My husband and I are going to Ecuador with 8 other people to explore and focus on birdwatching. We have a guide for each area. Four nights at Sacha Lodge in the rainforest, then 3 at Septimo Paraiso Lodge and 2 nights at Bella Vista Lodge in the sub tropic forests around Mindo. Just looking for some experiences by others who have visited this country. Thanks

I spent some time in Ecuador sport fishing and also birding on the Santa Elena peninsula.
It's a compact place-typically South American in that the mountain cities are occupied by 'reserved' people and the lowlands are easier and happier places.
A lot of poverty and the security situation had deteriorated from what I read since I've been.
Some decent food and Quito has some excellent buys on jewellery and woollens-not cheap but quality goods for a fair price.
How's your Spanish?

Hi Peggy

We stayed at Bellavista Lodge overnight, and my mom is a big birdwatcher. Lisa and I went on a hike with her and our guide, Trevor or Travis (I cannot remember his name now), he was an excellent guide. One would think since I do own a blue and gold macaw I would be into birds more. We did see those blue Toucans (it is on one of the shirts they sell there) and we saw an OT bird (two words, possibly occidental tourant, or something close, cannot remember the name, but it is in the bird books, so Lisa and I nicknamed it the OT bird), any way our guide says people spend up to $100 a day for a private guide to find these birds. It was just walking on the ground in the bushes, I belive it was brown, and orangish, and had white spots. We also saw the very rare Anapita (something like that) that happened to be in the path with a huge giant worm. Couldn't get my camera out in time for a photo. Lot's of humminging birds.

Basically what I am saying is my mom got to come back and brag to her "bird buddies" what she saw. Lisa and I bragged too, but we just didn't remember the names of the birds. I am a macaw/parrot type person.

Many years ago on a hotel balcony in Cozumel I looked up and saw some parrots squawking as they flew by...I don't thnk I owned birds then, but I was sceaming and telling everybody I saw parrots flying into the the woods.....they thought the "gringo: was crazy..The only thing I saw in Costa Rica were the hummingbirds..andin the caribbean the men that come around with huge macaws to take pictures with the tourists..lol..

We saw parrots fly by every morning when we stayed at Vista del Valle in Costa Rica. We also got to see scarlett macaws on our crocodile trip up the river, also in Costa Rica. Although I did own my bird when I went there.