RealNature fully customizes tours, but we have provided several itineraries as a starting off place to start designing a vacation that is right for you.  All itineraries are fully customizable or can be kept as listed.  We have listed the itineraries with the cost of the tour if kept as is, any modifications will result in the change of the tour price.  Please note that these are only examples, RealNature currently does not offer set tours that depart on a confirmed day.  So you can modify these tours to fit your time frame and your interests. 

When ready to book a tour please read ahead of time our Before you travel  Page.  

      
      




      DISCOVER MORONA SANTIAGO
                     8 day excursion-   Group of 4 - $1,400 per person
                                                  Group of 2 - $1,650 per person
                                                  Single        - $2,300 per person

        

This 8 day excursions into the heart of the Morona Santiago Province will open your eyes to a relatively untraveled section of Ecuador.  Only recently has the Trans Amazonas Highway been completed from Puyo to Macas, making this area still very much off the beaten path for most birders and general tourists.  An airport located inside the city of Macas with flights each day except Saturdays, makes Morona-Santiago an      easy getaway.   This trip can be paired with trips to the South or to the North if you have more time to spend in Ecuador.



Day 1 – Arrive Quito Airport.  Guide and Driver will be there to pick you up.  Transfer to Hotel Sebastian.  Guide will go over the next days schedule and answer any questions you may have.  Dinner on your own.  Night Hotel Sebastian.

Day 2 – Breakfast at hotel.  Depending on flight schedule, transfer to airport for domestic flight to Macas.  If you are arriving midday you will have lunch at Casa Upano if not in Quito.  Afternoon birding around gardens at Casa Upano and Macas Area looking out for the resident red-billed tyranulets and mouse-colored tyranulets.  Casa Upano lies within the city limits of Macas, Morona-Santiago, and is surrounded by fruiting trees, flowering plants, but also has fruit trays and hummingbird feeders.  The property is at 1054 MASL (meters above sea level) right above the Upano River.  Dinner and Night at Casa Upano.
Day 3 – Early morning birding around gardens followed by breakfast.  Mid-morning birding around Macas area including El Quilomo which is mixed habitat that ranges from 1,050 MASL to 1,200 MASL. Short-tailed Antthtrush, Musician’s Wren, and the wonderful Tanager flocks makes this area an interesting birding spot. Lunch at Casa Upano.  Afternoon birding in the Macas area.  Dinner and Night at Casa Upano.

Day 4 – Early morning departure for Sangay National Park.  The majority of this day will be roadside birding since entrance into the park is difficult due to poor infrastructure. We will be birding from 1,050 MASL to 2,200 MASL and looking out for Black-chested Fruiteaters, White-throated toucans and a variety of Tanagers.  Lunch in the field.  Afternoon Casa Upano.  Dinner and Night Casa Upano.

Day 5 – Early morning departure for Upano River including the entrance to Sardinayacu

Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Scaled Pigeon, Streaked Xenops, and Black-faced Antthrush are just some of the species that we will most likely encounter on this trip. Dinner and Night Casa Upano.

Day 6 – Very early morning departure for Trans-Cutucu road to be in time for the morning chorus.  This is a great area for Golden-collared Toucanet, Little Cuckoo, Slaty-capped Shrike Vireo.  We will have breakfast and lunch in the field.  Dinner and night Casa Upano.

Day 7 -  Flight back to Quito after breakfast or extensions. If you are going home a driver will meet you in Quito to take you to your hotel.  Dinner on your own. 
Day 8 – Transfer to airport for flight home,  or beginning of other extension.
 
Southern Ecuador  
Group of 6 - $2,900 per person

This fifteen day experience explores the Southern regions of Ecuador from the West coast to the outskirts of the Ecuadorian Amazon. 
 After arriving in the coastal city of Guayaquil, you will begin birding right away while we head South towards the Jocotoco Reserve, Buenaventura.  Known for its avian diversity, this reserve which El Oro Parakeet and Oro Tapaculo can be seen will be our home for the next three nights.
  From Buenaventura we continue South to Jorupe, another Jocotoco Reserve.  This reserve is located in a Tumbesian forest which is a dry habit and perfect for certain species such as Henna-hooded Foliage Gleaner. 
 After two nights we continue traveling East to Vilcabamba, which we will use as a base for entrance into the higher elevations of Podocarpus National Park.   We will be using the Cajanuma entrance while in Vilcabamba. 
 Continuing South we will visit for two night the Jocotoco Reserve, Tapichalaca.  This 2,000 hectare reserve is home to the recently discovered, Jocotoco Antpitta (pictured to the right). 
 Our trip continues to Zamora to Cabanas Ecologicas Copalinga.  This lodge is the perfect base for visits into the lower areas of Podocarpus National Park (Bombuscaro entrance).  
 The topography, elevation, and habitat change rapidly, on this tour, so for birders it is quite exciting to experience so many new areas in a short amount of time.
      
