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Birding in Mindo is spectacular. There is no better place in
the world to observe such a variety of species in such a small
area. This has been proven time and time again. In 1997 the greater
Mindo area was named by Birdlife International as the
first Important Bird Area (IBA) of Latin America. Since
then, Mindo has participated in the annual Christmas Bird Count.
The count is made all over the world over a 24 hour period in
a 24km circumference every December. The greater Mindo
area has been crowned world champion (largest species
count) twice in that time with over 417 species sighted
in a single day, beating Costa Rica, Panama and Belize.
There are local bird lists that boast over 500 species
in the area.
At Casa Divina we can help you organize your birding adventure.
We offer the services of a variety of local guides
with a range of experience: Spanish, English,
or German-speaking, apprentice or expert—from $25 to $75
per day. Most guides carry spotting scopes for
better observation. There are many trips and trails to choose
from:
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Cock-of-the-Rock Lek (male display ritual)
This is an impressive display where 10 to 15 males with blood
red plumage come together to attract the single female that
arrives and chooses her mate. |
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Hummingbird observation at La Esperanza.
Hummingbirds are important pollinators in the cloud forest
community. Their brilliant colors and lightening-fast wings
are almost unbelievable. |
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An evening with the owls. Night time is
an excellent time to bird watch. There are many nocturnal
species that deserve their moment in the spotlight. |
Paz de Laz Aves Complete Package Tour 4 Days/3 Nights.
Included in Tour:
All meals from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 4.
Local, Licensed, English-speaking Birdguide
Vehicle and Driver
Drinking Water
Coffee and Tea Service at the lodge
Not included in Tour:
Beverages at Casa Divina Lodge
Tips
Extra activities
This itinerary can be modified to accomodate birders with less
time to spend in the area. Two and three day tours are available
as well, please inquire about cost differences.
Day 1 Quito-Yanacocha-Tandayapa-Eco Route
| 5:30am- |
pick up at hotel in Quito. Snack Lunch provided. Start
tour through Yanacocha to see species like Black Breasted
Puffleg Hummingbird, Sword-billed Hummingbird, mountain
tanangers, Bar-bellied Woodpecker. Continue on through Tandayapa/Santa
Rosa where you will get a chance to spot the Plate-billed
Moutain Toucan, Toucan Barbet, Blue Winged Mountain Tananger,
Grass-Green Tananger, Turquoise Jay. Then down to the eco
route to Mindo and Casa Divina Lodge.
Dinner and Lodging at Casa Divina Lodge. |
Day 2 Mindo-Nambillo-Rio Mindo
| 6:00am- |
Breakfast |
| 6:30am- |
Leave for hike along Nambillo Waterfall road. Starting at
1200m hiking up to 1400m. Hike, photographs, observation.
Possible sightings are Chestnut-Manibled Toucan, Choco Toucan,
Pale-Mandibled Aracari, Golden-Headed Quetzal, Guayaquil woodpecker,
Blue-Necked Tananger, among others. |
| 1:00pm- |
Return to Casa Divina for an in-house lunch and short rest. |
| 3:00pm- |
Hike to Mindo River to observe riparian species like White-Capped
Dipper, Sunbittern.
Dinner and Lodging at Casa Divina Lodge. |
Day 3 Paz de Las Aves-Cueva de Los Tayos
| 4:30am- |
Breakfast |
| 5:00am- |
Depart for Reserve Paz de Las Aves. Sack Lunch provided. |
| 6:00am- |
Arrive at Paz de Laz Aves. Cock-of-the-Rock Lek observation.
Continu on to observe the Giant, Yellow-Breasted, and Moustached
Antpittas. |
| 11:00am- |
Coffee and late morning snack at Paz de Las Aves observation
deck, hummingbird observation at feeders. Catch the Velvet-Purple
Coronet, Violet-Tailed Sylph, Buff-Tailed Coronet and many
more Hummingbird species. Continue on in vehicle for 1 hour
to Chontal to visit the Oil Bird Cave. These birds are named
for the oil they provided to the native communities in the
area that used to hunt them. They roost in an underground
cave and you can observe 50 individuals at a time in this
surreal setting. Return to Casa Divina.
Dinner and Lodging at Casa Divina. |
Day 4 Rio Silanche-Milpe
| 4:30am- |
Breakfast |
| 5:00am- |
Depart for Rio Silanche-Milpe. Sack Lunch provided. |
| 6:30am- |
Arrive at Rio Silanche Reserve. Possible sightings are
Choco Trogon, Western White-Tailed Trogon, Lineated Woodpecker,
White-Bearded Manakin, Purple-Throated Fruitcrow, Blue-Headed
Parrot. Continue on to Milpe where you may see Club-Winged
Manakin, Rufous Motmot, Green-Crowned Woodnymph among other
species. |
| 3:00pm- |
Return to Casa Divina. End of tour. |
| 4:00pm- |
Transfer back to hotel in Quito. |
Total 1 PAX: $805.00
Total 2 PAX: $1060.00
Total 3 PAX: $1285.00
Total 4 PAX: $2000.00
Here is an example of what a two-day tour in Mindo could look
like for the avid birder:
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
| 5:00am- |
Departure from Casa Divina to Cock-of-the-Rock
Lek |
| 6:00am- |
Arrival at Lek. Observation of display, photographs, hike |
| 6:00am- |
Arrival at Lek. Observation of display, photographs, hike |
| 8:00am- |
Return to Casa Divina on foot observing species like toucans,
hummingbirds, tanagers, woodpeckers, wood creepers
and more. |
| 10:00am- |
Breakfast at Casa Divina |
| 11:00am- |
Departure to Mindo Lindo for hummingbird observation where
you will see species like the Purplevelvet Coronet,
Violet-tailed Sylph, Booted Racket-tail and others. |
| 1:00pm- |
Sack lunch provided by Casa Divina |
| 1:30pm- |
Bird watching at the Mindo “Y” where you will
see species not present in the lower valley such as the Toucan
Barbet and Blue-Winged Mountain Tananger. |
| 3:00pm- |
Return to Casa Divina. Rest up for night hike. |
| 6:00pm- |
Dinner at Casa Divina |
| 7:00pm- |
An evening with the owls. A night hike where you might
find the Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Common Potoo
and Black-and-White Owl |
Day 2
| 6:00am- |
Bird watching on the way to the Nambillo waterfall. Hike,
photographs, observation. Possible sightings are the Club-winged
Manakin, quetzals and woodpeckers among others. Brown bag
breakfast provided by Casa Divina. |
| 2:00pm- |
Lunch at Casa Divina. End of tour. |
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