Balcon Tumpiki
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Balcon Tumpiki is a birder’s dream. All day long, you will be surrounded by birds of many species.
Where is Balcon Tumpiki?
Balcom Tumpiki is on Highway 28, in the Mindo Cloud Forest, in the mountains west of Quito. It will take almost two hours to get there. Finding the turnoff (to the left) might be a bit difficult. It is 49.5 km from Calicali on the west side of Quito (KM #69). If you are not going with a guide, ask for detailed directions when making your appointment or reservation.
You will need to contact them in advance to make an appointment for a one-day visit or to arrange a reservation for accommodations and meals. See contacts below.
How to get there?
There are several ways to get to Balcom Tumpiki. Depending on your starting location in Quito, the trip will take close to two hours.
- Rent a car.
- Go with a guide. This is a good option if you are going for the day and not staying overnight. You don’t need a guide at Balcom Tumpiki, but he will have a vehicle, and you won’t have any worries about how to get there and back. See the guides page
- Taxi. This might be a bit expensive, but it allows you to spend a few days there without the expensive guide.
The Birds of Balcon Tumpiki
At Balcom Tumpiki, you will be in a birders’ paradise. The owners feed the birds, which are everywhere and very tame. Here are a few of the species you will see.
Click on photos to enlarge and see species names.
Crimson-rumped Mountain Tanager, Place-billed Mountain Tanager, Yellow-breasted Antpitta.
Click on the first photo above to scroll through larger images and to see species names.
Hummingbirds
In addition to all the birds above, there is a hummingbird garden with scores of hummingbirds buzzing around like a swarm of flies. I have never seen so many hummingbirds of so many different species close up in one place. I saw 13 pieces in about one hour without moving my tripod. Here are a few of the photos.
Click on the first photo above to scroll through larger images and to see species names.
Accommodations
Accommodations are available at Balcon Tumpiki. See the accommodations page.
Summary
Balcon Tumpiki is not to be missed when planning your birding trip to Ecuador. It is one of the best places to see many species close up without walking far from your accommodations or the restaurant. Highly recommended.
Contact
info@balcontumpiki.com
Phone: 093 931 5181
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Refugio Paz de las Aves
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Where is it?
Refugio Paz de las Aves is in the Mindo Cloud Forest, near Balcon Tumpiki, described above. It is a bit closer to Quito on Highway 28.
Why go to Refugio Paz de Aves?
Refugio Paz de Aves is the place to see Cock-of-the-Rock and several species of Antpitta. It is a family business owned by Angle and Rodrigo Paz.
You can book tours from half-day to seven days. Or you can book accommodations for two or three days and play it by ear. There are birding opportunities every day.
The Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
The Cock-of-the-Rock is a strange bird. It has a large head and a tiny bill. The bill is so small that you probably will not even see it. The upper half is red, and the lower half is black and white. Females are brown. They make a strange noise that sounds more like a sick frog than a bird. You don’t want to miss out on seeing this iconic bird during your trip to Ecuador.
At Paz de Aves there is a blind for Cock-of-the-Rock Viewing
Antpittas
There are a few other places in Ecuador and Peru to see the Cock-pf-the-Rock, but you will not get a better opportunity to see several species of Antpittas in one place. Antpittas are shy birds and are seldom seen by people walking in the forest.
Clilck on the first photo and scroll through them to enlarge and see species names.
In addition to the four species of Antpittas in the photos above, we also say Chestnut-crowned and Ochre-breasted Antpittas.
Other Birds
In addition to Cock-of-the-Rock and Antpittas, we saw many other species of Minto Cloud Forest birds, including owls and hummingbirds. It is definitely worth a visit of at least a couple of days.
Warning
When making a reservation at Paz de Aves, ask if there will be any other tours while you are there. We stayed for three days, and on one of those days, there was a bus tour. We ended up birding with a crowd of about 30 other people. The trails are mostly single-file, and sometimes, only the first ten people got to see the birds that the guides found. it was not good.
Refugio Paz de Aves is an excellent place, and we highly recommend it. The Paz family is very nice, and they know where to find the birds. Just make sure you don’t go on a day when there is a bus tour.
Accommodations
We recommend staying at Paz de Aves for two or three days. Accommodations are available. They are a bit rustic but serve the purpose well enough/
There are also great meals available in the restaurant.
Contact
info@refugiopazdelasaves.com
Ecuador Calls or WhatsApp +1(593) 987253674
From USA or Canada +1 (619) 9194985
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Galapagos Islands
The member’s pages contain lots of information about the Galapagos Islands, including birding, touring the Galapagos Islands without a cruise, and books about birds and other wildlife. Click on Registration to become a Birdtripper member.
The Equator
While in the Quito area, stop for a few minutes to get your photo taken at the Equator monument. The Equator passed through the town of Calacali, situated just west of Quito.
Get your photo taken with one foot in the northern hemisphere and one foot in the southern hemisphere.
Warning: There are two Equator monuments. The better one is in Quito. This is where most of the tourists go to see the Equator. It is clean, and there are many tourist shops around. However, it is not on the Equator. It is a tourist trap. The actual Equator passes through the town of Calacali, just west of Quito.
The monument in Calacali is a bit neglected, and you will probably find a bunch of locals sitting on it. The white line showing the Equator has faded away and was not repainted when I was there in 2023. Perhaps it has been repainted now, but I am doubtful. This is because tourists are directed to the fake Equator monument in Quito to spend money in the gift shops.
Go to the real Equator in Calacali. Buy something in a local shop.
Warning: While in Quito, keep your car locked and valuables out of sight, and be aware of your surroundings.