           Jocotoco Antpitta - Galo Real

Day 1 – Arrive Quito Airport.  Guide  and Driver will be there to greet and help with baggage and transfer to group to Hotel Sebastian.  Dinner will beon your own, night Hotel Sebastian.

 

Day 2 – Breakfast Hotel Sebastian.  Early breakfast at hotel. Driver and Guide will pick you up at 7:15 for transfer to Domestic Flight Terminal for 8:45 (or earlier if available) flight to Guayaquil.  Arrive Guayaquil airport and Driver will be waiting.  From here we will bird along the road that divides Manglares-Churute Ecological Reserve.  We will be looking out for are Horned Screamer, Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, and Crimson- Breasted Finch. For lunch time we will arrive Puerto Bolivar, which is famous for its fresh seafood.  After lunch we will drive on (birding along the way) to the Jocotoco Reserve, Buenaventura.  We will spend three nights here.  Dinner and Night Buenaventura.

Day 3 - Early Breakfast. All day birding around Buenaventura. Long-Wattled Umbrella bird, El Oro Parakeet, Club-winged Manikin, and Collared Antshrike are a few of the species that we will be on the look out for at this reserve.  Dinner and Night Buenaventura. 

Day 4 - Early Breakfast.  All day birding around Buenaventura. Lunch, dinner, and night Buenaventura. 

Day 5 – After an early breakfast we will depart for the Jocotoco Reserve, Jorupe, birding along the way. We will take a packed lunch.  Dinner and Night Jorupe Reserve.

Day 6 - Early breakfast.  All day birding around reserve.  Henna-hooded Foliage Gleaner, Watkins’ Antpitta, and Western Peruvian Screech Owl are some of the birds that we hope to see around the reserve.  Dinner and Night Jorupe Reserve.

Day 7 – Early breakfast and departure for Vilcabamba.  Today will be a traveling most of the day, but we will make three important birding stops.  First in the town of  Sosoranga,  to see the Chestnut-collared Swallow that lives around the main square.  Next we will stop at the Jocotoco Reserve in Utuana where the Black-crested tip tyrant can be seen and at their feeders Rainbow Starfrontlet comes in frequently. From here we will keep going to Vilcabamba with only a short stop in Catamayo (we will have the opportunity to come back on the last day).  Dinner and Night Madre Tierra Vilcabamba. 

Day 8 – After breakfast we will depart for the Cahanuma entrance to Podocarpus National Park (this is a good rest day for those wanting to take a day off from birding, Madre Tierra has a pool and a Spa that offers a variety of treatments).  In Cahanuma we will have possibilities to see Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, Lacrimoce Mountain Tanager, and Amethyst- Throated Sunangel.  Dinner and Night Madre Tierra.

Day 9 – After breakfast we will drive to Tapichalaca Jocotoco Reserve which usually is a straight drive of two hours.  In the afternoon we will bird Valladolid for a variety of Tumbesians such as  Marañon Thrush, Speckled Breasted Wren, and Silver-backed Tanager.  Dinner and night Tapichalaca.

Day 10 – After breakfast we will spend most of the day birding the trails including watching the Jocotoco Antpitta feeding.  In the afternoon we will continue bird on trails and road in front of reserve.  Dinner and night Tapichalaca. 

Day 11  - After an early breakfast we will depart for Zamora where Cabanas Copalinga is located. Birding along the way.  Dinner and night Copalinga

Day 12 - After breakfast we will spend the majority of the day at Podocarpus National Park entering at the Bombuscaro River Entrance.  White-breasted Parakeet, Coppery-chested Jacamar, and Amazonian Umbrella bird are a few of the many birds that we will be looking out for.  Dinner and night Copalinga.

Day 13 - After breakfast we will go to the old Zamora Airport to look for Blackish Wood Rail, Chestnut-vented Conebill and whatever else that may pop up.  Later on we will bird the old Zamora-Loja road…Foothill Antwren, and possibly Cock of the Rock are some birds to keep your eyes peeled for while birding here.  Dinner and Night Copalinga.

Day 14 - After breakfast we will depart for Catamayo. We will bird along the way for  Tumbesian Sparrow, Elegant Crescent-chest, to name a few.  Our flight to Quito departs at 17:50 but we must check in one hour before.  Transfer to Hotel Sebastian in Quito. Dinner on your ow,  Night Hotel Sebastian.

Day 15 - Transfer to airport for flight home.


