ECUADOR
November 28 - Dec 10, 2013
Amazon Extension: Dec 10-15, 2013
Summary: This photo tour visits my favorite bird photography areas in Ecuador. They include Mindo, where many species are easily photographed coming into feeders, Otavalo for native waterfowl and the best indigenous markets, Guango lodge for Sword-billed Hummingbird and great multi-flash photography and Bellavista Lodge in the Tandaypa Valley. We will be doing multi-flash photography which makes for stunning hummingbird images at both Guango and Mindo.
About Ecuador - Ecuador is one of the richest countries in the world for birds and bird photography. Over 1,550 species of birds have been recorded in Ecuador, the fourth highest total of any country in the world. It has many excellent lodges, good roads, a stable government and is reachable from most of North America in 8 hours travel or less.
Tour leaders - Your tour leader Nate Chappell has a lot of experience photographing and exploring Ecuador. Nate has done extensive bird photography there and knows the best areas and techniques for seeing and photographing the birds there. Angie Chappell will lead the non photographer spouses on some alternate activities. We are building our second home in Ecuador and live there part of each year. Including private tours we lead several bird photography tours to Ecuador each year.
What to expect: Many of the birds will be close up. For example with the hummingbird photography I usually use my 300mm lens rather than my 500mm and intermediate to long zoom lenses are ideal for this type of photography (think 70-200 with 1.4 teleconverter, 70-300, 100-400 etc). At the other locations and for the other birds a minimum of 300mm is recommended. The weather can vary from sunny to rainy but with the multi-flash hummingbird photography we are often shooting from under covered porches. Nate will give presentations on using flash for bird photography and photographing birds in the wild. The tour is focused on bird photography, although one morning you will have the opportunity to visit the Otavalo markets where the indigenous Ecuadorians sell their goods. Angie Chappell will be available to organize a few activities for non photographer spouses and companions.
Maximum Participants: 10 total, including a maximum of 7 photographers.
Spectacular species we should be able to photograph include:
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Long-tailed Sylph
Andean Ruddy Duck
Blue-winged Mountain Tanager
Velvet-purple Coronet
Giant Antpitta
Pale-mandibled Aracari (toucan)
Toucan Barbet
Booted Rackettail
and many more species of beautiful tanagers and hummingbirds
Cost: Photographer $4,300 includes all lodging, meals, transportation within Ecuador, guiding, instruction. It does not include airfare to and from Quito, Ecuador or personal expenses such as tips or drinks. Nonphotographer spouse or companion $3,200. To reserve your spot a deposit of $700 is required. The balance is due 90 days prior to the tour.
Contact - Email us at nchappell@trogontours.net if you are interested in this tour or call Nate at
281-778-1486.
Itinerary - To see the detailed day to day itinerary click here
AMAZON EXTENSION, December 10-15, 2013
We are offering the following extension to Sani Lodge on the Napo River in Ecuadorian Amazon.
Summary: 5 days, 4 nights at Sani Lodge on the Napo River. Sani is in a great area for birds on an oxbow lake off the Napo River. Hoatzin is common, they have a canopy tower where many birds can be photographed and we make a trip to the parrot clay licks on the Napo River. Sani is a comfortable ecolodge with wifi and excellent cuisine. It also includes 1 night in Quito, Ecuador and meals.
Leader: Nate Chappell
Cost: $2,300, $400 single supplement includes airfare from/to Quito to Coca, Ecuador, 4 nights at Sani Lodge, 1 night in Quito, all meals and activities. The deposit is $500.
