The Magic Birding Circuit

San Jorge owns four private birding reserves throughout Ecuador known as The Magic Birding Circuit. Our birding tours range from the High Barren Plains to the Subtropical Rain Forest, making for an exceptionally well-rounded excursion. Kept in the rich, natural state, all of our exclusive reserves offer the chance to fully immerse yourself in all that is Ecuador- the diverse array of flora, fauna, climate regions and hundreds of beautiful bird species await you. Our tours will take you through San Jorge Botanical Reserve (High Barren Plains and Highland Rain Forest in the Quito Foothills), San Jorge de Tandayapa Reserve (Tandayapa Valley Cloud Forest) San Jorge de Cosanga-Yanayacu Reserve (Andes Cloud Forest)located near the San Isidro Valley area adjoining Antizana National Park, and San Jorge de Milpe Reserve, (Upper lowlands Subtropical Rainforest), located next to Mindo, known for its majestic waterfalls. Over 800 species have been identified throughout The Magic Birding Circuit, offering an unparalleled opportunity to combine nature, culture and birding at its best.

san jorge ecolodge quito ecuador bird watchingThe Magic Birding Circuit at San Jorge Eco-Lodge and Botanical Reservesan jorge ecolodge quito ecuador bird watching - - the region’s only private reserve near Quito. Situated among 200 acres of native flora and fauna in Quito Foothills, a traditional 18th Century Spanish Eco-Resort. This peaceful and rustic mountain lodge is just 17 minutes from Quito Airport, and offers airport transfers 24/7. Amenities include tempered pool, Jacuzzi, Turkish bath, sauna, central heat lounge, game room, museum and quality personalized service. El Cucayo Restaurant features fine Ecuadorian and international cuisine overlooking the valley of Quito. Start birding on our prime trails as soon as you arrive, with our specialized birding guides and over 130 species at San Jorge Botanical Reserve. Stroll through exotic gardens and view up to 13 varieties of hummingbirds at their feeders.

san jorge de milpe reserve ecuador birdwatchingNEW ** The construction of our new eco-lodge at San Jorge de Milpe Reserve has been completed for December, 2006. This brand new lodge is located in the Subtropical Rainforest with its beautiful pristine birding trails, running rivers, cascading waterfalls, observatory decks with panoramic views, 300 varieties of orchids, plus over 450 species of birds. Hammocks are strung for relaxing in comfort and watching the birds at their feeders. You can even spot birds through the windows of your room! San Jorge de Milpe Eco-Lodge (near Mindo) has the comfort and rustic elegance of a Subtropical Rainforest lodge, with spectacular scenery, making it the ideal retreat for bird watchers.

Tour itinerary – 9 nights/10 days

• Day One - Airport transfer from Quito Airport to San Jorge Eco-Lodge & Botanical Reserve; overnight San Jorge/Quito
• Day Two - Birding Yanacocha Reserve & San Jorge Botanical Reserve, overnight San Jorge/Quito
• Day Three - Birding San Jorge de Tandayapa Reserve & Nono-Mindo Road; overnight San Jorge/Quito
• Days Four & Five – Birding San Jorge de Milpe Reserve; overnight San Jorge/Milpe
• Day Six – Birding Pedro Vicente Maldonado; overnight San Jorge/Milpe
• Day Seven – Birding Mindo; overnight San Jorge/Quito
• Day Eight – Birding Papallacta & Cuyuja; overnight Baeza
• Day Nine – Birding San Jorge de Cosanga-Yanayuca Reserve/overnight San Jorge/Quito
• Day Ten – AM transfer to Quito Airport

CONTACT US FOR PRICING & LET US KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE TRAVELING TOGETHER.

Includes: Based on double occupancy. 3 meals per day included with tours & breakfast on Day 10, round trip airport transfers, birding tours, transportation, bi-lingual birding guide

Excludes : Travel or medical insurance, extra meals/bar, personal expenses, outside reserve entrance fees

Note: Please let us know which type of birding tour you prefer: Strenuous, moderate or easy.

Please note : 30% of all tour proceeds go directly towards our continuous conservation efforts at San Jorge’s Four Private Birding Reserves.

Our Ecuador Birdwatching Tour Options

• 1-2 Days
• 3-7 Days
• 9-12 Days

1 or 2 day Birding trips THE MAGIC BIRDING CIRCUIT

Choose any of this options :

A) San Jorge Birding day . Lower San Jorge( farm area) , Highland Rain Forest Reserve and Upper San Jorge( Paramo area). From 40 to 65 species in a day.

