Tours and Sites
Cerro Blanco (Deciduous Forest)
Distance from Guayaquil: 20 minutes
Uniqueness: One of the few remnants of dry forest in the Ecuadorian coast
Notable Species: Gray back Hawk, Gray cheeked Parakeet, Superciliated Wren, Ochre-bellied Dove, Short-tailed Woodstar
Tours: Half day (5 hours) Price: $160*
Full day (up to 10 hours) Price: $190*
* For each additional birder: $20
ⓘ It is possible to find and join other groups in our booking calendar, and share the cost with other birders.
One of the few remnants of dry forest in the Ecuadorian coast. It is part of the Tumbesian Region located in Southwest Ecuador and northwest Peru. An Important natural area near Guayaquil. It has 6078 Ha of forest, of which 17% is primary forest. Home of a great variety of Birds, 221 species of birds have been observed on its boundaries, 11 of them are Tumbesian Endemics. Interesting Birds: Gray back Hawk, Gray cheeked Parakeet, Superciliated Wren, Ochre-bellied Dove, Short-tailed Woodstar are among the specialties. Unfortunately, some of these birds are endangered due to the loss of habitat and poaching.
Churute (Mangrove Forest, Deciduous Forest, Dry Scrub)
Distance from Guayaquil: 1½ hours
Uniqueness: An ecological reserve divided into 5 types of habitat
Notable Species: Guayaquil Woodpecker, Collared Antshrike, Ochre bellied Dove, Slaty Becard
Tours: Full day (10-11 hours) Price: $300*
* For each additional birder: $20
ⓘ It is possible to find and join other groups in our booking calendar, and share the cost with other birders.
The Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve is located in Guayas Province. The area of the reserve is approximately 50,000 hectares, divided in 5 different types of habitat within them mangroves and tropical dry forest. The star of this site is The Canclon Lagoon (Laguna del Canclon- Horned Screamer) with the only permanent population of this specie in the Ecuadorian coast. Interesting Birds: Guayaquil Woodpecker, Collared Antshrike, Ochre bellied Dove, Slaty Becard could also be found in this reserve.
Salinas (Arid Lowland Scrub Habitat)
Distance from Guayaquil: 1½ hours
Uniqueness: Birding as the habitat changes to arid lowland scrub
Notable Species (lowland scrub): Short-tailed Woodstar, Necklaced Spinetail, Elegant Crescent-Chest, Short-tailed Field-Tyrant, Snowy-throated Kingbird (December-May), White-tailed Jay, Collared Warbling-Finch, Parrot-billed Seedeater, Peruvian Meadowlark, and White-edged Oriole
Notable Species (Ecuasal ponds): Peruvian Pelican, Chilean Flamingo, Gray Gull, Kelp Gull, and Gray-headed Gull
Tours: Full day (10-12 hours) Price: $300*
* For each additional birder: $20
ⓘ It is possible to find and join other groups in our booking calendar, and share the cost with other birders.
Located in the western tip of Santa Elena Province, Salinas offer you a great opportunity to spot birds from the arid lowland scrub. You also would have the opportunity to birding along the way, and observe the slight slope and different habitats that form from Cerro Blanco (Part of the Cordillera Chongon Colonche) to Salinas. Similar to Cerro Blanco, Salinas is home of the few remnants of original forest from the coast. Interesting Birds: Some of the specialties of the arid lowland scrub are Short-tailed Woodstar, Necklaced Spinetail, Elegant Crescent-Chest, Short-tailed Field-Tyrant, Snowy-throated Kingbird (Present only in rainy season from December-May), White- tailed Jay, Collared Warbling-Finch, Parrot-billed Seedeater, Peruvian Meadowlark, and White-edged Oriole.
Also, around 20 km from Salinas is where the Ecuasal ponds are located, with great variety of resident and migratory seabirds, but also birds of the arid lowland scrub habitat. With around 140 species registered, it si considered one of the most important spots for birds. Some specialties for Ecuasal ponds are Notably specialty birds are Peruvian Pelican, Chilean Flamingo, Gray Gull, Kelp Gull, and Gray-headed Gull.
Bucay (Cloud Forest)
Distance from Guayaquil: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Uniqueness: An ecological transition area between the highlands and the lowland, a variety of birds from both
Notable Species: The Andean Cock of the Rock, Hummingbirds, Tanagers and more
Tours: Full day (10-11 hours) Price: $300*
* For each additional birder: $20
ⓘ It is possible to find and join other groups in our booking calendar, and share the cost with other birders.
La Esperanza Forest is located near Bucay. Great area to find birds from the western andes slopes and its cloud forest habitat. Also, you can find birds from the lowlands, as this is an ecological transitional area between the lowland and highlands. Interesting Birds: The Andean Cock of the Rock lek is a great attraction of this area, but also you will find a good variety of Hummingbirds, Tanagers among many others.
Birdwatching Workshops
I am a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It is easy. Just click Edit Text or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. I am a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you.
Get in Touch
Have questions? Reach out today and let’s start your birding adventure together!