Visit Highlands, Cloud Forests and Lowlands, with superb birding and vistas: Quito, Yanacocha, Tandayapa, Mindo, Tinalandia, and Papallacta.

DAY 1
Today leave the lights of Ecuador’s capital city behind for a predawn departure. As the sun draws itself up over the eastern "cordillera" your vehicle climbs over the northwestern slope of Volcán Pichincha. Begin your birding here in the enchanted, protected forest of Yanacocha (10,824 feet/3300 meters) though at a fairly high altitude, walking is generally flat and the goal this morning is to search this high temperate zone habitat for a surprising array of bird species – hummingbirds are a major highlight here (Shining Sunbeam, Mountain Velvet breast, Great Sapphire wing, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, three species of pufflegs including the rare endemic Black-breasted Puffleg, and purple-backed Thornbill to name just a few!), but we will be keeping an eye out for mixed foraging flocks of tanagers, flower piercers, and furnariids, and listen for antpittas and tapaculos. By around mid-day continue birding down slope along the forested Nono Road through lower Temperate and Subtropical Forests and arrive in the late afternoon at Tandayapa. Overnight in Tandayapa.

Yanacocha: A Hacienda set 10,496-11808 feet (3,200-3,600 meters) on the north western slope of Pichincha volcano, it is located north west of Quito and accessible off the road of Nono. Fine temperate forest remains, with sites nearby being the stronghold of the critically endangered Black Breasted Puffleg.

Nono – Mindo Road: A well-known birding road that descends the west slope of the Andes in western Pichincha from northwest of Quito, the "old" Nono-Mindo road has recently been largely superseded by a new paved route that has diverted all but local traffic. As a result of the lighter traffic, the Nono-Mindo road provides ideal access to the rich Temperate and Subtropical Forests that remain along much of the route.

DAY 2
Today, take good advantage of this birding hot-spot, slowly walking the forest trails, birding the roadside habitats around Tandayapa and Bellavista, or just sitting totally mesmerized at the world’s most productive and spectacular hummingbird feeders! Watch for such specialties as Black-and-Chestnut Eagle, over 20 species of hummingbirds, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals, Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Powerful Woodpecker, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock and 35 species of tanagers from among the nearly 300 species that have been recorded here. Overnight in Tandayapa.

Tandayapa: A crossroad settlement at 5,248 feet (1,600 meters) on the west slope of the Andes in Pichincha where the old road from Quito to Nono bifurcates, one proceeding to Mindo and beyond and the other to Nanegal. The area, a favored one for birders, is still partially forested.

DAY 3
Early this morning drive southward to the next birding area, Tinalandia. In route many stops should be expected as you drive through places like Mindo, Los Bancos, Pedro Vicente Maldonado, Puerto Quito, La Independencia and La Concordia. Altitude around here marks the 1,640 feet (500 meter) mark. A short morning walk near San Miguel de los Bancos might offer you Moss-backed Tanager and Club-winged Manakin. Gray-and-Gold, Scarlet-and-White, Golden-hooded and Blue-whiskered tanagers from your want-list, but the options are almost endless! Late afternoon arrival to lush Tinalandia for overnight. Possibility of night birding.

Mindo: A pleasant town set in a valley around 4,264 feet (1,300 meters), on the lower flanks of the western Andes in Pichincha. Mindo is easily reached from Quito and frequently visited by birders. Although there has been some deforestation, excellent Montane Forest and Woodland still exist in many areas and at various elevations.

Mindo was an important base for bird collectors in the 19th century, and its base avifauna became known early on. Now that birders visit regularly, new and more complete information is becoming available. Its most notable bird is perhaps the Giant Anpitta but other range-restricted and rare subtropical species of the Andes’ west slope also occur; a highlight for many is the existence of an accessible lek of Andean Cock-of-the-Rock.

San Miguel de los Bancos: A small town in the foothills around 1,640-1968 feet (500-600 meters) of northwestern Pichincha province, west of Mindo along the road terminating near Puerto Quito. Few patches of the original forest remain in its vicinity, and these support at least a vestige of the ornithological riches formerly found here.

Pedro Vicente Maldonado: Humid Lowland Rain Forest is found near Pedro Vicente Maldonado, a settlement approximately halfway between Puerto Quito and San Miguel de Los Bancos on the road from Mindo to the junction with Santo Domingo – Esmeraldas highway. A number of interesting species of the Chocó Endemic Center were found during fieldwork in 1995, such as Indigo-crowned Quail-Dove, Double-banded Graytail (the only record from Ecuador), Fulvous-vented Euphonia (here at the southern edge of its range), the local Emerald and Scarlet-and-White Tanagers (numerous sightings) and the near-threatened Blue-whiskered Tanager. Further investigation of this area seems worthwhile.

