THE MAGIC BIRDING CIRCUIT

HUMMINGBIRD PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR

Begin your Ecuador Birdwatchng adventure as soon as you arrive in Ecuador with lots of birding opportunities on San Jorge's prime trails. San Jorge Botanical Reserve provides the perfect opportunity to combine nature, culture and birding at its best. The Magic Birding Circuit hummingbird photography tours are based from our two eco-lodges offering birding tours to our 4 private reserves, all within close proximity. Enjoy the pristine beauty at our NEW birding lodge located at San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve, in the heart of the Subtropical Rainforest. 

Our hummingbird tours will take you through San Jorge Botanical Reserve (High Barren Plains and Highland Rain Forest), San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve (Cloud Forest) San Jorge de Cosanga-Yanayacu Bird & Wildlife Reserve (Andean Cloud Forest/Highland Amazon Tropical Forest), adjoining Antizana National Park, and San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve, (Upper Lowlands Subtropical Rain Forest),  known for its majestic waterfalls and swimming holes. Our numerous feeders throughout the reserves, along with special plants,  attract a wealth of hummingbirds for great photo opportunities. Kept in their rich, natural state, all of our exclusive reserves offer the chance to fully immerse yourself in all that is Ecuador; a diverse array of flora, fauna, climate regions and 52 beautiful species of Hummingbirds, that await you at The Magic Birding Circuit.

Bird diversity varies according to latitude and tropical regions such as the one Ecuador is located in contain the greatest number of birds. Due to its several distinct climates, Ecuador has an amazing variety of bird-life. With over 1600 species of birds and more than 20% the world’s population, Ecuador offers more bird diversity in less space than any other country in the world including 132 species of Hummingbirds, which is the world’s record!

ECUADOR AN ECOLOGICAL MIRACLE

San Jorge Eco-Lodge & Botanical Reserve located in the High Barren Plains/Highland Rainforest in the Pichincha Foothills, outside of Quito, 17 minutes from the airport. Beautiful Andes hacienda rooms with private baths, comfortable and decorated in typical décor, heated with fireplaces, central heat/electric heat. Enjoy our outdoor tempered swimming pool, sauna, Turkish Bath, and Jacuzzi; game room, lounge, and museum.  Explore our beautiful vast gardens and exotic birds, within a comfortable Eco-Resort environment.   Relax at our festive El Cucayco Restaurant, serving fine Ecuadorian and international cuisine, and overlooks the valley of Quito.

NEW San Jorge de Milpe Eco-Lodge is located in the Subtropical Rainforest at San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve.   Accommodations include a Single, Double or  Family Triple Room with private bath and hot shower, twin beds, an observatory deck with panoramic views; watch the striking hummingbirds eating at their feeders.  You can even spot birds from the windows of your room! This brand new eco-lodge has the comfort and rustic elegance of a rainforest lodge, with spectacular scenery for birding, making it the ideal retreat for some of the best birdwatching in Ecuador.

San Jorge's two birding lodge locations are central to the 4 climate steps of Ecuador; offering day trips to each of our private birding reserves while on The Magic Birding Circuit’s  Hummingbird Photo Tour.  We offer up to 52 possible hummingbird species on our tours.

HUMMINGBIRD PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR IN ECUADOR

All inclusive itinerary:  7 Nights/8 Days

Day One – Transfer from Quito Airport to San Jorge Eco-Lodge; Overnight lodging San Jorge/Quito

Day Two – Old Colonial Quito City Tour. We will explore the Capital of Ecuador, considered part of the Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO.  During your visit you will learn about the colonial art in the churches, history, archaeology and folklore in the museums.  Your private guide will provide complete information of the baroque colonial art.  Visit the most important areas:  Plaza de la Independencia, Plaza San Francisco, Plaza Santo Domingo, La Merced, La Compania, Penecillo.  Lunch at typical restaurant.  Overnight San Jorge/Quito (B,L,D)

