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Bird Photography Tour: Capture Nature's Beauty
Embark on a personalized cloud forest exploration with naturalist Richard Hernandez. Discover the wonders of the forest, taste local fruits, and experience a real connection with nature.
Embark on a personalized cloud forest exploration with naturalist Richard Hernandez. Discover the wonders of the forest, taste local fruits, and experience a real connection with nature.
Duration:
2 days
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
Day 1: Milpe, Primero de Mayo, Pacto, Mashpi
Recinto Primero de Mayo - Birds to capture on camera:
- Andean Cock-of-the-rock
- Long-wattled Umbrellabird
- Club-winged Manakin
-
and more.
Milpe Bird Sanctuary - Notable birds include: - Toucan Barbet
- Crimson-rumped Toucanet
- Giant Antpitta
- Strong-billed Woodcreeper
-
Andean Solitaire
-…
Day 1: Milpe, Primero de Mayo, Pacto, Mashpi
Recinto Primero de Mayo - Birds to capture on camera:
- Andean Cock-of-the-rock
- Long-wattled Umbrellabird
- Club-winged Manakin
- and more.
Milpe Bird Sanctuary - Notable birds include:
- Toucan Barbet
- Crimson-rumped Toucanet
- Giant Antpitta
- Strong-billed Woodcreeper
- Andean Solitaire
- Violet-tailed Sylph
- Velvet-purple Coronet
- Empress Brilliant
- Black-chinned Mountain Tanager
- and others.
Mashpi Amagusa Reserve - Birds to observe:
- Glistening-green Tanager
- Rose-faced Parrot
- Black-capped Tanager
- Moss-backed Tanager
- Rufous-throated Tanager
- Golden-collared Honeycreeper
- Dark-backed Wood-Quail
- Orange-breasted Fruiteater
- and more.
Day 2: Pedro Vicente Maldonado, Mindo, Tandayapa Valley
Pedro Vicente Maldonado - Birds to photograph:
- Choco Tyrannulet
- Common Tody-Flycatcher
- Choco Parakeet
- Scarlet-backed Woodpecker
- Long-billed Starthroat
- Black-throated Mango
- Purple-chested Hummingbird
- Great Antshrike
- Choco Toucan
- and others.
Mindo - Birds to capture on camera:
- Black-chinned Mountain Tanager
- Guira Tanager
- Bay-headed Tanager
- Yellow-throated Toucan
- Red-billed Parrot
- Ringed Kingfisher
Tandayapa - Birds to observe:
- Andean Emerald
- Green-crowned Brilliant
- Brown Inca
- Silver-throated Tanager
- and more.
What's Included
- Ground transportation for 2 days
- 1 hotel night
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Entrance fees to private reserves
- Ground transportation for 2 days
- 1 hotel night
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Entrance fees to private reserves
What's Not Included
- tips
- drinks
- dinner
- tips
- drinks
- dinner
Additional Information
High-Quality Bird Photography Tour
All skill levels are welcome, including beginners.
Emphasizing respect for both birdwatchers and nature.
Suitable for DSLR or mirrorless cameras.
Bring a wide-angle or telephoto lens, whether prime or zoom.
Capture birds in flight or perched in their natural habitat.
No multi-flash setups.
Avoid using…
High-Quality Bird Photography Tour
All skill levels are welcome, including beginners.
Emphasizing respect for both birdwatchers and nature.
Suitable for DSLR or mirrorless cameras.
Bring a wide-angle or telephoto lens, whether prime or zoom.
Capture birds in flight or perched in their natural habitat.
No multi-flash setups.
Avoid using mobile bird studios with LED lights and tripods.
Enjoy a private bird photography tour with Naturalist & Bird Guide Richard Hernandez.
Richard uses a Nikon professional camera.
Explore nature bird reserves, eBird hotspots, and bird sanctuaries.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(6 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Saleh
Jan 8, 2026
my experience visiting Mindo forrest with the best guide - I truly enjoyed my visit to the Mindo Cloud Forest and sincerely appreciate the effort you put into making the tour such a memorable experience.
