Ecuador
Visting the Galapagos only whetted our appetite for a return to Ecuador. On that trip, we arrived a day early in Quito, and carved out some time for a daytrip to the cloud forest near Mindo. I spent much of the next two years plotting a return that would allow for a visit to the Amazon rain forest, as well as another visit to the cloud forest.
In 2024 we returned with my daughter Rebecca and her husband Clayton and traveled first to Yasuní National Park and the Napo Wildlife Center. Although all of Ecuador was in the midst of a drought, which limited water travel in the Napo River basin, we were still able to enjoy much of the remarkable wildlife of the rainforest.
We followed up with an overnight to Choco Toucan Reserve with owner Hans Heinz. Hans is an accomplished photographer and understands what other photographers are looking for in a tour. He has close relationships with many of the small reserves in the area and went out of his way to make sure we had as many photo opportunities as possible during our brief stay, including getting shots of the incredible Cock of the Rock.
I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. But I’ll add a few observations based on our experience.
Yasuní National Park and Napo Wildlife Center
Cloud Forest Near Mindo
Rainforest Gallery
Click on an image below to see a full-page copy.
- Cobalt-Winged-Parakeets
- Turquoise Tanager
- Night Monkey
- Capuchin Monkey
- Oropendola
- Mealy Amazon Parrots
- Scarlet Macaw
- Ringed Kingfisher
- Yellow-rumped Cacique
- Night Monkey
- Paradise Tanager
- Tiger Heron
- Ani
- Swallow-Tailed Kite
- Tiger Heron
- Capuchin Monkey
- Woodcreeper
- Caiman
- Tiger Heron
- Scarlet Macaw
- Yellow-rumped Cacique
- Anaconda
- Caiman
- Green Kingfisher
- Yellow-rumped Cacique
- Yellow-Tufted Woodpecker
- Oropendola with Nests
- Scarlet Macaw
- Hoatzin
- Juvenile Striated Heron
- Tropical Kingbird
- Yellow-rumped Cacique
- Yellow-rumped Cacique
- Golden-Mantled Tamarin
- Great Egret
- Golden-Mantled Tamarin
- Chestnut Woodpecker
- Yellow-rumped Cacique
- Rain Forest Frog
- Scarlet Macaw
- Cocoi Heron
- Juvenile Striated Heron
- Scarlet Macaw
- Capuchin Monkey
- Hoatzin
- Kiskadee
- Long-Nosed Bats
- Araçari
- Black Caracara
- Chestnut Woodpecker
- Golden Mantled Tamarin
- Tiger Heron
- Paradise Tanager
- Rain Forest Frog
- Paradise Tanager
- Parrot
- Araçari
- Hoatzin
- Scarlet Macaw
- Yellow-rumped Cacique
- Mealy Amazon Parrot
- Black-tailed Tityra
- Green Kingfisher
- Cobalt-Winged Parakeets
- Woodcreeper
- Oropendola
- Blue-Grey Tanager
- Wattled Jacana
- Lizard
- Black Caracara
- Green-and-Rufous Kingfisher
- Yellow-rumped Cacique
- Long-Nosed Bat
- Red Howler Monkey
- Cocoi Heron
- Hoatzin
- Kiskadee
- Black-tailed Tityra
- Scarlet Macaw
- Striated Heron
- Orange Cheeked Parrot
- Ringed Kingfisher
- Black-tailed Tityra
- Striated Heron
- American Pygmy Kingfisher
- Scarlet Macaws
- Hoatzin
- Cocoi Heron
Cloud Forest Gallery
Click on an image below to see a full-page copy.
- Violet-tailed Sylph
- Green Thorntail
- Velvet-purple Coronet
- White-booted Racket Tail
- Cock-of-the-Rock
- Green Thorntail
- Cock-of-the-Rock
- Parrot
- Cock-of-the-Rock
- Tanager
- Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
- Pink-Cheeked Parrot
- Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
- White-necked Jacobin
- Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
- Crowned Woodnymph
- Green Thorntail
- Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
- Buff-tailed Coronet
- Crowned Wood Nymph
- Velvet-purple Coronet
- Masked-Trogon
- Green Thorntail
- Buff-tailed Coronet
- Tayra
- Golden-Naped Tanager
- Violet-tailed Sylph
- Violet-tailed Sylph
- Golden Tanager
- Crowned Woodnymph
- Green Thorntail
- Crowned Wood Nymph
- Fawn-breasted Brilliant
- Palm Tanager
- Green Thorntail
- Toucan
- Cock-of-the-Rock
- Green Thorntail
- Toucan
- Empress Brilliant and Thorntail
- Golden Tanager
- Gorgeted Sun Angel
- Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
- Green Thorntail
- Black-capped Tanager
- Buff-tailed Coronet
- White-whiskered Hermit
- Gorgeted Sun Angel
- Green Thorntail
- Speckled Hummingbird
- Crowned Woodnymph
- Violet-tailed Sylph
- Blue-winged Mountain Tanager
- White-necked Jacobin
- Hummingbird
- Violet-tailed Sylph
- Speckled Hummingbird
- Toucan Barbet
- Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
- Green Thorntails