Returned from 3 weeks in Ecuador, no Galapagos.
Nov 17th, 2013, 08:53 AM
#21
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Couple more questions and I promise to leave you alone! What were the daytime and nightime temps.at Su Merced and Mindo areas like? How about the bugs while birding around Mindo?Lastly when you book Julia do you also have to book transpo or does she do local areas where it's not necessary? Many thanks again!
Nov 17th, 2013, 09:16 AM
#22
Original Poster
No problem, ask away!
For the most part, temps are moderate, springlike. I don't recall needing to bundle up, but I tend to run "hot". I thought it would be more like San Gerardo de Dota in Costa Rica, where it was freezing at night.
My typical attire was a lightweight long sleeved tee shirt and a light jacket. I carried a fleece and a waterproof shell, in the car, but I rarely used the fleece, maybe when we got up at 4:30 am but it didn't stay on for long. However we didn't have much in the way of heavy cloud or drizzle, I imagine that would have been colder. It was hot when we went to Chontal to see the oilbirds, and warm when we went to Rio Silanche. Su Merced and Quito were a bit cooler during the day, and I needed a warm jacket at night.
I used insect repellent around Mindo, there were definitely the flying gnat swarms when you got into the forest (lots of flycatchers) and around streams. We all had a few mosquito bites along the way.
Julia has a regular driver that she uses (Franklin) and can book any transport that you need. You don't necessarily need to book them for the full day, either. There might be some local birdwatching that you can walk to, around Mindo, but my group included some people that could barely get out of the car and walk to the feeders and I was a tagalong, so I never discussed this with her.
Although we didn't use Marcelo Arias, we did meet him and he also seems knowledgeable. I'm not sure if Marcelo uses his own car or if you pay separately for a driver.
You might be able to arrange transport to Paz de Aves directly with Angel, and then you wouldn't need to pay for both a guide and driver.
http://www.birdsofmindo.com/ for Marcelo.
For the most part, temps are moderate, springlike. I don't recall needing to bundle up, but I tend to run "hot". I thought it would be more like San Gerardo de Dota in Costa Rica, where it was freezing at night.
My typical attire was a lightweight long sleeved tee shirt and a light jacket. I carried a fleece and a waterproof shell, in the car, but I rarely used the fleece, maybe when we got up at 4:30 am but it didn't stay on for long. However we didn't have much in the way of heavy cloud or drizzle, I imagine that would have been colder. It was hot when we went to Chontal to see the oilbirds, and warm when we went to Rio Silanche. Su Merced and Quito were a bit cooler during the day, and I needed a warm jacket at night.
I used insect repellent around Mindo, there were definitely the flying gnat swarms when you got into the forest (lots of flycatchers) and around streams. We all had a few mosquito bites along the way.
Julia has a regular driver that she uses (Franklin) and can book any transport that you need. You don't necessarily need to book them for the full day, either. There might be some local birdwatching that you can walk to, around Mindo, but my group included some people that could barely get out of the car and walk to the feeders and I was a tagalong, so I never discussed this with her.
Although we didn't use Marcelo Arias, we did meet him and he also seems knowledgeable. I'm not sure if Marcelo uses his own car or if you pay separately for a driver.
You might be able to arrange transport to Paz de Aves directly with Angel, and then you wouldn't need to pay for both a guide and driver.
http://www.birdsofmindo.com/ for Marcelo.
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