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Loja – in the Podocarpus National Park and the Cajanuma Cloud Forest, there are diverse ecosystems. The cloud forest in particular supports some interesting bird life for avid bird watchers. There is a large variety of hummingbird species and there are many pleasant walks that can be taken to spot birds such as the Collard Inca, the Golden Plumed Parakeet, the Long-tailed Sylph, the Buff-Breasted Mountain Tanager and the Andean Potoo. Loja can be reached from Quito by plane in 45 minutes.
Amazon - bird lovers should not miss Ecuador’s Amazon region for some excellent birdwatching opportunities. In the Amazon you might see the Fiery Topaz, Harpy Eagle, Zigzag Heron, tanagers, toucans, parrots and antbirds. Some lodges have observation towers allowing for easy viewing of species. There are also Parrot Licks where travelers can watch parrots along with other species eating clay. It is best to visit a lodge, and the majority of them are based near Coca or Lago Agrio, which takes about eight hours from Quito by bus, or 30 minutes in a plane. The best travel seasons for the Ecuador Amazon are February to July and September to November.
Galapagos Islands – one of the easiest places to spot birds in the world, the Galápagos is home to Darwin’s famous finches, from which he developed his theory of evolution. Some of the most famous birds here are the blue footed, red footed and Nazca boobies. Travelers who visit Española Island between April and December, will have a chance to see the Waved Albatross. The tower on Genovesa is arguably the best bird watching spot. Lucky visitors may even snorkel among penguins diving for fish. It is best to book a cruise or land tour. The journey from Quito takes approximately two hours by plane.
Antisana / Cotopaxi – one of the best places to spot Ecuador’s mightiest bird, the condor, is the Antisana reserve. Here in the páramo, birds are easier to see because the vegetation is sparser. In these areas, it is also possible to see the Tawny Antpitta and the Andean Snipe. 90 species of bird have been observed in the Cotopaxi National Park, including Black Chested Hawk Eagle and Andean Lapwing. This area can be reached by taking a bus south of Quito, which takes about an hour.
