Ecuador Photo Tour: Birds of Paradise

Welcome to a land of endless discovery… Visiting Ecuador is finding a paradise full of wonder and astonishing natural attractions. Ecuador has it all, with its snow-capped volcanoes, plunging valleys, majestic mountains, breathtaking gardens, green valleys bathed by cascading waterfalls, beautiful colonial architecture, monasteries, Indian markets, and little villages lost in the Andes. Ecuador’s attractiveness springs from the fact that over 1,500 species of birds have been recorded in this...

Welcome to a land of endless discovery… Visiting Ecuador is finding a paradise full of wonder and astonishing natural attractions. Ecuador has it all, with its snow-capped volcanoes, plunging valleys, majestic mountains, breathtaking gardens, green valleys bathed by cascading waterfalls, beautiful colonial architecture, monasteries, Indian markets, and little villages lost in the Andes. Ecuador’s attractiveness springs from the fact that over 1,500 species of birds have been recorded in this tiny country. The country is rapidly becoming a prime destination for photographers and naturalists because the land is being wisely protected with a system of national parks and private reserves. The comfortable lodges in the midst of our photographic locations allow us to relax and enjoy Ecuador. You will see why Ecuador is a growing world-class destination. Your Tour Leaders Kathy Adams Clark is a professional nature photographer and owner of a stock agency representing fifteen photographers. Her work has been published in a variety of national and regional publications including National Geographic Books, The New York Times, and Sierra. Kathy teaches over fifty photography workshops and classes each year. Her work is seen each week in the “Nature” column in the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express News, written by her husband, Gary Clark. A lifelong naturalist, Gary Clark has studied birds, mammals, and butterflies in North, Central, and South America and in East Africa. He is an award winning professional writer whose column “Nature” appears weekly in the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express News. He has authored feature articles in state and national magazines and has written six books that include photographs from his wife, Kathy. He frequently conducts birding workshops and leads birding tours. He is founder of the Piney Woods Wildlife Society of Texas, former president of the Houston Audubon Society, and former vice-president of the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. Gary is a full professor at Lone Star College. Kathy enjoys traveling with people new to photography as well as with folks with advanced skills. She has an ability to explain complicated photographic terms in an easily understood language. She likes to teach those hungry for new information, but also understands that photography can be a solitary task. Each person traveling with Kathy is treated as an individual, but the group always has fun. She is skilled in all makes of digital cameras.   www.kathyadamsclark.com

Fitness & Health The trip will not be strenuous, but there will be walks each day, sometimes uphill in the heat, mud, & high altitude (9000 feet). Anyone who is reasonably fit should be able to participate in all scheduled walks, but if you have questions about how much activity is involved, please inquire further. At present, no inoculations are required for entry from the United States. Food is generally safe to eat everywhere in the country. Water is not safe to drink in through out the country, be sure to drink only bottled water. Your local guide can offer guidance if you have concerns. Although malaria has probably been eradicated from areas we’ll be visiting, you should consult your doctor about precautionary measures. Full details will be sent upon enrollment.

Accommodations are clean, comfortable and pleasant, but not luxurious. When visiting parks and reserves, expect cabin-like accommodations with private baths.

Ecuadorian food is not spicy. Menus are usually simple, but the food is always good and plentiful. Breakfast menus are much like those in North America. Rice, meat, beans, and vegetables are usually served at lunch and dinners. Delicious fruits and juices are in abundant supply.