Day 2

After breakfast we will journey to Salinas Beach and Ecuasal Lagoon to look for Chilean Flamingo, White-cheeked Pintail, Gray and Gray-headed Gulls, and many shorebirds such as Black-necked Stilt, Short-billed Dowitcher, and Willet. Lunch will be at the popular Salinas Beach.

In the afternoon we will visit Cerro Alto, part of the dry forest which houses such target Tumbesian endemics as Short-tailed Field-Tyrant, Tumbesian Tyrannulet, Elegant Crescentchest, Parrot-billed Seedeater, and Burrowing Owl. After a three-hour drive we will arrive at the Mantarraya Lodge in Puerto Lopez where we will spend the next three nights.

Night: Mantarraya Lodge

Day 3

After an early breakfast we will hike the Ayampe River, part of Machalilla National Park. This area is wet dry forest and offers the best chance at the rare and endemic Esmeraldas Woodstar. We will also search for Ecuadorian Trogon, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Necklaced Spinetail, White-backed Fire-eye, and Baron's Hermit, among others.

After an exciting morning of birding and a tasty lunch, we will head to the community of Aqua Blanca, whose people depend on ecotourism for their livelihoods. We will look for West Peruvian Screech-Owl, Red-billed Scythebill, Ecuadorian Piculet, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, White-edged Oriole, and other dry forest specialists.

Night: Mantarraya Lodge

Day 4

After breakfast we will take a 1.5 hour boat ride to Isla de la Plata. On the way we will see Brown and Peruvian Pelicans, and further out to sea we will find Black and Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrels, plus other pelagic species. (An added treat from July to September is the migration of Humpback Whales!) We will make a "wet landing" on the island, enjoy a snack, and then take the Machete Trail, where we will enjoy Waved Albatross and three species of booby (Blue-footed, Red-footed, and Nazca). Potential songbirds on the island include Collared Warbling-Finch, Short-tailed Woodstar, and Gray-and-white Tyrannulet. Time permitting, we will also enjoy some snorkling.

Night: Mantarraya Lodge

Day 5

Today we will bird our way back to Guayaquil, trying to wrap up any missed species from previous days.

Night: Gran Hotel Guayaquil.

THE TRIP WILL INCLUDE

Private Transportation
Private Bird Guide
3 Nights at Mantaraya Lodge
2 Nights in Guayaquil
Boat trip to Isla de la Plata
Entrance Fee to Machalilla National Park
Full Board

THE TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE

Tips
Alcoholic drinks
Meals in Guayaquil
Personal Expenses

THIS TRIP COULD BE AN EXTENSION TO ANY TRIP YOU DECIDE TO TAKE.