B) San Jorge de Tandayapa Birding day , great combination with lower Tandayapa cloud forest and San Jorge Hummers Reserve 60 - 90 average species in a day

C) San Jorge Ecolodge plus Yanacocha Reserve. Lower San Jorge, Highland Rain forest Reserve and afternoon to Yanacocha. 40 - 65 species average

D) San Jorge- Nono- Tandayapa old road ( The hummingbird trail) excellent visit to 4 different natural environments . 65 - 85 average species in a day.

E) Papallacta Pass and Cuyuja . Great visit to Páramo and Andean Cloud Forest . Amazon basin.
45-70 species average

F) Option E plus next day, Birding at San Jorge de Cosanga Reserve ( San Isidro Valley.) Amazon basin . 65 - 85 species average

#1 Itinerary:  3 nights . More than 3 days tours

Day One - Airport transfer from Quito Airport to San Jorge Eco-Lodge; overnight San Jorge/Quito

Day Two – Morning birding San Jorge Botanical Reserve; Afternoon birding Yanacocha Reserve, (HIGH BARREN PLAINS, HIGHLAND RAINFOREST, CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Quito; includes 3 meals.

Day Three - Birding San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve, Lower Valley (CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals.
Day Four – Breakfast & AM transfer to downtown Quito or Airport

#2 Itinerary:  4 nights

Day One - Airport transfer from Quito Airport to San Jorge Eco-Lodge; overnight San Jorge/Quito

Day Two – Morning birding San Jorge Botanical Reserve; Afternoon birding Yanacocha Reserve, (HIGH BARREN PLAINS, HIGHLAND RAINFOREST, CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Quito; includes 3 meals.

Day Three - Birding San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve, Lower Valley (CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals.

Day Four  – Birding San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve (SUBTROPICAL RAINFOREST), overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals.
Day Five – Breakfast & AM transfer to downtown Quito or Airport

 

#3 Itinerary:  7 nights

Day One - Airport transfer from Quito Airport to San Jorge Eco-Lodge; overnight San Jorge/Quito

Day Two – Morning birding San Jorge Botanical Reserve; Afternoon birding Yanacocha Reserve, (HIGH BARREN PLAINS, HIGHLAND RAINFOREST, CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Quito; includes 3 meals.

Day Three - Birding San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve, Lower Valley (CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals.

Days Four & Five – Birding San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve (SUBTROPICAL RAINFOREST), overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals.

Day Six – Birding Pedro Vicente Maldonado (SUBTROPICAL RAINFOREST), overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals.

Day Seven – Birding Mindo (CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Quito, includes 3 meals

Day Eight - Breakfast & AM transfer to downtown Quito or Airport

#4 Itinerary: 9 nights

Day One - Airport transfer from Quito Airport to San Jorge Eco-Lodge; overnight San Jorge/Quito

Day Two – Morning birding San Jorge Botanical Reserve; Afternoon birding Yanacocha Reserve, (HIGH BARREN PLAINS, HIGHLAND RAINFOREST, CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Quito; includes 3 meals.

Day Three - Birding San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve, Lower Valley (CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals.

Days Four & Five – Birding San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve (SUBTROPICAL RAINFOREST), overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals.

Day Six – Birding Pedro Vicente Maldonado (SUBTROPICAL RAINFOREST), overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals.

Day Seven – Birding Mindo (CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Quito, includes 3 meals

Day Eight – Birding Papallacta Pass & Cuyuja (HIGH BARREN PLAINS) overnight Baeza, includes 3 meals

Day Nine  – Birding San Jorge de Cosanga-Yanayuca Bird & Wildlife Reserve (CLOUD FOREST), overnight Day Nine – Baeza; , includes 3 meals
Day Ten -  Breakfast & AM transfer to downtown Quito or Airport

#5 Itinerary:  11 nights

Day One - Airport transfer from Quito Airport to San Jorge Eco-Lodge; overnight San Jorge/Quito

Day Two – Morning birding San Jorge Botanical Reserve; Afternoon birding Yanacocha Reserve, (HIGH BARREN PLAINS, HIGHLAND RAINFOREST, CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Quito; includes 3 meals.

Day Three - Birding San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve, Lower Valley (CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals.

Days Four & Five – Birding San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve (SUBTROPICAL RAINFOREST), overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals.

Day Six – Birding Pedro Vicente Maldonado (SUBTROPICAL RAINFOREST), overnight San Jorge/Milpe, includes 3 meals.

