Ecuador Birds & Wildlife Photo Tour
Next Possible Dates – November 2026
MegaDiverse Wildlife
Ecuador is one of only 17 MEGADIVERSE countries in the world. What that means is that Ecuador contains a huge number of species compared to most other places on earth. This small South American country can boast over 1600 bird species including an incredible 130 species of hummingbirds.
Immersive Experience
We’ll photograph hummingbirds, tons of other species of birds, mammals and insects, flowers, and anything else that we can find. We’ll spend time with professional nature guides who will lead us right to the birds and animals and we’ll sleep and eat all meals at wonderful eco-lodges the entire time.
Nov. TBD
Fly into Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in Quito, Ecuador arriving sometime during late afternoon or early evening. Our hotel has a free airport pick-up service for your transfer to the hotel. We meet at 6pm in the evening at the designated hotel in Quito, Ecuador.
Nov. TBD
Drive to our first lodge. Access to amazing feeding platforms where bird activity is non-stop. Work with Don on single-flash hummingbird set-ups.
Nov. TBD
We’ll get up early for a special naturalist-guided photo session with rare Antpitta birds. Then you’ll have all day at the lodge and surrounding areas to explore with your camera, to learn more bird techniques with Don, to eat 3 hearty meals and to simply enjoy being in Ecuador.
Nov. TBD
After breakfast and more photography at the lodge feeding platforms, we’ll pack up and drive to our second lodge, located in a high elevation (9000 feet) cloud forest. Here, sightings of the amazing Sword-billed Hummingbird are common. All-day photography of the diversity found around this lodge.
Nov. TBD
Morning will be spent either with hummingbirds in the garden area, or walking along the river for Torrent Ducks and other species. After lunch we drive to our third lodge. This place is at a lower elevation and can have hundreds of birds buzzing around at any one time. The action here is non-stop and you’ll be happily exhausted once it comes time for meals and sleep.
Nov. TBD
Today we’ll have the chance to learn multi-flash hummingbird photography techniques – all equipment provided (except 1 flash unit for your particular camera). Other opportunities at this lodge include numerous tanagers, jays, mammals, insects, jungle scenery and much more.
Nov. TBD
We’ll get up well before sunrise today for a short drive to a special bird refuge and the chance to go with local guides searching for Andean Cock of the Rock sightings, as well as rare Antpittas and other birds. Brunch will be served at this wildlife refuge, followed by a jungle walk searching for diverse wildlife and then we drive back to our cozy lodge for dinner and perhaps a group meeting to share images.
Nov. TBD
Today we keep our schedule flexible and you may repeat anything or re-visit places on the lodge’s grounds that you want to see again. Multi-flash setups will be available again for those that want. Nectar and fruit feeders will be buzzing with activity and you could feasibly spend your entire day
photographing at these spots. Other options include going for a jungle walk, image review/critique sessions, or relaxing as you wish.
Nov. TBD
We’ll spend the morning doing more single flash hummingbird photography, or going for one last jungle walk. After lunch we begin driving toward Quito to the hotel near Quito’s airport.
Nov. TBD
Final breakfast, then we transfer to the Quito airport for our flights home.
- Tour begins and ends in Quito, Ecuador (airport code UIO).
- You should arrive into Quito as early as possible on November 2nd in order to attend the initial meet/greet at 6pm that evening.
- A professional driver with a tour sign will meet you just outside the Quito airport. He/She will take you to the first hotel.
- A travel Visa in not currently required for citizens of the US or Canada to visit Ecuador as a tourist.
- Outbound flights should be booked for November TBD.
- Low- mid.
- Most photo locations are within 1/2 mile of our lodging.
- Jungle trails can be wet and slippery – bring proper hiking boots.
- Tropical heat can be tiring for those not acclimitized.
- Drinking plenty of water or energy drinks helps. – Bring a refillable water bottle.
- 1 Lodging location is located at high altitude (9060 feet). High altitude can be tiring for those not acclimitized.
- Variable skies, some sunny, some cloudy, some rainy with daytime temperatures in the 60’s- 70’s Fahrenheit.
- Early morning/nighttime temperatures generally in the 50’s – 60’s Fahrenheit.
- Rainstorms can (and will) hit anytime in the tropics, and this means wet, slippery trails, boardwalks and walkways.
- Digital camera body or 2 in order to have a backup
- Wildlife zoom lens such as a 200-600mm, 100-400mm or similar
- Wide angle scenic lens such as a full frame equivalent of 17-40mm
- Close-up or macro lens (extension tubes or a proper diopter filter can be substituted for macro lens)
- Flash unit that attaches to the hotshoe of your camera
- Sturdy tripod
- Polarizing filter for your wide angle lens
- Extra batteries and battery charger
- Plenty of memory cards – you might shoot up to 8,000 images/day
Includes
- 9 nights accommodations.*
- Airport pick-up and drop off.
- All ground transportation with professional driver throughout the tour.
- All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) from lunch on November 3rd to lunch on November 10th.
- Entry fees into all photography sites.
- Time with local guides and wildlife handlers/experts who will lead us to the best wildlife photo opportunities.
- All guided photo sessions including multi-flash hummingbird set-ups (all equipment provided).
- Group and/or one-on-one critique and photo sharing sessions.
- In-depth wildlife photo instruction and leadership from professional photographer Don Mammoser.
- Tons of fun and a true small group tour with a maximum of 6 participants.
*Accommodations/tour prices are based on double occupancy. For those not traveling as a couple or with a friend, the single supplement will apply.
Not Included
- Air fare from your hometown to Quito, Ecuador and return (airport code UIO).
- Meals while in Quito.
- Alcoholic drinks.
- Tips to local guides and drivers.
- Passport or visa fees (visas are not required for citizens of USA or Canada).
- Travel insurance.
- Gifts and items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry etc.
