Join an unforgettable 10-day bird photography expedition across mainland Ecuador, specially designed for opportunities to photograph up to 49-species of hummingbirds. Travelling through a remarkable range of elevations, from the lush tropical lowland forests of western Ecuador to the high Andean slopes, this tour maximises opportunities to photograph many of Ecuador’s most sought-after endemic and near-endemic species in exceptional natural settings.
The itinerary has been carefully crafted to combine productive bird photography sessions with dramatic habitat diversity. Moss-draped montane forests, flowering cloud forest edges, temperate Andean valleys, bamboo zones, foothill forests, and lush subtropical canyons all support distinct hummingbird communities and an extraordinary concentration of avian biodiversity.
Beyond hummingbirds, participants can expect superb photographic opportunities with toucans, tanagers, barbets, antpittas as well as numerous Chocó and Andean endemics. With changing elevations throughout the journey, each day introduces new habitats, fresh species assemblages, and entirely different photographic conditions, making this one of the most rewarding Bird-Photo-Tour experiences in the Neotropics.
Hummingbirds (49-species): Andean Emerald, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Black-throated Brilliant, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Brown Violetear, Buff-tailed Coronet, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Collared Inca, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Empress Brilliant, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Fiery Topaz, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Geoffroy’s Daggerbill, Giant Hummingbird, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Gorgeted Sunagel, Gould’s Jewelfront, Great Saphirewing, Green Hermit, Green Thorntail, Green-backed Woodstar, Green-crowned Brilliant, Long-tailed Sylph, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Mountain Avocetbill, Mountain Velvetbreast, Napo Sabrewing, Peruvian Racket-tail, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Purple-throated Woodstar, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Rufous-vented Whitetip, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Shining Sunbeam, Speckled Hummingbird, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Tourmaline Sunangel, Tyrian Metaltail, Velvet-purple Coronet, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Violet-tailed Sylph, Violetear, White-bellied Woodstar, White-booted Racket-tail, White-tipped Sicklebill, Wire-crested Thorntail
Other Birds (71-species): Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Andean Condor, Andean Guan, Andean Gull, Andean Ibis, Andean Lapwing, Andean Motmot, Andean Teal, Black-winged Ground Dove, Black Solitaire, Black-banded Owl, Black-capped Tanager, Black-chested Mountain Tanager, Black-chinned Mountain Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, Blue-grey Tanager, Carunculated Caracara, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Chestnut-winged Cinclodes, Cinnamon Becard, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Crested Quetzal, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Dark-backed Wood-Quail, Dusky Chlorospingus, Equatorial Antpitta, Flame-faced Tanager, Flame-rumped Tanager, Flavescent Flycatcher, Glistening-green Tanager, Golden Grosbeak, Golden Tanager, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Golden-eared Tanager, Golden-naped Tanager, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Great Horned Owl, Green Jay, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Many-striped Canastero, Masked Flowerpiercer, Masked Trogon, Moss-backed Tanager, Oleaginous Hemispingus, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Palm Tanager, Paradise Tanager, Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Plumbeous Siera Finch, Red-headed Barbet, Rose-faced Parrot, Rufous-throated Tanager, Russet-backed Oropendola, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Silver-breasted Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Spectacled bristle-Tyrant, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Torrent Duck, Toucan Barbet, Turquoise Jay, White-bellied Antpitta, White-lined Tanager, White-tipped Dove, Yellow-breasted Brushfinch
(i) Guiding Fees (ii) Ground Transportation (iii) Domestic Flights (iv) Accommodation (v) Meals (vi) Entrance Fees (vii) Hide Fees.
(i) International Flights (ii) VISA Fees (iii) Travel Insurance (iv) Tips for Local Guide (v) Items of a Personal Nature.
Pricing is based on 2-4 participants. Solo travellers, i.e. tours with 1-PAX only, are subject to an additional Single Participant Surcharge.
Days 1-2 Pichincha Province [1N, 0D, 2S]: Arrive Mariscal Sucre International Airport and transfer to hotel [Overnight: Quito Canton].
Days 2-3 Pichincha Province [1N, 0D, 2S]: Drive 90-minutes to the first bird photography location in Pichincha Province [Overnight: San Miguel de los Bancos Canton]. Photographic Hummingbird Targets: Andean Emerald, Buff-tailed Coronet, Collared Inca, Mountain Velvetbreast, Mountain Velvetbreast, Purple-throated Woodstar, Sparkling Violetear, Speckled Hummingbird, Tyrian Metaltail, White-bellied Woodstar.
