OVERVIEW
To dramatically boost your bird photo experience in Ecuador, welcome to the exploration of our privileged Amazon rainforest. 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 lush Amazon territory blend together to give place to the most bio-diverse ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere. Brace yourself for a bird photography trip jam-packed with unique bird species.
Canopy towers make it possible to observe and photograph macaws, toucans, contingas, tanagers, and mokey troops of several species. © Jorge Luis Cruz Alcivar
Our second chapter takes us to Ecuador's Lower Amazon basin (Amazon lowlands), acknowledged as the most biologically diverse spot on earth, and one of the most spectacular places for bird photography. This region stretches from 800m (2600ft) all the way down to 300m (980ft) and its made up of soaring millennial trees, magical flooded forests, glassy oxbow lakes, and, the islands of the meandering Napo river. A whole new world of raptors, antbirds, toucans, barbets, cotingas, tanagers, and many more await us in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador!
CONTINUATION OF OUR 12 DAY TRIP - FOR DAYS 9-TO-12 CLICK HERE!
DAY 13
Bird Photo BRAND NEW! San Jorge Sumaco Bajo Wildlife Reserve:
In the morning we'll start photographing from our sensational observation tower rising at 40 meters (130 ft). Photography of canopy birds will be easy with 360 degree view
of the upper level of the forest, we'll look out for fantastic bird species including the Cream-colored Woodpecker, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Yellow-bellied Dacnis, Opal-crowned Tanager, Masked Tanager, Paradise Tanager, Turquoise Tanager, Crested Oropendola, Spangled Cotinga, Long-billed Woodcreeper, Red-throated Caracara, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Black-bellied Cuckoo, and many others. On sunny days, we can photograph troops of Red Howler-Monkeys that like to rest in the canopy.
One of the most exhilarating moments of the trip will be when we photograph the stunning Paradise Tanager atop our Sumaco Bajo canopy tower! © George Cruz
We arrive for lunch at our open-air restaurant to then continue our photography trip around the eco-lodge's pond and lagoon. We'll photograph the Greater Ani, Amazon Kingfisher, Ringed Kingfisher, 
Capped Heron, Olive Oropendola, Black-capped Donacobius, Orange-backed Troupial, Masked Crimson Tanager, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, and with a bit of luck the Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Flame-crested Tanager, and, the Yellow-backed Tanager. At around 3:00PM we'll return to the canopy tower as during this time its easier to photograph the White-throated Toucan, Yellow-tufted Woddpecker, Golden-collared Toucanet, Letered Aracari, Magpie Tanager, Scale-breasted Woodpecker, Violaceous Jay, Opal-rumped Tanager, and, many more!
Overnight: Loreto Eco-lodge.
DAY 14
Bird Photo Coca Oxbow Lake:
After breakfast we drive for two hours to Coca Amazon Oxbow Lake and do bird photography with the help of a wide motor canoe. We'll slowly photograph along the edges of this massive lagoon crowded with wildlife.
One of the target birds for this place includes the bizzare unicorn bird (Horned Screamer) which is fairly common to photograph here but very rare elsewhere. We'll also do photography of several other birds including,
Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Agami Heron, Least Bittern, White-eared Jacamar, Wattled Jacana, Azure Gallinule, Ecuadorian Cacique, Scarlet-crowned Barbet, Red-capped Cardinal, Hoatzin, Snail Kite, Yellow-headed Caracara, White-fronted Nunbird, Rufous-and-green Kingfisher, Laughing Falcon, and many other lagoon-specialist bird species. Several mokey species can also be photograph along the lagoon's edge including the the Squirrel Monkey and, the world's smallest monkey species, the Pygmy Marmoset.
Oxbow Lakes are home to unique bird species that will hardly be seen elsewhere © George Cruz
In the mid-afternoon we'll drive to Napo's riverbank and catch a motor boat that will take us to our eco-lodge in the heart of the Amazon. We'll make little stops along the Napo river to photograph the Brown Jacamar, Swallow-winged Puffbird, White-winged Swallow, White-banded Swallow, Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, Pied Lapwing, Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Oriole Blackbird, Casqued Cacique, Long-tailed Potoo, and with some luck the Amazonian Umbrellabird.
Overnight: Amazonia Eco-lodge.
DAY 15 & 16
Bird Photo Parrot & Macaw Photography Hide & Amazon Canopy Towers:
We'll start the day with bird photography atop another fabulous canopy tower rising at 60 meter (195 feet).
Waves of birds will suddenly appear and sit next to us. Possible bird species include, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, Great Jacamar, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Many-banded Aracari, Ivory-billed Aracari, Red-necked Woodpecker, Golden-green Woodpecker, Pink-throated Becard, Black-faced Dacnis, Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper, Slate-colored Hawk, White-browed Purpletuft, Black-tailed Trogon, Wire-tailed Manakin, White-necked Puffbird, Pied Puffbird, Chestnut Woodpecker, Gilded Barbet, Lemon-throated Barbet, and many more. We'll also enjoy the bizarre sounds of monkeys and other wildlife that will emerge from the never-ending Amazon jungle.
The Scarlet Macaws enjoy the fresh spring water in the heart of the Amazon Jungle. © Jorge Luis Cruz Alcivar
After another superb chapter of bird photography atop the higher stratum of the forest, we'll start walking to a fabulous parrot/macaw photography hide. 
On warm days, massive flocks of Cobalt-winged Parakeets, Orange-cheeked Parrots, and Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlets descend to get fresh spring water from a little stream right in front of our photography hide. Scarlet Macaws will also descend to quench their thirst, sometimes up to 16 individuals at once! We'll have our boxed lunch inside the photography hide as we wait for this amazing show. Occasionally, White-lipped Peccaries, Spider Monkeys, and even the mighty Jaguar have been spotted in this photo hide in broad daylight. On day 16, we'll visit another canopy tower to enjoy another wave of amazing wildlife. We'll revisit the parrot and macaw photography hide in case weather conditions or activity was not optimal on the previous day.
Overnight: Amazonia Eco-lodge.
DAY 17
Bird Photo Amazon Parrot Clay Lick & Amazon Canopy Towers:
After breakfast we'll use our motor boat to navigate down the Napo river and get close to the Parrot Clay Lick. Here, we'll look out for very large flocks of Orange-winged Parrots, 
Yellow-crowned Parrots,
Red-bellied Macaw, Dusky-billed Parrotlet, Dusky-headed Parakeet, and Blue-headed Parrot feeding on the clay wall. Next, we'll visit another canopy tower where the following species are easier to photograph, Gilded Barbet, Black-headed Parrot, Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Spangled Cotinga, Plum-throated Cotinga, Purplish Jacamar, Blue-and-Yellow Macaw, and with some luck the Harpy or Crested Eagle. After lunch we begin our motor ride back to Loreto.
Overnight: Loreto Eco-lodge
Hundreds of parrots, parakeets, and, parrotlets gather at the parrot clay lick. © Jorge Luis Cruz Alcivar
DAY 18
San Jorge Sumaco Bajo Canopy Tower & return to Quito City:
On the last day we'll revisit San Jorge Sumaco Bajo's canopy tower. After lunch we start our return to Quito city.
Overnight: N/A - 5:00-to-5:30PM drop-off at any hotel in Quito city/airport.
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