Our Eastern Andes tour is a great introduction to birding the mighty Andes of South America. We will be exploring the vast east slope for local specialities and will visit a wide array of fascinating habitats and elevations. Travelling from snow-capped volcanoes down to pristine cloud forests will be not only an incredible experience but will also offer superb birding and scenery every day!

Stunning species that we will be searching for include Andean Condor, Carunculated Caracara, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Giant Hummingbird, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Torrent Duck, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Inca Jay, White-bellied Antpitta, the San Isidro “mystery” Owl, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals and Masked Trogon, to mention a few! Rare species that we will also be searching for include Andean Ibis, Andean Potoo, Red-rumped Bush Tyrant, Greater Scythebill, Bicolored Antvireo, Peruvian and Crescent-faced Antpittas, White-capped Tanager and Masked Mountain Tanager. A great network of birding reserves, together with good infrastructure, unsurpassable scenery, fine dining, and friendly people make the eastern Andes of Ecuador another key destination on the world birding circuit.

Top Birds

Andean Condor; Carunculated Caracara; Torrent Duck; Black-faced Ibis; Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe; Black-winged Ground Dove; Ecuadorian Hillstar; Giant & Sword-billed Hummingbirds; Viridian Metaltail; Long-tailed Sylph; Tourmaline Sunangel; Chestnut-breasted Coronet; White-bellied Woodstar; Glowing Puffleg; Black-tailed Trainbearer; Rainbow-bearded & Blue-mantled Thornbills; San Isidro “mystery” Owl; Rufous-bellied Nighthawk; Andean Potoo; White-capped Parrot; Grey-breasted & Black-billed Mountain Toucans; Masked Trogon; Golden-headed & Crested Quetzals; Crimson-mantled Woodpecker; Long-tailed & Paramo Tapaculos; Tawny, White-bellied, Peruvian, Slaty-crowned & Crescent-faced Antpittas; Andean Tit-Spinetail; Stout-billed & Bar-winged Cinclodes; Many-striped Canastero; Pearled Treerunner; Greater Scythebill; Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant; Red-rumped Bush Tyrant; Agile Tit-Tyrant; Handsome Flycatcher; Inca Jay; Black-billed Peppershrike; Black-eared Hemispingus; Black-backed Bush Tanager; Buff-breasted, Masked, Blue-winged and Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanagers; Saffron-crowned, Beryl-spangled, Flame-faced, Black-capped, Grass-green, Golden-crowned & White-capped Tanagers; Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia; Bluish Flowerpiercer; Golden-collared Honeycreeper; Pale-naped Brushfinch; Subtropical Cacique.

Top Mammals

White-tailed Deer; Andean Fox; Mountain Tapir (rare); Spectacled Bear (rare)

Habitats Covered

paramo grasslands and highland lakes, temperate tree line forest & polylepis, temperate cloud-forest, upper and lower subtropical cloud-forest

Expected Climate

chilly at high elevations but pleasant in the subtropics

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader

Tour Pace & Walking

easy to moderate pace

Accommodation

comfortable lodges

Ease of Birding

easy birding with some tricky skulkers

Number of Species Expected

200 - 250

Photographic Opportunities

excellent, especially at Antisana, San Isidro and Guango

What our clients say about us

Lev Frid
SL, Ecuador 2024

Fantastic tour and very diverse bird life. Lev and the local guides were fantastic! Could not recommend the trip or the guides more.

Dušan Brinkhuizen
BK - Ecuador 2022

"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."

Dušan Brinkhuizen
ES & JS, Ecuador 2018

Dušan Brinkhuizen is a wonderfully skilled birder and he readily shares his enthusiasm for birds and their environments. He is also skilled in Spanish and knowledgeable about the country.

Dušan Brinkhuizen
SW - Ecuador 2024

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”.

Dušan Brinkhuizen
JM, Ecuador 2018

I was particularly impressed by Dušan Brinkhuizen. His knowledge of Ecuadorian birds, both visual and auditory, was amazing. He showed an unflagging energy and was sensitive to the myriad of special interests of our participants.

Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes II 2024

06 Nov 2024 - 12 Nov 2024 (7 days)

USD2,895 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Robert Wilcox

Tour price (Per person): USD2,895 * GBP2,269 * EUR2,678 * AUD4,303

Single Supplement: USD300 * GBP235 * EUR277 * AUD446

Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes I 2025

16 Feb 2025 - 22 Feb 2025 (7 days)

USD2,995 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: James Wade Lee

Tour price (Per person): USD2,995 * GBP2,347 * EUR2,770 * AUD4,451

Single Supplement: USD390 * GBP306 * EUR361 * AUD580

Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes II 2025

05 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025 (7 days)

USD2,995 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Adam Walleyn

Tour price (Per person): USD2,995 * GBP2,347 * EUR2,770 * AUD4,451

Single Supplement: USD390 * GBP306 * EUR361 * AUD580

Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes I 2026

15 Feb 2026 - 21 Feb 2026 (7 days)

USD3,100 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Robert Wilcox

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): USD3,100 * GBP2,429 * EUR2,867 * AUD4,607

Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes II 2026

04 Nov 2026 - 10 Nov 2026 (7 days)

USD3,100 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): USD3,100 * GBP2,429 * EUR2,867 * AUD4,607

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