2‑Day Birding Tour – Butterfly & Bird Julio Tours Ecolodge (From Quito)
Join us on an unforgettable 2‑day birding adventure near Quito, exploring cloud forest and tropical habitats with expert birding guides. Ecuador’s Andes and Chocó forests host spectacular birdlife, tropical species, and incredible opportunities for nature photography.
Tour Overview
This tour takes you from Quito into some of the richest birding areas in Ecuador. Over two days you’ll explore Andean montane forest, cloud
forest, and lowland tropical forest, where colorful tanagers, toucans, elusive antbirds, trogons, and an extraordinary diversity of hummingbirds await in their pristine natural habitat Perfect for birdwatchers and photographers of all levels, the itinerary combines early‑morning walks, hummingbird feeder visits, and a dawn visit to see the iconic Andean Cock‑of‑the‑Rock, one of Ecuador’s most sought‑after birds.
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 – Andean Forest Birding
Early morning pick‑up (≈5:30 am) from your Quito hotel.
Begin your journey with birding in the stunning Andean forests. Here you may encounter species such as: the Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Andean Guan, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, Blue-and-Yellow Tanager, Band-tailed Seedeater, Red-crested Cotinga, and Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Blue-backed Conebill, White-browed Spinetail, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Rufous Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater, Andean Pygmy-Owl, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant.
After breakfast, we’ll set out to explore one of the trail in this area. Here we found this species Black-tailed Trainbearer, Green-tailed Trainbearer, Sparkling Violetear, White-bellied Woodstar, Tyrian Metaltail, Purple-backed Thornbill, Golden-breasted Puffleg, Great Sapphirewing, Collared Inca, Mountain Velvetbreast, White-rumped Hawk, the Sword-billed Hummingbird. We will slowly descend and bird reserve along the entry famous Tandayapa valley road in the heart of the that holds the world record for the highest number of hummingbird species recorded in a year, 42 species! We will have the opportunity to see an incredible amount of bird species before we arrive on our next lodge.
Tiger birds: Masked Trogon, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Toucan Barbet, Red-headed Barbet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Crested Quetzal, Streak-capped Treehunter, Squirrel Cuckoo, Three-striped Warbler, White-winged Becard, Metallic-green Tanager, Masked Trogon,
Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Golden-naped Tanager, Golden Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Swallow Tanager, and, many more. Additionally, the abounding hummingbird species, including, the Tawny-bellied Hermit, Western Emerald, Gorgeted Sunangel, Wedge-billed Hummingibird, Purple-throated Woodstar, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, and, of course, the iconic Booted Racket-tail and Violet-tailed Sylph.
Overnight: Butterfly and Bird julio Tours- eco-lodge
Day 2 – Andean Cock‑of‑the‑Rock & Tropical Forest
Very early (≈4:45 am) depart to the lek (display ground) of the Andean Cock‑of‑the‑Rock, where multiple males gather at dawn to show off in their dramatic courtship display. This is a highlight for many birders and photographers.
After observing this beautiful bird, we will return to the lodge, but before we wil making short stops to look for other beautiful birds of the tropical forest. Tiger birds: Green-crowned Woodnymph, White-whiskered Hermit, Green Thorntail, White-necked Jacobin, Green-crowned Brilliant, White-necked Jacobin, Long-billed Starthroat, Rufous Motmot, and Blue-necked Tanager. lunch (We will have lunch at our open-air restaurant overlooking the impressive Bamboo trees)
we will continue observing more birds around the Nanegal area, including the Pale-mandibled Aracari, Choco Toucan, Red-headed Barbet, Green Honeycreeper, Silver-throated Tanager, Emerald Tanager, Lemon-rumped Tanager, Buff-throated Saltator, Black-winged Saltator, Thick-billed Euphonia, Orange-crowned Euphonia, and Orange-billed Sparrow, Collared Trogon, Bay-headed Tanager, Guayaquil Woodpecker, and Black-cheeked Woodpecker.
4:00 PM transfer to Quito airport or to any hotel in Quito area. Arriving to most hotels in Quito at approx. 6:00PM
END OF ITINERARY
Our Birding Map
TRIP INFORMATION
✅ Duration: 2 days / 1 night
✅ Start/End: Quito
✅ Difficulty: Moderate walks in forest trails
✅ Group Size: Small groups (max ~6, larger on request)
✅ Focus: Birding & bird photography with expert guides
Experienced Bird Guide: All of our guides have over 25 years of experience as butterfly and birdwatching, bird photo guides in Ecuador
Your butterfly guide’s equipment: Binoculars, laser pointer, field-guide of butterfly Ecuador and special liquid (food) for butterflies and camara.
✔ Bilingual expert birding guide
✔ Private ground transportation Quito–tour–Quito
✔ Accommodation at Butterfly & Bird Julio Tours Ecolodge
✔ All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
✔ Reserve entry fees
✔ Guide equipment (binoculars, field guide, laser pointer)
❌ Tips
❌ Alcoholic beverages
❌ Any items not specified under “Included”