Birdwatching (Ruta del Spondylus)

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Birdwatching

From seabird cliffs at La Rinconada to endemic forest species in the Loma Alta Reserve — the Ruta del Spondylus passes through some of the most biodiverse birding habitat on Ecuador's Pacific coast.

3 habitats

Cliff · Mangrove · Forest

Year-round

Season

La Rinconada

Best cliff spot

Dawn

Best time

Overview

The Ruta del Spondylus passes through three distinct birding habitats: the open ocean cliffs of the northern route, the mangrove estuary at Manglaralto, and the cloud forest interior accessible from Dos Mangas and Ayampe. Each has its own resident and migratory species. The route is not typically marketed as a birding destination — but for a traveller with binoculars, it offers an unexpectedly rich experience.

The western Andes foothills above this stretch of coast fall within the Tumbes–Chocó–Magdalena biodiversity hotspot, one of the most species-rich regions on Earth. The Loma Alta forest holds endemic species found nowhere else in the world. The mangroves and coastal scrub add waders, herons, and seabirds. And the cliffs at La Rinconada draw some of the largest and most dramatic Pacific seabirds on regular coastal surveys.

Birding Locations

La Rinconada — Seabird Cliffs

The high headlands at La Rinconada are the best seabird watching point on the route. The clifftop faces open ocean and the updrafts attract both soaring pelagic species and hunting raptors. Species regularly sighted include:

Magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii)
Nazca booby (Sula granti)
Peruvian pelican (Pelecanus thagus) — seasonal, rare north of Lima but present
Various terns — royal, sandwich, and elegant terns regularly noted
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) — regular over the bay below
Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) — clifftop and scrub

Best time: Early morning throughout the year; June–October for the most active seabird season coinciding with the cold-water upwelling.

Manglaralto Mangroves

The Manglaralto river estuary supports a remnant patch of old-growth mangrove — navigable at high tide by kayak or small boat, and walkable along the estuary edge on foot. Bird density here is particularly high at dawn and dusk when herons, egrets, and shorebirds are active.

Regularly recorded species:

Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)
Little blue heron (Egretta caerulea)
Tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor)
Snowy egret (Egretta thula)
Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Amazon kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona)
Green kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana)
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) — seasonal migrant

Loma Alta Ecological Reserve — via Dos Mangas

The Loma Alta Reserve is the most species-rich birding habitat accessible from the route. Community guides from Dos Mangas can arrange dawn forest walks, which are significantly better for birds than midday treks.

The forest holds several range-restricted and endemic species of the Tumbesian region. Target species include:

Grey-backed hawk (Pseudastur occidentalis) — vulnerable; Loma Alta is one of the better access points
Pale-browed tinamou (Crypturellus transfasciatus) — skulking; heard more than seen
Saffron siskin (Spinus siemiradzkii) — open forest edges and scrub
Elegant crescentchest (Melanopareia elegans)
Pacific parrotlet (Forpus coelestis) — common, but range-restricted
Various tanagers, flycatchers, and woodpeckers in the mixed forest

Guides required and recommended — the trails are poorly marked and the species often cryptic; a guide makes the difference between hearing everything and seeing nothing.

Ayampe Cloud Forest Edge

Ayampe sits at the forest edge, and the transition zone between the Pacific and the forest is a highly productive birding microhabitat. Howler monkeys are the most dramatic species at dawn, but the bird list is long. Hummingbirds are unusually diverse at the forest edge here, attracted by flowering trees and epiphytes.

Tips for Birding the Route

Arrive at dawn — activity drops sharply after 9 am in every habitat on the route
Bring binoculars — there are no rental options on the route; 8x42 or 10x42 recommended
Use a guide at Loma Alta — mandatory for the reserve but genuinely worthwhile
Combine with hiking — all birding locations are accessed on foot or by boat; no specialist equipment needed
The dry season (Jun–Oct) is excellent — fewer leaves, more visible birds; the forest at Dos Mangas is at its most accessible

Getting There

La Rinconada: E-15 bus from Montañita northbound; ask the driver to stop at the clifftop
Manglaralto estuary: Walk from Manglaralto town centre; the estuary is at the north end of the village
Dos Mangas / Loma Alta: Bus to Manglaralto, then local transport or taxi 5 km inland to Dos Mangas