Bill Gozansky in conjunction with Zenith Travel, an Ecuadorian adventure tour operator, will be offering photographic safaris to Ecuador in 2012. In a private or small group setting, learn field techniques of professional wildlife photography while exploring the amazing biodiversity of flora and fauna in the Ecuadorian Andes and Amazon regions.
Designed to suit photographers of all levels, the photo safaris will enhance your photographic skills and introduce you to field techniques focused on capturing not only the incredible variety of Ecuadorian landscapes and wildlife, but also the colorful marketplaces and welcoming indigenous people. Your photo safari actually begins well before you board your plane to Ecuador. Bill will personally email you to discuss your photographic goals, equipment resources and knowledge of photography to help ensure that your photo safari is optimally structured to target the subject matter that interests you the most. It is our hope that the photo safari will not only enable you to capture stunning images of Ecuador, but will also provide you with an incredible experience of a lifetime.
The dates and itineraries of the Ecuadorian photo safaris are flexible and can be tailored to your individual desires. To make a reservation or for more information regarding this photo safari, please contact Marcos Endara at Zenith Travel info@zenithecuador.com or Bill Gozansky at info@billgozansky.com.
PHOTO SAFARI INTINERARY: Specific Dates Available Upon Request
Day 1 – Arrive/Overnight in Quito
Day 2 - Quito - Mindo
Day 3 – Mindo
Day 4 – Mindo - Quito
Day 5 – Quito - Amazon
Day 6 – Amazon
Day 7 – Amazon
Day 8 – Amazon
Day 9 - Amazon
Day 10 - Amazon - Quito - Otavalo
Day 11 - Otavalo
Day 12 - Otavalo - Quito
Day 13 - Quito - Cotopaxi - Quito
Day 14 - Depart Quito
Day 1 – Arrive into (Quito) Mariscal Sucre International Airport, clear immigration and customs, and you will be greeted and transferred to your Quito Hotel where you’ll meet up with Bill and the other photo safari participants. Overnight at Hotel Vieja Cuba.
Day 2 - Breakfast at Vieja Cuba. Morning drive to the Mindo region for a day focused on hummingbird photography and the flora and fauna of the cloud forest. Lunch, Dinner and overnight at Sachatamia Lodge.
The Sachatamia Lodge is located in a private ecological reserve consisting of over 750 acres of protected land. At an elevation from 4,920 to 5,742 feet, it is a moist, cool, lush cloud forest environment and home to an incredible variety of bird species. Over 30 species of hummingbirds have been observed here along with many other species of birds, such as tanagers, toucans and trogons (just to name a few). Here we will have great photo opportunities to get up close and personal with the vast number of hummingbirds with the lush green cloud forest serving as a beautiful backdrop for our images.
Day 3 - Full day focused on hummingbird photography and the surrounding cloud forest. Optional half-day trip to La Paz Reserve for opportunities to photograph several species of reclusive Antpittas and the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. All meals and overnight at Sachatamia Lodge.
Day 4 – Another day focused on hummingbird photography and the surrounding cloud forest environment. Breakfast and lunch at Sachatamia Lodge. Return to Quito in the evening and overnight at Hotel Vieja Cuba.
Day 5 – Breakfast at Vieja Cuba. Today we travel via small plane from Quito to the city of Coca on the Napo River. Here we will be met by our guides from the Napo Wildlife Center and travel via motorized canoe down the Napo River, the largest Ecuadorian tributary of the Amazon river. As we head deeper into the Amazon region we will switch to dugout canoes for a paddling trip to our remote ecolodge set on the pristine Anangu Lake. Lunch and Dinner Napo Wildlife Center.
 The Napo Wildlife Center is one of the great luxury ecolodges in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Located in one of the most pristine amazon rainforests, this ecotourism project includes the conservation of approximately 53,000 acres within the Yasunì National Park, an important UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the largest tract of tropical rain forest in Ecuador. The ecolodge, run by the indigenous Anangu Community, is an incredible success story of conservation and ecotourism. While at the Napo Wildlife Center we'll have daily guided excursions via canoe and hiking trails. We'll explore canopy towers and unique parrot clay licks.
