Ecuador bird watching holiday, Mindo valley
| country: | Ecuador |
| location: | Mindo |
| price: | From US $550 - US $850 (6 days) excluding flight. Price depends upon number of participants (2-12 persons). Departures can be arranged throughout the year to suit you |
description
Due to its critically important role in the conservation of numerous rare and endemic species, Mindo was designated South America's first Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International (1997). Mindo is an area of historic ornithological studies, where early collectors and ornithologists discovered or collected many species.
Mindo lies within the Chocó Endemic Bird Area (EBA) and Chocó Biogeographic Region, which is considered one of the world's richest biogeographic areas. This area supports the largest number of restricted-range birds of any EBA in the Americas, over 50 species being endemic to the area.
Six days in the Cloudforest of Mindo from US $500 (6 days)
This wildlife viewing package combines the diversity of nature and scenery exploring the trails of the Cloud forest with the culture of the ceremonial site of Tulipe and traditional shops selling handicrafts in Las Tola. Spend a day bird watching and another taking a vigorous walk to the Pachijal river, where we will spend time taking in the sounds and sites of waterfalls and perhaps even sunbathe. When ready, we will return to the Lodge and our last night in Pachijal.
Please find below a sample itinerary for a 6 day tour. 2-3-4 days tours available.
Mindo lies within the Chocó Endemic Bird Area (EBA) and Chocó Biogeographic Region, which is considered one of the world's richest biogeographic areas. This area supports the largest number of restricted-range birds of any EBA in the Americas, over 50 species being endemic to the area.
Six days in the Cloudforest of Mindo from US $500 (6 days)
This wildlife viewing package combines the diversity of nature and scenery exploring the trails of the Cloud forest with the culture of the ceremonial site of Tulipe and traditional shops selling handicrafts in Las Tola. Spend a day bird watching and another taking a vigorous walk to the Pachijal river, where we will spend time taking in the sounds and sites of waterfalls and perhaps even sunbathe. When ready, we will return to the Lodge and our last night in Pachijal.
Please find below a sample itinerary for a 6 day tour. 2-3-4 days tours available.
itinerary
| Day 1: | Birdwatching on the Ecoroute El Paseo del Quinde. Yanacocha: 8.5km from Quito, more than 3300m above sea level, on the slopes of Pichincha Vulcan, rich of species of birds from the highlands, some of which endemic. Nono: 15km from Quito and at 2870meters above the sea level, temperate interandine area with a subtropical forest, Tandayapa: 37.5km from Quito, 1710meters above the sea level, where it’s possibile to observe more than 23 subtropical species of birds. Santa Rosa 2160meters above the sea level, temperated and subtropical area, we’ll observe bird species like Masked Trogon, Ocellated Tapaculo, Grass Green Tanager etc. By late afternoon we’ll reach our Reserva Ecologica Pachijal where we’ll lodge the next 5 nights. |
| Day 2-3: | Bird watching in the Cloudforest of Reserva Ecologica Pachijal and in Mindo. We’ll walk the trails of the Reserve inside the Cloudforest observing species like Velvet-Purple Coronet, Giant Antpitta, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Club-winged Manakin, Scaled Fruiteater, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia, Toucan Barbet, Choco Toucan, Golden-headed Quetzal, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Tangars like Flame-faced, Golden-naped, Golden, Black-capped and Beryll-spangled, and “Gallito de la Peña” Cock-of-the-Rock. We’ll go to the Lek of the Cock-of-the-Rock in Mindo and walk. |
| Day 4: | Birding in the Sanctuary of Birds of Milpe. Opened in March 2004, this 62 hectare (155 acre) sanctuary covers an altitudinal range from 1020-1150 m (3350-3770 ft) and includes two small rivers that converge in a steep, forested valley. It is located 700m off the main highway on an all-weather road. Many birders consider this one of the finest sites in all of Ecuador. Many of the most spectacular Chocó Endemics occur here. |
| Day 5: | Wild Bird watching in the Sanctuary of Birds of Rio Silanche. In the morning, after breakfast, we’ll leave the Reserva to reach Puerto Quito, passing from the Cloudforest to the tropical humid forest; the Sanctuary of Birds of Rio Silonche. Rio Silonche is a reserve in the tropical lowlands with a large diversity of species of birds, easy trails and an observation tower 15meters high. The reserve is important for the presence of several endemic species, infact we are in the Endemic Area of Choco. In late afternoon we’ll return to Reserva Pachijal to enjoy the last night of our tour. |
| Day 6: | Return to Quito where our trip ends. |
travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.how this holiday makes a difference
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All the personnel we employ, comprising local and licensed Birding Guides, are from the village of Mindo. Bird watching is helping the local communities to understand that avoiding some practises of the past (including bird hunting) is worthwhile, not only from a Conservation point of view, but even as an economical return. To help this aspect we visit the Antpittas place and the Lek of the Cock-of-the-Rock, paying an entrance fee to local owners.
Birding is an activity to be achieved in the nature, in silence, with small groups, because you listen first and then watch. Birds don’t like to be observed by people shouting and with a negative attitude. We enter locations like Yanacocha Reserve, the Sanctuary of Birds of Milpe and Rio Silanche, Pachijal Reserve helping this way this conservation efforts. We discourage some practises in bird watching and we try to adhere to the code of birding ethics from the American Birding Association that mainly deals with: promoting the welfare of birds and their environment, respecting the law, and the rights of others and ensuring that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe. The above can also be said this way: everyone who enjoys birds and birding must always respect wildlife, its environment, and the rights of others. In any conflict of interest between birds and birders, the welfare of the birds and their environment comes first. |
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