Info Sheet ECUADOR TOUR. TOUCAN BIRDING TOURS.
General.
Please do not drink the tap water.
Please do not put toilet paper in the toilet – use the water bin provided.
Please bring sun block and hat (preferably wide-brimmed) for protection.
Daily activities:
Generally birding is best early morning and late afternoon in the forests so we take early breakfasts with birding until about an hour before lunch. Some day’s activities will dictate that we take a box lunch. We take an afternoon rest period (when bird activity is low) when possible.
Hotel check-in:
This tends to take a little longer in Latin America than in the UK or the USA. Please be patient and relax in reception while the leader attends to this. You will usually be asked to complete some forms on arrival and the clerk may ask to copy your passport. Your leader will collect the passports once this is done and return them to you.
Travel: Please leave the front seats vacant for the leader on the bus.
Tips: Gratuities to local guides and drivers are covered in the price of the tour. Optional tips to hotel staff (who carry your luggage for instance) are not included.
Drinks: Some ground agents include bottled water free (usually in a cool box in the vehicle). However, we advise participants to purchase at least one bottle of mineral water at the start of the tour.
Please make sure you let the waiter know your room number when ordering drinks at a hotel and pay any bills the evening prior to departure. Alcoholic beverages are not included.
Photography: Ecuador is good for bird photography with many opportunities available at feeding stations, etc. The leader will have a telescope for general use by the group, but please bring your own if you wish to digiscope birds and wildlife.
Clothing: Brightly coloured clothing should be avoided if at all possible. Cold weather clothing will be needed for the paramo zones at Papallacta and we recommend bringing a fleece, gloves and a woolly hat. A light fleece or sweater will suffice at other sites for early mornings. Otherwise long-sleeve shirts should suffice, preferably cotton. We recommend wearing long trousers in the field but shorts may be preferred when travelling and in the evenings. Although we are visiting Ecuador in the dry season we can expect some showers so a collapsible umbrella or a poncho may be needed. Walking boots / shoes should be worn during the day with sandals an option for relaxing / travelling. Rubber boots are provided at the lodge in the Amazon.
“Nasties”: Please consult your GP regarding health precautions for visiting Ecuador. Mosquitoes are not prolific in the areas we are visiting but repellent should be carried at all times in the field.
Time: Quito time is GMT – 5 hours.
Currency: US Dollars are now used throughout Ecuador.
Maximum altitude: We’ll reach 4000 metres aove sea level at Papallacta Pass.
Reception and rendezvous: As tour participants are arriving on different flights we’ll meet at our hotel in Quito and airport transfers will be arranged.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Toucan Birding Tours office should you have any questions regarding the tour.
Toucan Birding Tours February 2008.
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