Scenes from our Ecuadorian Amazon trip - November, 2024

This trip was very different than our average international birding trip. Rather than taking long transfers by bus, we traveled by motorized and paddled canoes on this adventure. We flew into Quito and spent a day birding at high elevation before taking a short flight to Coca City. From there, we traveled for a couple of hours up the Napo River to our first stop - the amazing Napo Cultural Center. After three days, we transferred to the spectacular Sani Lodge. Both areas offered the opportunity to bird from unforgettable canopy towers, with wonderful views and unbelievable birds! Here are a few "non-bird" images from the trip.


High Paramo on day one.



Our group at Tabor Condor.



In my happy place.



The dining room at Napo Cultural Center.


The canopy tower at Napo Cultural Center.



The canopy tower at Napo Cultural Center.



Our great guides at Napo Cultural Center.



John and Wendy at the base of the canopy tower tree.



Canoeing at Sani Lodge.



Despite being "off grid" in the middle of the rain forest, both lodges were first class.



Despite being in a rainforest, we only used umbrellas to shade the sun in the extreme heat.



We got to experience everyday life for local indigenous people. One of our hosts is teaching us to wrap and cook fish - it was delicious!



This young girl charmed us all.



A creative fundraising idea - young river turtles can be "purchased" for release.



Andean Fox.



Nelson's sharp eyes spotted a much sought-after Spectacled Bear on a hillside.



We saw a wide variety of monkeys on this trip.



We saw a wide variety of monkeys on this trip.



We saw a wide variety of monkeys on this trip.



One of many spectacular butterflies on the trip.



A colorful grasshopper.



John and Wendy at the end of our trip in Quito.



Rolling blackouts in Quito meant having our last dinner by candlelight.