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Travel documents

Your first step in preparing for your trip is to make sure you have all your travel documents in order. You will be required to present a valid passport when entering Ecuador. If you don’t have a passport, please apply for one immediately as it can take some time to obtain one. If you already have a valid passport, be sure to check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date you plan to enter Ecuador, as you will not be allowed to enter the country if this is not the case. Citizens of most countries including USA and Canada can stay a maximum of 90 days without needing a visa. Please check below the list of countries whose citizens require a visa to enter to Ecuador:  

 Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cuba, Democratic and Popular Republic of Corea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistán, Somalia and Senegal

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance, including trip cancellation and interruption coverage, medical coverage including coverage for emergency evacuation, as well as baggage loss protection. Please contact us if you require more information or assistance purchasing a travel insurance.

 ARRIVING & DEPARTING

 Flight arrangements: Please be sure to have your flight reservations in order. Do not forget to confirm and check in your flight up to 24 hours before your flight.

Luggage Allowances: Generally speaking, baggage allowance per passenger is the following:

• International flights: two bags, total 31 kg /68 lb plus one carry on (Please check with your airline the luggage allowance as each airline handles their own policies)
• Galapagos Islands: 1 bag, total 20 kg/44 lb plus one carry on bag.
• The Jungle: 1 bag, total 20 kg/44 lb plus one carry-on bag (This information can change depending on the destination, please verify with your sales agent.)
• Other domestic flights: 1 bag, total 20 kg/44 pounds plus one carry on bag

This information may be subject to change due to International Aviation regulations. Please contact the airline company for exact information.

If You Are Delayed: If you are delayed en route or if you miss a flight connection, please contact us immediately.

 During business hours 9am to 5pm EST: (593-2) 380 11 25

After hours: (593-9) 95050 537

Arriving In Ecuador

Upon arrival you will have to go through immigrations first and then customs. Your passport will be requested and an arrival form (usually handed out on board your flight prior to landing). Be sure your entrance papers are officially stamped showing the number of days you are allowed to stay in the country. A copy of the arrival form will be given to you. Keep it in a safe place with your passport, as you will need it to leave the country. If it is lost you will need to fill out a new one at the airline counter when you check in for your departing flight. Next you will proceed to pick up your luggage. If you require assistance there are porters who can help you. The standard gratuity is US $1 per bag.  If you have arranged transfer services with Latin Roots Travel you will meet our transfer agent just outside customs, he or she will be carrying a Latin Roots Travel sign with your name or the name of your group on it. Normally, if you are arriving on a flight late at night and do not feel comfortable in a foreign country by yourself, we suggest a private transfer, which we can arrange for you.

Customs

Any person that enters Ecuador temporarily is exempt from the payment of any customs duty. You will not be required to pay taxes or duties for your luggage, new or used articles that you will use during your trip, and portable items such as photo cameras, video cameras, laptops, radios or any other electronic equipment or devices.

Altitude

Quito is located 9200 feet above sea level, for this reason some passengers traveling from lower elevations may experience symptoms of altitude sickness. This typically results in shortness of breath, nausea and headaches. In most cases the symptoms will gradually lessen and pass as one’s body adjusts to the altitude, during the first days of your stay take it easy and drink lots of water. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water or tea seems to lessen symptoms.  If you have high blood pressure, heart trouble or had issues with altitude sickness in the past please consult your physician before traveling to Quito.

Immunizations

No inoculations are required for entry into Ecuador, except a yellow fever certificate is mandatory if you are going deep into the Provinces of Orellana and Sucumbíos (The Amazon Basin).  Although no cases of yellow fever have been reported in Ecuador in the last 20 years, the Ministry of Health issued a yellow fever vaccination requirement to all travellers going to certain zones in the Orellana and Sucumbíos Provinces.

All tourists visiting mentioned zones must have the “Yellow fever” vaccination 10 days before entering into the Amazon Region and posses the certificate of vaccination.

This vaccination provides protection for 10 years after which it is required a reinforcement dose.

IMPORTANT: passengers who visit Ecuador and then go to Brazil, Panama or Costa Rica must have a yellow fever Vaccination certificate or will not be allowed to board the international flight (International regulations).

Special Health or Dietary requirements.

