
Amazon Birding Tours in Ecuador
Napo Wildlife Center: Amazon Birding and Yasuni's Parrot Clay Licks
✅Possible +500 Birds – including Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Blue and Yellow Macaws, Scarlet Macaws, Hoatzin, White-throated Toucan, Wire-tailed Manakin and others.
✅Parrot Clay Licks – Observe 8 Types of Parrots and Macaws in 2 different Clay Licks.
✅Biodiversity Hotspot – Explore the incredibly diverse wildlife in Yasuni National Park like Giant Otters, Red-Howler Monkey, Golden-mantled Tamarin, Three-toed Sloth, Brown-headed Spider Monkey and others.
✅Paddle Canoe Excursions – Birding in Anangu river creeks and lagoon guided by top birding guides
✅Observation Towers – three observation towers located in different parts of the lodge
✅Eco-Lodging & Cultural Experience – Stay in sustainable accommodations run by the Kichwa Añangu community.
Napo Wildlife Center Birding Tour
- Flight Quito-Coca Included. Transfer by motorboat to Napo Wildlife Center
- Parrot Clay Licks & Paddle Canoe
- Observation Towers & Paddle Canoe
- Transfer to Coca. Flight to Quito Included.
- Transfer Out to the Airport

Itinerary
Day 1
TRANSFER TO QUITO AIRPORT, FLIGHT TO COCA CITY, PADDLE CANOE ANANGU CREEK
- After a rewarding 30-minute flight over the eastern Andean mountain range to reach the city of Puerto Francisco Orellana "El Coca," our transfer will take you to Coca Dock to start your journey to the amazon. Here, you will have the opportunity to take a break, use the restrooms, enjoy a refreshing drink, and receive a boxed lunch for the journey. Motorcanoe for 2-hours along Napo River towards the welcome area of the Napo WildlifeCenter. At this location, you will switch to a paddle canoe to go birding in the serene waters of Anangu Creek.
- Upon arriving in the afternoon at the Napo Wildlife Center Lodge, we will be greeted with an impressive view of the Añangucocha lagoon. Welcome Drink and snacks, followed by a brief talk from your guide and plan the activities for the next days. Night walk and excursion for insects, amphibians and reptiles or Night Caiman Spotting from the canoe.
- Targets: Greater Ani, Smooth billed Ani, Limpkin, Hoatzin, Anhinga, Rufescent-Tiger Heron, Snowy Egret, Cocoi Heron, Snail Kite, Cream-coloured Woodpecker, Crested Owl, Speckled Chachalaca, Blue-throated Piping Guan, Squirrel Cuckoo, Green-backed Trogon, Amazonian Trogon, Green and Rufous Kingfisher, Gilded Barbet, Channel-billed Toucan, Cinnamon Attila, Wattled Jacana, Striated Heron, Common Potoo, Crested Oropendola and others.
- Meals: Box Lunch and Welcome Dinner
- Overnight Napo Wildlife Center, Standard or Panoramic Suite Cabins
Birding Photos: American Pigmy Kingfisher, Paddle Canoe Group, and Lemon-throated Barbet by Neil Wiken and Craig Hedlund.
Day 2
AMAZONIAN UMBRELLABIRD FOREST, PARROT AND MACAWS CLAY LICKS, PADDLE CANOE
- Early morning, we’ll set off by paddle canoe along the Napo River, heading toward the Amazonian Umbrellabird Forest. From there, we’ll continue to the renowned Napo River Parrot Wall Lick, where up to five species of parrots and parakeets can be seen, including the Mealy Amazon and Blue-headed Parrot. Next, we’ll walk a short, well-maintained forest trail to reach the Scarlet Macaw Clay Lick, while observing the Red Howler Monkeys and the Brown-headed Spider Monkey along the way.
- Lunch will be served at the Interpretation Center, followed by an afternoon of birding from Napo's Observation Towers, where mixed flocks of oropendolas, aracaris, tanagers, euphonias, and macaws are commonly seen. We’ll return to the lodge in the late afternoon by paddle canoe, with possible sightings of Giant River Otters, Green and Black Anacondas, and Black Caimans along the way.
- Targets: Blue-headed Parrot, Mealy Amazon, Yellow-crowned Amazon, Dusky-headed Parakeet, White-eyed Parakeet, Blue and Yellow Macaw, Scarlet Macaw, Orange-cheeked Parrot, Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Red-bellied Macaw, Black-headed Parrot, Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Lettered Aracari, Many-banded Aracari, Scarlet Tanager, Plum-throated Cotinga, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Giant Otters, Red-Howler Monkey, Brown-headed Spider Monkey, Squirrel Monkey and others.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Overnight Napo Wildlife Center, Standard or Panoramic Suite Cabins
