Amazon to Andes!
Ecuador
Feb. 19 to March 2, 2027
We've designed this trip to visit Ecuador's most amazing places for bird and wildlife photography. We'll help you take your photography to the next level so that you bring home a stunning and diverse portfolio. In addition to amazing birds and monkeys, we'll do some fantastic macro work as well. And, unlike other tours to Ecuador, you have 2 pro photographer leaders with you full-time in addition to local naturalist and culture guides making this a fantastic value!
Date
Feb. 19 to March 2, 2027
$
Price
$TBD
Difficulty Level
Easy
6
Available Spots
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View the itinerary below, read more about the tour, or sign up now!
About the Workshop
Amazon to Andes!
About the Workshop
Amazon to Andes!
Leaders
Frank Pichardo
Frank Pichardo is a Peruvian wildlife photographer and tour leader with a strong passion for nature, most of his experience in the field comes from his seven-year work as a naturalist guide for the prestigious lodges of Rainforest Expeditions leading people and teaching about the flora and fauna since 2009. Frank obtained his degree from the Tourism School in Lima, where he also became fluent in English and German. This was the beginning of a long term work in the ecotourism industry.
At the moment, he is part of Tropical Herping, contributing for the “Reptiles of Ecuador”, “Reptiles of Galapagos” and “Amphibians if Ecuador” books, joining also scientific expeditions into remote areas to understand better this group of animals, leading workshops and photo tours. Frank’s work has been featured in National Geographic and BBC Wildlife Magazine.
Follow Frank on Instagram -- @frank_pichardo
Greg Basco
Gregory Basco is a professional nature photographer based in Costa Rica. After completing graduate degrees in political science and tropical ecology (his doctoral dissertation focused on the politics of ecotourism in Costa Rica), Greg worked in conservation before turning to photography full-time in 2006. His images have been awarded in the Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Nature's Best Windland Smith Rice competitions and have appeared in numerous magazines and books around the world.
His latest major project is the second edition of the large format printed book National Parks of Costa Rica in conjunction with Zona Tropical and Cornell University Press. His popular e-books include The Guide to Tropical Nature Photography, the mega e-book Flash for the Nature Photographer, and the new Complete Video Guide to Lightroom for the Nature Photographer.
You can see more of Greg's work at his website.
Follow him on Instagram @gregbascophotography
Gallery
Info
Airport
You should arrive to and depart from Ecuador's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO). Our driver will be waiting to provide your private transfer to our capital city hotel.
Electricity
Electrical outlets are US-style. Those coming from Europe or Asia may need travel adapters. We will send more info after signup.
Insurance
We strongly recommend you purchase trip insurance that includes trip cancellation and medical coverage while overseas.
Medical
Though Ecuador does not require any vaccinations to enter, we suggest you stay up to date on routine travel shots.
Internet Access
All of our hotels have free WIFI. We will also have cell data coverage for most of the trip.
Certified
All of our services are conducted by fully licensed travel, lodge, and transport operators. This is part of our commitment to providing a professional travel experience.
Recommended gear
Tele lens 500 mm or longer
Teleconverters
Camera body or bodies
Medium zoom lens, e.g., 70-200 mm, 100-400 mm
Macro lens
Wide angle lens
Cable release
A flash with TTL functionality
Off-camera TTL flash cord
Telephoto flash bracket
Flash plus Better Beamer for birds and wildlife
Rain cover for camera
Small softbox or diffuser
Small pack or shoulder bag for daily shooting
View the full Itinerary +
Day 1, Arrival/Quito
Arrival to Ecuador. Meet our representative at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport and transfer to our hotel in the heart of Quito's vibrant business district. For those who have arrived a day early, we will enjoy a city tour to explore Quito's incredible historical center.
Day 2, Amazon Lowlands
After breakfast, we depart for the airport to fly to the Amazon city of Coca. We transfer from there to the boat that takes us to our amazing lodge in the heart of the Yasuni National Park! We arrive late afternoon with time to photograph the sunset over the rainforest or perhaps Giant River Otters or monkeys right on the lodge grounds.
Day 3, Amazon Lowlands
Early this morning we head to a nearby clay lick that attracts dozens of parrots and parakeets, as well as macaws. This is one of our Amazon highlights as the clay licks of the western Amazon are one of the planet's true natural wonders. We photograph all morning and return to our lodge in the afternoon. We then gear up and head out on private boats into the nearby lagoons and jungle canals in search of the ancient hoatzin bird, caimans, and giant river otters. We enjoy a fantastic dinner after this busy day.
