The Ecuador Wildlife Trip Report: Explorations of Eastern Ecuador.

We just had an amazing Ecuador Wildlife Trip and we would like to report, we explored Ecuador’s Diversity of Life, as Alexander von Humboldt and Charles Darwin did, we want to experience the mosaic of habitats along spatial and especially altitudinal gradients in the Andes, we started it from the Amazon Rainforest to the Andes with a little experience of the Choco Cloudforest.

Custom Trip: 16 Days

Date: Jan/Feb 2019

Group Size: 8 World Wildlifers

Country: Ecuador

Destinations: Quito, Shiripuno Lodge, Wild Sumaco, Baeza, Papallacta, Antisana Volcano, Bellavista, Mindo Quito

Trip Mode: Wildlife Exploration – Observations on Birds, Mammals, Herps & Orchids

Trip Description:

During our Ecuador Wildlife Trip, we explore four vegetation zones which are easily discerned as the Lowland Rainforest (Shiripuno Lodge),   Montane Rainforest (Wild Sumaco Lodge), Andean Cloudforest (Baeza), and Elfin Forest (Papallacta).

On our Ecuador Wildlife Trip, we experience the progressing trend toward decreasing canopy stature and a reduced number of plant strata as we went on higher. The vegetation gradient provided the opportunity to examine the relationship between species diversity and habitat complexity in an entirely natural setting.

Our Ecuador Wildlife Trip starting at 230 meters above sea level in Shiripuno Lodge, deep in the Amazon Rainforest to continue ascending with specific stops until we reach the Andes at the base of the colossal  Antisana Volcano at 5,704 meters.

We add a couple of nights with Choco Cloudorest in Northwest Ecuador, we visit the Bellavista Cloudforest Reserve, watch many Antpittas with the Antpitta Whisper: Angel Paz and went Herping in the Mindo.

Day 01 – 06 Ecuador Amazon Rainforest

We take a domestic fly to Coca City in the middle of the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest, to continue along the Auca Road to the heart of the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve. Shiripuno Lodge is our location to explore all the different types of forest formations found in the home of the Waorani People.
Overnight in Coca and getting to know the wildlife around and Oil Town turning into a World Green Destination

Day 07 – 09 Ecuador Northeastern Foothills

Leaving the Lowlands and stepping into the Foothills of the Eastern Andes in Ecuador, where the Cloudforest last reach. Staying at WildSumaco Lodge at 1600 m next to the Sumaco National Park, our first experience with feeders and explore the steep sides at different times of the day.

Day 10 – 12 Ecuador Northeastern Cloudforest

The Andean Cloudforest at Baeza (1919 m) is nestled in the valley of the Quijos River, it’s an opportunity to find colorful birds such as Andean Cock of the Rock (Rupicola peruvianus) and many new hummingbirds, we have close up experience with Tropical Orchids at the San Rafael Waterfall

Day 13 – 14 Andes: Paramo & Grassland

The Andes home of the mythical Andean Condor, Spectacled Bear, Mountain Tapir, Sword-billed Hummingbird was covered by thick clouds. We walk through the clouds to enter the golden grasslands surrounding little pools of water.

Day 15 – 16 Chocó or Choco Cloudforest

The Choco Bioregion is world Hotspots for Biodiversity, our destination for new hummingbirds, frogs and many new Orchids, we even got a glimpse of the recently described new species of Mammal: Olinguito (Bassaricyon neblina) a mammal of the raccoon family Procyonidae that lives in montane forests in the Andes of western Colombia and Ecuador.

W encourage the nature-minded person to explore your own backyard, you will be surprised to encounter an incredible number of species of creatures living next to you.

We hope to see our world wildlifers again

See you soon!

Fernando