Birding Photos: Scarlet Macaws, Scaly-breasted Woodpecker, Napo River Wall Lick by Diego Cruz and Craig Hedlund.
Day 3
OBSERVATION TOWER, TERRA-FIRME FOREST AND PADDLE CANOE
- We begin the morning with birding at the Tree Observation Tower, where you’ll witness a breathtaking Amazon sunrise and spot wildlife high above the canopy. Early hours offer great opportunities to observe macaws, hawks, sloths, monkeys, and kites.
- Afterwards, continue exploring the main trails of the reserve, where the flooded river forest is home to manakins, antbirds, woodcreepers, and woodpeckers. In the afternoon, paddle through the creeks around Añangu Lagoon in search of shorebirds and other heron species. Night observation of Black Caimans, Agami Heron, Nocturnal Owls and others.
- Targets: King Vulture, Wire-tailed Manakin, Dward Tyrant-Manakin, Golden-headed Manakin, Blue-crowned Manakin, Purplish Jacamar, Great Jacamar, White-throated Toucan, Amazonian Motmot, Sooty Antbird, Moustached Antwren, Peruvian-warbling Antbird, Black-necked Red-Cotinga, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, Yellow-rumped Cacique and others.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Overnight Napo Wildlife Center, Standard or Panoramic Suite Cabins
Birding Photos: Chestnut-eared Acarari, Black-capped Donacobious and Wire-tailed Manakin by Craig Hedlund and Diego Cruz.
Day 4
TRANSFER TO COCA AIRPORT, FLIGHT TO QUITO, FREE NIGHT JIMENITA LODGE
- On your final day, enjoy one last scenic canoe ride along the Napo River with great opportunities to spot Giant Otters, Hoatzins, and other Amazon wildlife. You'll return to Coca City for your included flight back to Quito. Upon arrival, you'll be picked up at the airport and transferred privately to our Jimenita Lodge, just 15 minutes away. Leisure afternoon exploring the trails of our birding reserve, visiting the hummingbird feeders and observation deck, or simply unwinding in one of our comfortable chairs while observing the sunset in the Andes.
- Targets: Western Emerald, White-bellied Woodstar, Black-tailed trainbearer, Blue and Grey Tanager, Blue and Yellow Tanager, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Giant Hummingbird, Golden Grossbeak and others.
- Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
- FREE NIGHT: Overnight Jimenita Birding Lodge, King Room with Chimney
Birding Photos: Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Paddle Canoe in Anangu Creek, Anangu Lagoon by Craig Hedlund and Diego Cruz.
Day 5
TRANSFER OUT TO THE AIRPORT
- 24/7 Transfer Out to the Airport after having a delicious breakfast in our Jimenita Restaurant. In case you have an early flight we will arrange a Boxed Breakfast. Thanks for choosing Ecuador Birds Tours.
- Meals: Breakfast
Dates & Prices
Please request special pricing for your PRIVATE Birding Tour.
Departures | Availability | Price per Person | |
---|---|---|---|
All year round Private Tours |
Private Tour |
Request Price | Book Tour |
Tour Inclusions
Included
✔ Welcome Drink
✔ 24/7 Private Airport Transfers Airport-Hotel-Airport
✔ Excellent Accommodations either Standard or Suite Cabin
✔ Entrance Fees to Reserves, Hides, Feeders, Observation Towers
✔ Delicious and Healthy Meals as described in itinerary
✔ Private English-speaking Birding Guide
✔ Private Canoe in all activities within the lodge
✔ Roundtrip Local Flights Quito-Coca-Quito
✔ Ebird Online Birding Report
✔ Quality Services
Not Included
✘ Personal Expenses
✘ Soft and Alcoholic Drinks
✘ Other Entrance Fees or Services
✘ Tips
Activities
- Paddle Canoe
- Napo River Parrots Wall Lick
- Napo Wildlife Parrots and Macaws Clay Lick
- Terra-firme Manakin Trails
- Giant Otter Observation
- 3 Observation Towers
- Night Excursions
Testimonials

