Chakana Reserve: Unique Andean Wildlife, Condors, Ecuadorian Hillstar & Bears

One of the best wildlife tours we’ve ever done! So much wildlife, condors, hummingbirds, and more! Santiago was a fantastic guide: very knowledgeable and an incredible spotter

We had an exceptional experience in Ecuador with Neotropical Nature & Birding Trips. It was our first time doing a guided nature trip and it exceeded all expectations. If you enjoy nature/birding/wildlife, photography, learning, being active on holiday, amazing food and wonderful accommodation - look no further. Our guides Santiago, Jeison and Sebastian were incredible; their depth and breadth of knowledge about wildlife, ecosystems and indigenous culture is awe-inspiring. They are passionate teachers, tireless advocates and nurturing hosts. I can't wait to book our next trip!

Incredible day of endemic wildlife & wow close views of the Condors with a superb guide Gabriel who had an incredible knowledge of the birds & other wildlife and plants of the Paramo. Super views of the slopes of Antisana. Will book with Neotropical again.

It was excellent final day of two weeks solo trip guided by Santiago. Started with good weather conditions and Ecuadorian Hillstar behaving as a true star on the runway. Suddenly, a fog rolled in and it seemed like we wouldn’t get to see the condors after all, but we did. Fortunately we were patient enough and stayed ready with cameras. Condor emerging from the fog was un unforgettable experience!

With our guide, Santiago, we explored the Eastern High Andes around Quito. We travelled into the reserve where we were treated to an extended observation period of an Andean Bear eating one of its favourite meals. Many different birds crossed our path: condors, hummingbirds, owls, caracaras, ibis and others. The scenery, though much of it is now pastoral, is very stunning. Neotropical Trips arranged and executed for us a memorable visit.

We had a wonderful experience with this company. We were treated exceptionally well and enjoyed a wonderful mountain day. Our driver Dario was outstanding, stoping to take pictures any time we wanted, and went out of his way to ensure a positive animal filled day. While we did not see bears, it was not for lack of effort. 10/10 and highly recommended

Was the best tour I have Been on Santago Is a professional. He knows so much information all the animals to history of the country. I would defiantly recommend trying to leave early in the morning to try and see the condors take off. The whole day was just perfect. Can't wait for the next tour I do with Santago.

I booked two day tours from Quito and visited the Chakana Reserve followed by Papallacta and Guango Lodge. Both guides, Dario and Sebastian, were excellent company and very knowledgeable. We managed to have excellent views of the species that we had targeted, so both trips were very successful. I would highly recommend these trips to anyone considering them.

The owner was very helpful from the beginning and answered my questions. She helped me find a trio tailored to my interests. I went with Santiago to see the condors and the Andean Bear. Santiago was an expert on the subject and explained his previous research on Andean Bears. We were able to spot Condors, Andean Bears, owls, foxes, and the giant hummingbird on the trip. The cost was above average but worth the extra amount for the quality of the experience. We stopped to have a delicious lunch.

I hired a private guide (English speaking) and we spent all day birding in Chakana and Antisana (6am to 5pm). Saw condors (only 135 left), black faced Ibis, carunculated Caracara ( all threatened), great Egret ( out of range), many species of hummingbirds and a score of other birds, along with a white face bear!!

I just had the unforgettable experience of exploring Chakana Reserve with Santiago Zambrano, from Neotropical Nature and Birding Trips. My goal was to photograph Andean Condor, preferably the 'classic' eye-level flight shot, and the Ecuadorian Hillstar, hopefully a clear shot of this special species feeding on Chuquiraga flowers. I had faint hopes of seeing Spectacled Bear, but knew it was a long shot. Everything about this trip, including the advice to go to Chakana in the first place, was exemplary. Gabriela, who managed the logistics, was prompt, friendly and thorough from start to finish. Santiago was a perfect guide: knowledgeable, flexible and helpful ( The air at 3,800 m is thin, and I'm not. Santiago was so supportive in getting a geezer with bad knees and heavy cameras into just the right spot). This was a truly memorable experience, and I've been photographing wildlife since 1978. The Condors were awe-inspiring, the Hillstar is an absolute beauty and a very accommodating poser. There were plenty of other stunning birds too, like the Carunculated Caracaras and Andean Gulls, common at this location. We ended the day with a Crimson-mantled Woodpecker..a pretty good bonus bird. As a personal encounter with wild nature, this was simply the best. Recommended for anyone who loves wild places and creatures.

