forests of the Upper Amazon Basin (Eastern slope). After breakfast we drive towards Amazonia's slope gateway, the famous Papallacta Pass. 
Some of Ecuador's most stunning hummingbird species inhabit this stunning treeline forest. This will be one of the best locations to photograph the majestic 
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Blue-mantled Thornbill, and a second chance at the Ecuadorian Hillstar. Other great bird species we'll photograph at this location include the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Giant Conebill, Many-striped Canastero, Andean Tit-Spinetail, and with a bit of luck, the mighty Spectacled Bear, South America's only bear species. At around noon, we'll be rewarded with a delicious boxed lunch surrounded by a sublime Andean landscape.
Be enchanted by the breathtaking scenery of the Upper Amazon region. © Jorge Luis Cruz Alcivar
After lunch we do bird photography inside Cayambe-Coca National Park. This dwarf Andean forest is home to very localized bird species and we'll focus on bird photography of the Masked Mountain-Tanager,
Black-backed Bush-Tanager, Pale-naped Brush-Finch, Crowned Chat-Tyrant, and, the stunners Pluscap, and Golden-crowned Tanager. After Cayambe Coca, we descend to Cuyuja river and we spend the rest of the afternoon doing hummingbird photography of brand new species including the Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Glowing Pufleg, and, the Tourmaline Sunangel. We'll also go after the Torrent Duck that's commonly seen along the Cuyuja river. With a bit of luck we might also photograph the Red-hooded Tanager, Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan, and the Andean Potoo.
Overnight: San Jorge Eco-lodge Guacamayos.
DAY 10 & 11
Bird Photo San Jorge Eco-lodge Guacamayos
The next two days we spend at our brand new eco-lodge located in the heart of Guacamayos valley. San Jorge Eco-lodge Guacamayos sits between Antisana and Sumaco Napo-Galeras national parks. On the 10th day we'll photograph the Andean cock-of-the-rock at our eco-lodges lek. The eastern cock-of-the-rock has an amazing orange color and a piercing bright yellow eye. After the lek, we'll do hummingbird photography right from the restaurant. The hummingbird feeders and the verbena gardens attract brand new hummingbird species including the
Long-taild Sylph, Greenish Puffleg, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Speckled Hummingbird, Bronzy Inca, Rufous-booted Racket-tail, and the tiny Gorgeted Woodstar. Other birds that can be allured to the lodge's balcony include the spectacular White-capped Tanager, Yellow-throated Tanager, Deep-blue Flowerpiercer, Orange-eared Tanager, Vermillion Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, and the Black-chested Fruiteater. On the 11th day, we'll redo the Andean cock-of-the-rock lek in the morning in case that the weather and/or the lighting conditions were not ideal on the previous day. In the afternoon we'll visit another hummingbird photography station to photograph a couple of new species including the Collared Inca, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Green-fronted Lancebill, and the Green-backed Hillstar. We'll also make a little stop along one of the rivers to have a second chance at the Torrent Duck.
Overnight: San Jorge Eco-lodge Guacamayos
The valley of Guacamayos is home to some of the most beautiful hummingbird species including this Long-tailed Sylph. © Jorge Luis Cruz Alcivar
DAY 12
Bird Photo Hummingbird Reserve in Guacamayos Valley
After breakfast we drive for 10 minutes to a hummingbird reserve in the lower part of Guacamayo's valley. Extensive gardens covered with flowering vervenas are home to numerous hummingbird species that occur at this elevation only. 
We'll focus on hummingbird photography of the following species, the iconic Wire-crested Throntail, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Rufous-throated Sapphire, Napo Sabrewing, Black-throated Brilliant, Fork-tailed Woodnymph,
Black-throated Brilliant, Gould's Jewelfront, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Green Hermit, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Pink-throated Brilliant, and, with some luck, the spectacular Spangled Coquette. After having a delicious boxed lunch we continue exploring the reserve for other birds including the Red-crested Finch, Silvery-beaked Tanager, Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail, Lafresnaye's Piculet, Blue Dacnis, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Spotted Tanager, and with a bit of luck, the endangered Military Macaw, and the rare Orange-breasted Falcon.
3:00PM transfer to any hotel in Quito area or to Quito
TO CONTINUE WITH OUR 18 DAY BIRD PHOTO TOUR CLICK HERE!
END OF ITINERARY
Read more about this lodge