Please advise us of any medical or special dietary needs you may have. Please provide this information to our agents at least 60 days prior to your trip.

Tipping

 Tipping is not mandatory; it is a personal matter based on your discretion. However guides, drivers, restaurant and hotel staff will expect a tip from you after receiving a good service. Of course the quality of service should determine the extent of any gratuity.  The following guidelines could be very helpful if you want to reward an excellent service:

• 10% of bill at restaurants
• $0.50 per bag for porters at the airport and bell boys at the hotels.
• $ 5 to $10 per person for the guide in mainland Ecuador (for a full day tour).
• $ 3 to $5 per person for the driver in mainland Ecuador (for a full day tour)
• Galapagos guides and crew members have their own guidelines depending of the boat or hotel you are going to. In this case you will receive the guidelines on site.

Full Day Antisana Ecological Reserve.

Trail conditions: Easy to Moderate

Visit the Antisana Ecological Reserve, located on the edge of the Amazon prairie making it a corridor or nexus between the Ecological Reserve of Cayambe-Coca and the Sumaco Napo Galeras National Park. It’s approximately 120,000 hectares, are a bird watchers paradise due to its various ecological zones ranging from páramo (a high elevation Neotropical ecosystem) to the lowland rainforest with more than 70 bird species, including the endangered Andean Condor, Giant hummingbirds, Corunculated Cara Cara, Black faced ibis, Speckled Teal, Andean Duck, Silvery Grebe and Slatecoloured Coot, Andean Gull, Andean Lapwing and the Aplomado Falcon among others. Meals: L

INCLUDED

• Private ground transportation.
• Expert birder guide.
• Lunch (Menu. Please advise for any food restriction or any dietary requirements)
• Entrance fee to mentioned places.

PRICE PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS: USD 195.00   *Minimum 2 participants. Please contact us if you need the price for a solo traveler.

Birding at the Ecuadorian Amazon

4 Days / 3 Nights

Day 1: Flight to Francisco de Orellana

Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport in Quito for your flight to Coca or Francisco de Orellana. Little time to bird in Coca, a look at the river might be worth a look for wintering Warblers, Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet, Black-billed Thrush, White-winged Swallow, Gray-breasted Martin, and other city/open country birds. Board a canoe that will take you down the Napo River (2 ½ hours ride approx.) while checking the banks of the islands for Pied Plover and wintering Shorebirds, Oriole Blackbird, Swallows and Martins, Herons, and so on. The lodge has registered approximately 500 bird species. That’s almost 7 percent of the species found in the entire world! There is an estimated of 50 species spotted per day. Your guide will lead you through a variety of habitats where mixed flocks are common, and generally begin before sunrise to take full advantage of the morning peak. Our guides carry telescopes, and have become dab-hands at taking photos with your camera or phone through the lense!

While walking around the lodge you will have the opportunity to spot some interesting species like the White-eared Jacamar, Red-capped Cardinal, Grayish Saltator, Olive-faced Flatbill, and some common second-growth birds.

Meals: B, L, D

DAY 2: Birding at the Metal Towers and Canopy Walk

Early wake up call and breakfast. Activities will usually start around 5:30 am to take advantage of the fresh weather and enjoy birding before weather becomes too hot and humid to stand it.

The entire morning will be spent at the Metal Towers and the Canopy Walkway before retuning to the lodge by lunch time. Listen for Straight- billed Hermit, White-breasted Wood-Wren and Thrush-like Wrens along the way. All can be seen fairly easily in this area. There is one Sooty Antbird territory, two Black-faced Antbird territories, and one of the more cooperative Chestnut-belted Gnateaters hangs out in the viney tangles about halfway along. Some of the most notable birds to see from the Canopy walk are; Tanagers, Euphonias, Dacnis, Honeycreepers Purplish and Great Jacamars (listen for them calling to find them), White-lored and Slender-footed Tyrannulets, Grey Elaenia, Zimmer’s Flatbill, Spangled, Plum-throated, and Purple-throated Cotingas, Crimson-crested Woodpeckers, Swallow-winged, White-necked, and Pied Puffbird, White-fronted Nunbird.. and the list goes on and on (Check our Amazon Bird list for more information). Once back on Terra Firme, there is a Golden-headed Manakin lek close by and one will have the chance to search out the Screaming Pihas, that have undoubtedly been ringing out all morning. Along Chontapala and Liana Grande, you’ll have the chance to try to catch some of the lower story mixed flocks, the most commonly encountered birds being Cinereous and Dusky-throated Antshrikes, Long-winged and White-flanked Antwrens, and, if lucky, a few Antbirds including Scale-backed and Bicolored. Furnariids may be present, with Olive-backed and Cinnamon-rumped Foliage-Gleaners being two of the more commonly encountered, and perhaps Plain Xenops.

