San Jorge de Milpe Eco-Lodge is located in the subtropical rainforest at San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve. Accommodations include a double or triple room with private bath and hot shower, twin beds, an observatory deck with panoramic views, and hammocks for watching the birds eating at their feeders.  You can even spot birds from the windows of your room! This brand new eco-lodge has the comfort and rustic elegance of a rainforest lodge, with spectacular scenery for birding, making it the ideal retreat for some of the best bird watching in Ecuador. San Jorge's two birding lodge locations are central to the 4 climate steps of Ecuador; offering day trips to each of our private birding reserves. 

Day 1 - Airport transfer from Quito Airport to San Jorge Eco-Lodge. Overnight San Jorge/Quito

Day 2 – Morning birding San Jorge Botanical Reserve; Afternoon birding Yanacocha Reserve, (high barren plains, highland rainforest, cloud forest). Overnight San Jorge/Quito. 
In the San Jorge Botanical Reserve we will have the opportunity to see the Rufous Antpitta, Hooded Siskin, Black Flowerpiercer, Variable Hawk, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker (endangered) and hummingbirds such as the Purple-backed Thornbill, Golden-breasted Puffleg, and Rainbow-bearded Thornbill. These are just a few of over 130 bird species found in this paradise. While walking through the gardens of San Jorge you will also find a wide variety of hummingbirds at their feeders including the Western Emerald, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Tyrian Metaltail, White-bellied Woodstar, Sparkling Violetear, Shining Sunbeam, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Mountain Velvetbreast, Green-tailed Trainbearer, and the Great Sapphirewing.

At the same time you will have the opportunity to take in the fabulous panoramic views of Quito, along with views of the volcano peaks of Cayambe, Antizana, Pasochoa, Pululahua, Pichincha and Illalso. We can observe 11 mountains from various points of San Jorge Botanical Reserve.  Also spotted are the very rare Curve-billed Tinamou, Red-crested Cotinga, Andean Condor and the endemic and endangered Black-breasted Puffleg.

Located on the backside of the Pichincha Mountains, Yanacocha is home to a number of interesting high-elevation species. Mountain Tanagers are abundant at this elevation and we'll hope to find the Scarlet-bellied and Buff-breasted varieties as well as the Bar-bellied Woodpecker and Barred Fruiteater. Between April and June, the Black-breasted Puffleg has been sighted, one of the most rare hummingbirds in the world!  Several other hummingbird species are also common in the area. B,L,D


Day 3 - Birding San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve, Lower Valley (cloud forest). Overnight San Jorge/Milpe.

Take in panoramic views, wild surroundings, tropical plants/flowers (40 species of orchids!) and exotic wildlife while visiting Tandayapa. The bungalow deck with hammocks is set up for relaxing at lunchtime (pictured at left). You may spot up to 15 varieties of Hummingbirds, Tanager flocks including the Grass-green Tanager and Blue-winged Mountain-tanager, Toucan Barbet, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, as well as the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. B,L,D


Days 4 & 5– Birding San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve (subtropical rainforest). Overnight San Jorge/Milpe.
Enjoy the pristine beauty at the new birding lodge at San Jorge de Milpe Reserve. You’ll have a panoramic view, bird watching from your room, beautiful birding trails, cascading waterfalls, running rivers, observatory sites and observation deck, and hammocks for relaxing. Birding through relatively untouched temperate and subtropical forest, we will look for the Swallow-tailed Kite, Cattle Egret, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Ruddy Pigeon, Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Red-billed Parrot, Bronze-winged Parrot, White-collared Swift, Red-headed Barbet, Bay-headed Tanager, Summer Tanager, Black-capped Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Palm Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Lemon-rumped Tanager, Golden Tanager, Thick billed Euphonia, Buff-throated Saltator, Black-winged Saltator, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Squirrel Cuckoo, Roadside Hawk, Toucan Barbet , Laughing Falcon, Gray-headed Kite, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, White-winged Tanager, Moss-backed Tanager, Ochre-breasted Tanager, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Band-backed Wren, Black-striped Sparrow, Broad-billed Motmot, Rufous Motmot, Barred Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Long-tailed Antbird, Buff-rumped Warbler, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Rufous-winged Tyrannulet, Golden-olive Woodpecker. Hummingbird species include the White-whiskered Hermit, Stripe-throated Hermit, Tooth-bellied Hummingbird, White-necked Jacobin, Green Thorntail, Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Purple-chested Hummingbird, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Empress Brilliant, Velvet-purple Coronet, Purple-crowned Fairy, and Purple-throated Woodstar.   B, L, D