Day Three – Morning Photography at Yanacocha Reserve (CLOUD FOREST).  Late afternoon visit San Jorge Eco-Lodge hummingbird feeders.  Photograph up to 14 possible species of hummingbirds at our feeders and gardens (HIGH BARREN PLAINS).  Overnight San Jorge/Quito (B,L,D)

Day Four –San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Sanctuary (CLOUD FOREST) – photograph up to 17 species of hummingbirds at our feeders and gardens.   Lunch at bungalow.  Transfer to San Jorge de Milpe Eco-Lodge in afternoon with a stop at The Middle of the World Original Monument in Cala Cali with latitude of 00.00.  Overnight San Jorge/Milpe  (B, bL, D)

Days Five -   San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve.  Photograph up to 15 species of hummingbirds at our feeders and gardens (SUBTROPICAL RAINFOREST).  Afternoon visit to Mindo hummingbird feeders at La Posada Cascada OR Hummingbird Restaurant; Evening Walk with wild voices in the Subtropical Rainforest – hearing nightjars, owls, insects, bats..  Overnight San Jorge/Milpe (B, L, D)

Day Six – After breakfast, we will drive back towards Quito, stopping at Mindo Loma (CLOUD FOREST) to photograph more hummers.  Afternoon free at San Jorge Eco-Lodge to enjoy amenities:  tempered swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish bath; Overnight San Jorge/Quito (B,L,D)

Day Seven – AM transfer to Quito Airport (B)

CONTACT US FOR PRICING.  Please include number of people traveling and approximate travel dates.

Optional:  Rooms with View or with Balcony available at San Jorge Eco-Lodge/Quito.  Corner End rooms with Views available at San Jorge Eco-Lodge/Milpe. Subject to availability.

Please note: 45% of all tour proceeds go directly towards our continuous conservation efforts at San Jorge’s Four Private Birding Reserves.

Click here for a larger version of the above poster

PRIVATE RESERVE DESCRIPTIONS:

Sword-Billed Hummingbird San Jorge Botanical Reserve Quito

San Jorge Botanical Private Reserve (High Barren Plains/Highland Rainforest) in the Quito Foothills. At our feeders, you will have the possibility to see the Black Breasted Puffleg (Endemic); Black-Tailed Trainbearer; Ecuadorian Hillstar (Endemic); Giant Hummingbird; Green-Tailed Trainbearer; Mountain Velvetbreast; Sparling Violetear; Purple-Backed Thornbill; Sapphire-Vented Puffleg; Shining Sunbeam; Sword-Billed Hummingbird; Ryrian Metaltail; White-Bellied Woodstar; Great Sapphirewing.

Yanacocha Reserve(Cloud Forest) Located on the backside of the Pichincha Mountains, Yanacocha is home to a number of interesting high-elevation species. Between April and June, the Black-breasted Puffleg has been sighted, one of the most rare hummingbirds in the world!  Several other hummingbirds are also common in the area:  Shining Sunbeam; Great Saphire Winged; Tirian Metaltail; Mountain Velvet Breat; Sword billed Hummingbird; Saphire vented Puffleg; Buff winged Starfrontlet; Rainbow beared Thornbill; Golden breasted Puffleg.

For additional information on The Magic Birding Circuit, please visit:
Birding List: www.eco-lodgesanjorge.com/bird_list.shtml
Magic Birding Circuit Trip Reports: www.realbirder.com/Ecuador.htm
Guestbook from recent birders:  www.eco-lodgesanjorge.com/ecuador_bird_watching_guestbook.shtml
San Jorge Photo Slideshow link:  http://www.ecolodgesanjorge.com/Magic_Birding_Circuit_Photoslide_Show

Quick facts of Ecuador

Quito ~ The First City to be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
World Famous Galapagos Islands
The Andes Mountains – the worlds longest mountain range
17 Distinctive Ethnic Indian Groups
Cotopaxi Volcano ~ the highest volcano in the world; 5,870 mts. O.S.L.
3,000 species of Orchids
1,600 species of Birds (world record per square meter)
132 species of Hummingbirds (world record)
65 Volcanoes
12 different climate steps of the world
Diversified variety of foods