DAY 4
Begin with a pleasant dawn stroll around the nearby grounds while it’s cool and the birds are most active. Tinalandia is one of the most "birdy" places in Ecuador and it may be hard to take a break for breakfast! Actually, it won’t be a break – hold on to your binoculars because from the dining terrace you can watch the bird feeders and nearby trees for an incredible variety of species. Later walk the trails and skirt the golf-course (yes, golf-course) in search of parrots, Red-headed and Orange-fronted Barbets, Pale-mandibled Araçari and Chocó and Chestnut-mandibled Toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, motmots, jacamars, woodcreepers, antbirds, flycatchers and tanagers – you can even enjoy some night birding. Over 300 species have been recorded here.

Tinalandia: Tinalandia rests on the Western slope of the Ecuadorian Andes at the southern end of the "Choco Bioregion" which stretches from Colombia to Ecuador. The late ornithologist Ted Parker and botanist Al Gentry proclaimed this area to be the most bio-diverse region in the world, and the ideal location of Tinalandia at 2,000 feet takes advantage of most of what this region has to offer. Located about 2 hours from Quito, Tinalandia is one of the most accessible wildlife areas from the Ecuadorian capital. Tinalandia is perhaps best known for its exceptional birdwatching opportunities. A simple morning walk around the grounds of Tinalandia brings you in contact with flocking groups of up to 15 Toucans -often for visitors that are not even out birding. Over 350 species, have been recorded by some of the world’s most renowned birding experts."

In the afternoon turn off the main highway to bird the lower section of the Chiriboga Road in search of, among other possibilities, Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper. Overnight at Tinalandia.

DAY 5
Today take a day-trip about one hour drive south to Rio Palenque Biological Center. This small patch of Tropical Forest offers great birding and as you spend time walking the labyrinth of forest trails – here you see yet another subset of species not found at other sites. Some highlights include: Pacific Parrotlet, Pallid Dove, Bronzy, Baron’s and Stripe-throated Hermits, Ecuadorian and Northern White-tailed Trogons, Chocó Toucan, Slaty-winged Foliage-gleaner, Red-billed Scythbill, several ant birds, Black-headed Antthrush, dozens of flycatchers, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, White-bearded Manakin, Whiskered and Song Wren, Black-lored Yellowthroat, Gray-and-Gold Warbler, Golden-hooded and Tawny-crested Tanagers and Scarlet-rumped Cacique. Return to Tinalandia in the mid-to late afternoon. Overnight in Tinalandia.

Rio Palenque: A small private reserve in the lowlands (328 feet-100 meters) of extreme southern Pichincha. Originally owned by the Dodson family and now by the Wong Corporation, Rio Palenque has been operated as a scientific research facility since the 1970s, and its diverse avifauna is well-known. Only about 100 hectares are still in humid forest, and now entirely isolated from other such forest fragments by extensive agriculture; as a result of this isolation, many larger and scarcer bird are no longer existent here.

DAY 6
Depart very early for Papallacta. Cross the neighboring valleys of Quito before coming back to altitudes around8,200 feet (2,500 meters). Drive along the Los Chillos valley, through Pifo and up to the Páramo Highlands, just before the descent to Papallacta. Overnight at Papallacta (the hot springs here can be quite soothing and relaxing after such an intense birding day).

Papallacta: The pass (13,120 feet/4,000 meters) on the Quito-Lago Agrio highway, lies on the Pichincha/Napo border. Mountainous country extends in all directions from this point; relatively wet Paramo predominates, but there are numerous patches of Polylepis dominated Woodland as well. A side road to the north leads even higher reaching some microwave repeating towers at 13,776 feet (4,200 meters). The area has long been a favorite destination for Quito-based ornithologists and birders, and its avifauna is now well-known. Despite some disturbance the area remains relatively intact. Specialties to watch for include, the Red-rumped bush-tyrant, Giant Conebill and the occasional Andean Condor.

DAY 7
An early start can prove to be quite productive at the patches of Montane Forests and both Papallacta and Sucus Lakes. There is a possibility of encountering Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanagers, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanagers, Black-backed Bush-Tanagers and others. Arrive in Quito by mid afternoon for the tour’s end.