23 Nov 2026 - 28 Nov 2026 (6 days)
USD3,850 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen
Tour Price (Per person): USD3,850 (GBP2,954 * EUR3,361 * AUD5,937)
Single Supplement: USD1,325 (GBP1,017 * EUR1,157 * AUD2,043)
Flight costs: USD303 (GBP232 * EUR265 * AUD467)
This tour pairs with: Ecuador - Northwestern Specialities - ZEISS joint-partnership 2026
The lowlands of the Amazon basin boast incredible biodiversity; and, bird-wise, the area is arguably to most species-rich in the world. The number of bird species recorded at Napo Wildlife Center is approaching 600! The tour will focus on finding as many species and local specialties as possible, by visiting multiple (micro) habitats within the Amazonian basin. Although the list of possible targets is immense here, a couple of iconic species that we have chances for include Hoatzin, Zigzag, Capped and Agami Herons, Gray-winged Trumpeter, Sungrebe, Scarlet, Blue-and-yellow, Chestnut-fronted and Red-bellied Macaws, Gould’s Jewelfront, Wire-crested Thorntail, Great and Long-tailed Potoos, White-throated, Black-mandibled and Channel-billed Toucans, Many-banded and Ivory-billed Aracaris, American Pygmy and Green-and-rufous Kingfishers, Gilded and Scarlet-crowned Barbets, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Rusty-belted Tapaculo, Long-billed Woodcreeper, Cinnamon Attila, Screaming Piha, Golden-headed and Orange-crowned Manakins, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, Black-necked Red Cotinga and dozens of antbird species!
Black-necked Red Cotinga, Brown Nunlet, Black Caracara, Yasuni Antwren, White-plumed Antbird, Swallow-winged Puffbird. Also, Yellow-billed and Large-billed Terns, Undulated Tinamou, Scarlet and Blue-and-yellow Macaws, Green-backed and Black-tailed Trogons, White-chinned, White-eared and Great Jacamars, Scarlet-crowned Barbet, Black-fronted Nunbird, Chestnut-capped Puffbird, Salvin’s Curassow, Amazonian Streaked Antwren, Black-capped Donacobius, Hoatzin, Rufous-capped and Striated Antthrushes, White-crowned and Western Striped Manakins, Cinereous and Dusky-throated Antshrikes, Olive-backed Foliage-gleaner, Silvered, Plumbeous, Sooty, Lunulated and Scale-backed Antbirds, and more!
Giant Otter, Equatorial and Monk Sakis, Red Howler Monkey, Night Monkey, Common Squirrel Monkey, Golden Mantled Tamarin, with chances for Jaguarundi, Jaguar and Brazilian Tapir.
subtropical cloud-forest, tropical foothill forest, Rio Napo river-edge forest, Rio Napo river islands, Amazon terrafirme forest, Amazon varzea forest, Amazon riparian habitat and blackwater lagoons
Hot and humid, with some rain expected. At times cool at night and early in the morning.
10 with 1 Rockjumper tour leader & local birding leader
MODERATE TO CHALLENGING: This tour requires a good level of fitness, stamina, and overall health. It’s best suited for experienced birders who are comfortable with a more active itinerary. Please note that it may not be ideal for avid photographers, new birders, or those with mobility or health concerns.
Easy to moderate pace
Very comfortable and unique jungle lodge.
Moderate
300+
Amazon basin wildlife, accessed by dugout (motorized) canoe, including visits Napo river islands. Great forest trails right from the lodge. Canopy towers with access to the highest reaches of the forest. Great experience with local Kichwa-Añangu community/culture.
Good to excellent.
"This tour was great and Dusan was fabulous, an incredible birder, guide and person. I don't need to say more because I'm sure you've heard many accolades about him. It was a great tour though harder than I expected but I'm old and age makes a difference. I definitely would go again with Dusan. There was a disparity of physical abilities among the clients and Dusan handled the situation very well, taking care of the one person who could do the least physically and I think keeping her happy under the circumstances. This really speaks to his people skills. The three of us who were the weakest physically were the oldest. I was elated because I saw the oil birds and Sapayoa(s!!) and why I signed up not even considering the difficulty of canopy birding and what hilly jungle trails entailed. I'm so glad I went and would have hated being dissuaded. So thank you..."
"Really very positive indeed. I really liked Dusan, and there was no question he was an astonishing birder. I'd love to do another tour with him."
One reason I did sign up was because of the excellent reputation of Dušan Brinkhuizen. A number of people told me what an excellent guide he was and, If I was ever to go to Ecuador, I should do so on one of his tours. They were not wrong. Dušan is exceptional for knowing the vast numbers of Ecuadorian birds and their calls. He can recognize a small chip or the legs and tail or even a partial description. Dušan is also a wonderful individual, helpful and entertaining. He is obviously very fond of his adopted country and cares much about the inhabitants and their lives.
Lev is a consummate professional. Excellent ability to do his job of guiding, getting on birds, identifying birds-- what we all came for. I would be delighted to travel with Lev again.
Dušan is a very knowledgeable, passionate, dedicated and high-energy leader. He is also very cognizant of his charges and tries to ensure that each of us sees the target birds. At one point, it was to his detriment not being able to photograph a very rare bird so I could catch up to him as it flew away. Dušan’s easy-going personality and humorous life and birding stories not only had us in awe of his experiences but also helped create a dynamic rapport within our group which enhanced our interpersonal interactions and travels that much more. Dusan was not immune to some gentle (or not so gentle) ribbing either. All was in good fun and tolerated admirably. We however will remember fondly the “Dušan mile”.
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon I 2025 - April 2025
Ecuador - Lester & Lloyd & friends 2025 - February 2025
Ecuador - Southern Endemics 2025 - January 2025
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon II 2024 - November 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes II 2024 - November 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest II 2024 - October 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon I 2024 - April 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes I 2024 - February 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest I 2024 - February 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes II 2023 - November 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest II 2023 - October 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes I 2023 - February 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest I 2023 - February 2023
Ecuador - Southern Endemics 2023 - January 2023
Ecuador - Pacific Coast Extension 2023 - January 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon II 2022 - November 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes II 2022 - November 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest II 2022 - November 2022