Day Seven – Birding Mindo (CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Quito, includes 3 meals

Day Eight – Birding Papallacta Pass & Cuyuja (HIGH BARREN PLAINS) overnight Baeza, includes 3 meals

Day Nine & Ten – Birding San Jorge de Cosanga-Yanayuca Bird & Wildlife Reserve (CLOUD FOREST), overnight Day Nine – Baeza; overnight Day Ten San Jorge/Quito, includes 6 meals

Day Eleven – Birding Upper Tandayapa Valley & world famous Nono-Mindo Road (CLOUD FOREST), overnight San Jorge/Quito, includes 3 meals
Day Twelve – AM transfer to Quito Airport, includes Breakfast

Magic Birding Circuit
San Jorge Ecolodges and Botanical Reserves

Hummingbirds Poster

Ecuador Bird Watching Trip Report

Jerry & Denise Doekes
March 4 – 23, 2007
List of 408 Birds species

San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve (Subtropical Rainforest):
Bananaquit Bat Falcon, Bay-headed Tanager, Bicolored Antbird, Black Vulture, Black-crowned Tityra, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Blue-and-white Swallow, Blue-necked Tanager, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Bronze-winged Parrot, Brown Inca, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Buff-rumped Warbler, Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner, Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Choco Toucan, Choco Trogon, Cinnamon Becard, Collared Trogon, Common Potoo, Dark-backed Wood-Quail, Dusky Bush-Tanager, Emerald Tanager, Esmeraldas Antbird, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Glistening-green Tanager, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Golden-winged Manakin, Gray Elaenia, Gray-and-gold Tanager, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Gray-rumped Swift, Green Honeycreeper, Green Thorntail, Greenish Elaenia, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Guira Tanager, House Wren, Immaculate Antbird, Lanceolated Monklet, Lesser Elaenia, Lineated Woodpecker, Long-tailed Antbird, Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Masked Tityra, Masked Water-Tyrant, Ochre-breasted Tanager, Orange-billed Sparrow, Ornate Flycatcher, Pacific Hornero, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Palm Tanager, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Red-masked Parakeet, Ruddy Pigeon, Rufous-naped Brush-Finch, Rufous-throated Tanager, Russet Antshrike, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Scaled Fruiteater, Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner, Sepia-brown Wren, Shiny Cowbird, Silver-throated Tanager, Sirystes, Slaty-capped Flycatcher, Smooth-billed Ani, Social Flycatcher, Streak-capped Treehunter, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher, Swainson's Thrush, Swallow-Tanager, Tawny-faced Gnatwren, Toucan Barbet, Tricolored Brush-Finch, Tropical Parula, Velvet-purple Coronet, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, White-bearded Manakin, White-lined Tanager, White-ringed Flycatcher, White-thighed Swallow, White-throated Spadebill, White-winged Tanager, Yellow Tyrannulet, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia, Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager, Cattle Egret

San Jorge de Tandayapa Humminging Bird Reserve (Cloud Forest):
Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Andean Emerald, Azara's Spinetail, Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Barred Becard, Beautiful Jay, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Black Phoebe, Blackburnian Warbler, Black-capped Tanager, Black-winged Saltator, Blue-black Grassquit, Blue-capped Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Booted Racket-tail, Bran-colored Flycatcher, Brown Violetear, Brown-capped Vireo, Buff-tailed Coronet, Cerulean Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Choco Warbler, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Collared Inca, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Curve-billed Tinamou, Dull-colored Grassquit, Ecuadorian Thrush, Empress Brilliant, Flavescent Flycatcher, Glossy-black Thrush, Golden Tanager, Golden-headed Quetzal, Golden-naped Tanager, Golden-rumped Euphonia, Gorgeted Sunangel, Grass-green Tanager, Green Violetear, Green-crowned Brilliant, Green-crowned Woodnymph, Hook-billed Kite, Lemon-rumped Tanager, Masked Trogon, Metallic-green Tanager, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Plumbeous Pigeon, Powerful Woodpecker, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Purple-throated Woodstar, Red-billed Parrot, Red-eyed Vireo, Red-headed Barbet, Ringed Kingfisher, Roadside Hawk, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Rufous-chested Tanager, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Russet-crowned Warbler, Scrub Blackbird, Sierran Elaenia, Slaty Finch, Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant, Smoke-colored Pewee, Snowy-throated Kingbird, Souther Rough-winged Swallow, Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Sparkling Violetear, Speckled Hummingbird, Squirrel Cuckoo, Streak-necked Flycatcher, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Swallow-tailed Kite, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Tennessee Warbler, Thick-billed Euphonia, Three-striped Warbler, Tropical Kingbird, Turkey Vulture, Turquoise Jay, Variable Seedeater, Violet-tailed Sylph, Western Emerald, White-capped Dipper, White-necked Jacobin, White-sided Flowerpiercer, White-tailed Tyrannulet, White-tipped Dove, Yellow-bellied Seedeater

