Ecuador is the main hotspot for various species of butterflies in the world. With more than 4,000 species of butterflies recorded, no doubt you will have the best time of your life. Our tour covers up to 14 different eco-systems, which include the Andean highlands, rainforest mountains, cloud forests, upper tropical rainforests and the lower Amazon region. Depending on your choice, we can travel on both sides of the Andean mountain chain as well as Southeastern Ecuador. Together we will enjoy nature at its purest – come with us in search of the best photo opportunities of a huge diversity of butterflies.

30 wonderful days to discover butterflies in the best area of Ecuador. Prepare to see inspiring numbers of butterfly species as you enter the reserves and areas around the ecolodges and encounter the immense biological diversity in this part of Ecuador. Enjoy not only spectacular butterflies, but also many species of hummingbirds as well as other bird species and many  varieties of flora and fauna.

Travel to La Delicia community, Nanegal and first sighting of tropical cloud forest

According to your flight schedule, you will be picked up at Mariscal Sucre International Airport near Quito and we will head for La Delicia community in Nanegal. We’ll reach the lodge after a two and a half to three hour drive, and you will get your first look at the tropical cloud forest of Northwestern Ecuador. Overnight at  Nanegal Lodge.

Welcome to La Delicia community  in Nanegal village. This is a famous cloud and tropical forest on the Northwestern slope of the Andes just a couple of hours from Quito. This can be a very good area for clearwings (Ithomiini) and is also home to an interesting variety of Adelpha species and metalmarks at lower elevations.

The accessibility make it a popular desination for nature-lovers of all kinds, including many hummingbird species (~84). At La Delicia Ecolodge restaurant, the hummingbird observation platform will give us a chance to see a wide variety of hummingbirds and birds coming to the feeders. 

Overnight at Butterfly and Bird Julio Tours – Eco-lodge.

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Bird Photography at Andean Cock-of-the-rock leks 

On our this day, very early at 4:45 am, we will go out to observe one iconic and stunning bird species, the Andean Cock-of-the-rock. In this location, several males gather to engage in competitive display (LEK). We will see them fly around and listen to their raucous call. With a bit of luck, the cocks will be at a very close distance.

After enjoying this beautiful bird, we will return to the lodge for lunch. But first, we will make short stops to photograph the beautiful butterflies, afternoon, we’ll visit small local coffee and chocolate businesses.
Overnight: Butterfly and Bird Julio Tours – EcoLodge. 

Visit middle of the world and transfer to Quijos Area

After having breakfast, our tour continues with the destination to visit the Middle of the World, but first we will visit the Pululahua active volcano, the only volcano in the world where people live in the crater.

You will be taken there for half-day tour. In the afternoon we transfer to Quijos Area, we will proceed towards Napo privince
Overnight at Quijos Lodge.

In these days we expect a high number of butterflies in the different open areas as in the quijos area valley and walk along the waterfall road. – entrance caucheras National Park full day: Our lodge is located near the entrance to this park, considered to be one of the most important faunal reserves in the Andes. We will slowly walk sections of this unpaved vehicle track, especially two areas near a stream and a especial road, where manyn species of butterfly’s puddle. leads into one of the few places where the visiting butterflier can access pristine, untouched, foothill forest. among many others. 

Overnight: at Quijos Lodge

Entrance to Loreto Paradise Butterfly

We leave our lodge early as we have a 3–4-hour drive ahead of us to the fabulous loreto area in the northwest, on the entrance to amazon area. We hope to arrive in the late morning in time to enjoy a nearly full day at Hollin reserve, with easy access and two long and enjoyable trails.

Overnight: at Loreto Lodge

Loreto Paradise Butterfly

Loreto has 815 square miles of natural forest, which cover more than 99% of the land area of the Orellana province.  Northwest of Quito, the capital of Ecuador, Loreto’s capital is the city of the same name and is part of the Napo river basin. Here waiting for us will be many more species of butterflies to photograph. Our ecolodge outside of Loreto is directly on the banks of the Napo River, and is a perfect base from which to explore this world-class butterflying destination. We’ll be looking for families of butterflies for you to enjoy. This should be among the best 3 days of butterflying anywhere!

Overnight: at Loreto Lodge

Shandia Lodge – Tena butterflies área

On this day we go to the other side of the Amazon and we will in Shandia lodge in Tena Napo pronvince Here we will find more butterflies species. Tena is located right at the edge of the Amazon basin and is known for a broad variety of butterfly species of various families. Forest trails as well as walks along roadsides, small streams and river banks give us the opportunity to observe and photograph plenty of butterfly species of all sizes and colors. Local guides will lead us to the best spots of the area. Usually, we will have boxed lunch on our observation’s sites. We will spend the nights at lodge

Overnight: at Shandia Lodge

Tena – to Puyo región

Will continuing on this day we will go down the old road from Tena to Puyo. During our trip up until we reach Puyo, we will follow one of the old routes where we will find many more species of butterflies for our photographs. and finally in the afternoon we will arrive at the puyo lodge in Puyo.

Overnight in Puyo Lodge

Puyo región

Puyo it is an Ecuadorian city; capital of the Pastaza Province, as well as its largest and most populated city. It is located on the left bank of the Puyo River, in the central-west of the Amazon region of Ecuador, on the external flanks of the eastern mountain range of the Andes, at an altitude of 930 m above sea level. n. m. and with a tropical rainy climate of 21.1 °C on average. Here we will enjoy a few days searching and photographing more species of butterflies.

Overnight: at Puyo Lodge

Puyo to Anaconda Lodge (Tena)

After exploring of Puyo we now reach the Tena city of several hours and getting settled in another steaming hot city of the Amazon basin we will start several days of expedition on different sites in and around the town. Tena is located right at the edge of the Amazon basin and is known for a broad variety of butterfly species of various families. Forest trails as well as walks along roadsides, small streams and river banks give us the opportunity to observe and photograph plenty of butterfly species of all sizes and colors. Local guides will lead us to the best spots of the area. Overnight: at Anaconda lodge

Anaconda Lodge

Anaconda Lodge Ecuador, have been experiencing exciting and authentic Amazon Rainforest adventures with cultural and environmental conservation in mind. We are located on a magical island in between the Napo and the Arajuno Rivers in the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador. Our lodge is surrounded by primary and secondary jungle.

You will enjoy bird watching, Butterfly photography and animal scouting.  You will see why this jungle and this environment—often called the “lungs of the planet”— is sacred to the Kichwa people and crucial to the world. Our goal is to make the Amazon Rainforest unforgettable for you. This through authenticity, passion, hospitality and close contact with the nature and culture they love. On our last day, we return to the airport International mariscal sucre Quito.