23 Nov 2026 - 28 Nov 2026 (6 days)
USD3,850 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen
Tour Price (Per person): USD3,850 (GBP2,985 * EUR3,397 * AUD6,008)
Single Supplement: USD1,325 (GBP1,027 * EUR1,169 * AUD2,068)
Flight costs: USD303 (GBP235 * EUR267 * AUD473)
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.
What a tour! We ended up with nearly 700 species seen and heard, and I ended up with almost twice as many lifers than I had anticipated. Dusan was excellent: Attentive to those having difficulties, enthusiastic, energetic, indefatigable, and a complete whiz at the birds. He was as excited about each new sighting as was the rest of the group, right through to the last day. We saw many very special birds, birds that I have missed over three previous trips to Ecuador as well as quite rare birds that, although specialties for this tour, require great effort and skill to unveil (think Buff-fronted Owl). Climate change affected the tour to a certain extent, but Dusan always had a clever plan or an alternative site to try for the bird again. The tour was a bit more strenuous than the itinerary led me to believe, but all at the participants willingly went the extra mile with Dusan every time. We were fortunate to have a pretty good group, a great driver, and good luck with the weather.
This tour was fantastic. Dušan is an excellent leader. I learned a lot from him and he made the tour very enjoyable. I loved the lodges we stayed at. They were comfortable with birds and nature all around. I’m already looking into more tours in Ecuador with Dušan. Thanks Rockjumper!
Our tour of the Choco cloud forest and the Eastern Andes paramo and cloud forest was superb. Our guide Dušan Brinkhuizen was amazing in his ability to find birds; he clearly has supernatural hearing and eyesight! He also was superb at making sure that everyone saw the birds. He truly worried about his clients and listened to their requests as to birds, landscapes and need for sleep. We saw spectacular landscapes far off the beaten path and got very good looks at birds in all habitats. An additional plus was our driver Dario who kept us safe on marginal roads. We look forward to our next Rockjumper trip.
"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..."
Both Lev (rockjumper guide) and Andres (local guide) were excellent. Both were extremely patient, always upbeat, interacted well with the tour participants, were great birders, and answered any questions put to them. A very unique way to explore the archipelago, could not recommend it enough.
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