Ecuador Bird Watching Tours
Ecuador: A Bird Watching Paradise
With over 1700 different species of birds to observe, Ecuador is the best place to see the most unique birds on the planet. From the smallest hummingbirds to the largest condors, Ecuador offers unparalleled opportunities for birding to observe, photograph or study birds that you can not see anywhere else in the world. Couple this with the most incredible geography: a wild Pacific coastal terrain; the high Ecuadorian Andes with its ‘Avenue of the Volcanos’; the incomparable Amazon jungle, and; the Galapagos Islands. Ecuador is four worlds in one country.
About Ecuador Bird Watching
Sandra Plúa: Professional Guide and Bird Observer
Accredited and Experienced
Ecuador Bird Watching Tours is operated by Sandra Plúa: an Ecuadorian birding expert and national-level guide registered with the Ministerio de Turismo and the Ministerio del Ambiente, Agua y Transición Ecológica. Sandra is currently a volunteer reviewer with eBird for the provinces of Manabí and Santa Elena and she was selected eBirder of the Month for May 2019. Sandra has been observing and leading birding tours since 2010. She has over 775 bird species registered in eBird and is adding to her list every week. Sandra is a local co-organizer of the annual Global Big Day and Christmas Bird Count.
Personalized Service
At Ecuador Bird Watching Tours, we understand what a great birding experience requires so we offer you everything necessary to make your Ecuador birding experience memorable. We can assist you with recommendations for accommodations; in-country travel; restaurants and even your overall itinerary. If you want to experience some non-birding activities, we can help with that too. We speak English and Spanish.
Country-wide Destinations
Ecuador Bird Watching Tours is based in Puerto López, in the heart of the Machalilla National Park and just a short boat ride from Isla de la Plata – considered by most to be the ‘mini-Galapagos’. But, we can also set up tours throughout the country. If you desire to add the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) to your list, we can add an Amazon package to your itinerary or if you wish to see the Ecuadorian Hillstar (Oreotrochilus chimorazo), we can organize a trip to elevations above 3,600m in the Ecuadorian Andes.
We Understand Bird Watching
We are bird watchers too. We know the importance of things like leaving on time; making appropriate adjustments for weather, or; just knowing when it’s time to sit down instead of pushing on. We pride ourselves on our ability to understand what makes for a great birding experience.
"You can't always see every bird possible but it should be an enjoyable experience."
We Offer 6 Different Day Tours
Route of the Hummingbird
This spectacular route is located 20 minutes south of Puerto López and is part of the protective zone in the Machalilla National Park. It represents a strategic area for the observation and admiration of most of the emblematic birds of coastal Ecuador. It is also a RAMSAR site.
It has a wide diversity of flora due to the unique microclimate with high local humidity. 328 species of birds have been registered here: some of them are endemic to Ecuador and the Tumbesian region.
The Ayampe River is an important nesting site for the Esmeraldas Woodstar (Chaetocercus berlepschi) from December to March.
Price: US$50 per person (minimum two people)
Agua Blanca
Agua Blanca is the archaeological icon of the Machalilla National Park that contains the remains of pre-Columbian cultures that inhabited the territory for more than 10,000 years. You can observe funerary urns, ceramics and more than 600 stone walled structures, protected and managed by the community. Visitors can enjoy hiking trails through the tropical dry forest along the Buena Vista Valley and the sulphurous lagoon where you can swim and get luxurious massages.
You have the opportunity to see the West Peruvian Screech Owl (Megascops roboratus), Crane Hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens), Whooping Momot (Momotus subrufescens), Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus obscurus), Fasciated Wren (Campylorhynchus fasciatus), White Edged Oriole (Icterus graceannae), Yellow Rumped Cacique (Cacicus cela), among others.
The dry tropical forest combines with the Pacific coastal zone to provide unique bird observing opportunities.
Price: US$60 per person (minimum two people)
Custom Tours
You can customize any of these tours to meet your specific requirements. Contact us and we’ll be make sure you’re happy.
Elegant Moon Trail
6 km south of Puerto López is located the small village of Río Chico. It is here that you will find the 2km long “Elegant Moon Route”. Along this route, you will observe numerous local bird species of the Tumbesian Region. A total of 200 endemic and non-endemic species have been registered here, including:
Fasciated wren (Campylorhynchus fasciatus), Elegant Crescentchest (Melanopareia elegans), Collared Antshrike (Thamnophilus bernardi), Amazilia Hummingbird (Amamzilia amazilia), Superciliated Wren (Cantorchilus superciliaris), Red Masked Parakeet (Aratinga erythrogenys), Pacific Parrotlet (Forpus coelestis).
This wonderful birding experience takes you from the transitional coastal forest to the humid forest at higher elevations.
