Vinicio Pérez, the owner of the Birdwatcher's House and restaurant, is also a seasoned English speaking tour guide in Mindo and all Ecuador. He was born in the Mindo region and knows the area like the back of his hand. 
Day 01.- Quito-Yancocha-Mindo
After breakfast, around 6 a.m., we leave with a packed lunch for the Ecological Reserve Yanacocha on the northeast side of Volcano Pichincha at 3,600 meters. This area is globally known for its great diversity of tanagers and hummingbirds and many other special species that we will not find anywhere else on this tour such as Black-breasted Puffleg, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Shining Sunbeam, Golden-crowned Tanager, Black-chested Mountain-Tanager, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Giant Conebill, etc. For this reason it is important to find everything possible before descending the famous Nono route, passing Tandayapa and arriving at the hotel in Mindo for dinner. Breakfast /Lunch /DinnerDay 02.- Birdwatching in Mindo Cloud Forest
Breakfast at 5 a.m. and ready to leave by 5:45 a.m. to birdwatch in the Mindo valley at 1,200 meters. In this area we will find mixed flocks that include tanagers, woodcreepers, flycatchers, toucans, and many different hummingbirds. At 1 p.m. we will have lunch and a short break before resuming our birdwatching until returning to the Mindo Gardens Lodge for dinner and to record the birds we have seen during the day. B/L/DDay 03.- Mindo-Pedro Vicente Maldonado-Mindo
Breakfast at 5 a.m., ready to leave by 5:30 a.m. with a packed lunch for a day of birding in the Pedro Vicente Maldonado area, which is a tropical forest zone in the northeast at between 400 and 450 meters. This is an incredibly lush forest that is home to many endemic tropical forest species found otherwise only in southern Colombia, northwest Ecuador and a few parts of Panama. Some of these are Banded Ground-Cuckoo, Rose-faced parrot, Choco Screech-Owl, Five-colored Barbet, Orange-fronted Barbet, Black-tipped Cotinga, Choco Toucan, Stripe-billed Aracari, Choco Woodpecker, Double-banded Graytail, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, and many tanagers and hummingbirds. In the evening we return to the Mindo Gardens Lodge for dinner and to record the day's bird list. B/L/DDay 04.- Mindo-Bellavista-Tandayapa-Mindo
After breakfast at 5:30 a.m. we leave with a packed lunch to birdwatch around Bellavista and Tandayapa, two very prolific birding areas at 220 meters. The species diversity is very great here especially in tanagers and hummingbirds. In one day it is possible to spot up to 20 different hummingbirds and 12 tanagers as well as Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Ocellated Tapaculo, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Golden-winged Manakin, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Grass-green Tanager, Tanager-Finch, etc. In the evening we return to the Mindo Gardens Lodge for dinner and to record the day's bird list. B/L/DDay 05.- Mindo-Quito
We leave at 5 a.m. with a packed breakfast to see the famous Andean Cock-of-the-rock at its lek. The birds' "dance" ritual will usually finish around 7:30 a.m., at which time we will return to the car, birding along the way but taking an alternative route to find different species of toucans, quetzals, hummingbirds and tanagers. At 1 p.m. we'll have lunch and start our journey to Quito, stopping along the way to spot new species especially along the parámo of Calacali and Pululahua. In the evening we return to the hotel for dinner and to record the day's bird list. B/L/DB= Breakfast L= Lunch D=Dinner
Equipment Needed for Your Trip:
Comfortable hiking boots, warm clothes, waterproof clothes, binoculars, sun cream, sun glasses, hat, camera, travel alarm clock, flashlight with batteries, zip-lock bags to keep clothing and equipment dry, tennis shoes, gloves, shorts, cotton clothes, long sleeves shirts, pants (but not jeans) towel and personal toilet kit.
Comfortable hiking boots, warm clothes, waterproof clothes, binoculars, sun cream, sun glasses, hat, camera, travel alarm clock, flashlight with batteries, zip-lock bags to keep clothing and equipment dry, tennis shoes, gloves, shorts, cotton clothes, long sleeves shirts, pants (but not jeans) towel and personal toilet kit.
Very Important: This program can change due to weather conditions. Any changes are made in the traveler's best interest and safety. For groups of more than four, departures can be any day, and can include custom itineraries. The difficulty of access to the area demands relatively long drives in 4WD vehicles.
