Day 1:
It’s time to leave Quito behind and set off on an exciting adventure! We’ll start early to make the most of our journey, as we’ll be exploring a variety of habitats along the way. Our drive to Guango Lodge will first take us through the drier central valley, where we’ll pass through a mix of agricultural areas and native chaparral forests. As we ascend sharply into the high-altitude paramo—a landscape often swept by winds—we’ll keep an eye out for an array of bird species. Among the highlights we’ll hope to spot are Andean Condor (though they can be elusive), Carunculated Caracara, Andean Gull, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Scrub and Blue-and-yellow Tanagers, and Southern Yellow-Grosbeak.

This is a day to have your camera ready, as the scenery is nothing short of spectacular on clear days. The snow-capped Volcán Antisana dominates the horizon, set against sweeping high Andean landscapes that create a breathtaking backdrop for birding. Known to birders as Papallacta Pass, this area is rich in paramo birdlife. With favorable weather, we may encounter Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Tawny Antpitta, Many-striped Canastero, White-chinned Thistletail, Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, various seedeaters, and—if we’re lucky—Giant Conebill, which can sometimes be found in the Polylepis woodlands.

Papallacta Pass sits right on the continental divide, and after our paramo exploration, we’ll descend toward Guango Lodge on the eastern slope, now within the Amazon drainage. Along the way, we’ll pass through beautiful high-elevation temperate forests, where we’ll stop to enjoy the bird activity. Possible sightings here include Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Viridian Metaltail, and Black-backed Bush-Tanager, among others. We’ll arrive at Guango Lodge in the late afternoon or early evening, just in time to enjoy the hummingbird feeders, bustling with species like Tourmaline Sunangel, Sword-billed Hummingbird, and White-bellied Woodstar. A boxed lunch in the field will allow us to stay flexible with our birding plans throughout the day.

Dinner will be served by a cozy, crackling fireplace, and we’ll savor our first taste of Ecuador’s famous hot toddy, “Canelazo,” made with cinnamon, fruit juice, and a touch of cane alcohol—a perfect way to warm up after a day in the cool highlands. If the weather cooperates, we’ll venture out for some night birding, hoping to spot owls or other nocturnal species. Overnight at Guango Lodge.

Day 3:
After breakfast and one last look around the lodge grounds, we’ll pack up and bid farewell to Guango Lodge for a short drive to the lower entrance of Cayambe-Coca National Park. Here, we’ll explore elfin woodlands and grasslands, home to a variety of bird species. This is an excellent spot to find mountain-tanagers like the Black-chested and Masked varieties, as well as mixed flocks of other birds. It’s also a great place to encounter high-elevation hummingbirds we might have missed earlier, such as Shining Sunbeam and Great Sapphirewing.

With a packed lunch at our disposal, we’ll remain flexible, adjusting our plans based on birding opportunities and weather conditions. As the afternoon progresses, we’ll wrap up our final birding session and begin our journey back to Quito. Overnight at a hotel in Quito.