We will have a great range of photographic opportunities in this environment. From landscape photography while on the rivers and in the canopy to macro photography of tiny insects and frogs that are abundant on the forest floor. It is a true paradise for bird photography - from the noisy Hoatzins, colorful tanagers, and flocks of parakeets that abound to the reclusive Zigzag Heron or tiny Antbirds that flit along the creek side. We'll also focus our cameras on many species of monkeys, perhaps a Caiman lurking in the night and if we are lucky, Giant Otters and much more...
Day 6 - Full day of photography at the Napo Wildlife Center. All meals and overnight at Napo Wildlife Center.
Day 7 – Full day of photography at the Napo Wildlife Center. All meals and overnight at Napo Wildlife Center.
Day 8 - Full day of photography at the Napo Wildlife Center. All meals and overnight at Napo Wildlife Center.
Day 9 - Full day of photography at the Napo Wildlife Center. All meals and overnight at Napo Wildlife Center.
Day 10 – Breakfast at Napo Wildlife Center. Today we travel back out of the Amazon region via canoe and motorized canoe to catch our short flight back to Quito. From Quito we will head to the famous city of Otavalo in the highlands and overnight on beautiful Lake San Pablo. Dinner and overnight at Cabanas del Lago.
Day 11 – Full day to explore the Otavalo area and surrounding villages filled with amazing artisans. Wonderful opportunities to photograph the colorful markets. An optimal setting to focus on street and people photography. Breakfast and Dinner at the Cabanas del Lago.
 Otavalo, the home of the most famous indigenous market in Ecuador, is a small city of about 50,000 residents resting 8,300 ft above sea level. The Otavalan market attracts some of the most talented indigenous artisans from the area. The market is filled with many extraordinary handicrafts; such as tapestry weavings, felt hats, leather goods, clothing, paintings and much more.
We may also explore the surrounding villages of Peguche (known for its master weavers) and Cotacachi (known for its leatherwork).
Day 12 – Breakfast at Cabanas del Lago. Today we continue to focus on the Otavalo area and surrounding villages in search of new photographic opportunities before returning to Quito in the late afternoon. In the evening an opportunity to tour and photograph Quito's historic district at night. Overnight at Hotel Vieja Cuba.
Day 13 - Breakfast at Vieja Cuba. Morning drive to Cotopaxi National Park. Opportunities to photograph the unique flora and fauna within the park and its captivating oftentimes desolate landscape. If weather conditions are favorable we'll be treated to magnificent views of conical snow-capped peak of the Cotopaxi Volcano which stands at 19,347 ft. Return to Quito and overnight at Hotel Vieja Cuba.
Day 14 - Breakfast at Vieja Cuba. Transfer to the airport for your departure back home.
Price: (Prices may vary based on availability of lodges, size of group, and season of travel.)
If 2 people - $3,940 USD per person
If 3 people - $3,355 USD per person
If 4 people - $3,115 USD per person
Single Supplement - $656 USD
Includes: All transfers, accommodation and certain meals per above itinerary, airfare to and from the Amazon, all excursions at Napo Wildlife Center, Cotopaxi National Park fees, private 4x4 transportation with English speaking guide, photography guide and instruction.
Excludes: International flights, drinks, meals not mentioned in program, gratuities, personal purchases, optional excursion to La Paz Reserve, and international airport departure tax (currently, $41 USD).
Inquire about Additional Extensions Available:
- Hummingbird Photography Extension - 2 additional nights on the Eastern slope of the Andes photographing different varieties of hummingbirds, including the magnificent Sword-billed Hummingbird. San Isidro Lodge / Guango Lodge.
- Amazon Photography Extension - 3 additional nights in the Amazon region at the Sacha Lodge. Additional landscape and wildlife photography opportunities including a unique butterfly farm.
- Quilotoa Crater / Hiking Extension - 2 or 3 night stay at the quaint Black Sheep Inn located high in the Andes mountains. This unique eco-lodge offers great opportunities for hiking and is in close proximity to the spectacular emerald-green Quilotoa crater lake.
- Galapagos Extension - A variety of land-based and cruise itineraries are available to suit your travel schedule and budget.
To make a reservation or for more information regarding this photo safari, please contact Marcos Endara info@zenithecuador.com or Bill Gozansky at info@billgozansky.com.
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