The tour was excellent and very enriching. I learned many new things about birds, their behavior, habitats, and how to observe and photograph them more effectively. Your knowledge and guidance made a big difference, and it was fascinating to see such a wide variety of bird species in such a beautiful natural environment.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience that combined learning, photography, and a deep appreciation of nature. I would highly recommend this tour to other bird photographers and nature lovers.
Thank you once again for the great experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Danlondon90
Apr 12, 2025
Absolutely fantastic! - Richard is absolutely brilliant! I am on a solo tour of South America and had a free day so decided to book Richard’s one day Mindo Cloud Forest birding trip. I had read lots of positive reviews, and I can say that they are 100% accurate! Richard is not only a super knowledgeable about all the birds, but knows the most incredible spots to capture amazing shots. He also had a great personality, with a sharp sense of humour!
Thank you SO much for sharing the beautiful area with me, Richard. It was an absolute pleasure spending the day with you, and I will absolutely be in touch about joining you for a longer trip!
Dan 😊
Review provided by Tripadvisor
795meimeit
Apr 10, 2025
A fabulous experience with Richard Hernandez - My husband and I just spent 7 days birdwatching tour guided by Richard. The experience is much more than our expectations.
Of course the reason we came to Quito was for the birds, and we certainly were not disappointed. We travelled from east to west and saw so many kinds of hummingbirds including swordbills, toucans, tanagers, flycatchers, woodpeckers, etc. Beyond the great birding, what really stood out was Richard. He is very friendly, has a wonderful knowledge of the birds, very experienced in finding best photo shooting positions and was incredibly helpful with all our arrangements.
We highly recommend Richard to anyone who is nature lover and likes to know more about birds.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Evahe5686zh
Oct 22, 2024
The Best of Ecuadro Bird Tour - We have started the journey on photography wildlife. Ecuador is one of the best place to see and capture the birds photos. We were fortunate enough to find an incredibly talented photographer, Richard Hernández, who exceeded our expectations.
Richard attention to detail of the 5 days trip brought out the best impression of Ecuador, it help us to have opportunity to photo many exotic birds. Richard planned every day schedule, arrived on time, maintained a friendly and approachable demeanor, and made us feel at ease throughout the whole trip. he patiently listened to our ideas and incorporated them seamlessly into the tour. We had small group, three of us. He arranged 5 full days activities, never missed the best photo slots for sunrise and sunset which were the most active birds period.
Richard has detailed local knowledge about the birds. He named all the birds we saw, and took us the places they would show up. And took us to the best local place to have Ecuador food. We enjoyed the experience the friendly local people and their culture, enjoy the delicious food.
Richard, thank you for the time and effort you put into creating an fabulous experience we enjoyed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nonoy2629
Oct 12, 2024
Ecuador Mindo Bird Photography Tours. - I recently had the pleasure of using Richard Hernandez as my bird guide to Quito Pichincha Province and I must say it has exceeded my expectations. Richard stands out for his comprehensive and knowledge of the birds in the Mindo cloud forest area. If you are in need of a bird guide in Quito, look no further than Richard Hernandez of Ecuador Mindo Bird Photography Tours. I would definitely hire him back when I go back to Quito.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
340yif
Jul 29, 2024
Amazing Experience in Bird Photography - My wife and I recently enjoyed a 2-day private bird photography tour that exceeded all my expectations. From the start, our guide, Richard, showcased impressive knowledge of local bird species and the local ecosystem. In the early morning, we ventured into a dense forest, waking up very early to catch the Cock-of-the-rock's mating display before it ended. The early start was well worth it, as we witnessed and photographed these magnificent birds in their natural setting. Our guide’s familiarity with the terrain led us to prime spots for bird watching and photography. We were also in a beautiful remote mountain area, capturing stunning images of hummingbirds and tanagers in the morning light. We encountered three kinds of toucans, each more impressive than the last. The guide’s expertise ensured we were perfectly positioned for the best shots and provided fascinating insights into the behavior and habitats of each species. The personalized attention and exceptional service made this tour stand out. Every detail, from transportation to meals allows me to focus on photography and nature. This tour is a must for bird photography enthusiasts. The expert guidance, stunning locations, and personalized service made it an unforgettable experience. We came away with fantastic photographs and a deeper appreciation for bird photography. Some photos from this tour are displayed here.
Review provided by Tripadvisor