Ecuador - The Andes & Amazon

The birds on one side of the Andes differ considerably to those on the other side, so visiting both sides with the Amazon sandwiched in between worked very well. Distances travelled each day were quite short, which meant plenty of time for birding. The extension to the south meant we could add a completely different set of birds, which resulted in a total of 649 species! Alejandro was a superb guide not only in his ability to find and recognise birds, but also in the way he looked after the entire group. One of my favourite moments came on the first day. We were walking down a very quiet road beside a fast-flowing river when our son Tom spotted two birds in the river. A moment later his voice went a bit squeaky as he realised they were Torrent Ducks. These beautiful birds then proceeded to force their way upstream against the current, jumping or swimming from rock to rock, directly in front of us. It was almost like watching them in a TV documentary!

A. R. Suffolk, August 2023

My wife and I recently returned from the “Ecuador – Andes & Amazon” tour, a tour we chose because of the mix of geography – and the diversity of conditions/habitat that comes with it – promised and I can categorically state that it did not disappoint. From the high altitude “sierras” surrounded by snow-capped peaks, through impossibly steep-sided, tree-covered valleys and gorges, down to the steaming wet-forest of the Amazon, the scenery was varied and incredible and I certainly gained a respect for Ecuadorian ingenuity and problem-solving! The local people we met were very friendly and welcoming and the feeling we got from passing through the various towns and villages was one of laidback contentment. The focus was of course, the birds… and oh my! A dazzling array of spectacular colours and sounds awaited us at every location. From the flying jewels that are hummingbirds to the enigmatic Aracari and the multitude of secretive “Ant” species, each one offering something new and unique. Personally, I had been hoping (though not necessarily expecting) to see a Harpy Eagle and was looking forward to the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek and I am happy to report being fortunate enough to see both during the trip. There were of course other animals too; with monkeys, reptiles and a plethora of interesting and beautiful insects all vying for our attention… and camera lenses! An unexpected highlight – whilst undoubtedly not everybody’s cup of tea – was my first-ever wild Tarantula, spotted one early morning at Sacha Lodge. The accommodation throughout was lovely and each place had its own charm and personality, providing something unique to its location. Rooms were clean and spacious, the food was excellent and the staff were, without exception, friendly and attentive. We especially enjoyed the San Isidro Owls which visited San Isidro lodge each evening!! Given this was a fully guided tour it would be remiss of us not to mention our superb guide, Javier, who masterfully combined an encyclopaedic knowledge of South American birds – we saw more than 400 species which were new to us – with unerring leadership and composure. The local guides too were excellent, in particular “Oscar” who added his own experience and dedication to our stay at Sacha Lodge. All-in-all this was one of, if not the best nature holiday we have ever experienced and we would not hesitate to recommend it. This was our second tour with Naturetrek. In our experience they are very professional and easy to deal with; always there to answer any queries and seem genuinely interested in any feedback we provide. On tour, their leaders are excellent and we have always felt in safe hands.

J.L. West Yorkshire, Feb 23

An action packed holiday aimed mainly at the birds of Ecuador. All flights, accommodation, food, etc, were first class. Could not fault the planning. Our guide and driver were both excellent - hugely knowledgeable, very patient and extremely caring - super company. Bird sightings were outstanding with over 400 new species for us and some great photographs as holiday reminders. We will be back with Naturetrek soon! Pre-trip information covered all issues. Arrangements superb. In fact we had very little to worry about except setting an early morning alarm to catch the early birds! Second time we have used Naturetrek and they are first class. I cannot recommend them highly enough and we are already planning for our next trip with them.

D.B. Suffolk, Feb 23

Loved every minute of the trip. It was fantastic. The itinerary was really well-planned and the heated pool of San Isidro and the hot springs of Papallacta were a welcome way to relax and refresh after the grind and prickly heat of the Sacha Lodge trail-walking. Sacha Lodge was a real treat. We did not expect 5 star accommodation deep in the heart of the Amazon basin. The food was exceptional throughout the trip, as was the hospitality. San Isidro was also excellent in terms of the accommodation and the proximity to the bird life for photography. Refugio Paz De Las Aves was a huge highlight as we managed to see all 5 resident species of Antpitta as well as many other 'dream species' besides. Sachatamia in the Cloud Forest was a stunning setting and the hummingbird feeders were a real treat. Walking the roads and trails of the Antisana National Park in search of Andean Condor, Andean Ibis and Ecuadorian Hillstar whilst surrounded by the most stunning scenery imaginable was a great way to end a fabulous trip. Roberto is an outstanding guide. Informed, attentive and great company. His knowledge of the social and cultural history of his country combined with his ability to find great wildlife and ensure wherever possible that everyone got a good view, makes him one of the very best guides we have ever toured with. Jorge was a skilful driver and we always felt safe in his capable hands, even when driving on some vertiginous mountain passes.

