| ECUADOR January 8-18, 2010 Napo extension January 18-23, 2010 |
Join on us on a wonderful trip to Ecuador next January 8-18.
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. Ecuador is much smaller than the 3 countries with the highest
list totals, making it probably the richest country in the world for birds. Spectacular birds that
participants have an excellent chance of seeing and photographing are Cock of the Rock, 3
species of antpittas, Hoatzin, toucans, trogons, motmots and many species of beautiful
hummingbirds and tanagers.
Trogon Tours and Ecuador - Your guides, Nate and Angie Chappell have a lot of experience
photographing and exploring Ecuador. Angie Chappell is a native Ecuadorian who used to be
an agent at an Ecuadorian travel agency. Nate has done extensive bird photography there and
knows the best areas and techniques for seeing and photographing the birds there. We will
have a full time Ecuadorian birdwatching guide with us as well.
What to Expect - Photographers can expect to get great opportunities with many different
species of birds, insects if they wish and a few species of mammals. We will often split up into 2
or 3 groups. Nate will lead the photographers and Jairo Sanchez will lead the birders. Angie is
going to organize other activities for the spouses and companions of photographers and
birders. This will include visiting markets, city sightseeing and other non bird oriented tourist
sites. Nate will have one high speed flash hummingbird setup at each of the lodges that we are
staying at. On several occasions Nate and the photographers will review images they have
taken and do some image critique. Nate will be available to answer any photography questions
and offer any advice that may be wanted. Birdwatchers will be led by the very skilled Jairo
Sanchez, birders can expect to see between 250 and 350 species on this trip. Jairo will do a
bird list each evening. Most of all our trips are fun and relaxed. No question is off limits. Nate,
Angie and Jairo will do their best to help make your experience great. Non
photographer/birder spouses and companions will really enjoy this trip because of the variety
of activities.
Maximum Participants: 10
Itinerary
Day 1, January 8, Arrival in the evening at Quito International Airport, Transfer to a nice hotel in
Quito.
Day 2, January 9, Drive to Mindo, Ecuador Mindo is located at 5,000 feet and is one the richest
areas for birds in Ecuador. That afternoon we will photograph around the hotel, which has
hummingbird feeders that attract many species. Nate will set up a flash photography station for
photographing the hummers. Jairo will lead a birding walk on the trails near the lodge. Angie
will organize an alternative activity of visiting the markets in Quito. In the evening we will all
meet for dinner at the lodge. Hotel: Septimo Paraiso
Day 3, January 10, The photographers will spend the day at the Mirador Blanco a restaurant
which attracts a great variety of birds to its feeders. The birders will spend the morning at Rio
Milpe, an excellent reserve. Angie will lead an alternative outing to visit the butterfly garden,
frog pond and a few other attractions in Mindo. We will all meet in the afternoon at the Mirador
Blanco. Hotel: Septimo Paraiso
Day 4, January 11, In the morning we will go to a reserve where you can see and photograph
Cock of the Rock, up to 4 species of antpittas at close range and other difficult forest floor
dwellers. In the afternoon photographers have the choice of photographing at the lodge or
going into Mindo with the birders to search for other species. Hotel: Septimo Paraiso
Day 5, January 12, In the morning we will drive down to Puerto Vicente Maldonado which is
located at 2,000 feet. The bird life is very diverse and different here. The photographers have
the option of staying at the lodge where the hummingbird flash photo station will be up. Angie
will lead an alternate outing to the Arasha Spa and Pool. Hotel: Septimo Paraiso
Day 5, January 13, In the morning we will photograph and bird around the hotel. After lunch we
will drive to Tandaypa Bird Lodge in the Tandaypa Valley. Tandaypa is located around 7,000
feet and is an excellent site for Plate Billed Mountain Toucan, Toucan Barbet and many other
cloud forest specialists. We will spend our afternoon photographing and watching birds near
the lodge. Hotel: Tandaypa Bird Lodge
Day 6, January 14 In the morning we will bird and photograph around Tandaypa Bird Lodge.
