| Quick Info |
Price:
4 days / 3 nights: From USD 790 (plus airfares)
5 days / 4 nights: From USD 920 (plus airfares) (5 days are recommended)
Location: Amazon Jungle
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| Overview |
HARDCORE BIRDWATCHING!!!
Of the incredible 1600 bird species registered in Ecuador, 587 (37%) have been seen at Sacha Lodge. That's almost 7% of the species found in the entire world!
Here are just a few of the highlights that our bird guides have frequently spotted during Sacha Lodge programs:
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Zigzag Heron
White Hawk
Ornate Hawk-Eagle
Black-banded Owl
Hoatzin
Fiery Topaz
Yellow-billed Jacamar
Chestnut-eared Araçari
Spot-breasted Woodpecker
Ornate Antwren
Lunulated Antbird
White-plumed Antbird
Ochre-striped Antpitta
White-crowned Manakin
Rusty-belted Tapaculo
Amazonian Umbrellabird
Paradise Tanager
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Zebrilus undulatus
Leucopternis albicollis
Spizaetus ornatus
Strix huhula
Opisthocomus hoazin
Topaza pyra
Galbula albirostris
Pteroglossus castanotis
Colaptes punctigula
Myrmotherula ornata
Gymnopithys lunulata
Pithys albifrons
Grallaria dignissima
Pipra pipra
Liosceles thoracicus
Cephalopterus ornatus
Tangara chilensi
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 For avid birdwatchers, Sacha Lodge provides bird specialist guides upon request. These guides know the best spots for the hard-to-find species, and can easily identify species by both sight and sound. Oscar Tapuy, a local expert who has been with at Sacha since 1995, estimates 60 species per day (sighted, of course) to be his average tally!
Your guide will lead you through a variety of habitats where mixed flocks are common, and generally begin before sunrise to take full advantage of the morning peak. You may even take a box lunch along if you wish to stay out all day, and return only for dinner before heading out again in search of owls and other nocturnal species. We will keep groups as small as possible (considering 5-6 people ideal), and recommend a minimum of 5 days to cover as much ground as possible. However, stays of a week or more are easily arranged in order to take full advantage of the local diversity!
Sacha Lodge provides each of our bird guides with a telescope to use for the duration of your stay. If ornithology is to be the focus of your trip, please request your bird specialist guide in advance to make sure he is there when you arrive.
Comments about the birding experience in Sacha Lodge
The forest around Sacha Lodge has been subjected to groups of guests passing through it regularly, and the bird territories have been affected in the process. The intrusion has been minimal, but this also means that some birds, especially those requiring large territories and Ant birds that are strictly swarm-followers, can be hard to find or are simply not here. Hence, it is advised that birders spend some time in the Yasuni National Park areas accessible from the Lodge. This includes the Añangu community area, and Providencia, both easily reached by a short boat ride in the morning.
 Most birders are accustomed to waking up early. That’s a good thing, of course, and particularly applicable here, because activity dwindles with the heat of the day, usually coming to the well-known “dead time” around 10am, lasting until nearly 4pm. So, guests should not be distressed should a guide suggest a short nap in the afternoon, only to wake them up the next morning at 4:30am. This is normal and beneficial to guests and guide, alike, as being fresh with rested eyes helps everyone.
Finally, the list of birds at Sacha Lodge is a long one. Some of the guides have seen a bit more than 95% of that list. We mention this because one cannot expect to see half of the birds on the list, in the time span given here. A fair number will be somewhere in the vicinity of 200 species, maybe more, given intensity and, of course, a bit of luck.
The judicious use of tape playback is....well, discretion is advised, let’s say. During some times of year certain families of birds are non-responsive, and, worse yet, playback can be detrimental during early nesting season for others. So, prior to playback, hopefully one will have a good idea of what birds are nesting what time of year, or spend a short amount of time researching it, curbing and augmenting expectations for various birds, accordingly. |
PRICE 2009-2010
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BIRD WATCHING PROGRAM
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PRICE (USD)
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5 Days / 4 Nights
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Double/Triple
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920
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Single sup. 50%
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1380
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4 Days / 3 Nights
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Double/Triple
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790
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Single sup. 50%
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1093
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Prices do not include: Flight Quito - Lago Agrio - Quito (135,16U sd.). Airfares subject to change.
