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Winged Wonders of Ecuador
Ecuador Moth Recording Programme & Tour

Ecuador moth montage (photos by S. Salazar, Neotropical Nature & Birding Trips)



moth sheet in operation

These tours offer the opportunity to participate in an academic moth recording programme, as well as including "down-time" to see other wildlife for which Ecuador is famous (birds, butterflies, orchids and more). Tour participants are expected to assist with data recording for the moth programme, by photo-documentation of species seen and recording relative abundance of each species. Familiarity with iNaturalist (the app and/or website) will be helpful, though not essential.

The sites visited are superdiverse for moths - on iNaturalist, over 70 species of Saturniidae are known from the Sumaco area on the eastern flanks of the Andes, and over 400 butterfly species from the same area. The Mindo Valley has over 500 butterfly species documented on iNaturalist. The higher elevations are relatively poorly documented, especially for moths, with a cold resistant assemblage of Lepidoptera akin to temperate zones, comprising many species not found anywhere else in the world.

upcoming tours
Tour #1: 3rd to 17th February 2026
Tour #2: 24th February to 10th March 2026 (exact dates to be confirmed, but will be these +/- a few days at most)
Tour #3: July-August 2026 (to co-incide with National Moth Week 2026)
Tour #4: late August 2026

C & R Wildlife founder Dr. Roger C. Kendrick

Neotropical Nature & Briding founder Santiago Salazar
Two weeks in the Andean cloud forests to see the amazing diversity of butterflies & moths, birds and other wildlife,
including a two day workshop on moth & butterfly identification skills and outlining the moth projct details.

Moth recording & workshop organised by C & R Wildlife, led by Dr. R.C.Kendrick,
founder of the Asian Lepidoptera Conservation Symposium series;
co-founder of Hong Kong Lepidopterists’ Society;
scientific advisor and Hong Kong co-ordinator for National Moth Week
Lepidoptera curator on iNaturalist;
Ph.D. in Ecology & Biodiversity, The University of Hong Kong (thesis, Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Hong Kong)
co-author of the newly published Illustrated Guide to the Lepidoptera of India
and author of the forthcoming Illustrated Guide to the Moths of Hong Kong.

Tour operated in Ecuador by Neotropical Nature & Birding Trips,
founded by Santiago Salazar, who has over 20 years experience leading wildlife tours in the Neotropics.
Santiago Salazar was born in Quito. English speaking tour leader, birding guide, naturalist and photographer, who began his experience as a guide 21 years ago.
He has worked in environmental education programs , as an assistant and volunteer in scientific research and monitoring of wildlife conservation projects.
He studied Ecotourism and Hospitality in 2006 , obtaining his National Tour Guide License.
His knowledge, and his passion for nature have made him successful in guiding in Ecuador's and Brazil's different regions.


Tour Fee: 63,800 RMB / HK$66,800 / US$8,500 (payable by bank transfer; or online payment using PayPal, direct to Dr. Kendrick).
Tour fee is inclusive of all “on the ground” transport, guide services, entry fees for nature reserves as per the tour schedule, accommodation and meal costs in Ecuador as per the tour schedule, as well as contributing towards the research costs incurred in data processing for the programme.
Tour fee does not include: flights to/from Ecuador (Quito), banking charges, single room supplement (US$580), nor travel insurance, nor other personal expenses (e.g. laundry, additional food and drinks, alcoholic beverages, additional tours, tips & gratuities), nor accommodation in Quito either prior to, or after the tour, including day 15).

Group size: 4 to 12 people (plus tour guide, tour driver and moth researcher (or team).
Accommodation will be in twin rooms for the most part, though double rooms are a possibilty; single rooms are available at all three venues, but at additional cost and subject to availability.
Participants' dietry / food needs (e.g. vegetarian, allergies) will need to be stated upon booking.

In order to ensure that accommodation is available at the moth recording sites,
booking for tours #1 & #2 closes on 31st July 2025, booking for tours #3 & #4 closes on 31st December 2025.

typical # Tour Schedule: # All reasonable effort will be made to keep to the schedule. It is possible that to fit the ecolodges' availability, the order of sites visited may change. Each day's events will be finalised based upon that day's weather forecast. Final tour details will be provided to tour participants well in advance of each tour.

Disclaimer:
The tour schedule may be subject to circumstances beyond the control of C & R Wildlife and Neotropical Nature & Birding Trips, including (but not limited to) earthquakes; volcanic eruptions; road closures; inclement weather; political discord.
The tour organisers do not guarantee sightings of any wildlife, though the sites chosen for the moth recording programme are known to have very high biodiversity of birds, plants, invertebrates and mammals.
It is strongly recommended that participants have adequate travel insurance, including medical coverage.
All sections of this tour take place at elevations of between 1,300 and 3,500 metres.
By booking this tour, participants absolve the tour organisers and facilitators of all legal liability.
Terms & Conditions : please view the full terms and conditions of the tours, including general health and safetly issues, if you are interested in the nuts and bolts of taking part.

Further information: To enquire further about the logistics of this tour, please contact Neotropical Nature & Birding Trips (info[at]neotropicalecuador.com).
Booking a place: To enquire about availability of places or make a booking, please contact Dr. Kendrick (ecuador[at]hkmoths.com).

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© R. C. Kendrick, 2025
last updated 3rd June 2025