Ecuador is a birdwatcher’s paradise. It offers some of the best bird-watching opportunities in all of South America, with over 1600 species in four distinct geographic regions. Here’s a guide to the best bird-watching spots in Ecuador.
List of destinations
Active Volcanoes, Bird-watching, Volcanoes & Mountains
Antisana is an impressive and beautiful double cone volcano. The Antisana volcano is located inside the Antisana Ecological Reserve, between the provinces of Napo and Pichincha. This is about 31 ...
Location: Pichincha province Region: Andean Highlands (Sierra Region)
Bird-watching, National Parks & Ecological Reserves, Rivers, Lakes & Lagoons
Cajas National Park is located about 30 km west from Cuenca. Due to the altitude - 3,156 to 4,450 meters above sea level - it is really chilly in the ...
Location: Azuay province Region: Andean Highlands (Sierra Region)
Bird-watching, National Parks & Ecological Reserves
Cerro Blanco Forest is a tropical dry forest reserve in the Guayas province, Ecuador. It is located 20 minutes from the city of Guayaquil. Cerro Blanco supports more than 500 ...
Location: Guayas province Region: Pacific Coast (Costa Region)
Bird-watching, National Parks & Ecological Reserves
Chimborazo Fauna Reserve is located in the provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua, and Bolivar in the Ecuadorian Andes. The reserve is a protected area that guards a wide variety of vegetation ...
Location: Chimborazo province Region: Andean Highlands (Sierra Region)
Bird-watching, National Parks & Ecological Reserves, Rivers, Lakes & Lagoons
Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve contains 752,235 acres (304418 hectares) of land. It extends from Imbabura - in the Ecuadorian Andes mountains to the western edge of the rainforest in the Esmeraldas. The ...
Location: Imbabura province Region: Andean Highlands (Sierra Region)
Bird-watching, Jungle Towns & Rainforest, Marine life (whales, dolphins, sea lions), National Parks & Ecological Reserves
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is a protected area located in the Sucumbíos and Orellana provinces. It provides home and habitat for countless of plant, animal, and more than 515 species of ...
Location: Sucumbios province Region: Amazon Basin (Oriente Region)
Bird-watching, National Parks & Ecological Reserves, Rivers, Lakes & Lagoons
El Angel Ecological Reserve is a unique area in the Carchi province of Ecuador. In the border with Colombia. The closest city is Tulcan. About 3 hours from Quito. This reserve ...
Location: Carchi province Region: Andean Highlands (Sierra Region)
Bird-watching, Marine life (whales, dolphins, sea lions), National Parks & Ecological Reserves, Snorkeling & Scuba Diving
The Galápagos Marine Reserve surrounds the Galápagos Islands in the eastern Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 km (600 mi) off Ecuador's coast. The Galápagos Marine Reserve covers 133,000 square kilometers (51,352 ...
Location: Galápagos province Region: Galápagos Islands (Insular Region)
Bird-watching, Marine life (whales, dolphins, sea lions), National Parks & Ecological Reserves
Galápagos National Park is Ecuador's first national park. Also, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Galápagos Islands are a collection of rocky and volcanic lands. It has pristine beaches and ...
Location: Galápagos province Region: Galápagos Islands (Insular Region)
Bird-watching, Snorkeling & Scuba Diving
Genovesa Island is a shield volcano and the most northeastern of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. It has a horseshoe shape, forming the Darwin Bay. Genovesa is also known as "Tower ...
Location: Galápagos province Region: Galápagos Islands (Insular Region)
Beaches & Surfing, Bird-watching, Marine life (whales, dolphins, sea lions), Snorkeling & Scuba Diving, Spondylus route
Isla de la Plata ("Silver Island") is an island full of natural wildlife, located 25 mi (40 km) offshore. Isla de la Plata is part of Machalilla National Park and part ...
Location: Manabí province Region: Pacific Coast (Costa Region)
Bird-watching, Jungle Towns & Rainforest, National Parks & Ecological Reserves
Llanganates National Park is a protected area part of the Tungurahua and Napo in Ecuador. This park has stunning lakes, rivers, mountains, and cloud forests. Llanganates means "beautiful hill". The ...
