Overview – Birds of Ecuador’s Eastern Andes Workshop

Ecuador’s Eastern Andes Bird Photography Workshop will be exceptionally productive! Over 1000 dazzling birds live in the four eco-systems we will traverse. It’s going to be birds, birds, and even more birds on this unbelievable workshop.If the stars align, we may even see some incredibly cool mammals. They are rare sightings, but we will be in the same territory that Puma, Jaguar, and Spectacled Bear roam.

Expect to have long but productive days that will not be too stressful. We will often be photographing from the friendly confines of a lodge. When we are at our home away from home, you can even photograph from a comfy chair and have your beverage of choice delivered! Even though we are among the world’s highest mountains, we will always be below 7,000 feet. The altitude will be similar to Lake Tahoe, Big Bear, or Colorado Springs in the USA.

Our guides speak English and “bird,” they’ll help us find the birds and make sure we are in the right areas at the right time of the day. Be sure to start doing finger yoga because you will be pushing the shutter release a lot!

Two of the three lodges will be brand new for 2021, and from what I have seen, they are magnificent. They were all built for comfort and birding productivity. You will not be disappointed with this workshop. You’ll be showing off your superb images for years to come.

Highlights Ecuador’s Eastern Andes Bird Photography Workshop

  • 8 Nights and 9 Days
  • Small Group of 6 Clients
  • Local Guides/Drivers
  • Includes Most Meals, All Lodging and Local Transportation
  • Classroom and in the Field Instruction
  • Group Leader with 20 Years Experience

Arrive

Arrive in Quito November 18, 2021

Depart

Depart Quito November 26, 2021

Location

Eastern Andes – Ecuador

Tuition

$4495 USD Single Occupancy

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Harpy Eagle

Ecuador’s Eastern Andes Bird Photography Workshop

Day 1 in Quito
November 18, 2021

Upon arrival in Quito, at Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), you will be met and whisked away to the lodge for a good night’s rest.

Day 2 in Quito
November 19, 2021

Today will include photographing all manner of birds and especially numerous hummingbirds. We will get to know each other over lunch and dinner and have at least one group download and review to make sure your bad habits didn’t follow you to Ecuador!

Day 3 and 4 in Paramo
November 20-21, 2021

We have a special treat in store today as we visit a Cock of the Rock nesting area to photograph this very bizarre bird. Afterward, we will head to the lodge and photograph the numerous feeders and perhaps take a leisurely hike on the trails surrounding our accommodations.

Paramo Target Species: Torrent Duck, Crested Quetzal, Masked Flowerpiercer, Collared Inca, Long-tailed Sylph, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Tourmaline Sunangel

Day 5 – 7 in Sumaco Bajo
November 22-24, 2021

A unique feature of this lodge is the 60 foot (18 m) tower. The tower makes it possible to see the ordinarily unseen birds that inhabit the upper tree levels.

We will have feeders, trails, and streams to search for as many birds as possible. The brave or the foolish can go for a swim (Not Included) in the river.

Sumaco Bajo Target Species: Harpy Eagle, Blue-headed Parrot, Tawny-bellied Owl, Dusky-headed Parakeet, Wire-tailed Manakin, Chestnut-fronted Macaw

Day 8 in Osanga-Yanayuca
November 25, 2021

We will be checking the hotspots and trails along the road as we make our way back to Quito.

Osanga-Yanayuca Target Species: Orange-eared Tanager, Long-tailed Sylph, Lazuline Sabrewing, Streaked Tuftedcheek, and Russet-backed Oropendola

Day 9 Departure Day
November 26, 2021

Today you will be sad as it’s time to head home. On the bright side, you will have just finished a remarkable bird photography trip. You’ve made new friends, had a laugh or three, and filled a portfolio with many new birds!

What is Included in the Eastern Andes Bird Photography Workshop?
  • Airport Pickup and Dropoff
  • All Tour Transportation
  • All Lodging
  • All Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinners
  • Specialized English Speaking Bird Guide
  • Park Entrance Fees
  • Professional Photography Instruction

What is Not Included?

  • Your flight and any other travel costs to Ecuador
  • Any hotels while traveling before or following the trip
  • Travel Insurance
  • The cost of any vaccinations that your physician may advise before traveling to Namibia.