We had an amazing day with Santiago! We saw everything we came to see: Andean condors, Ecuadorian hillstars and, when we had almost given up hope, we saw a spectacled bear! But there was so much more! Santiago knew exactly where to find amazing bird species that we never knew existed. We had a million questions about everything from the ecosystems, the creatures and the people that call them home, to the food and Santiago answered all of them. His love for and knowledge of his natural surroundings shone through every response and we were very appreciative!

Santiago is a great guide, and we had a fabulous trip with him to see the Hillstars, Condors, and the Giant Hummingbird. Even though the bears had moved on in search of other food by the time we were there, he still looked for them. We got some great photographs of all the birds. It was a relaxing and fun day with Santiago. I would definitely go with him again!

I had an awesome time with Santiago visiting the Chakana Reserve and the Antisana National Park. He was super knowledgeable about the flora, fauna, and historical details of every part of the road we traveled. We got a great view of the condors, an andean ibis, a bunch of hummingbirds, some giant owls, and a bunch of other flowers and plants that were really amazing. He knew of a few secret places to look for some birds, which was pretty cool. We had a great lunch at a local spot whose owners are involved in the tagging and tracking of the various animals in the area. I would have loved more time to explore the Antisana area to just wander and hike around a bit more - but it will have to wait for another trip!

We had an amazing birding trip to Chakana and Antisana with Dario and Gabriella. Saw more than ten Andean condors along with many other birds. Dario is a great guide who knew all the calls and put us on birds we never would have seen. Also included a great lunch at Tambo Condor. I could have stayed there all day watching the amazing hummingbirds at the feeders. We highly recommend this company!

The trip to Chakana Reserve was a highlight of our three-weeks around Quito, in the Galapagos, and at Machu Picchu. We had never heard of Chakana or anything about Neotropical before, and we are so glad we took a chance on both. We saw a spectacled bear--the main reason we picked Chakana--almost as soon as we arrived. We also saw many condors in flight, Andean guans (blue-jay sized plump turkeys), a roosting great horned owl, hillstar hummingbirds, and a lot more besides. No one can guarantee what you see on a particular trip, but Santiago knew what we were looking for and where to look for it. Santiago was the best guide we had in our whole trip. He knew the area, knew the wildlife, and arranged the whole trip for our convenience. Our driver (sorry, forgot his name) navigated some awful roads and got us where we wanted to be. The car was comfortable. Lunch was delicious. We went with our two grown sons. All four of us would recommend this trip absolutely. Go and enjoy the wildlife with Santiago!

Our guide Santiago is an encyclopedia of knowledge regarding Ecuadorian/South American wildlife. After stopping at a local bakery en route to the reserve we were fortunate to come across an Andean bear enjoying a bromeliad for breakfast on our drive into the reserve which Santiago spotted across the hillside and setup a spotting lens for us to watch and take photos with. We then took a short walk to a secluded cliff top perch to watch hummingbirds and wait for the condors. It looked like the condors were in a different spot that morning, however, just as we started the walk back to the car 4 of them swooped overhead and we were able to get some great eye level shots of them soaring atop the canyon. We also saw a number of other birds and animals including an Andean fox. Lunch was at another local place where you could watch more hummingbirds whilst eating a delicious lunch. All in all an unbelievable day and will definitely be using Neotropical for future adventures!

Santiago was an incredible guide on our trip to Chakana and Antisana National Park. Our priority was to see Spectacled Bears and Santiago knew an area where a female and two cubs had been regularly sighted. We drove and walked straight to the largest Condor roost in Ecuador and, whilst surrounded by soaring condors, were able to observe the bears feeding and playing on the opposite side of the gorge for around 20 minutes. A truly magical experience! We spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon birding Chakana and Antisana - highlights included Ecuadorian Hillstar, Andean Ibis, Andean Gull and Great Horned Owl among many others. We had a delicious and reasonably priced lunch at Tambo Condor and enjoyed hummingbird feeders frequented by Shining Sunbeam, Tyrian Metal tail and the enormous Giant Hummingbird before making our way back to Quito mid afternoon. Santiago knowledge and passion made the day an unforgettable one.