This lodge has many hummingbird feeders and there are excellent trails into the forest and
along the roadside. We will set up a flash photography hummingbird station and a fruit feeding
station for photographing tanagers at nearby Alambi Lodge for those who want to concentrate
on photography. Angie will lead an alternate activity. Hotel: Tandaypa Bird Lodge
Day 7, January 15 We will spend most of the day photographing and birding at TBL and Alambi
Lodges. In the afternoon we will drive to our next lodge, Hosteria San Jorge a beautiful country
estate above Quito.
Day 8, January 16, Participants will have 3 options today. Jairo, the birders and anybody else
who wants to go along will go to Yanacocha. This is a great birding area and a nice 2 or 3 mile
hike at 11,000 feet. Angie will lead an outing to Otavalo, the premier market town in Ecuador
where along with the goods for sale you will meet native Ecuadorians in their traditional
clothing. Lastly, if you want to photograph the hummers at the lodge you can stay at the lodge.
Hotel: Hosteria San Jorge
Day 9, January 17, Most of the group will go to the reserve on the slopes of the Antisana
Volcano. This highland paramo at 13,000 feet is an amazing environment of lakes and
grassland. We have a good chance of seeing condors here. In addition there are a lot of
waterfowl and specialty species such as Black-faced Ibis and Ecuadorian Hillstar. Of course if
you would like to stay at the lodge and either relax or photograph hummingbirds that is an
option as well. Hotel: Hosteria San Jorge
Day 10, January 18, Morning transfer to Quito International Airport.
Cost: $2,800 includes all lodging, meals, transportation within Ecuador, guiding, instruction. It
does not include airfare to and from Quito, Ecuador. On Angie's outings admission fees are
covered, however there will be some optional activities such as spa treatments and whitewater
rafting which will require an extra fee. $100 single supplement. To reserve your spot a deposit
of $500 is required. The balance is due 60 days prior to the start of the tour.
NAPO EXTENSION
This extension can be done as part of the January 8-18 tour or by itself. If anyone would like to
schedule this extension without the other tour, we can help you add a few extra days of
shooting at the end of this tour.
Day 1, January 18, We will fly from Quito to Coca. After arriving in Coca, we will board an
outboard canoe for the 4 hour ride down the Napo River to Sani Lodge, in the heart of the
Ecuadorian Amazon. Hotel Sani Lodge.
Days 2-4, January 19-21, We will have 3 full days at the superb Sani Lodge. Much of our
photography and birding will be done from canoes in the oxbow lakes and streams which
surround the lodge. Hoatzin are numerous along with Rufescent Tiger-Herons, Ringed
Kingfishers and many other species. Sani Lodge has an excellent tower which will get us eye
level with canopy species. It's a great spot to observe and photograph Scarlet and Blue and
Gold Macaws, among many others. On one of these days we will take a boat trip to a parrot
clay lick where parrots often congegrate in large numbers. In the evenings we will spotlight for
Black Caiman and other species from the canoes and for mammals and insects in the forest,
bring your macro gear as its great for insect photography.
Lodge: Sani Lodge
Day 5, January 22, After a morning in the tower or on the oxbow lake, we will return to Coca by
outboard canoe and fly back to Quito. We will spend our afternoon and evening at Hosteria
San Jorge, which has its own set of beautiful hummingbirds including Shining Sunbeam and
Green-tailed Trainbearer. Hotel: Hosteria San Jorge.
Day 6, January 23, Early morning transfer to the Quito International Airport for your flight home.
Cost - $1,300 includes all lodging, food, transportation and guiding. $300 Single Supplement.
To reserve your spot a deposit of $300 is required. The remaining balance is due 60 days prior
to departure.
Contact - Email us at nchappell@trogontours.net if you are interested in this tour or call Nate at
253-512-1060.
