This is an extension of the photo tour – Photo adventure in the forests of the Andes and the Amazon, Ecuador 21st April – 2nd May 2027. Read more here…
This extension trip is entirely focused on night-time macro photography. Our guides are specially trained to find a range of unusual nocturnal animals in the rainforest. Equipped with headlamps, we will walk along strategic locations where we can expect to discover a variety of beautiful frogs, reptiles, and insects.
Among the species found here is a special type of glass frog. This species is one of the most transparent frogs in the world, making it possible to see the animal’s internal organs. Another frog species that is relatively common in the area is a colourful species from the poison dart frog family. We will pay special attention to this species, as it is a beautiful and highly photogenic subject.
There are also several species of colourful and fascinating lizards in the area that we will search for. In addition, there is a great diversity of insects unlike anything found in temperate regions. Here you can find remarkable insects that resemble green leaves, dried brown leaves, and twigs. There are also large and beautifully patterned butterflies that rest on branches during the night.
Experiencing the lowland rainforest after dark is, for most of us, like stepping into a completely new and unknown world of sounds, colours, and shapes that we never imagined existed.
We visit the lowland rainforest in the Chocó lowlands and the Canandé Reserve. This is a completely different environment from the Chocó cloud forest visited during the main journey. The Canandé Reserve is located in northwestern Ecuador in the province of Esmeraldas and forms part of the Chocó region – one of the world’s most biodiverse and at the same time most threatened rainforest areas.
The environment consists mainly of humid tropical lowland rainforest with very high rainfall, dense forests, and a warm, humid climate year-round. The landscape is characterised by rolling terrain with deep valleys, ravines, and many streams covered by primary rainforest with exceptional natural values. Here we find enormous trees with buttress roots, lianas, epiphytic orchids, and bromeliads.
PHOTOGRAPHIC LEARNING
If you want to develop your macro photography skills and explore the fascinating world of flash photography, this journey is for you. Using artificial light opens up completely new possibilities for highlighting the unique characteristics of the animals we encounter compared with conventional daylight photography.
The scales of snakes and lizards can be emphasised in different ways using various photographic techniques that we will explore in detail. We will also look closely at how to avoid harsh reflections when photographing shiny or bright subjects.
Night-time macro photography can sometimes allow us to dedicate entire sessions to a few but extraordinary subjects. We will learn how to explore and highlight specific characteristics of these animals. Special attention will be given to how the final image changes depending on how and from which direction the light is used.
During the journey, our photographic leader will continuously provide guidance tailored to your previous experience and skill level. We will also have theoretical sessions focusing on composition and how to create images that are more than simple representations.
Our local guide will be able to provide access to some equipment on site. However, it is recommended that you bring a flash with you. A flash diffuser is also part of the classic equipment for night-time macro photography of rainforest wildlife.
Regardless of the equipment you bring, this journey will provide a wonderful introduction to the fascinating world we encounter in a tropical rainforest at night.
Itinerary
Day 1 (Dinner)
Trip to Canandé: We depart early in the morning from Quito and travel westwards down towards the Pacific side of the Andes into the Chocó lowlands. Here we will stay in bungalows located within the Canandé Nature Reserve.
After arrival and check-in, we will have lunch followed by some time for afternoon rest. After dinner, we head out on our first night excursion.
We begin by walking up a shallow stream. Rubber boots will be provided on site. Here we can expect to encounter a variety of beautiful frogs, snakes, butterflies, moths, water spiders, and similar nocturnal wildlife.
Day 2 – 3 (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)
A leisurely morning after the night’s activities, allowing for a relaxed and late breakfast. We will then take a short, easy walk in the beautiful surroundings around the lodge to look for frogs and small wildlife.
After lunch and dinner, we head out on a night excursion with headlamps. We will visit a ravine and an area of rolling rainforest. Here there are good chances of encountering several species of reptiles, frogs, and insects.
Day 4 (Breakfast)
Departure for Quito Airport after breakfast, followed by the journey home.
Photographic leader
Magnus Martinsson, born in 1964, is a photographer, author and biologist, living on Gotland since 1988. He has since devoted himself to nature conservation issues in the profession. His interest in nature and photography has taken him on a large number of trips around the world and also gained in-depth knowledge of the Gotland homeland. Magnus contributes in various ways to conveying his knowledge to a broad public. He is a frequently hired speaker, excursion and tour guide. Magnus Martinsson is responsible for photography and text in a large number of publications. As a member of Naturfotograferna, he is one of the leading nature photographers in the country.