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Children under 12 years old have 30% discount on Hotel prices and 50% discount on Airfare.
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Children under 5 years old have FREE Hotel and 50% discount on Airfare.
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Note: For Sacha Lodge itineraries arriving or departing on non-operation days (any other than Monday and Friday), see below for extra canoe costos. Prices are per person for EACH NON-OPERATION DAY TRANSFER:
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CANOE COST
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PAX
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USD
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1
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80
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2
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40
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3
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27
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4 AND UP
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Free
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| ◊ PRICE INCLUDES |
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- Box lunch.
- Private transportation Lago Agrio - Cuyabeno - Lago Agrio.
- Accommodation in double room with private bathroom and hot water shower
- Canoe rides
- 3 meals a day
- Soft drinks (water, coffee, tea)
- Daily excursion program
- Naturalist multilingual speaking guides (English, German)
- Rubber boots, raincoats, life saver.
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| ◊ PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE |
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- Entrance fee Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (USD 20.00)
- Flight Quito - Lago Agrio (USD 69.58)
- Flight Lago Agrio - Quito (USD 65.58)
- Bus tickets (USD 20 round trip or, USD 10 one way)
- Alcoholic and bottled beverages.
- Tips and personal expenses
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Detailed Itinerary
Birding Sacha Lodge (The following itinerary is the suggested one for birding interest groups with a minimum time of 4 nights, 5 days) |
| • Day 1: |
Depending on flights, most visiting birders will arrive at Coca around 11:30am. There will be little time to bird in Coca, nor is there much habitat to do so, but a look at the river near the office might be worth a look for wintering Warblers, Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet, Black-billed Thrush, White-winged Swallow, Gray-breasted Martin, and other city/open country birds. The boat will head downriver about 30 minutes later, for the 2-2 ½ hours boat ride.
 The boat ride to Sacha can sometimes be a good one, and you must be on the lookout for Terns on the way down, checking the banks of the islands for Pied Plover and wintering Shorebirds, Oriole Blackbird, Swallows and Martins, Herons, and so on. Usually, you can pick up about 5-10 species of interest.
Upon arriving at Sacha, it’s always a good idea to go to the second story of the “Bodega” building for a minute or two, to check for White-eared Jacamar, Red-capped Cardinal, Grayish Saltator, Olive-faced Flatbill, and some common second-growth birds. The same goes for the 400 meters or so, of the walk in. Great Potoo has various roost spots on the walk in, as well.
This first day, there will be little time to seriously bird the boardwalk Varzea swamp, which is a shame, but is usually amended with various opportunities later in the itinerary. Go ahead and listen for White-shouldered Antbird, Spot-backed Antbird, White-bearded Manakin, and always look out in this area for monkeys in the afternoon. There are two territories for Collared Puffbird, and other interesting things on this boardwalk.
 The first afternoon guests will be urged to head on to the lodge and check in, get settled, briefed, etc. Birding around the cabins itself can be okay, and it’s always good to take birders to the “Balsa” by the edge of the lake, to see the Hoatzin coming in to roost, and look for Silver-beaked, Palm, and Blue-grey Tanagers, Gray-capped, Boat-billed, and Social Flycatchers, Great and Lesser Kiskadees, and the Striated Heron who always seems to be waiting for arriving guests on the lower deck. |
| • Day 2: |
This morning will, like all others, be an early one. It should be spent making for the Metal Towers and the Canopy Walkway. Groups should spend the entire morning, until it gets too hot to stand it, before going down the far side, and returning to the lodge via Chontapala trail or Liana Grande. I suggest a wake-up call for 4:45am, breakfast at 5:15, and 5:30 out the door for the towers. It’s about a 20-minute walk, if one does it without stops. Listen for Straight-billed Hermit, White-breasted Wood-Wren and Thrush-like Wrens along the way. All can be seen fairly easily in this area. There is one Sooty Antbird territory, two Black-faced Antbird territories, and one of the more cooperative Chestnut-belted Gnateaters hangs out in the viney tangles about halfway along.