Day 4, Amazon Lowlands
We have all day today to explore the grounds of our lodge and the surrounding canals for monkeys, otters, caiman, and birds, including the photogenic Hoatzin. We’ll also photograph oropendolas and caciques as they fly in and out of their nests. And we’ll have the chance for landscape photography as well from the lodge’s tower overlooking the Amazon rainforest and the lodge’s beautiful lagoon!
Day 5, To the Cloud Forest
We depart early this morning for our boat back to Coca and then our plane back to Quito. Be sure to have a camera handy as the dawn light can be inspiring! We enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then arrive to our cloud forest lodge in late afternoon with time to relax and do a bit of hummingbird photography right outside the lodge restaurant.
Day 6, Mindo Cloud Forest
This morning we visit a great spot for mountain toucans and tanagers and also hummingbirds with natural light. We enjoy a great homecooked breakfast right on site. After our morning photo session, we return to our lodge for a lunch break, and then visit another local spot for an afternoon photographing tanagers and amazing hummingbirds at our multi-flash setups. Our star hummingbirds include the incredible Violet-tailed Sylph, the Booted Racket-tail, and the Velvet Purple Coronet!
Day 7, Mindo Cloud Forest
Today we split the group in two with half of you visiting another nearby reserve and feeder area for toucanets and tanagers and also hummingbirds at our multi-flash setups. The other half will stay at the lodge for macro photography with some amazing cloud forest subjects. After lunch, we switch groups, and then we end the day with a group dinner in the town of Mindo at our favorite pizza restaurant!
Day 8, Chocó Cloud Forest
Today we check out and head toward lower elevation on the Pacific slope of the Andes mountains for new birds and macro subjects. We make a stop en route at a new feeder area whose highlight is the large Choco toucan. We arrive to our next lodge for lunch and then check-in. We’ll spend the afternoon photographing more birds and hummingbirds right on the lodge grounds.
Day 9, Chocó Cloud Forest
Today we spend all day at our lodge photographing birds, hummingbirds, and stunning macro subjects!
Day 10, Cloud Forest/Quito
After a relaxing breakfast this morning we check out and head back toward Quito. En route we’ll make a couple of stops. First, we’ll have lunch at a great restaurant situated on the rim of an extinct volcano crater. And second, we’ll stop at the main artisan marketplace in Quito so that you can stock up on chocolate and any souvenirs that you’d like to take home.
We arrive to our city hotel in the late afternoon where you can relax, unpack, and edit photos before enjoying dinner at one of the many great local restaurants right near our hotel. Dinner is not included this evening so that you can relax and eat as much or as little as you'd like.
Day 11, Elfin Cloud Forest
After an early breakfast, we check out and head to the misty highlands above Quito to photograph the famed Sword-billed hummingbird. We will set up custom perches and flowers to photograph this iconic species as well as the very cool Black-tailed Trainbearer, other charming hummingbirds, and even antpittas and mountain tanagers. This will be an amazing way to end the trip! We arrive to our city hotel in the late afternoon where you can get a head start on packing. Dinner is not included this evening so that you can relax and eat as much or as little as you'd like. There are a plethora of great restaurants within two blocks of our hotel.
Day 12, Airport
Private transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Itinerary includes
Lodging as specified in DBL occupancy
Meals as specified
Transportation w/private driver in spacious air-conditioned tour bus
Internal flights
Boat transport in Amazon
Private transfers to and from airport
Professional, full-time photo instruction from your leaders Greg and Doug
Full-time guide services from local guide Frank Pichardo
Multiple-flash setups for hummingbird photography
Entrances and fees for all described activities
Taxes for all specified services
Itinerary does not include
International airfare
Dinner Days 1, 10, and 11
Alcoholic Drinks
Tips
Non-mealtime snacks and drinks
Single room supplement - $1389
Booking a tour with us is easy!
1. Register for your tour using the form at the end of each workshop page.
4. Send us your traveler info form.
2. Send us your reserve deposit.
5. We will send you your final invoice.
3. Book your international air travel.
6. We´ll send you everything you need to know before you hop on the plane!