Quito Hummingbird Expedition: 3 Reserves, 15 Species

Up to 15 hummingbird species in a single day, many found nowhere else on earth.

This eight to ten hour hummingbird expedition from Quito visits three reserves in the Mindo cloud forest at different altitudes, led by a certified naturalist guide in English or Spanish. You'll watch up to 15 endemic species at bird feeders, hike through waterfalls and subtropical forest, and have lunch in Mindo. The guide tailors the afternoon to your interests (birdwatching, photography, hiking or general nature), and an optional extension includes the Andean Cock of the Rock lek.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore cloud forest and hummingbirds

• Early pick up from Quito
• Visit Alambi reserve for hummingbirds
• Visit San Tadeo Reserve
• Lunch in Mindo local restaurant
• Explore Mindo cloud forest reserves
• Optional visit to Andean Cock of the Rock lek
• Scenic drive back to Quito hotel or airport

The experience

The tour starts before dawn with hotel pickup and a drive toward the western Andean slopes, where the sun rises over the cloud forest. Your first stop is Alambi reserve, just over an hour from Quito, where hummingbird feeders and garden flowers draw species to within arm's reach. The conditions here are built for photography: you can sometimes spot more than ten species in a morning at surprisingly close distance. The guide shares knowledge in natural history, birdwatching, culture and photography as you watch for the Velvet-purple Cornet, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Brown Inca, Empress Brillant and Gorgeted Sunangel: many endemic to this bioregion and found nowhere else.

After Alambi, you move to San Tadeo Reserve, then head into Mindo for lunch at a local restaurant with a soft drink included. The afternoon is yours to shape: talk to your guide about what draws you (longer hiking trails through the subtropical rain forest, more birdwatching at other reserves, waterfall visits, or photography), and they'll take you to the best spot. The forest here hosts an outstanding number of orchids, birds, mammals, insects and reptiles. If you've booked the Cock of the Rock extension, your final stop is the lek where males gather to display their scarlet plumage and compete for breeding females. You'll return to your Quito hotel or airport area in the late afternoon.

The tour includes coffee and tea at the first two reserves, all activities, certified guide, private transportation and hotel pickup and drop-off. A small amount of walking on irregular terrain is involved, though longer trails are available if you want them. Vegetarian lunch options are available if you request them at booking.

What’s included

• Coffee and tea at Alambi and San Tadeo reserves.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Quito.
• lunch with soft drink in Mindo.
• private transportation.
• certified naturalist and birding guide in English or Spanish.
• all activities and reserve entry.

Options for this experience

3 options

Hummingbird expedition privateGuide in English or Spanish · 06:30, 07:00 and 07:30Hummingbird expedition: Take part in the hummingbird expedition as outlined in the main itinerary, ending with the stop in Mindo. Pickup is included.

Lek visit with an early pickupGuide in English or Spanish · 05:30Cock of the Rock Lek: Adds a visit to the Andean Cock of the Rock lek in the afternoon. Duration: 2 hours. Early pickup at 5:30 am adds about 2 hours to the regular tour duration. Well suited to birdwatchers. Pickup is included.

Extension to see the Cock of the RockGuide in English or Spanish · 06:30, 07:00 and 07:30Andean Cock of the Rock Lek: Include a stop at the Andean Cock of the Rock Lek in the afternoon to watch their courtship display. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 05:30, 06:30, 07:00 and 07:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by Neotropical Nature and Birding Trips

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to photograph hummingbirds at close range or observe species found nowhere else on earth. The guide adjusts the afternoon to your interests, so birdwatchers, photographers and hikers all get what they came for in a single day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

How many different hummingbird species can I expect to see in the Mindo cloud forest?

Up to 15 species visit the reserves on this tour, many endemic to the cloud forest bioregion. The feeders at Alambi and San Tadeo bring otherwise elusive birds to very close distances, and sometimes more than ten species appear in a single morning at one reserve alone.

What is the Velvet-purple Cornet and why is it special?

The Velvet-purple Cornet is one of the stunning endemic hummingbird species found in the Mindo cloud forest and seen on this tour. It is one of several species (including the Gorgeted Sunangel, Brown Inca and Empress Brillant) that live only in this bioregion.

What happens in the afternoon after lunch in Mindo?

After lunch you explore reserves around Mindo based on your interests. You can choose to focus on birdwatching, photography, hiking through the subtropical rain forest to waterfalls and rivers, or general nature observation, and your guide will take you to the best destination for what you want to do.

Is the Andean Cock of the Rock lek included, or is it an add-on?

The Cock of the Rock lek is an optional extension. If you book it, your final stop is the lek where males display their vivid scarlet plumage and compete for breeding females, and you'll return to your hotel or airport area in the late afternoon instead of earlier in the day.

How much walking is involved on this tour?

A small amount of walking is involved along cloud forest trails with irregular terrain. Longer hiking trails are available if you want more walking, and you can discuss this with your guide at the start of the day.