San Jorge Botanical Reserve (High Barren Plains/Highland Rainforest/Paramo):
Band-tailed Nightjar, Band-tailed Pigeon, Band-winged Nightjar, Barred Parakeet, Black Flowerpiercer, Black-crested Warbler, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Brown-bellied Swallow, , Cinereous Conebill, Eared Dove, Great Sapphirewing, Great Thrush, Green-tailed Trainbearer, Hooded Siskin, Masked Flowerpiercer, Montane Woodcreeper, Mountain Velvetbreast, Paramo Seedeater, Pearled Treerunner, Plain-colored Seedeater, Purple-backed Thornbill, Red-crested Cotinga, Rock Pigeon, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Rufous-winged Tyrannulet, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Shining Sunbeam, Slate-throated Whitestart, Smoky Bush-Tyrant, Southern Yellow Grosbeak, Spectacled Whitestart, Tawny Antpitta, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Tyrian Metaltail, Variable Hawk, White-bellied Woodstar, White-collared Swift, White-crested Elaenia, White-throated Tyrannulet,

Pappallacta Pass & Cuyuja (Highland Rainforest/Andean Cloud Forest):  
Amethyst Woodstar, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Bar-winged Cinclodes, Black-capped Tyrannulet, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Crested Quetzal, Dusky Piha, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Emerald Toucanet, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Giant Conebill, Greater Yellowlegs, Inca Jay, Long-tailed Sylph, Many-striped Canastero, Mountain Wren, Northern Mountain Cacique, Pale-naped Brush-Finch, Paramo Ground-Tyrant, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant, Rufous Wren, Sedge Wren, Spotted Sandpiper, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet, Torrent Duck, Tourmaline Sunangel, White-banded Tyrannulet, Yellow-billed Pintail

Nono-Mindo Road:
Bay Wren, Black-and-white Owl, Broad-billed Motmot, Dot-winged Antwren, Rufous Motmot, Torrent Tyrannulet, Whiskered Wren

Pedro Vicente Maldonado(Subtropical Rainforest):
Band-rumped Swift, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Blue-chested Hummingbird, Buff-throated Saltator, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Double-banded Graytail, Dusky Pigeon, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Dusky-faced Tanager, Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Golden-hooded Tanager, House Sparrow, Lesser Seed-Finch, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Little Cuckoo, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Olivaceous Piculet, Olive-striped Flycatcher, Pacific Parrotlet, Pale-vented Thrush, Plain Xenops, Plumbeous Kite, Purple Honeycreeper, Purple-chested Hummingbird, Red-rumped Cacique, Red-rumped Woodpecker, Slaty Becard, Sooty-crowned Flycatcher, Streaked Xenops, Striped Cuckoo, Tawny-breasted Flycatcher, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Tufted Flycatcher, Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Western Wood-Pewee, White-throated Crake, Yellow-bellied Siskin, Yellow-tufted Dacnis  

Yanacocha Reserve (Cloud Forest):
Andean Guan, Barred Fruiteater, Black-chested Mountain-Tanager, Blue-and-black Tanager, Blue-backed Conebill, Broad-winged Hawk, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Buckley's Forest-Falcon, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Crowned Chat-Tyrant, Glossy Flowerpiercer, Golden-breasted Puffleg, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Superciliaried Hemispingus, Sword-billed Hummingbird

San Jorge de Cosanga-Yanayacu Bird & Wildlife Reserve (Andean Cloud Forest):
Andean Potoo, Black-eared Hemispingus, Bluish Flowerpiercer, Canada Warbler, Common Bush-Tanager, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Flame-faced Tanager, Flammulated Treehunter, Foothill Screech-Owl, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Masked Crimson Tanager, Ocellated Woodcreeper, Olivaceous Siskin, Olive Finch, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Orange-eared Tanager, Piratic Flycatcher, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail, Russet-backed Oropendola, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Sickle-winged Guan, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Summer Tanager, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Yellow-whiskered Bush-Tanager 

El Hollin (Amazon Rainforest foothills):
Ash-browed Spinetail, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, Black-and-white Seedeater, Black-billed Thrush, Black-faced Dacnis, Blackpoll Warbler, Blue Dacnis, Bronzy Inca, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Crowned Slaty Flycatcher, Equatorial Graytail, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, Glittering-throated Emerald, Grayish Saltator, Great-tailed Grackle, Lafresnaye's Piculet, Lettered Aracari, Long-tailed Tyrant, Magpie Tanager, Many-banded Aracari, Mealy Amazon, Paradise Tanager, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, Short-tailed Swift, Silver-beaked Tanager, Spotted Tanager, Streaked Saltator, Thrush-like Wren, Turquoise Tanager, White-banded Swallow, White-bellied Dacnis, White-throated Kingbird, White-winged Swallow, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Tanager