Now that the new Quito airport has moved east into the central valley, closer to the Amazonian side of things (as well as to some comfortable countryside hostals), Guango Lodge is now one of the obvious choices for a birding getaway for a day. Only about an hour from the new airport, Guango sits up and over the continental divide, right in the heart of the high elevation temperate zone, and is surrounded by beautiful mossy forest, and fancy birds. The birding can be excellent at any time of the day, especially if you encounter an active mixed flock! Some of the more interesting glamour birds to keep an eye out for around the lodge include Torrent Duck, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Masked Trogon, Turquoise Jay, Hooded and Lacrimose Mountain-Tanagers, Slaty Brush-Finch, Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager, and Northern Mountain-Cacique. The hummingbird feeders at Guango Lodge are famous for their diversity and sheer numbers of hummers, but the real treat is when the almost unreal, Sword-billed Hummingbird swoops in for a visit at close range. We will pass through the high paramo on the way out and back, so will dedicate some time to exploring this captivating habitat as well. Here birds like Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Many-striped Canastero, Tawny Antpitta and Giant Conebill are all possible. You just have to see it for yourself to believe it! After a full day of birding, we will head back to Quito. The weather and conditions are unpredictable, but expect colder to very cold conditions at higher elevations. If sunny though, it can be delightful!