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. Ecuador is much smaller than the 3 countries with the highest
list totals, making it probably the richest country in the world for birds. Spectacular birds that
participants have an excellent chance of seeing and photographing are Cock of the Rock, 3
species of antpittas, Hoatzin, toucans, trogons, motmots and many species of beautiful
hummingbirds and tanagers.
Trogon Tours and Ecuador - Your guides, Nate and Angie Chappell have a lot of experience
photographing and exploring Ecuador. Angie Chappell is a native Ecuadorian who used to be
an agent at an Ecuadorian travel agency. Nate has done extensive bird photography there and
knows the best areas and techniques for seeing and photographing the birds there. We will
have a full time Ecuadorian birdwatching guide with us as well.
What to Expect - Photographers can expect to get great opportunities with many different
species of birds, insects if they wish and a few species of mammals. We will often split up into 2
or 3 groups. Nate will lead the photographers and Jairo Sanchez will lead the birders. Angie is
going to organize other activities for the spouses and companions of photographers and
birders. This will include visiting markets, city sightseeing and other non bird oriented tourist
sites. Nate will have one high speed flash hummingbird setup at each of the lodges that we are
staying at. On several occasions Nate and the photographers will review images they have
taken and do some image critique. Nate will be available to answer any photography questions
and offer any advice that may be wanted. Birdwatchers will be led by the very skilled Jairo
Sanchez, birders can expect to see between 250 and 350 species on this trip. Jairo will do a
bird list each evening. Most of all our trips are fun and relaxed. No question is off limits. Nate,
Angie and Jairo will do their best to help make your experience great. Non
photographer/birder spouses and companions will really enjoy this trip because of the variety
of activities.
Maximum Participants: 10
Itinerary
Day 1, January 8, Arrival in the evening at Quito International Airport, Transfer to a nice hotel in
Quito.
Day 2, January 9, Drive to Mindo, Ecuador Mindo is located at 5,000 feet and is one the richest
areas for birds in Ecuador. That afternoon we will photograph around the hotel, which has
hummingbird feeders that attract many species. Nate will set up a flash photography station for
photographing the hummers. Jairo will lead a birding walk on the trails near the lodge. Angie
will organize an alternative activity of visiting the markets in Quito. In the evening we will all
meet for dinner at the lodge. Hotel: Septimo Paraiso
Day 3, January 10, The photographers will spend the day at the Mirador Blanco a restaurant
which attracts a great variety of birds to its feeders. The birders will spend the morning at Rio
Milpe, an excellent reserve. Angie will lead an alternative outing to visit the butterfly garden,
frog pond and a few other attractions in Mindo. We will all meet in the afternoon at the Mirador
Blanco. Hotel: Septimo Paraiso
Day 4, January 11, In the morning we will go to a reserve where you can see and photograph
Cock of the Rock, up to 4 species of antpittas at close range and other difficult forest floor
dwellers. In the afternoon photographers have the choice of photographing at the lodge or
going into Mindo with the birders to search for other species. Hotel: Septimo Paraiso
Day 5, January 12, In the morning we will drive down to Puerto Vicente Maldonado which is
located at 2,000 feet. The bird life is very diverse and different here. The photographers have
the option of staying at the lodge where the hummingbird flash photo station will be up. Angie
will lead an alternate outing to the Arasha Spa and Pool. Hotel: Septimo Paraiso
Day 5, January 13, In the morning we will photograph and bird around the hotel. After lunch we
will drive to Tandaypa Bird Lodge in the Tandaypa Valley. Tandaypa is located around 7,000
feet and is an excellent site for Plate Billed Mountain Toucan, Toucan Barbet and many other
cloud forest specialists. We will spend our afternoon photographing and watching birds near
the lodge. Hotel: Tandaypa Bird Lodge
Day 6, January 14 In the morning we will bird and photograph around Tandaypa Bird Lodge.