J.M. Hampshire, Aug 22

I had the holiday of a lifetime exploring mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands in a Naturetrek small group tour. The trip was made extra special by the knowledge, care and attention of the guides who accompanied our small group, the high quality of the accommodation throughout the trip and the excellent service of crew on the Galapagos cruise boat. Ecuador is an amazing place to visit for the birdlife, people and food and I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to experience the Galapagos. I'm still sorting through my 2500+ photos! Naturetrek were very knowledgeable about the country and the places I visited. They obviously take a lot of care in selecting the local providers in Ecuador as the guiding and level of service were incredible. The Galapagos part of the trip was an add on following conversations with their Ecuador specialist in the UK - they put together a bespoke package that dovetailed my Andes and Amazon tour with an ongoing Galapagos tour. This was achieved at a manageable cost to me because of their policy to not charge a single supplement for singles willing to share a cabin. I'm so grateful that those early conversations took me to the Galapagos Islands which were magical after an already exceptional experience birding on the mainland.

V.L. Kent, Feb 19

This was a wonderful trip, stretching from both eastern and western slopes of the Andes to the Amazon basin. We covered so many different habitats and saw over 400 different species of birds in two weeks. Manuel our guide was superb - his skills in calling and recognising so many different birds were second to none. We stayed in charming rustic lodges and ate excellent food. All in all a holiday to be recommended and an unforgettable experience.

J.P. Kent, Nov 18

Tremendous trip. One of the best birding trips I have ever been on. 512 species seen or heard in 12½ days. Astonishing. (Saw a) Spectacled bear, a fantastic finale on the final day.

T.R. Norfolk

The trip covered a lot of ground and we saw a lot of birds and quite a lot of orchids. The guides worked hard and were very enthusiastic with good equipment.

S.P. London

We saw a lot of wonderful birds and such great contrasts in habitat/scenery. William was a superb leader. His knowledge of birds and his ability to find them were second to none. He was very helpful and had a tremendous sense of humour. The arrangements in Ecuador were very well organised and the packed lunches were very good, if anything too generous!

T.H. Hampshire

My trip with you to Ecuador - Andes & Amazon was a great trip. 520 birds in two weeks does not get any better! The trip leader William Perez was excellent throughout.

P.B. Yorkshire

Accommodation was very good throughout as was the food. The local guide was pleasant and kept us very well informed throughout the tour...he is a great birder and was helpful to me in locating a lot of the birds. The guide at Sacha Lodge was also helpful in that he quickly got the telescope onto the birds enabling people to have good views. Overall an excellent holiday. My first experience of a Naturetrek holiday was a good one.

A.W. Berkshire

Our tour leader, Alejandro, is one of the best leaders I have had the pleasure of travelling with. His knowledge of the country and it's wildlife is second to none. I would consider travelling on any trip which Alejandro is leading in the future.

Mr B. East Sussex

This was the best ever trip as everything was excellent.

G.H. North Yorkshire

This holiday, 'Ecuador - Andes & Amazon', was the best organised holiday that I have ever been on. Nothing was left to chance; every detail of the itinerary had been painstakingly organised. Every aspect - transport, accommodation, food and travel arrangements - were superb. Our leader, Alejandra Solano, is in a class of his own as a bird guide and tour leader. He put a lot of his personal time in, ensuring that everyone was enjoying the trip, and nothing was too much trouble.

A.P. Norfolk

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Ecuador, and was amazed at the huge range of habitats and wealth of wildlife which we encountered over the two weeks we spent there. Thank you Naturetrek for such great attention to detail. I have already booked another holiday with you...

N.H. Hertfordshire

The trip leader, Andrea Molina, was superb. Her detailed knowledge and skills enabled us to see very many species of birds, including some rarities. She also had excellent knowledge of cultural aspects of Ecuador. We very much enjoyed the intense programme, with early starts to birdwatch at dawn, and the night trips by canoe in the Amazon - there were many unforgettable scenes, such as the Lyre-tailed Nightjar dancing in the evening sky, the calling Potoo, the displaying manakins, and the Condors circling. Another very enjoyable aspect was the diversity of habitats. The quality of food was excellent, especially at Sachatamia, Guango and Sacha Lodges. The hot springs at Papallacta were great.

D.W. London

Excellent accommodation and food despite the remoteness of some areas visited.

P.D. Gloucestershire

Excellent. Knowledgeable leader. Lodges were excellent.

Mr & Mrs D. Berkshire

The diversity of locations worked well on this holiday. Lelis was wonderful and did a great job of leading 13 people, even on forested walks where it is difficult. Sacha completely lived up to our expectations and from the representative at Quito airport to the laundry, everything ran like clockwork - an amazing place.

Mr & Mrs W. Canada

We wanted a birding holiday and we had a first class guide who was totally dedicated to birding. His skills, knowledge and enthusiasm were phenomenal which enabled us to locate and identify over 330 species. The accommodation was of a high standard and the Pembo birding lodge in Quito was very welcoming though the night in Quito on our way to Mindo was excessively luxurious for us!!

H.R. West Glamorgan