The Lodge

Why Tandayapa exists

Tandayapa is an Andean cloudforest lodge designed for nature lovers. Everything about the place has this in mind, be it the deck with hummer feeders, the outdoor jacuzzi, the many setups for hummer photography, or the butterfly feeding area.

This is a place where the staff don’t frown if you need a 4 o’clock breakfast. A place where your passion for wildlife and photography is shared by the other guests and staff. A place where you can walk in and see four telescopes, five pairs of bins, and a mass of camera gear sitting around because we’re all relaxed and we know that it’s ‘our’ place.

Yes, it’s a place where you can see fifteen-twenty hummers in an day, a dozen other species passing by the dining room windows over breakfast, and over one hundred species from our balcony alone. Now, throw in the canopy deck, the large forest floor feeding hide, our extensive trail system, and easy access to plenty of other nearby sites, and you possibly have the ultimate nature and relaxation based destination.

The lodge project started in 1999 when it became apparent that there was no lodge designed for birdwatchers on the west slope of the Ecuadorian Andes. Rather than destroying more forest we decided to build in pasture on a steep ridge seventy meters from the forest edge. In the years since, the planting of over 30000 trees has essentially brought the forest to us.

We have a main building with twelve bedrooms and a spacious balcony nestled within the cloudforest. The lodge is designed so that you can relax in comfort after a day’s birding. All but two rooms are near to the main lounge so there is no need for a hike between where you sleep and where you relax and eat. If you prefer solitude and privacy, there are also two rooms built underneath the lower observation deck, a three minute walk from the main lodge building. All rooms have hot water, electricity, and private bathrooms.

Whether you come for the hummingbirds, nature photography, serious birding, botany, or just to relax for a few days, you will find this is the place for experiencing the fantastic Chocó bioregion. But don’t just take our word for it – read some of the reports written by our guests.