This lodge has many hummingbird feeders and there are excellent trails into the forest and
along the roadside. We will set up a flash photography hummingbird station and a fruit feeding
station for photographing tanagers at nearby Alambi Lodge for those who want to concentrate
on photography. Angie will lead an alternate activity. Hotel: Tandaypa Bird Lodge
Day 7, January 15 We will spend most of the day photographing and birding at TBL and Alambi
Lodges. In the afternoon we will drive to our next lodge, Hosteria San Jorge a beautiful country
estate above Quito.
Day 8, January 16, Participants will have 3 options today. Jairo, the birders and anybody else
who wants to go along will go to Yanacocha. This is a great birding area and a nice 2 or 3 mile
hike at 11,000 feet. Angie will lead an outing to Otavalo, the premier market town in Ecuador
where along with the goods for sale you will meet native Ecuadorians in their traditional
clothing. Lastly, if you want to photograph the hummers at the lodge you can stay at the lodge.
Hotel: Hosteria San Jorge
Day 9, January 17, Most of the group will go to the reserve on the slopes of the Antisana
Volcano. This highland paramo at 13,000 feet is an amazing environment of lakes and
grassland. We have a good chance of seeing condors here. In addition there are a lot of
waterfowl and specialty species such as Black-faced Ibis and Ecuadorian Hillstar. Of course if
you would like to stay at the lodge and either relax or photograph hummingbirds that is an
option as well. Hotel: Hosteria San Jorge
Day 10, January 18, Morning transfer to Quito International Airport.
Cost: $2,800 includes all lodging, meals, transportation within Ecuador, guiding, instruction. It
does not include airfare to and from Quito, Ecuador. On Angie's outings admission fees are
covered, however there will be some optional activities such as spa treatments and whitewater
rafting which will require an extra fee. $100 single supplement. To reserve your spot a deposit
of $500 is required. The balance is due 60 days prior to the start of the tour.
NAPO EXTENSION
This extension can be done as part of the January 8-18 tour or by itself. If anyone would like to
schedule this extension without the other tour, we can help you add a few extra days of
shooting at the end of this tour.
Day 1, January 18, We will fly from Quito to Coca. After arriving in Coca, we will board an
outboard canoe for the 4 hour ride down the Napo River to Sani Lodge, in the heart of the
Ecuadorian Amazon. Hotel Sani Lodge.
Days 2-4, January 19-21, We will have 3 full days at the superb Sani Lodge. Much of our
photography and birding will be done from canoes in the oxbow lakes and streams which
surround the lodge. Hoatzin are numerous along with Rufescent Tiger-Herons, Ringed
Kingfishers and many other species. Sani Lodge has an excellent tower which will get us eye
level with canopy species. It's a great spot to observe and photograph Scarlet and Blue and
Gold Macaws, among many others. On one of these days we will take a boat trip to a parrot
clay lick where parrots often congegrate in large numbers. In the evenings we will spotlight for
Black Caiman and other species from the canoes and for mammals and insects in the forest,
bring your macro gear as its great for insect photography.
Lodge: Sani Lodge
Day 5, January 22, After a morning in the tower or on the oxbow lake, we will return to Coca by
outboard canoe and fly back to Quito. We will spend our afternoon and evening at Hosteria
San Jorge, which has its own set of beautiful hummingbirds including Shining Sunbeam and
Green-tailed Trainbearer. Hotel: Hosteria San Jorge.
Day 6, January 23, Early morning transfer to the Quito International Airport for your flight home.
Cost - $1,300 includes all lodging, food, transportation and guiding. $300 Single Supplement.
To reserve your spot a deposit of $300 is required. The remaining balance is due 60 days prior
to departure.
Contact - Email us at nchappell@trogontours.net if you are interested in this tour or call Nate at
253-512-1060.
| BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT |
| GIANT ANTPITTA |
| LONG-TAILED SYLPH |
| SWORD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD |
| BLACK-FRONTED NUNBIRD |
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