7 Ecuador Birdwatching Tours to Book This Season

1.Full-Day Mindo Cloud Forest Tour Birdwatching Waterfalls and Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 84 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $189Our pick

Spend about 10 hours with a private guide from Quito to Mindo, visiting Pululahua Volcano, San Tadeo’s hummingbird feeders, a butterfly farm, Nambillo Waterfall, and a chocolate workshop. Guides Kathy and Pato are praised for clear explanations and flexible pacing. Lunch is not included, and the waterfall walk requires steady footing.

“If there were 10 stars, he would have 10! Pato was absolutely wonderful. He explained the full day’s itinerary as we headed to our first stop, so we had an idea of his general timing of our day. He was very knowledgeable about the history, animals, and plants we saw which made what we were seeing extra special. He was also great about going with the flow. We saw a billboard for air biking (yes, it’s real!), so we took a pit stop for that. He rode as well! :) I highly recommend Pato for your Quito and Mindo tours.”

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2.Papallacta Hot Springs & Guango Birding Reserve Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $120

Leave Quito at 8 a.m. with a private guide such as Daniel or Christian for Guango birding, a river walk, mountain views, and several hours at Papallacta Hot Springs. You can adjust the pace, spend longer at the pools, or arrange spa treatments. Transport and guide are included, but entrance fees, lunch, and tips are extra.

“Daniel, our guide, arrived promptly at our accommodation in a clean modern car. He was very knowledgeable about the birds in the areas that we visited and made adjustments to the itinerary to cater for our interests. We also enjoyed the stop at the bird sanctuary where there were facilities for refreshments. The time at the thermal springs was a relaxing break in the middle of a busy tour. Thank you Daniel for a great day.”

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3.PRIVATE Mindo Cloud Forest tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $130

Travel from Quito to Mindo with a private guide and air-conditioned vehicle. Choose from waterfalls, cable cars, butterflies, chocolate, zip lines, coffee, and hummingbirds. Guides such as Christian and Daniel are especially strong with birds, Ecuadorian culture, and flexible planning. Expect a long but scenic day, with several optional fees paid separately.

“Christian was our tour guide and was very knowledgeable not only about Ecudaor’s history, but also many different bird species. It was a pleasure to take his tour. I highly recommend it!”

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4.Private Full-Day Mindo Cloud Forest,Butterfly Farm, Chocolate Tour bird watching

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $130

Travel from Quito into Mindo’s cloud forest with a private bilingual guide such as Francisco, Marco, or Christian. Stop at the Equator, hand-feed hummingbirds, walk among butterflies, visit waterfalls, eat lunch in town, and learn how Ecuadorian cacao becomes chocolate. Optional cable-car and zip-line activities cost extra.

“A beautiful day, with a great and super friendly driver that has been a great companion all day: Francisco! We have done many different activities, which were very well distributed along the way (so you won't spend too much in the car, maybe only in the way back). Really funny and satisfying. Thank you again Francisco, we will always recommend you. 🙌🏻”

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5.Birdwatching Tour in Cajas National Park from Cuenca

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $99Cheapest here

Start at 6:30 am for a private, full-day birding trip through Cajas National Park. With guide Edison Edy or another bilingual birding guide, you visit high paramo near 3,800 meters, then the lower Llaviuco Valley. Binoculars are available by request, and lunch, transport, and hotel pickup are included.

“Eddy, my guide, was excellent. He lead me to great views of all the specialties of the area and I got great photos of the Ecuadorian Hillstar. I wouldn’t have seen any of it without him”

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6.Guided Birding Photography Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 47 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Start at 6 a.m. with a private guide such as Irman Arias, who helps locate birds by sight and call around Mindo’s cloud forest. Expect private transport, viewing platforms, forest walks, and chances to photograph toucans, hummingbirds, tanagers, parrots, and perhaps quetzals. The four-hour outing suits groups of up to five.

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7.MINDO CLOUD FOREST – Nature & Birds – Personalized Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 46 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $125

Travel from Quito into Mindo’s cloud forest with a small group of up to 12. You’ll visit a hummingbird garden, hike toward waterfalls, ride the tarabita cable car, taste chocolate, and choose optional activities such as ziplining or tubing. Guides including Diego, Fabian, Rodrigo, and Daniel have earned strong praise for their care and local knowledge, though extra costs and a long day require planning.

“My husband, 8-year-old daughter and I had a private tour, and all had a wonderful time. Our tour guide Fabián was extremely knowledgeable and engaging. On the ride to Mindo he shared lots of interesting history, and the views were beautiful, so the time passed quickly. The hummingbird sanctuary was a nice stop - my daughter was entranced by the hummingbirds and tanagers. Next we stopped at the Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve, where we had a beautiful hike down to the Nambillo waterfall, and back up to the canopy on the other side of the Nambillo River, where we took a cable car back across the canopy. Fabián spotted a…”

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