Location: Napo province Region: Amazon Basin (Oriente Region)
Beaches & Surfing, Bird-watching, Marine life (whales, dolphins, sea lions), National Parks & Ecological Reserves, Snorkeling & Scuba Diving, Spondylus route
Machalilla National Park is one of the largest protected areas located in Manabi, Ecuador. The park has many islands and beautiful beaches to enjoy, from June to September, humpback whales ...
Location: Manabí province Region: Pacific Coast (Costa Region)
Bird-watching, National Parks & Ecological Reserves, Rivers, Lakes & Lagoons
Mindo-Nambillo Ecological Reserve is located two hours north of Quito, Ecuador. Its main feature is the Mindo-Nambillo Cloud Forest. Mindo-Nambillo biodiversity allows more than 350 bird species to live in ...
Location: Pichincha province Region: Andean Highlands (Sierra Region)
Bird-watching, Jungle Towns & Rainforest, Waterfalls & Hot springs
Papallacta is a small town located in the Napo province, 20 miles west from Quito. Nestled between the Cayambe and the Antisana volcanoes. The town has an elevation of 10,800 ft. ...
Location: Napo province Region: Amazon Basin (Oriente Region)
Beaches & Surfing, Bird-watching, Marine life (whales, dolphins, sea lions), Spondylus route
Puerto López is a small fishing village, located in the center of the Machalilla National Park, in the province of Manabí, Ecuador. Puerto López is located in a wide bay ...
Location: Manabí province Region: Pacific Coast (Costa Region)
Bird-watching, National Parks & Ecological Reserves
Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve is a calm and isolated volcanic crater. This protected area is inside the Pululahua volcano. It is rich with a great diversity of fauna and flora. "Reserva ...
Location: Pichincha province Region: Andean Highlands (Sierra Region)
Bird-watching, Jungle Towns & Rainforest, Waterfalls & Hot springs
Rio Malo waterfall is a waterfall located in the Napo province, in the Amazon Region of Ecuador. It is part of The Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve. This waterfall has a fall of ...
Location: Napo province Region: Amazon Basin (Oriente Region)
Bird-watching, Rivers, Lakes & Lagoons
San Pablo a lake formed by the water discharged by the waterfall Peguche. Located right at the foot of Imbabura volcano. 2.5 mi. (4 km.) west of Otavalo, Ecuador. During the Yamor ...
Location: Imbabura province Region: Andean Highlands (Sierra Region)
Bird-watching, Jungle Towns & Rainforest, Waterfalls & Hot springs
San Rafael waterfall, in the Coca River, is one of the largest waterfalls in the eastern part of Ecuador. This waterfall has a fall of more than 492 ft. (150 ...
Location: Napo province Region: Amazon Basin (Oriente Region)
Bird-watching, National Parks & Ecological Reserves
Sangay National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, located in the Morona Santiago, Chimborazo and Tungurahua provinces, Ecuador. The Sangay National Park includes three volcanoes: Tungurahua (16,457 ft - ...
Location: Morona Santiago province Region: Amazon Basin (Oriente Region)
Bird-watching
Vilcabamba is a peaceful town, surrounded by mountains, located 28 mi (45 km) from the city of Loja, Ecuador. It offers stunning panoramic views. Vilcabamba is a popular destination for ...
Location: Loja province Region: Andean Highlands (Sierra Region)
Bird-watching, National Parks & Ecological Reserves
Yacuri National Park is a protected area. Located southeast of Ecuador, on the border with Peru, between the provinces of Loja and Zamora Chinchipe. The park protects moorland, cloud forests, ...
Location: Zamora Chinchipe province Region: Amazon Basin (Oriente Region)
Bird-watching, Jungle Towns & Rainforest, Marine life (whales, dolphins, sea lions), National Parks & Ecological Reserves
Yasuni National Park is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. It homes many species of mammals including pink river dolphins. As well as birds, reptiles, amphibians, and ...
Location: Orellana province Region: Amazon Basin (Oriente Region)
Bird-watching
Yunguilla Valley is a warm valley. It is full of fruit trees as mangoes, oranges, bananas, avocados, and lemons. Located 14 mi. (22km.) South West of Cuenca, in the province ...