Cock-of-the-Rock Tour in Mindo
See Ecuador's most spectacular bird at dawn
Our most popular tour takes you to Paz de las Aves, one of South America's most iconic birding sites. You'll witness the extraordinary lek display of the Andean Cock-of-the-rock at dawn, followed by the famous worm-feeding of Giant and Chestnut-naped Antpittas. The route continues through prime cloud forest habitat with excellent chances for toucans, tanagers, and hummingbirds. All tours include professional digiscoping photographs of the birds you see — you'll take home images you'd normally need a $10,000 camera setup to capture.
Tour Highlights
- ✓Dawn visit to an active Cock-of-the-rock lek at Paz de las Aves
- ✓Close encounter with the Giant Antpitta "María" during worm-feeding
- ✓Expert local guide with 30+ years of experience
- ✓Digiscoping photos and videos included
- ✓Door-to-door transport from Quito or Mindo
Itinerary
Pickup from Quito hotel or Mindo accommodation
Arrive at Paz de las Aves. Trek to the Cock-of-the-rock lek
Lek display observation and digiscoping photography
Antpitta feeding station: Giant Antpitta "María" and Chestnut-naped Antpitta
Forest trail birding: toucans, tanagers, hummingbirds, mixed flocks
Brunch at the reserve
Additional birding at Santa Elena or secondary sites
Return to Quito or Mindo
Target Species
Learn more about these species:
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the tour start?+
We pick you up at 3:30–4:00 AM from Quito (or 5:00 AM from Mindo) to arrive at the lek before dawn.
Will I definitely see the Cock-of-the-rock?+
The lek at Paz de las Aves has been active for decades. We have a 95%+ sighting success rate year-round.
Is the hike difficult?+
The trail is moderate — about 1 km through forest with some mud. Regular walking shoes with grip are fine; rubber boots are available at the reserve.
What should I bring?+
Warm layers (it's cool at dawn), rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes, binoculars (we also provide), water bottle, and camera if you have one. We handle the digiscoping.
Is this tour suitable for beginners?+
Absolutely. This is our most popular tour for both experienced birders and first-timers. Our guide adapts the pace and explanations to your level.