The afternoon will most likely be spent looking for some specific species along the Liana Grande trail. Collared and White-chested Puffbird, Southern Nightingale Wren, Chestnut-belted Gnateater, Black-throated Trogon, White-throated Thrush, Black-faced Antthrush, Golden-collared Toucanet, and more lower-story based Flycatchers could be sought out. Staying past dusk is advised, looking and listening for Great, Little, and, if lucky, Variegated or White-throated Tinamous, Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl, and Crested Owl

Meals: B, L, D

DAY 3: Parrot Lick, Yasuni National Park

Early wake up and breakfast. Take a boat ride to the Parrot Lick, at Yasuni National Park, then move on to bird the island, in the river, just in front of the Lick.

Parrots to be expected include Dusky-headed Parakeet, Blue-headed Parrot, and Yellow-crowned and Mealy Amazons. From time to time, White-eyed Parakeets drop in to pay a visit. The island can either be very exciting, or very slow, depending on the weather. Given the lack of shade, the birds retire early, for the morning, so it’s best to bird there before 8:30/9am. Gray-breasted Crake, Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Olive-spotted Hummingbird, Lesser Hornero, Parker’s, Dark- breasted, and Plain-crowned Spinetails, Castlenau’s Antshrike, Black-and-White Antbird, Spotted Tody-Flycatcher, Fuscous Flycatcher, Orange-headed Tanager, Caqueta, Lesson’s, and Chestnut-bellied Seedeaters, Solitary Cacique, and Oriole Blackbird may all be present. One should not expect to encounter all of these island specialists, but, with luck, all can be seen.

After birding the island, head back up river to the Añangu Parakeet Lick. The hike in is a short, muddy mess, and always worth the while. Flocks here can be very dense and exciting, and this is the best area to see Rufous-tailed and Ornate Antwrens during the trip. The Parakeet lick is very dramatic, and one of the highlights for most all guests who get the opportunity to visit. Cobalt-winged Parakeets stream in by the hundreds, if not thousands, and often flush, flying right through the blind where you’ll be standing! Orange- cheeked Parrots and Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlets are in evidence and, with patience, Scarlet Macaws are often in the area, and may come down to the lick.

Meals: B, L, D

DAY 4: Boat Ride back to Francisco de Orellana. Flight back to Quito

The final morning usually consists in waking up around 6:30am, eating, then packing out to meet the boat, riverside, around 8am. As often as weather permits, guests will enjoy one last bird observation while going to the main boardwalk from the lake to the Rio Napo to take guests to Coca. Antbirds are often vocal in the morning, as are White-chinned Jacamar, Short-crested Flycatcher, and, with luck, Green-and-Rufous Kingfisher, along the canal to the dock at Anden. Antbirds to look for include Plumbeous, Dot-backed, Spot-backed, Silvered, and, with luck, Black-spotted Bare-eye and Black-throated Antbird. This is the last chance for Chestnut-capped and Collared Puffbird, both of which have territories near the boardwalk. Cream-colored, Chestnut, and Spot-breasted Woodpeckers are more readily seen along this walk, as well.

Depart from the lodge for a canoe ride (2 hours approx.) back to Puerto Francisco de Orellana where you will board a plane back to Quito (30 min flight).

Once in Quito, transfer to your hotel.

Meals: B (Lunch and Dinner on your own)

INCLUDED

• 3 nights at the Amazon Lodge – Double room
• Expert birder guide
• Mentioned Meals. Water, tea and coffee in all meals
• Aquatic transportation
• Transfer hotel-airport-hotel

NOT INCLUDED

• Extra beverages during meals & Alcoholic drinks.
• Personal expenses
• Travel Insurance.

Anything not mentioned in our itineraries

PRICE PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS: USD 1190.00 / Air fare: USD 250.00