Price: US$50 per person (minimum two people)
Isla de la Plata
Isla de la Plata is a unique island habitat located off the coast of continental Ecuador that is influenced by the Humboldt and Equatorial ocean currents. It provides ideal conditions that produce rich ocean nutrients in the waters surrounding the island.
The island´s desert vegetation creates a perfect habitat for seabirds such as Blue footed Booby (Sula nebouxii), Red footed Booby (Sula sula), Nazca Booby (Sula granti), Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus), Magnificant Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) and Albatrosses to reproduce. From June to September, it serves as a nursery for humpback whales and the resulting remarkable whale watching opportunities.
It also has the highest concentrations of giant manta ray populations in the world.
Isla de la Plata is ideal for bird watching, snorkeling and exploring beautiful coral reefs.
Price: US$85 per person (minimum two people)
Golden Ball Trail & the Mocora
10 Km east of Puerto López is the community El Pital, in which you can visit various ecological trails in a humid forest in the heart of the Machalilla National Park, with dense vegetation and elevations that reach 800m a.s.l. It is home to more than 270 species of birds, many of them endemic to the area, and mammals such as anteaters (Vermilingua), howler monkeys (Alouatta), three-toed sloth (Bradypus) and Perro de Monte (Eira barbara).
It´s a great place for camping and bird watching. Bird species most commonly seen are the Guayaquil Woodpecker (Campephilus guayaquilensis), Ecuadorian Trogon (Trogon mesurus), hummingbirds like the Baron´s Hermit (Phaethornis baroni), the King Vulture (Sarcorramphus papa) and this area is the habitat of the Ornate Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus) because of the presence of their primary food supply, howler monkeys.
Price: US$65 per person (minimum two people)
Ecuasal Salt Marshes
The Ecuasal Salt Ponds were built in 1960 for the production of salt for industrial use and human consumption. Located in the province of Santa Elena (about 100km south of Puerto López) on one of the most prominent peninsulas on the Ecuadorian coast, the ponds cover an area of 1,300 ha. Precisely because of its strategic position, it is an area where migratory birds travel from the Northern Hemisphere along the Pacific coast to southern South America. It is a refuge for 135 different species of birds (aquatic and terrestrial) including 23 migratory shore species that reproduce in Alaska, northern Canada and around the Great Lakes of North America: for example, Wilson ́s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor), Semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) and the Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla).
Price: US$90 per person (minimum two people)
… the rest of Ecuador
If you want to do bird watching in other parts of Ecuador, we can help organize your entire itinerary. Let us now what you want to see or where you want to go, and we’ll work with you to personalize the trip of a lifetime.
All of the above tours originate out of Puerto López and include transportation from/to Puerto López, an English-speaking guide, Snack, bird check list, entrance fees (where applicable). The Ecuasal, Golden Ball, Isla de la Plata tours include lunch. Booking minimum 24 hours in advance and 24 hours notice required to cancel. Our bird tours happen rain or shine. We will provide a list of everything necessary for you to bring. All of our tours are low-impact activities but unfortunately, the trails are not friendly to those with mobility issues. Contact us for all the lastest details and/or to answer any questions.
You can start your birding adventure in
3 Easy Steps
1. Select a tour(s) or let us design a custom tour with you.
2. Review our Booking Calendar to ensure your tour dates are available.
3. Contact us to finalize the details.
It’s that EASY!
What our clients are saying…
“Great experience spending the day with Sandra. She was very knowledgeable and we saw many birds along the coast and inland. Sandra provided transportation as well as a great snack which we enjoyed while shorebird watching. We also received a link the next day that showed all the birds we saw on our walk and their songs. I highly recommend this hike!” Shawn
“Very interesting visit. We saw many birds both in the Ayampe River Estuary and on the Hummingbird Route. Sandra is very professional and a great expert in locating and identifying birds. We were also able to enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Ayampe River and the great diversity of vegetation in the area. The walk is calm, so it is accessible to everyone. Without a doubt, a highly recommended experience for anyone who loves nature.” Julia
“Sandra is an incredibly talented guide and I cannot recommend her enough! We took several tours with her and every experience was amazing – we learned so much each and every time. She can customize the tour to focus on your interests and is able to lead tours in English or Spanish with ease.
When we visited Agua Blanca, she helped us learn how to find our target species AND also included a visit to the archaeological sites so that we understood both the history and also the biodiversity in the area.
She is a certified guide for Parque Nacional Machalilla and has expansive knowledge of birds, but also of cultural history, plants, fish, nature and archaeology. If you are looking for bird tours in Manabí or Santa Elena provinces, or for a knowledgeable bird (and underwater) guide for a visit to Isla de la Plata, look no further than Sandra and her expertise!” Alex
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