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Birding in Mindo

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:

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.
Hummingbird observation at La Esperanza. Hummingbirds are important pollinators in the cloud forest community. Their brilliant colors and lightening-fast wings are almost unbelievable.
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.

 
 
Casa Divina info@mindocasadivina.com tel (593-9) 0509626 / (593-9) 91725874