Days 3-4 Pichincha Province [1N, 0D, 2S]: Drive 60-minutes to the second bird photography location in Pichincha Province [Overnight: San Miguel de los Bancos Canton]. Photographic Hummingbird Targets: Brown Violetear, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Green-crowned Brilliant, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Velvet-purple Coronet, Violet-tailed Sylph, White-booted Racket-tail.
Days 4-5 Pichincha Province [1N, 0D, 2S]: Drive 90-minutes to the third bird photography location in Pichincha Province [Overnight: San Miguel de los Bancos Canton]. Photographic Hummingbird Targets: Empress Brilliant, Green Thorntail, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Velvet-purple Coronet.
Days 5-6 Pichincha Province [1N, 0D, 2S]: Drive 60-minutes to the third bird photography location in Pichinga Province [Overnight: Quito Canton]. Photographic Hummingbird Targets: Black-tailed Trainbearer, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Gorgeted Sunangel, Great Sapphirewing, Mountain Velvetbreast, Purple-throated Woodstar, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Sword-billed Hummingbird.
Days 6-7 Napo Province [1N, 0D, 2S]: Drive 60-minutes to the first bird photography location in Napo Province [Overnight: Quijos Canton]. Photographic Hummingbird Targets: Black-tailed Trainbearer, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Giant Hummingbird, Shining Sunbeam.
Days 7-8 Napo Province [1N, 0D, 2S]: Drive 60-minutes to the second bird photography location in Napo Province [Overnight: Quijos Canton]. Photographic Hummingbird Targets: Buff-tailed Coronet, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Glowing Puffleg, Long-tailed Sylph, Mountain Avocetbill, Tourmaline Sunangel.
Days 8-9 Napo Province [1N, 0D, 2S]: Drive 2-hours to the third bird photography location in Napo Province [Overnight: Quijos Canton]. Photographic Hummingbird Targets: Bronzy Inca, Collared Inca, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Geoffroy’s Daggerbill, Long-tailed Sylph.
Days 9-10 Napo Province [1N, 0D, 2S]: Drive 2-hours to the fourth bird photography location in Napo Province [Overnight: Quijos Canton]. Photographic Hummingbird Targets: Black-throated Brilliant, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Fiery Topaz, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Gould's Jewelfront, Green Hermit, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Napo Sabrewing, Rufous-vented Whitetip, Violet-headed Hummingbird, White-tipped Sicklebill, Wire-crested Thorntail.
Days 10-11 Pichincha Province [1N, 0D, 2S]: Drive 2-hours to Pinchinga Province [Overnight: Quito Canton]. Photographic Hummingbird Targets: Gorgeted Woodstar, Green-backed Hillstar, Peruvian Racket-tail, Speckled Hummingbird, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Violet-fronted Brilliant, White-tipped Sicklebill.
Day 11 Depart Ecuador: Transfer to Mariscal Sucre International Airport for international departures [END].
[Key: N: Night / D: Full Day / S: Session / Half-Day]
Nick Ludovic Green has spent much of his life travelling and photographing birds across Asia and Oceania, developing a depth of field experience that few bird photographers achieve. Over more than 15 years in the region, Nick has led 150+ bird photography tours in 35 countries, carefully designing each itinerary to give photographers the best possible access to light, behaviour and habitat.
Through extensive long-term travel, Nick has photographed 2,500 bird species across Asia and Oceania, many at portrait-quality standard. In China alone he has documented over 1,200 species, working in every province and returning repeatedly to key locations to refine photographic opportunities, an experience that directly benefits photographers travelling with him.
His longer bird photography expeditions include a four-month journey across Melanesia, a three-month traverse of Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China's western frontier, and a four-month Himalayan journey from Kashmir, Ladakh and Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. These extended field projects have helped build deep regional knowledge and trusted local relationships.
Nick’s images have been published internationally, and his methods reflects a long-term commitment to careful, respectful bird photography. On tour, he is known for his organized, supportive approach and practical in-field guidance, helping bird photographers of all levels improve their work whilst enjoying unhurried time amongst the region’s most sought-after species.
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is no requirement to hike nor climb. (iv) None of the locations are at altitude (v) There is no camping.
