Tag Archives: Pinas

Getting From Buenaventura To Guayaquil

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This is a very easy trip to do on public transport.  After lunch at the Umbrellabird Lodge, we had the guide drop us at the main road between Pinas and Machala.  We only had to wait about 15 minutes until a bus passed heading to Machala.

It was pretty cheap, around $5 for the two of us and the bus wasn’t full so we could spread out.

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The scenery wasn’t that exciting, lots of banana plantations.DSCN0793

Ecuadorian buses are pretty comfortable but for some reason they keep the bathrooms locked.  They wouldn’t let me use it even after asking the driver but they did pull into a petrol station and let me off to use that bathroom.  I tried to get the wifi working but couldn’t find the signal and no one on the bus seemed to know how to use it.DSCN0794 DSCN0795

This is the bus from Machala to Guayaquil.  It took around 3 hours.  Coming from Pinas, you don’t have to go all the way into Machala.  There is a turn off to Guayaquil and about half the bus got off and switched buses here, including us.  This bus was full but still no wifi or toilet usage.DSCN0797

Here we are entering Guayaquil just before sunset.  The whole trip was around 5 hours, we left just after lunch so 12:30ish and got to Guayauil by 5:30pm-ish.  IIRC it was $16 for us both.DSCN0801 DSCN0802 DSCN0803

There are plenty of taxis at the Guayaquil bus terminal and you should only use official taxis for your safety.  It cost about $5 to go to the hotel which was downtown near the Malecon.DSCN0804 DSCN0805 DSCN0806 DSCN0807

If you are in Guayaquil wanting to go to Buenaventura, simply do the whole thing in reverse.  Get a bus to Machala and tell them you want to transfer to Pinas so they drop you at that little transit office at the turn off.DSCN0808

I have no idea what this big statue is but it was pretty cool looking!

Long-wattled Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger)

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The Long-wattled Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger) is a passerine bird belonging to the family Cotingidae, endemic to the western slopes of Chocó in Colombia and Ecuador. The male is about 51 cm (20 in) long and is a black bird with a large casque-shaped crest on the head and a long, feather-covered wattle on the breast. The loud call is only heard in the breeding season. The female is considerably smaller, with a smaller crest and wattle.

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They have a limited range in Ecuador and Colombia.  Probably the easiest place to see them is the Umbrellabird Lodge at Jocotoco’s Buenaventura Reserve which has a lek a short walk from the lodge.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT LONG-WATTLED UMBRELLABIRDS

Wikipedia

Birdlife

American Bird Conservancy

VIDEOS

This could be the same bird we saw only he’s a lot more active, dancing around and fluffing up his wattle.  It was filmed in February and we were there in April.

Another clip which could be the same bird or a different one.  He’s sexy and he knows it!

 

 

Birding The Grounds Of The Umbrellabird Lodge, Southern Ecuador

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Although the main draw to this area of Ecuador is the El Oro Parakeet, don’t forget that the grounds of the Umbrellabird Lodge are also very birdy and many wonderful species can be seen just from the deck and on a short but steep walk to the lek of the Long-wattled Umbrellabird.

Depending on the time of year, you may want to get up early to see the Umbrellabirds at the lek or wait a bit and see them in the trees.  The trail isn’t far from the lodge but the birds are difficult to find in the trees as they blend in and are quiet so best to go with a guide unless you have very keen eyesight.

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Chestnut-Mandibled Toucan IMG_2438 IMG_2440

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Brown Violetear Hummingbird IMG_2451a IMG_2455a IMG_2297

From the balcony, we saw several flocks of Bronze-winged Parrots and Red-masked Parakeets fly past.IMG_2300 IMG_2301a IMG_2303a IMG_2311 IMG_2311a IMG_2330a IMG_2347a IMG_2351

The hummingbird feeders are constantly busy with many beautiful species!  The guide gave me the list of the ones we saw.  Brown Violetear, White-necked Jacobin, Andean Emerald, Green-crowned Brilliant, Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Green Thorntail, Bananaquit, Blue & Grey TanagerIMG_2308 IMG_2355 IMG_2373 IMG_2343a IMG_2346a IMG_2379 IMG_2389a IMG_2397 IMG_2406a

El Oro Parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi)

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The El Oro Parakeet, Conure D’Orcès, cotorra de El Oro, or perico de El Oro (Pyrrhura orcesi) is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family, endemic to Ecuador. It is a relatively newly identified species, having been discovered in 1980.

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They are highly endangered and only found in the Buenaventura Reserve where I took these photos.  I have circled the rough area near Pinas in southern Ecuador for travel planning but you MUST visit them with a guide from the Umbrellabird Lodge as I posted before for the protection of the birds.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT EL ORO PARAKEETS

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

American Bird Conservancy

Neotropical Birds

VIDEO

There aren’t many videos of this beautiful rare parakeet but I did find one.

 

 

Visiting Buenaventura Reserve, Ecuador

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The Buenaventura Reserve is managed by Jocotoco Foundation and is located in the south of Ecuador.  This is the home of the El Oro Parakeet so it’s well worth the effort to get there.  The nearest airport is Loja which is served by TAME airlines, then you can take a bus or taxi to Pinas, the nearest town.  You can also get buses from Guayaquil via Machala which are very cheap, less than $10 per person.  An overview and map of the reserve can be seen here.

We left Loja on the 9:15am bus which was very comfortable and only $6 per person.  If you miss the bus, you can get a taxi to Pinas but it will be over $100 so not  a good idea to miss the bus!

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It’s about a 5 hour ride through very beautiful scenery.DSCN0631 DSCN0632 DSCN0633 DSCN0634 DSCN0635

After arriving in Pinas, you can get a camioneta to the reserve and the Umbrellabird Lodge.  The road is pretty bad so don’t use a normal taxi.  DSCN0636 DSCN0637 DSCN0638

Awesome statue of an El Oro Parakeet!  I just love when local people honour their native birds!DSCN0639

And here’s one of a Jocotoco Antpitta.DSCN0641 DSCN0643

Turn off to the lodge.DSCN0644 DSCN0645 DSCN0646 DSCN0648 DSCN0649

At last we arrived!  After checking in and dropping off our backpacks, we asked the same camioneta driver to wait for us and take us and the lodge’s guide to the El Oro Parakeet hotspot which is about 10km from the lodge.  The whole transport cost around $30.DSCN0650