The knowledge about the birds and mammals we encountered was fantastic. Santiago’s love and understanding for the ecosystem reflects on his tour. Can’t wait to come back. Leave no trace

We were so pleased with our initial Neotropical tour that we scheduled this 2nd tour to explore the Antisana Ecological Reserve area. At an elevation of 10k-13k feet ASL we found a different biome from the cloud forest of our initial trip. We were fortunate to have biologist Santiago Molina guide us. He is an expert on the Andean bear (Spectacled bear) and we were able to locate and observe a male bear during this outing. Andean Condors were another highlight. Neotropical Nature and Birding was a great find for us. They responded promptly to our inquiries, provided thorough information and our guides have been amazing. I don’t hesitate to recommend this company and in fact I was so impressed that I am planning an extended tour with this company later this year.

This tour was the highlight of our stay in Quito. Our guide, Santiago, is an expert on Andean bears and local wildlife. He does research on the bears with one of the universities, and so had knowledge about the bears habits and location. During our trip we got to see 10 or 11 condors, one of which flew low directly over us. What a thrill! Santiego then spotted a female Andean bear with two cubs on the hillside, and we were able to watch them from two different locations. A truly enjoyable and once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Absolutely incredible tour! Santiago M is a wonderful guide. We saw all of our major target species, including condors and spectacled bears, plus lots of hummingbirds and a few hawks. I definitely recommend going with Neotropical, especially if you're a birder, and Santiago had so much knowledge about the bears.

Chakana is a wonderful, easy day trip from Quito. Although nature gives no guarantees, we saw a mother spectacled bear with two cubs, a Hillstar, and several Condors, along with numerous other species of birds. Santiago is an excellent guide, knowledgeable about the wildlife and conservation issues. The scenery is beautiful, and the reserve is very quiet, as advanced notice is required to enter so there aren't random tourists wandering around. Lunch is delicious, with many hummingbirds buzzing around. I had a great time, and would highly recommend this day trip to anyone.

Excellent Trip. Santiago our guide was awesome lots of knowledge and a great person. Totally recommend. It was an AMAZING experience.

This was my second daytrip with Neotropical. I had spent an awesome day at Zuroloma Reserve, so I decided to fill my last remaining few hours in Ecuador with another Neotropical daytrip to Chakana Reserve, with the trip adapted to get me to my airport check-in on time. My guide picked me up really early to drive up into the mountains. We went right up into Condor country and spent a couple of relaxed , peaceful hours up on the hill tops watching about 15 condors soaring and landing on a nearby carcass.. Thanks to Santiago Molina's (there are 2 Santiagos in this small company!!!) amazing spotting skills we saw 4 bears, a mum with 2 cubs foraging and separately, a young male sleeping. Santiago is an ecologist who divides his life between tour leading and bear conservation projects and was fascinating to talk to. He was also very thoughtful and had prepared plenty of packed food and coffee as my schedule didn't give time for meal stops. We were lucky with the weather, so had great views, but this trip was exceptional mainly down to the skill and personality of the guide and the locations chosen by this company. I can't thank Santiago and Neotropical enough!!

Got awesome looks and photos of Andean (Spectacled) Bears, Ecuadorian Hillstar, and the condors. There were other surprise bonuses too. Santiago is an awesome guide. I have toured with his company even before.

Wonderful trip, many life birds and a few spectacular mammals! Guide was a safe driver and very impressive naturalist and photographer. Food was great as were accommodations.

Excellent experience and very explained by the guide Santiago

Amazing!!! Not only for being able to see amazing animals like bears, hummingbirds and condors, but our tour leader, Santiago, is super informative, he really knows what he does.

Magnificent experience, led by Santiago Salazar from @Neotropicalecuador.com, who guided us with passion and great knowledge about the area, the condors and their behavior.

I wanted to see condors in Colca Canyon in Peru, but for various reasons I gave up, so I joined a tour to see condors in Ecuador. I was picked up at 5am and went to the cliffs where the condors perch, and saw many condors taking off, landing on the cliffs to perch, and flying overhead. I was also given binoculars to borrow, and I was impressed by how big they looked through them. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see condors!

This day tour near Quito was one of our many highlights in Ecuador. Condors in such numbers and so close together on the cliff above the breeding grounds was a unique experience. As a bonus, we also saw the Ecuadorian Hillstar, the Andean Bear and many other highland hummingbirds. Everything was perfectly organized, our guide Santiago was great, always friendly and competent and, above all, totally committed. We would love to come back and would do the tour again!