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 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. © Luis Alcivar
Our second chapter takes us to Ecuador's Lower Amazon basin (Amazon lowlands), acknowledged as the most biologically diverse spot on earth. 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 Ecuador's Amazon jungle!
DAY 1
Birding BAND NEW! Sumaco Bajo Wildlife Reserve:
After breakfast we drive for two hours to our BRAND NEW! Sumaco Bajo Wildlife Reserve in Amazonia's lowlands. We'll start birdwatching along the main road that leads to our reserve. 
Flocks of parrots, macaws, and, parakeets will welcome us. 
We will look out for Dusky-headed Parakeet, White-eyed Parakeet, Orange-winged Parrot, Yellow-crowed Parrot, Mealy Parrot, Blue-headed Parrot, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, and Dusky-billed Parrotlet. This amazing road will also offer us other birds like the Great Antshrike, Fasciated Antshrike, White-shouldered Antshrike, Black Antbird, Grey Antbird, Bare-throated Fruitcrow, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Scale-breasted Woodpecker, Red-stained Woodpecker, Little Woodpecker, Lafresnaye's Piculet, Red-crowned Ant-Tanager, Violaceous Jay, Masked Crimson Tanager, and, many more.
Overnight: Ecuador Amazonia Eco-lodge.
A trio of colorful Red-bellied Macaws overfly the skies of San Jorge Sumaco. © Luis Alcivar
We arrive for lunch at our open-air restaurant to then continue birdwatching around the lodge's pond and lagoon. We will look-out for the Greater Ani, Amazon Kingfisher, Ringed Kingfisher, Capped Heron, Olive Oropendola, Black-capped Donacobius, Black-capped Becard, Piratic Flycather, Orange-backed Troupial, White-chested Puffbird, Chestnut-capped Puffbird, Rufous-breasted Piculet, Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Yellow-breasted Flycatcher, Orange-fronted Plushcrown, Amazonian Grosbeak, Yellow-backed Tanager, Yellow-green Vireo, Magpie Tanager, Fulvous-crested Tanager, and several other species.
DAY 2
Birding BRAND NEW! Sumaco Bajo Wildlife Reserve:
In the morning we'll start birding from our sensational canopy tower rising at 40 meters (130 ft). We'll appreciate a 360 degree view of the upper level of the forest and look out for up to 6 different macaw species!
including: Scarlet Macaw, Red-And-Green Macaw, Blue-And-Yellow Macaw, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Red-bellied Macaw, and the endangered Military Macaw. Other target species will include, the Striped Woodcreeper, Long-billed Woodcreeper, Black-headed Parrot, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Scale-breasted Woodpecker, Lettered Aracari, White-throated Toucan, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Golden-collared Toucanet, Wing-barred Piprites, Turquoise-browed Tanager, Paradise Tanager, Turquoise Tanager, Black-bellied Cuckoo, Gilded Barbet, Scarlet-crowned Barbet, Yellow-bellied Dacnis, King Vulture, Red-throated Caracara, Plum-throated Cotinga, Spangled Cotinga, and with a bit of luck the Purple-throated Cotinga, and the magestic Harpy Eagle.
One of the most exhilarating moments of the trip will be when we see the stunning Paradise Tanager atop our Sumaco Bajo canopy tower! © George Cruz
DAY 3
Bird Photo Coca Oxbow Lake:
After breakfast we drive for two hours to Coca Oxbow Lake. With the help of a wide canoe we will slowly birdwatch along the edges of this massive lagoon crowded with wildlife.