 I could list all the birds to look for from the canopy walkway, but I imagine your eyes would tire before I finished. Some highlights include 8-10 species of Tanager, 4 Euphonia, 3 Dacnis, 3 Honeycreepers, Purplish and Great Jacamars (listen for them calling to find them), White-lored and Slender-footed Tyrannulets, Grey Elaenia, Zimmer’s Flatbill, Spangled, Plum-throated, and Purple-throated Cotingas, White-browed Purpletuft, Wing-barred Piprites, Many-banded, Ivory-billed, and Lettered Aracari, Scale-breasted, Cream-colored, Red-stained, and Crimson-crested Woodpeckers, Swallow-winged, White-necked, and Pied Puffbird, White-fronted Nunbird, Black-tailed, Violaceous, and Blue-crowned Trogons, Gilded and Lemon-throated Barbets, Cinnamon-throated, Buff-throated, and Strong-billed Woodcreepers, Slate-colored Hawk, White Hawk, Slender-billed, Plumbeous, and Swallow-tailed Kites, and, if you get a good mixed-flock, Dugand’s and Gray Antwrens, Plain-winged and Spot-winged Antshrikes, Chestnut-winged Hookbill, Grayish Mourner, and others.
Some of the rarer birds to look for are Ornate and Black Hawk-Eagle, Crested Eagle (a juvenile was seen daily for 4 months in 2004), Black-faced Hawk, Barred and Lined Forest-Falcons, Orange-breasted Falcon, Yellow-throated, White-throated, Golden-green, and Ringed Woodpeckers, Spix’s, Striped, and Ocellated Woodcreepers, White-bellied Dacnis, and....well....the list goes on.
 Once back on Terra Firme, there is a Golden-headed Manakin lek close by and one will have the chance to search out the Screaming Pihas, that have undoubtedly been ringing out all morning. Along Chontapala and Liana Grande, you’ll have the chance to try to catch some of the lower story mixed flocks, the most commonly encountered birds being Cinereous and Dusky-throated Antshrikes, Long-winged and White-flanked Antwrens, and, if lucky, a few Antbirds including Scale-backed and Bicolored. Furnariids may be present, with Olive-backed and Cinnamon-rumped Foliage-Gleaners being two of the more commonly encountered, and perhaps Plain Xenops.
The afternoon should most likely be spent looking for some specific species along the Liana Grande trail. Collared and White-chested Puffbird, Southern Nightingale Wren, Chestnut-belted Gnateater, Black-throated Trogon, White-throated Thrush, Black-faced Antthrush, Golden-collared Toucanet, and more lower-story based Flycatchers could be sought out. Staying past dusk is advised, looking and listening for Great, Little, and, if lucky, Variegated or White-throated Tinamous, Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl, and Crested Owl.
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| • Day 3: |
This morning, the adventure off of Sacha Lodge property begins. I would suggest taking a boat ride to the Parrot Lick, at Yasuni Park, first thing, then quickly moving on to bird the island, in the river, just in front of the Lick. Parrots to be expected include Dusky-headed Parakeet, Blue-headed Parrot, and Yellow-crowned and Mealy Amazons. From time to time, White-eyed Parakeets drop in to pay a visit.
 The island can either be very exciting, or very slow, depending on the weather. Given the lack of shade, the birds retire early, for the morning, so it’s best to bird there before 8:30/9am. Gray-breasted Crake, Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Olive-spotted Hummingbird, Lesser Hornero, Parker’s, Dark-breasted, and Plain-crowned Spinetails, Castlenau’s Antshrike, Black-and-White Antbird, Spotted Tody-Flycatcher, Fuscous Flycatcher, Orange-headed Tanager, Caqueta, Lesson’s, and Chestnut-bellied Seedeaters, Solitary Cacique, and Oriole Blackbird may all be present. One should not expect to encounter all of these island specialists, but, with luck, all can be seen.
After birding the island, heading back upriver to the Añangu Parakeet Lick, is highly recommended. The hike in is a short, muddy mess, and always worth the while.