Day 6 – Birding Pedro Vicente Maldonado (subtropical rainforest). Overnight San Jorge/Milpe.
The climate is warm and humid with spectacular foliage. Great opportunities can be found here to spot Tanagers including the Scarlet, Moss-backed, Scarlet-and-white, and Gray-and-gold, often all in the same flock.  Other species found here include the Lineated Woodpecker, Club-winged Manakffin, Choco Warbler, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Broad-billed Motmot, Choco Toucan, Pallid Dove, White-whiskered Hermit, Choco Trogon, and Purple-chested Hummingbird.  B, L,D

Day 7-Birding Mindo Tower & Milpe Road (subtropical rainforest). Overnight San Jorge/Quito.
As the elevation decreases the bird diversity increases and the chances of seeing the Plate-billed Mountain-toucan and Toucan Barbet as well as a number of gaudy Tanagers (including the Grass-green, Blue-and-black, and Blue-winged Mountain varieties) are high.  A network of trails lead us into the Cloud Forest where a wonderful variety of Choco-endemic species can be spotted, including the

Sunbittern, Barred Puffbird, Barred Hawk, Red-headed Barbet, Pale-mandibled

Aracari, Choco Toucan, Black-capped Pygmy-tyrant, Tawny-breasted Flycatcher, Olive-crowned Yellowthroat, and Yellow-throated Bush-tanager. You will also find additional subtropical rainforest birds similar to the ones located at San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve. B,L,D

Day 8- Birding Papallacta Pass & Cuyuja (high barren plains) overnight Baeza.  B,L,D

Day 9 – Birding San Jorge de Cosanga-Yanayuca Bird & Wildlife Reserve (Cloud Forest).  Overnight at Baeza. 
Located near San IsidroValley, this area is a birdwatchers paradise within the subtropical eastern slopes of the Andes. Surrounded by forest-covered mountain ridges, Cosanga-Yanayuca adjoins the beautiful and immense 120,000 hectare Antizana National Park Reserve. Possible sightings may include the Crested Quetzal, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Scaly-naped Parrot, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Emerald Toucanet, Blackburnian Warbler, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Black-capped Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, Masked Flowerpiercer, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Lacrimose Mountain-tanager, Palm Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain-tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Golden-crowned Tanager, Hooded Mountain-tanager, Blue-and-black Tanager, Superciliaried Hemispingus, Slaty Finch, Grass-green Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Northern Mountain-cacique, Subtropical Cacique, Russet-backed Oropendola, Stripe-headed Brush-Finch, Roadside Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Sickle-winged Guan, White-capped Parrot, Cinnamon Flycatcher and Rufous Antpitta.
Hummingbird species include the Tawny-bellied Hermit, Green-fronted Lancebill, Lazuline Sabrewing, Brown Violetear, Wire-crested Thorntail, Violet-fronted Brilliant, White-tailed Hillstar, Mountain Velvetbreast, Bronzy Inca, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Tourmaline Sunangel, Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Long-tailed Sylph and Wedge-billed Hummingbird. B,L,D

Day 10 - Overnight at San Jorge/Quito, B,L,D
See description from Day 2

Day 11– Birding Upper Tandayapa Valley & world famous Nono-Mindo Road (cloud forest). Overnight San Jorge/Quito. B,L,D
See description from day 7

Day 12 – AM transfer to Quito Airport. B