2024 – Birding Review Ecuador: Birding Tour
Organization of our trip by Ecuador Bird Tours was excellent. Miguel, our bird guide, was a very perceptive and competent bird expert, and due to him we saw a lot of species which we couldn’t discern visually nor hear. And we experience great hospitality in Hacienda Jimenita, being the main base of our trip and belonging to the owners of Ecuador Birds Tours agency. - Tomasz, Poland

2025 – Birding Report Ecuador: Fantastic 15-Day Birding Adventure in Ecuador
"My wife and I had a wonderful time on this 15-day bird private tour with Ecuador Birds Tours (EBT). Diego was wonderful tailoring our trip to our desires, and answering all of our pre-trip questions. All the logistics during our trip were smooth as can be. The lodges were great and much nicer than what I had expected. The food provided by the lodges was wonderful and we felt very spoiled! The staffs at the lodges were very friendly and eager to please and help. We highly recommend Ecuador Birds Tours for folks who want to be immersed in discovering the wonderful bird life of Ecuador. Not having to worry about driving, safety, safe food/water, or the best spots to find birds made this a stressless adventure. This is a professional, well-run operation and we are super happy we went with Ecuador Birds Tours!" - Mike and Amedee Long from USA

2025 – Birding Report Ecuador: Excellent guide, amazing birds
"I saw over 100 birds with Ecuador Birds Tours! They know all there is to know about birds and can identify them from a fleeting glance or a very far off call. Everywhere we went was full of birds and Ivan knows just where to look and how to call them out so you can see them. His knowledge of birds, and enthusiasm for finding them is unparalleled. Highly recommended! - Suzanne from Australia

2025 – Birding Report Ecuador: Worth more than five stars really
"Did a 14 day trip with my own guide. Everything ran smoothly from being collected at the airport to being returned there. My guide had excellent skills and knowledge and worked really hard to maximise the number of birds we could find. 500 birds and eleven mammals including spectacled bear says it all. The company clearly has very good relationships with the lodges and local guide so we were treated well. If I can return in the future to go further down into the Amazon Basin I will use them again". - David Jones, United Kingdom

2025 – Birding Report Ecuador: Super Birding Company

2025 – Birding Report Ecuador: Terrific Birding and Superb Trip Organization

2025 – Birding Report Ecuador: 10 day tailored tour with Ecuador Bird Tours

2025 – Birding Report Ecuador: Fantastic tour with great guides and lodging

2025 – Birding Report Ecuador: Ecuador Birds Tours deserves all the stars!

2025 – Birding Report Ecuador: 400 Lifes in Southern Ecuador!
"Jorge really knows his birds! He has a fantastic ear as well! The birds don’t seem to care if it is raining. We probably missed a few forest ground birds, but we did see almost 400 different species and a whole lot of them for the first time. The lodges were all wonderful, well equipped, friendly staff and great local food. We were over fed everywhere.We did miss one lodge due to road closure, but we felt lucky that we got to all the others! The last lodge ,at 11,500 feet, was spectacular!! With piles of wonderful food and postres and a room with an incredible view! We will highly recommend Ecuador Birds Tours if anyone asks!! - Sally Fellows, USA