phone-icon 1-888-990-5552 email-icon info@rockjumper.com
user-icon
Log in / Register

Ecuador - Western: Chocó Specialities

© Banded Ground Cuckoo by Jonathan Rossouw
Ecuador - Western: Chocó Specialities 2026

10 Oct 2026 - 25 Oct 2026 (16 days)

USD6,295 - Spaces Available

Book Now

client-img

Tour Leader: Lisle Gwynn

Tour price (Per person): USD6,295 * GBP4,874 * EUR5,835 * AUD10,048

Single Supplement: USD770 * GBP596 * EUR714 * AUD1,229

Ecuador - Western: Chocó Specialities 2027

16 Oct 2027 - 31 Oct 2027 (16 days)

USD3,500 - Spaces Available

Book Now

client-img

Tour Leader: Rockjumper Tour Leader TBC

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

Tour price (Per person): USD3,500 * GBP2,710 * EUR3,244 * AUD5,587

Our new Chocó Specialities birding tour completes our tour coverage of this incredibly diverse country. Long ignored and historically tricky to reach, the lowland Chocó forests of Northwest Ecuador and the coastal littoral now make for a very appealing tour. The Chocó is an eco-region and biodiversity hotspot that holds the largest number of restricted-range birds of any Endemic Bird Area in the Americas, with 62 species being endemic to the area. Habitats are typically characterised by tropical humid lowland forests and wet cloud-forests. Unfortunately, the Chocó region is also one of the most threatened areas in South America. Deforestation rates are accelerating and habitat destruction has been most severe in the lowlands, especially the coastal plains and foothills. Departing Quito we are introduced to the Andean region of the Chocó with a bevy of normally difficult species including Moss-backed Tanager, the Indigo Flowerpiercer, Beautiful Jay, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Chocó Vireo, Pacific Tuftedcheek, Black Solitaire, Star-chested Treerunner, and Purplish-mantled and Glistening-green Tanagers. We also make a chance to see a few enigmatic antpitta species like Giant Antpitta, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Ochre-breasted Antpitta and Moustached Antpitta. As we move into the Chocó lowlands, we target Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Brown Wood-Rail, Banded Ground Cuckoo (if it is showing), Ocellated and Stub-tailed Antbirds, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, and Scarlet-and-white, Blue-whiskered and Lemon-spectacled Tanagers. Five-colored Barbet, Black-tipped Cotinga, Lita and Chocó Woodpeckers, Yellow-green Bush and Golden-chested Tanagers provide the supporting cast to the drab but monotypic Sapayoa and the exceedingly tricky Rufous-crowned Antpitta.

Top Birds

Long-wattled Umbrellabird; Sapayoa; Baudo Guan; Rufous-crowned Antpitta (rare); Brown Wood & Ecuadorian Rails; Dark-backed Wood Quail; Berlepsch's Tinamou; Rose-faced Parrot; Chocó Trogon; Five-colored, Orange-fronted & Toucan Barbets; Black-breasted & Barred Puffbirds; Plate-billed Mountain Toucan; Black-tipped & Blue Cotingas; Red-capped Manakin; Orange-breasted Fruiteater; Guayaquil, Lita & Chocó Woodpeckers; Ochraceous Attila; Jet, Spotted, Esmeralda’s, Ocellated & Stub-tailed Antbirds; Giant, Yellow-breasted, Moustached & Streak-chested Antpittas; Chocó Poorwill; Chocó Screech Owl,; Cloud-forest Pygmy Owl; Beautiful Jay; Chocó Vireo; Short-tailed Woodstar; Humboldt Sapphire; Tooth-billed Hummingbird; Velvet-purple Coronet; Violet-tailed Sylph; Hoary Puffleg; Empress Brilliant; Pacific Tuftedcheek; Star-chested Treerunner; Black Solitaire; Dagua Thrush; Stripe-throated Wren; Chocó & Nariño Tapaculos; Subtropical Doradito; Pacific Flatbill; Rufous Mourner; Rufous Piha; Scarlet-breasted Dacnis; Moss-backed, Golden-chested, Purplish-mantled, White-winged, Scarlet-and-white, Blue-whiskered, Lemon-spectacled, Glistening-green & Grey-and-gold Tanagers; Indigo Flowerpiercer; chances for Banded Ground Cuckoo (very rare).

Top Mammals

Brown-headed Spider Monkey; Mantled Howler Monkey; White-fronted Capuchin.

Habitats Covered

Chocó tropical lowland forest, Chocó cloud-forest, Tumbesian dry forest, highland lakes

Expected Climate

Warm to hot and humid

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader

Tour Pace & Walking

DIFFICULT: This is a high-intensity “mega” tour designed for passionate listers and serious birders who enjoy a fast-paced schedule. Due to its demanding nature, it’s not recommended for avid photographers, inexperienced birders, or anyone with mobility or health limitations.

This is a moderate to difficult tour. You should have a VERY GOOD level of fitness and stamina & be in VERY GOOD health. Not suitable for dedicated or avid photographers; inexperienced birders; or anyone with mobility or health challenges. Our Mega tours are very fast-paced birding adventures designed for the dedicated lister and serious birder. The focus of the tour is to see as many of the endemics and area specials as possible in our given time. In order to cover the necessary route to maximise the species list we tend to spend a single night at most sites and travel large distances. There is very little down time aside from that spent driving from one site to the next. These tours are not suitable for dedicated or avid photographers; inexperienced or new birders; as well as anyone with serious mobility or health challenges.

Accommodation

Varies from basic to very comfortable.

Ease of Birding

Moderate to demanding. Bird density is low, many visuals are high in the canopy.

Number of Species Expected

400+

Photographic Opportunities

Reasonable, typical rain forest conditions of variable light and frequent rain.

What our clients say about us

Dušan Brinkhuizen
AG, Ecuador 2019

An excellent tour with an excellent guide. Dušan's knowledge of all the vocalizations is exceptional and he made sure I saw almost all the birds the group managed to see.

Dušan Brinkhuizen
RO, Ecuador 2018

In the Rockjumper tradition, Dušan Brinkhuizen went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure the serious birders in our group found our birds. This included several later night expeditions into the forest for owls and other nocturnal critters. Dušan managed to handle everyone with great patience and skill. A very kind man, dedicated advocate for the environment, a master birder.

Dušan Brinkhuizen
LH, Ecuador 2018

This was my first Rockjumper experience and it was excellent. Dušan Brinkhuizen was amazing at finding birds.

Dušan Brinkhuizen
WS - Ecuador 2024

Dusan was one of the best bird guides I have ever had. Incredibly knowledgable about birdlife and other flora and fauna, relentless in finding the rare birds, and always cheerful and looking out for our safety and logistics. He and our driver, Nestor, made it a magical week never to be forgotten!

Dušan Brinkhuizen
PR, Ecuador 2018

You have a stellar guide in Dušan Brinkhuizen... he is a fantastic asset!

  • Your details

  • This field is hidden when viewing the form

  • Contact permission

    We would love to send you Newsletters (twice yearly).via Type a message, Promotions/Discounts (weekly), Blog Articles/Image of the Month (monthly) and other content that we think you would find interesting. If you are happy with this then please select your preferences below. If you would like to unsubscribe from previous subscriptions, or leave our mailing list entirely, then please do so by visiting the Preference Centre link at the bottom of these emails.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Route Map

Tour Route Map

map-direction-img
Download Tour Itinerary