Sword-billed Hummingbird - RhoAnn Wallace
       Northeast to Southeast
     Group of 4 - $1,950 per person
         Group of 2 - $2,900 per person

  Due to new infrastructure, this new birding route combines some well-known birding spots with until recently, virtually unheard of spots. 
  This tour departs from Quito and heads East to Pappallacta Pass which can rise to elevations of 3500 MASL.  You will be passing through Polylepis forest and High grasslands on the first day.    This is habitat for Rufous-bellied Seed-snipe, and Andean Condor.   We will stay where the hummingbirds stay, at Guango Lodge.  Regardless of weather, the feeders at Guango are always busy and such rarities such as Mountain Velvetbreast and Mountain Avocetbill can be seen seasonally, along with year round locals such as the unusual Sword-billed Hummingbird (pictured to the left). 
  From here your trip continues to the East to Cabanas San Isidro Cloudforest Reserve and Lodge.  This private reserve is an important bio-corridor between Antisana National Park and the Cayambe-Coca Ecological reserve not only for avian species but all flora and fauna.  Unique to San Isidro is the San Isidro "Mystery" Owl that is a frequent visitor to the parking lot lights at night. 
 Diverting south to Archidona we spend a night at Hakuna Matata.  This lodge offers a good resting spot and base for birding before continuing to Macas.
 After arriving in Macas we will stay the next three nights at Casa Upano.  This Bed & Breakfast and Bird Sanctuary is located on the outskirts of Macas and is the perfect base for day trips to many great birding spots such Macuma road, and Sangay National Park. 
 From Macas we will fly back to Quito.

 Day 1 - Driver and Guide will be waiting for you at the airport, and will transfer you to your hotel.  After going over the next day's schedule and answering any questions, driver and guide will let you rest.  Dinner on your own. Night Hotel Sebastian.
Day 2 - After an early breakfast, driver and guide will pick you up.  You will head East toward Pappallacta Pass, birding along the way.  Some areas reach very high elevations, so we will take it slow as we will have another opportunity to come back.  We will go through Highland habit that favors Tawny Antpitta and Elfin/Polylepis forest which the Giant Conebill can often be found.  Don't forget to look to skies occasionally for Andean Condor.  In the afternoon we will arrive to Guango Lodge located right outside of Pappallacta village.   After settling in we will bird around the lodge, weather permitting, and check to see what is coming in at the hummingbird feeders, such as Sword-billed hummingbird, Amethyst Sunangel, and Great Sapphirewing are fairly common.  Dinner and Night Guango Lodge.
Day 3 - After an early breakfast we will bird around the lodge and then head back towards Pappallacta Pass towards "the Antennas" for possible looks at Rufous-bellied Seed-Snipe.  We will bird until midday, returning to Guango for lunch.  After lunch we will depart for Cabanas San Isidro Cloudforest Lodge and Reserve, but we will bird along the way. Dinner and Night San Isidro.
Day 4 - After an early breakfast we will meet at the parking lot, this time in the moning a lot of birds come into the lights to pick off insects.  Today we will spend the day around the lodge, on the trails and on the road.  Lunch, Dinner and Night San Isidro.  Each night we will be owling for the "San Isidro Mystery Owl."

Day 5 - After an early breakfast we will head to the Guacamayos Ridge for the morning. Dusky Piha,  are several species that we can hope to cross paths with.  Midday we will go back to San Isidro for lunch.  Afternoon birding around the lodge and in the town of Cosanga, around Crocodrillos.  Dinner and Night San Isidro.
Day 6 - After an early breakfast we will depart for  Hakuna Matata while birding along the way and having lunch in the field.  Upon arriving to Hakuna Matata and getting settled in, we will bird around the lodge. Dinner and Night Hakuna Matata. 
Day 7 - After breakfast we will bird a litlle around the lodge and then depart for Macas.  For lunch we will stop in Puyo.  After lunch we will continue on to Macas arriving in the afternoon at Casa Upano.  After settling in we will bird around the gardens at Casa Upano.  Dinner and Night Casa Upano.
Day 8 - Today we will leave with a packed breakfast and lunch to make the morning chorus on the Macuma road.  We will spend the remaining morning birding this area.  Afternoon we will be back at Casa Upano with possibilities of birding El Quilamo, depending on the weather.  Dinner and Night Casa Upano.

Day 9 - After an early breakfast we will leave for Santa Rosa and Sardinayacu, coming back for lunch at Casa Upano.  In the afternoon we will bird around the immediate Macas area.  Dinner and Night Casa Upano

Day 10 - Early morning birding around the gardens at Casa Upano.  After breakfast we will go to Macas Airport for flight back to Quito.  Upon arriving in Quito, driver will transfer you to your hotel.  Dinner on your own. Night Sebastian Hotel.

Day 11 - Transfer to airport for flight home.


 

Exclusive Galapagos Island Hopping for Birders
*Please Note These prices include flight to and from the Galapagos and are per person in a double occupancy in First Class Ranked Hotel.
 
Group of 2 -  $5,700*
Group of 4-   $4,000*
Group of 6-   $3,575*
Group of 8-   $3,310*
Group of 10- $3,000*
Group of 12- $2,900*

This 10 day birding trip to the Galapagos permits you to pick and choose when you go to the Galapagos and not rely on having to be a part of a large group.  We have designed this birding tour due to countless requests of birders interested in going to the Galapagos but not interested in spending several days on a boat and not being able to go when they want to go. This trip can be paired with extensions on the mainland to any part of Ecuador or can be a trip on its own.  Remember all our trips are custom fit for you so if you want to spend more time or less time, anything is possible.  So why not spend your next birding adventure visiting the Islands of Fire?!

Interested?  Send us an email and we will send you a detailed itinerary.