Flocks here can be very dense and exciting, and this is the best area to see Rufous-tailed and Ornate Antwrens during the trip. The Parakeet lick is very dramatic, and one of the highlights for most all guests who get the opportunity to visit. Cobalt-winged Parakeets stream in by the hundreds, if not thousands, and often flush, flying right through the blind where you’ll be standing! Orange-cheeked Parrots and Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlets are in evidence and, with patience, Scarlet Macaws are often in the area, and may come down to the lick.
 Behind the lick, a trail leads up the hill, into great forest. One day, in November 2004, we noted the following in a little less than 2 hours birding the area: White-chested Puffbird, Yellow-billed and Purplish Jacamars, Great-billed Hermit, Black-throated Hermit, Gray-breasted Sabrewing, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Gould’s Jewelfront, Pavonine Quetzal, Black-tailed Trogon, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Wedge-billed, Cinnamon-throated, Amazonian Barred, and Ocellated Woodcreepers, Red-billed Scythebill, Chestnut-winged Hookbill, Chestnut-winged, Rufous-tailed, and Olive-backed Foliage-Gleaners, Rufous-tailed Xenops, Undulated, White-shouldered, and Mouse-colored Antshrikes, Plain-throated, Yasuni, Rufous-tailed, Long-winged, and Dot-winged Antwrens, Gray, Black-faced, Warbling, Yellow-browed, Spot-backed, Scale-backed, Spot-winged, White-plumed, and Hairy-crested Antbird, Black-faced Antthrush, Thrusk-like Antpitta, Blue-crowned, Golden-crowned, and Striped Manakin, and, by then, we’d had enough. Needed a break. On the way out, we topped it off with Forest Elaenia and Eastern Woodhaunter, and, just before going down the last steps to the canoe, we called in a Reddish-winged Bare-Eye, to put the icing on the cake. What a morning! It goes without saying, take a box lunch, take your field guide, and get ready. It can be truly amazing. |
| • Day 4: |
This last full day should be spent birding Anden, for a short spell, on the way out to the Napo, for the boat ride into Providencia. Take box lunches, and plan to spend the day working the loop trail, and be sure to take your time going up the creek to the trail. The boat ride in can be great for birds, and fun overall, with good chances for monkeys and, once, I saw an 8 meter Anaconda on the way in!
 Birds to look for along Anden in the morning should include Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant, Collared Puffbird, Black-spotted Bare-eye, Black-throated Antbird, and Buckley’s Forest-Falcon (rare).
The open forest at the Finca (by the boat dock) should be checked again for any open-country birds missed, and keep an eye to the ground for Undulated Tinamou, which are numerous there, but can be hard to see. Lefresnaye’s Piculet has nested near the farmhouse at the Finca, and Amazonian Umbrellabird sometimes comes to shore from Oropendola Island, to forage. This is the best place to look for Orange-fronted Plushcrown, as well.
The creek to access Providencia is just across the Napo, and you’ll take an open canoe ride there, giving full visibility as you venture 30 minutes, or so, up the creek to the trailhead. Good birds along the way could include Gray-headed Kite, Spot-breasted and Little Woodpecker, Chestnut-crowned Becard, Solitary and Ecuadorian Black Cacique, and Orange-backed Troupial, to name a few. Oilbird has also been spotted in the overhangs, roosting.
The forest you’ll be passing through at Providencia is superb, hilly, Terra Firme very typical South of the Napo. This is comparable to Añangu, and sometimes even better. Antbird, Antwren, and Furnariid flocks can be impressive, if not daunting. Golden-crowned Spadebill, Thrush-like Schiffornis, White-crowned, Blue-crowned, and Striped Manakins, Brownish Twistwing, Double-banded Pygmy-Tyrant, Chestnut-headed Crake, Musician Wren, Yellow-billed and Great Jacamar, and Red-necked Woodpeckers, all have territories near the path, and are some of the fairly regularly encountered birds of the visit.
