The best places to see wildlife in Ecuador | Travel News
Ecuador, located in the north-west corner of South America, is one of the 17 most biodiverse countries on Earth, despite its relatively small size comparable to the UK. While the Galapagos Islands are often the first thing people think of regarding Ecuadorian wildlife tourism, this overlooks the 48% of its territory covered by the Amazon basin's tropical forests. The mainland boasts incredible wildlife and unforgettable landscapes that many travelers miss.
Due to Ecuador’s equatorial location and the diverse altitudes caused by the Andes mountains, different regions experience vastly different seasonal weather. Therefore, when planning a birding or wildlife itinerary, it’s essential to prepare for various elevations and conditions, often in the same day! Ecuador can be visited year-round, though your destination within the country will depend on your desired encounters and experiences.
Though Ecuador is one of South America's smallest countries, it ranks fourth globally in avian diversity, with an official list of approximately 1,736 bird species. Birdwatching trips began in the late 1960s, and by 2006, a national strategy was developed to promote sustainable birdwatching tourism, involving researchers, communities, conservation organizations, and the Ministry of Tourism.
A knowledgeable guide is invaluable for birdwatching in Ecuador. Visitors hoping to spot the national bird, the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), will find many tour options in the Andes' volcanic regions and slopes. Ecuador is also home to more than a third of all hummingbird species in the Americas (136 species), and guides can help identify the best locations and times to see them.
In addition to the UNESCO-listed Galápagos Islands, Ecuador boasts six biosphere reserves and over 70 protected natural areas. From colonial Quito, the first capital city to gain World Heritage status, you can easily access the Amazon lowlands, the Pacific Ocean, or the southern region's dry forests. The key is deciding which wildlife you want to see.
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Yasuni National Park
This park provides excellent access to the lowland Amazon rainforest of Ecuador, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. The forests are home to over 600 bird species and more than 12 types of monkeys, as well as giant otters, sloths, jaguars, and five other wild cat species. To explore the depths of the forest, you’ll need to take a riverboat tour or stay in a nearby jungle lodge, where canopy towers and walkways allow you to observe elusive birds in their natural habitat. Plan to spend a week in the area to also see the harpy eagles of Limoncocha and the river dolphins of Cuyabeno in nearby reserves.
Best for: Jaguars. Although this wild cat is a top attraction, the park's clay licks are equally appealing, drawing large numbers of parrots, macaws, parakeets, and mammals.
The High Andes
Quito is encircled by volcanic mountains adorned with magnificent glaciers, warranting dedicated trips to appreciate their flora and fauna. Cayambe Coca and Antisana national parks, in particular, feature snowcapped volcanoes, Andean forests, and páramo, offering chances to spot Andean condors, spectacled bears, and carunculated caracaras. The parks have accessible trails, wildlife observatories, and lush forest interiors notable for sightings of tanagers, hummingbirds, and toucans.
Best for: Volcanoes. Due to the Earth's equatorial bulge, Chimborazo (6,263m) is the furthest point from the Earth's center, even farther than Everest. Further north, Cotopaxi (5,897m) is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, with its glacial lake attracting both resident and migratory birds.
The Cloud Forests
The western and eastern slopes of the Andes host extensive, misty cloud forests situated between 800m and 1,500m. These evergreen regions boast some of Ecuador's highest concentrations of birdlife, including hummingbirds, colorful tanagers, and mountain toucans. Larger mammals such as the mountain (woolly) tapir, puma, and South America's only bear species, the spectacled bear, also inhabit these areas. Most public and private reserves and lodges are accessible by vehicle.
Best for: Birding. The Mindo cloud-forest route on the north-western slope of the Andean foothills and the Cosanga Circuit on the north-east slope have both set records for the number of bird species spotted during the annual Christmas bird counts, with sightings ranging from 400 to 531 species in just one day!
Where Else?
Machalilla National Park
In addition to its intriguing pre-Columbian archaeological remains, this park along the Pacific coast is a prime spot for viewing humpback whales, which visit to breed between late June and October. Snorkeling and diving excursions provide the unique opportunity to observe the world's largest colony of oceanic manta rays.
Puyango Petrified Forest
The Puyango Petrified Forest is home to one of the world's largest collections of plant and marine animal fossils and is also a significant birding site. Additionally, the dry forests of the southwest are known for the annual flowering of guayacán trees. Following the first substantial rains in mid-December or early January, these trees produce bright-yellow flowers that stretch to the horizon.
The Andean Chocó
The extensive tropical region between the high Andes and the Pacific coast is home to many endemic bird species, including the toucan barbet and the Andean cock-of-the-rock. In the northwest, the Canandé Reserve preserves some of the last untouched lowland tropical forests in the Chocó, providing sanctuary for rare bird species such as the great green macaw.
Essential Information for Ecuador
Best Time to Visit: Ecuador's weather varies across microclimates. The lowland rainforest remains hot and humid (30ºC) year-round. The Andean highlands experience dry, sunny weather (20ºC) from July to September, with rainfall from February to April, coinciding with peak bird migration in the cloud forests of Cosanga and Mindo. Humpback whales migrate to the Pacific coast from Antarctica to breed between July and October.
Travel Tips: There are no direct flights from the UK to Ecuador. Flights from London typically connect through New York, Atlanta, Madrid, Amsterdam, or Bogotá. Airlines servicing these routes include KLM, Avianca, and JetBlue, with a travel time of approximately 14 hours round trip.
Carbon Offsetting: A round-trip flight from London to Quito via Madrid emits approximately 1,057kg of carbon per passenger. Wanderlust recommends offsetting your travel footprint through a reputable provider.
Currency and Visa: Ecuador uses the US dollar ($) since 2000, with an exchange rate of approximately $1.27 to £1. UK nationals do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days.
Additional Resources: "Birds of Ecuador" (Helm Field Guide, 2018) by Robin Restall and Juan Freile is a valuable resource for bird enthusiasts planning a trip to Ecuador.