  • I will share all of the bird photography knowledge I’ve learned over the last 20 years. I have also been using and teaching Lightroom editing for 14 years, and I will share my workflow with you.
  • How to add impact to your images
  • Bird photography composition guidelines and techniques
  • You will learn about planning shots, reading the light, and making the correct camera adjustments. Using previsualization and revisualization to improve your images
  • Learn how to quickly and efficiently choose your best images.
  • I will share my time-saving Lightroom workflow.

My goal is not merely to set up your camera for you, but to give you the knowledge to get the same results at home as when you were with me.
The tour size is limited to 6 photographers. You can count on as much help as you need or want and endless question answering.

What Should I Bring?

You’ll need at least one SLR or mirrorless camera, ideally two. You can keep a short lens on the second, and it gives you some insurance should your main body breakdown. 

You cannot have too much lens, and a 400mm is the minimum. At the feeders, a fast 70-200mm is useful.

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A sturdy tripod and gimbal will be useful when we are in a hide. There will also be times when you will need to handhold. Eat your spinach to get those Popeye like forearms in shape!

It’s almost impossible to list everything that you’ll need. I will send you recommendations and am available anytime to talk about your camera gear.

US Citizens Traveling To Ecuador*

Passport Requirements

Valid for a full six months after your scheduled departure.

Blank Passport Pages

1 page per stamp

Visa Requirements

A Visa is not required for stays of less than 90 days in a 12 month period.

Vaccination Recommendations

None, but please check with your travel physician for your circumstances.

Arrival and Departure Airport

Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) is the ultimate destination airport in Quito’s capital city. Our drivers will meet us at the airport after we clear customs and immigration and re-claimed our luggage.

Early Arrival

Let us know if you need help with accommodations if you plan to arrive early.

Departures

We will drop you off at the airport after our last adventures with the birds!

Lodging & Transportation

The workshop includes all lodging and local transportation, as described in your itinerary. You may be liable for any changes to that itinerary.

Trip Insurance

We always use trip insurance. It’s so much easier and with so many more benefits when you compare it with your insurance. I’ve found the costs to be reasonable, given the benefits. I use Travel Guard when I travel, and even though; I’ve not had a claim, they were helpful and easy to deal with on the phone.

*Information for US citizens travel to Ecuador was obtained from the US Department of State and was valid as of October 2019. If you are going to Ecuador from another country, please check with your embassy for your countries travel requirements.

Click the Green Button at the bottom of the page, and that will take you to my payment processor and choose your favorite payment method. In the White Box, you can enter the number of places that you would like to book.

About 30 days before departure, you will get a welcome kit with the nuts and bolts of what to expect. Of course, feel free to email me or call me, and we can talk about it as much as you like!

There is a 2.5% convenience fee to pay your balance by credit cards. There are no fees with any of the listed payment methods for your deposit. Be sure to read the Terms and Conditions and or the FAQ to fully understand deposits, cancellations, and other essential but boring stuff.

I’ve been very passively advising my clients to purchase travel insurance for a while, but lately it seems like there have been multiple people having travel issues. Some have lost their deposits and sometimes even the cost of the entire trip!

Based on my client’s experience, I cannot stress more strongly how crucial it is to purchase travel insurance. Like I said before, and here it comes again, there is never a way to predict what is going to happen when you are booking trips months and years into the future.

You can read more about my thoughts about the importance of travel insurance in this blog post.

Or you can go get a free quote and book your vital travel insurance.

https://wildlifeworkshops.link/Travel_Insurance_Quote

Registration Information

Tuition

The tuition for the Ecuador’s Eastern Andes Bird Photography Workshop is $4495 USD single occupancy or $3995 USD if you share the accommodations.

Deposit

The deposit for this workshop is $100 USD. The deposit can be paid by PayPal, Credit Card, Wire Transfer or Check. Actually, if you have another way you would like to pay, I am open to new ideas when it comes to collecting money!

The balance of the workshop tuition will be due August 20, 2021 (90 days prior).

Ready to Go?

I am not sure what else needs to be said. This workshop is jam-packed with exotic and colorful birds, and the Andes Mountains are glorious, stellar accommodations and me to teach you how to be a better photographer! Let’s go to Ecuador – Click That Button NOW!

Oh! If you have the time, I also am doing a Western Andes Workshop directly before this trip. Why not do both?

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