Guide recommendation (1 Viewer)

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cheshirebirder

Well-known member

• Nov 14, 2015

• #1

Four of us recently returned from a very successful 2 week tour of the east and west slopes of the Andes with local guide Renato Espinosa.Renato is a knowledgable and capable guide and good company. We saw over 450 species including condors,cock-of-the rock,umbrella bird,oilbird,torrent duck ,8 antpittas etc. Because Renato uses reserves/locations and accommodations run by local people , he is able to keep costs down and benefit Ecuadorians at the same time, which in turn encourages conservation. A number of the well-known ,but foreign owned, lodges were visited some days but without the cost of staying there. We paid approx. $2150 each (about £1500) which included everything apart from evening drinks plus our flights.We all had separate rooms throughout , mainly en-suite . This compares very well with the prices quoted by tour companies and ,of course, it's much better birding in a smaller group, escecially on trails. Renato can be contacted via his website at Pululahua Hostal at which we stayed some nights.( [email protected])

 

Last edited: Nov 14, 2015

temmie

Well-known member

• Nov 16, 2015

• #2

I have heard good reviews about pululahua (and their staff) before, so thanks for sharing.

 

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cheshirebirder

Well-known member

• Nov 16, 2015

• #3

Yes, Pululahua is a good place to stay. The rooms we had were very comfortable and the staff really helpful. The location is important for the rusty breasted antpitta too , which can only be seen here and one other place.

 

temmie

Well-known member

• Nov 17, 2015

• #4

Now you started this, I looked up Rusty-breasted Antpitta sightings, and it truly has a strange distribution in Ecuador, occurring only near Pululahua and in Loja... Intriguing!

 

Hamhed

Well-known member

• Nov 20, 2015

• #5

cheshirebirder said:

We paid approx. $2150 each (about £1500) which included everything apart from evening drinks plus our flights.

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By "flights", I assume you mean your flights within Ecuador?

Steve

 

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cheshirebirder

Well-known member

• Nov 21, 2015

• #6

Hi Steve. I meant flights from the UK to Quito. We had no need of flights within Ecuador. Driving times from site to site aren't long and we made frequent birding stops en-route. One of the attractions of the tour was the fact that there weren't any wasted days where you spend all day sat in a travelling vehicle. I think some tours do fly Quito to Coca to visit Amazonian lodges. We had 3 days around Tena where we picked up some of those species like hoatzin , jacamars etc. without the need and expense of flying ( or the need to take anti-malarials ).

 

Last edited: Nov 21, 2015

Hamhed

Well-known member

• Nov 22, 2015

• #7

cheshirebirder said:

Hi Steve. I meant flights from the UK to Quito. We had no need of flights within Ecuador.

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That really does seem like a very good deal. Thanks for posting that contact info.

Steve

 

ovenbird43

Well-known member

• Nov 29, 2015

• #8

Glad you had a good trip. I have hired Renato for day trips and we have stayed at Pululahua Hostel as well - I definitely second your recommendation of him! Last I talked to him (a few years ago now) I believe was even working up a land-based Galapagos itinerary that keeps the tourism dollars in local hands.

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Nov 30, 2015

• #9

ovenbird43 said:

Last I talked to him (a few years ago now) I believe was even working up a land-based Galapagos itinerary that keeps the tourism dollars in local hands.

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The problem with that is the total tourism load on the islands. The boat tourism is well controlled with regards to how many people come and where. The land based tourism is much less well controlled, and it is the reason that the population that actually currently lives on the islands have increased strongly. That is not sustainable in the long run.

Niels

 

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Clandestine Bird

Well-known member

• Nov 30, 2015

• #10

Hi,

¿Can you explain where you stayed (night accommodation) during the entire trip?

Cheers,

 

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cheshirebirder

Well-known member

• Dec 1, 2015

• #11

No problem. First night in Quito after late afternoon arrival. Then 2 nights at Pululahua hostal. Then 1 night at Paz de las aves reserve, 3 night Yellow House, Mindo. Back to Pululahua for 1 night. Over to the east next for 2 nights at a finca near Baeza ( can't remember the name ) , then 3 nights in Puerto Misahualli.Back for 1 night near Baeza and finally back to Pululahua - but could have gone to the airport at this point and home.
Regards, Bill.

 

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Clandestine Bird

Well-known member

• Dec 1, 2015

• #12

Cheers Bill.