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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.
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
| 6:00am- |
pick up at hotel en Quito. Sack Lunch provided. Start
tour through Yanacocha Reserve (3.700 m. 11.155 ft. )to
see species like Black Breasted Puffleg, Sword-billed,
Buff-Winged Starfronlet, Great Sapphirewing and Gorgeted
Sunangel Hummingbirds, Scarlet-Bellied and Hooded Mountain
Tanagers, Bar-bellied Woodpecker. Continue on through
Tandayapa/Santa Rosa (2300 m. 7.546 ft. )where you will
get a chance to spot the Plate-billed Moutain Toucan,
Toucan Barbet, Blue Winged Mountain Tananger, Grass-Green
Tananger, Turquoise Jay. In this area we will see
lower-elevation hummingbirds as well. 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 (*Oil Bird Cave- optional tour
addition)
| 4:30am- |
Breakfast |
| 5:00am- |
Depart for Reserve Paz de Las Aves. Sack Lunch provided. |
| 6:00am- |
Arrive at Paz de Laz Aves. (1.700 m. 5.577 ft.) 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. *(If you choose the Oil
Bird Cave tour addition) 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. ( R.Silanche 300-350 m.
984-1.148 ft.) Possible sightings are Choco Trogon,
Western White-Tailed Trogon, Lineated Woodpecker, White-Bearded
Manakin, Purple-Throated Fruitcrow, Blue-Headed Parrot.
Continue on to Milpe (1100 m. 3609 ft.) 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. |
Here is an example of what a two-day tour in Mindo could look
like for the avid birder:
Birding in Mindo 2days/2 nights
Included in Tour:
All meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 3.
Local, Licensed, English-speaking Birdguide (the tour guide will
meet you at Casa Divina Lodge)
Vehicle and Driver
Drinking Water
Coffee and Tea Service at the lodge
Not included in Tour:
Beverages at Casa Divina Lodge
Tips
Extra activities
Day 1
| 4:00pm- |
Hotel Pick up in Quito |
| 6:00pm- |
Arrival at Casa Divina. Registration and orientation |
| 7:00pm- |
Dinner at Casa Divina Lodge |
| 8:00pm- |
Night hike. Hike up in elevation from Casa Divina to observe
nocturnal species. With some luck you might spot the Lyre-tailed
Nightjar and Common Potoo. Other owl species can
be heard as well. |
Day 2
| 4:30am- |
Breakfast at Casa Divina Lodge |
| 5:00am- |
Departure for the Cock-of-the-Rock Tour |
| 5:30am- |
Drop off and hike up to observation site |
| 6:00am- |
Observation of the Cock-of-the-Rock Lek |
| 7:30am- |
Hike down observing other species like the Golden
Tananger, Yellow-Throated Bush Tananger, Buff-Fronted Foilage
Gleaner, Choco Toucan, Golden-Headed Quetzal. |
| 12:00pm- |
Return to Casa Divina and in-house lunch |
| 2:00pm- |
Departure for hummingbird observation. We will see species
like the Booted-RacketTail, Violet-Tailed Sylph, Empress
Brilliant, Andean Esmerald among others. Hike on
trails in the reserve to observe other cloudforest species
such as Blue-Winged Mountain Tananger, Lemon-Rumped
Tananger, Ornate Flycatcher, Golden-Crowned Flycatcher, Slate-throated
Whitestart. |
| 5:30pm- |
Return to Casa Divina Lodge
Dinner and Lodging at Casa Divina Lodge |
Day 3
| 6:00am- |
Breakfast at Casa Divina Lodge |
| 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, Pale-Mandibled
Aracari, Golden-Headed Quetzal, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Blue-Necked
Tananger, Golden-Olive Woodpecker, Red-Faced Slaty Spintail,
Strong-Billed Woodcreeper, among others |
| 1:00pm- |
Return to Casa Divina and in-house lunch |
| 2:00pm- |
End of Tour. Return back to hotel in Quito. |
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