 That being said, the Antbird, Antwren, and Furnariid flocks are always the targets, of course. Antbirds recorded have included White-shouldered, Sooty, Scale-backed, White-plumed, Bicolored, Lunulated, Spot-backed, Black, Blackish, Gray, and Banded. Ash-throated and Chestnut-belted Gnateaters both have territories there, and Rufous-capped Antthrush and Ochre-striped Antpitta are more readily seen here than elsewhere. One Antwren flock I encountered revealed Plain-throated, Ornate, Long-winged, Yasuni, and Rufous-tailed, working the same small area. Speckled Spinetail, Chestnut-winged, Olive-backed, Chestnut-crowned, and Cinnamon-rumped Foliage-Gleaners have all been noted, and all three Xenops species have been seen.
The latest highlights of my most recent visit there were two new birds for me: Bartlett’s Tinamou and Cinereous Mourner. Needless to say, this area is more than worthy of serious investigation, and groups visiting should consider making the loop twice, even, if good birds are being seen. You never know what the forest there will have in store for you.
The afternoon should definitely find you cruising across the lake at Sacha, and into Orquidea Creek. This, I like to save for last, because the experience is one of a kind. Not only are there some very special birds, but, if one forgets the rest (which I find hard to believe), it’s impossible to forget the scenery in the Varzea swamp. Classic and pure Amazon.
 Good birds here include Agami Heron, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Sungrebe, Green-and-Rufous and Pygmy Kingfishers, White-chinned Jacamar, Dot-winged, Plumbeous, and Silvered Antbird, and the endemic Orange-crowned Manakin. And, in the afternoon, the swamp can fill up with Common Squirrel Monkey, White-faced Capuchin, and, quite often, Amazonian Red Howler monkeys. One afternoon recent, we estimated a troop of 120 Common Squirrel Monkey, and 40 White-faced Capuchin, going over our heads at once. A few stayed low enough so that, if we wanted to, we could reach out and nearly touch them!
To end the trip, going up the wooden tower can be very nice. The Sunsets there are breathtaking, and the ambience amazing, being 45 meters above the forest floor in a big treehouse! Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatchers have nested in the tree the past three years running (at least) and Eastern Sirystes, White-lored Euphonia, and Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin can be easier to find here than on the Canopy Walkway. Tanager flocks can be great, yielding Masked Tanager, and Southern Three-toed Sloth is a resident in the area, and often seen well in the treetops.
Wait till dusk to return to the canoes, and paddle back in the dark. The Bulldog Fishing and Sac-winged Bats are thick, and you can usually find sleeping Hummingbirds and various others, to boot. At night, the swamp is a great opportunity to look for Night Monkey and various snakes and going across the lake at night is an experience. On a clear night, you can’t help but be impressed by the stars and sounds, and, with a little effort, Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Pauraque, and Common Potoo, can usually be found in the Apodae surrounding Pilchecocha. Look for their eye shines, and those of Spectacled and the occasional Black Caiman, which can often be approached before submerging. |
| • Day 5: |
The final morning usually consists of guests waking up around 6:30am, eating, then packing out to meet the boat, riverside, at 8am. Flights out of Coca to Quito are scheduled to leave around 11:30am.
 As often as weather permits, I try to wake the birding guests up for one last go at the Varzea along Anden, the main boardwalk from the lake to the Rio Napo, and the boat waiting to take guests to Coca. Antbirds are often vocal in the morning, as are White-chinned Jacamar, Short-crested Flycatcher, and, with luck, Green-and-Rufous Kingfisher, along the canal to the dock at Anden. Antbirds to look for include Plumbeous, Dot-backed, Spot-backed, Silvered, and, with luck, Black-spotted Bare-eye and Black-throated Antbird. This is the last chance for Chestnut-capped and Collared Puffbird, both of which have territories near the boardwalk. Cream-colored, Chestnut, and Spot-breasted Woodpeckers are more readily seen along this walk, as well.
From the dock, it’s back upriver to Coca, then on to Quito and the guests’ next destination.
Final Comments
All in all, the birding in Sacha Lodge is, in a word, spectacular. Please enjoy it. Be respectful of the trails, the birds, and appreciate the diversity of all aspects of the forest, and the animals it holds. Above all have fun! |
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