One of the target birds for this place is the strange "unicorn bird" Horned Screamer which is fairly common here but very rare elsewhere. We will also look out for the Zig-Zag Heron,
Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Agami Heron, Least Bittern, White-eared Jacamar, Wattled Jacana, Azure Gallinule, Ecuadorian Cacique, Red-capped Cardinal, Hoatzin, Snail Kite, Yellow-headed Caracara, White-fronted Nunbird, Uniform Crake, Long-billed Gnatwren, Solitary Cacique, Grey-cowled Wood-Rail, Laughing Falcon, and several other lagoon-specialist bird species. Several mokey species can also be seen along he edge of the lake, like 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
After lunch we'll drive and birdwatch along the road that leads to Napo's riverbank. We'll look out for the White-chinned Jacamar, Channel-billed Toucan, Black-fronted Nunbird, White-lored Antpitta, Black-banded Crake, Casqued Casique, Rufous-bellied Euphonia, Double-banded Pygmy-Tyrant, Fulvous-Shrike Tanager, Southern Lapwing, Amazonian Violaceous Trogon and many more. In the late afternoon we'll use our motor boat to head back to the Eco-lodge doing little stops along the Napo river to look out for the Brown Jacamar, Swallow-winged Puffbird, Pied Lapwing, Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Long-tailed Potoo, Great Potoo, and with some luck the Nocturnal Currasow.
Overnight: Amazonia Eco-lodge.
DAY 4
Bird Photo Amazon Parrot Clay Lick & Amazon Canopy Towers:
After breakfast we visit another fabulous canopy tower rising at 60 meter (195 feet). We'll look out for the Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher, White-eyed Tody-Tyrant, Great Jacamar,
Purplish Jacamar, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Many-banded Aracari, Ivory-billed Aracari, Red-necked Woodpecker, Golden-green Woodpecker, Pink-throated Becard, Elegant, Yellow-crowned Elaenia, Rufous-tailed Flatbill, Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper, Slate-colored Hawk, White-browed Purpletuft, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Black-tailed Trogon, White-necked Puffbird, Pied Puffbird, Citron-bellied Attila, Grayish Mourner, Chestnut Woodpecker, Olivaceous Flatbill, Lemon-throated Barbet.
The Scarlet Macaws enjoy the fresh spring water in the heart of the Amazon Jungle. © Jorge Luis Cruz Alcivar
After enjoying the wildlife that inhabits the higher stratum of the forest, we'll explore a charming jungle trail that follows a crystal-clear creek. This path can offer fantastic bird species including the Cinereous Tinamou, Rufous-tailed Stipplethroat, Rio Suno Antwren, Lunulated Antbird, Peruvian Warbling Antbird, Banded Antbird, Rusty-belted Tapaculo, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Ash-throated Gnateater, Chestnut-belted Gnateater, Ringed Antpitpit, Musician Wren, Blue-backed Manakin, and high chances of a White-plummed Antbird and a Hairy-crested Antbird. Next, we'll head to another fabulous parrot clack lick. Here, on warm days, massive flocks of Cobalt-winged Parakeets, Orange-cheeked Parrots, Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlets, and, up to 16 scarlet macaws will descend all at once to drink from a little stream right in front of our hide. Big groups of White-lipped Peccaries, Spider Monkey, and even the mighty Jaguar have also been spotted in this place in broad daylight.
Overnight: Ecuador Amazonia Eco-lodge.
DAY 5
Bird Photo Amazon Parrot Clay Lick & Yasuni 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, Orange-cheeked Parrot, Dusky-billed Parrotlets, and Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlets feeding on the clay wall. We then we'll welcome the first rays of sun atop Amazonia's 60 meter (195 feet) high canopy tower. We will look out for the Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher, Great Jacamar, Purplish Jacamar, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Many-banded Aracari, Ivory-billed Aracari, Red-necked Woodpecker, Golden-green Woodpecker, Pink-throated Becard, Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper, Slate-colored Hawk, White-browed Purpletuft, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Black-tailed Trogon, White-necked Puffbird, Pied Puffbird, Citron-bellied Attila, Grayish Mourner, Chestnut Woodpecker, Olivaceous Flatbill, Lemon-throated Barbet.
The Scarlet Macaws enjoy the fresh spring water in the heart of the Amazon Jungle. © Jorge Luis Cruz Alciver
After the tower we walk int
Overnight: Ecuador Amazonia Eco-lodge.
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