The journey to Tandayapa

It is difficult to convey how different the Tandayapa Valley is from the dry hustle and bustle of Quito. When you cross from the dry inter-Andean valley and start your way down the west slope of the Andes, about 40 minutes from the Quito airport, the habitat changes from dry scrub to high cloud forest. Just a few minutes, you enter cloudforest on the sides of very steep mountains. The road continues for another twenty minutes and you arrive at the KM 52 marker, where you turn of the main highway onto a gravel road that follows the bottom of the Tandayapa Valley. Through forest with a few cow and trout farms, you wind for another 6kms, until you get to the small discreet  Tandayapa Bird Lodge sign, and you have made it to the edge of one of the best birding centers in all the world.

The entrance does look like much does it? Well that it exactly as we want it, but just wait until you enter and turn the next corner.

The entrance road is so good for seeing wildlife, many people get out and walk it

The natural experience starts in the driveway where tanager flocks with toucanets, barbets and quetzals cross. Some of the best birding in the area is actually on the entrance driveway so do not forget to walk back down. In a few hundred meters, you pass where the old car park was and continue to the top where it is only a few steps to the lodge. The horror stories (or happy depending on your take) of having to walk up a long steep walkway are over, and now those who desire can be driven very close  to the lodge.

The very short walk from the car to nature lovers heaven