Birding
Tour
Nestled in the heart of the Andean cloud forest, Tandayapa Bird Lodge offers one of the most rewarding and accessible birding experiences in Ecuador — a country renowned for its extraordinary avian diversity. This carefully crafted 2-day, 1-night tour is designed for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers eager to immerse themselves in a vibrant ecosystem teeming with colorful and rare bird species.
From the moment you arrive, the symphony of bird calls and the lush green surroundings set the stage for an unforgettable adventure. Tandayapa’s strategic location, perched between lowland and highland habitats, makes it a hotspot for an impressive variety of birds, including tanagers, hummingbirds, toucans, and even the elusive and majestic Crested Quetzal.
This short yet fulfilling itinerary allows guests to explore the lodge’s private trails and nearby reserves, guided by expert local naturalists who bring the forest to life through their knowledge and passion. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a curious beginner, this tour promises exceptional sightings, serene accommodations, and a deeper connection with nature.
Join us at Tandayapa Bird Lodge for a compact but rich birding getaway that delivers big on biodiversity, beauty, and unforgettable moments. 🦜🌿
Itinerary
Day 1: Zuro Loma & Tandayapa Bird Lodge.
The tour will start with a 90 minute drive to Zuro Loma Reserve, to visit feeders there for Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater, and a swathe of Cold Wet Temperate Cloud Forest hummingbirds, including Sword-billed Hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast, Black-tailed Trainbearer and Sapphire-vented Puffleg. By late morning, we will be driving along the Old Nono-Mindo Road through scenic cloudforests to Tandayapa Bird Lodge, arriving there for lunch. The afternoon wil be spent around Tandayapa Bird Lodge, nestled within Cool, Moist Subtropical Cloud Forest, of a very different nature, and birds to those experienced during the morning. The feeders are World famous, and regularly hold hundreds of hummingbirds, including species like Violet-tailed Sylph, Booted Racket-tail, Purple-throated Woodstar and Purple-bibbed Whitetip. Tanagers and Toucan Barbets can be found in the surrounding forest too, along with a wealth of other Cloud Forest birds. You will spend one night within the cloudforest at the very comfortable Tandayapa Bird Lodge.
Day 2: Tandayapa Bird Lodge & the Tandayapa Valley.
Tandayapa Bird Lodge lies at 5740ft (1750m) within the Lower Tandayapa Valley in the bird rich Choco bioregion of Northwest Ecuador. The highest point above the lodge (only around 25 minutes drive), in the Upper Tandayapa Valley, reaches 7545ft/2300m, and offers additonal species to those found immediately around the lodge.Within the wet, bromeliad-laden cloudforest trees of the Upper Tandayapa Valley species like Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Beryl-spangled and Grass-green Tanagers and Crimson-mantled Woodpecker all occur. Therefore, even with a full day it will feel like barely enough, once you have covered the hummingbird and fruit feeders at the lodge, and birded both the Upper and Lower Tandayapa Valley, for the greatest variety of birds! On this day, breakfast and lunch will be taken at the lodge. In the afternoon, you will be transferred back to Quito via the fast route, a drive of around 90 minutes.
• Transportation with a full time, licensed driver.
• Bilingual, professional BIRDING GUIDE.
• Meals, from lunch on the first day to lunch on the final day.
• Lodging at Tandayapa Bird Lodge, for tours longer than 1 day.
• Entrance fees to all of the reserves specified in the itinerary.
Tandayapa Bird Lodge - Birding Tours
Birding Tour
2 Days – 1 Night
2 Days – 1 Night
Nestled in the heart of the Andean cloud forest, Tandayapa Bird Lodge offers one of the most rewarding and accessible birding experiences in Ecuador — a country renowned for its extraordinary avian diversity. This carefully crafted 2-day, 1-night tour is designed for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers eager to immerse themselves
Birding Tour
3 Days – 2 Nights
3 Days – 2 Nights
Welcome to an immersive birdwatching journey in one of South America’s most biodiverse regions — the Andean cloud forests of northwestern Ecuador. This carefully curated 3-day, 2-night tour to Tandayapa Bird Lodge offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore a rich avian paradise, where lush vegetation, misty mountainsides, and vibrant birdlife
Birding Tour
4 Days – 3 Nights
4 Days – 3 Nights
Over four days of immersive exploration, guests will have the opportunity to observe an astonishing array of bird species in their natural habitat. From dazzling tanagers and shimmering hummingbirds to rare and endemic birds like the Toucan Barbet and Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, every moment in this avian paradise is filled with
Birding Tour
5 Days – 4 Nights
5 Days – 4 Nights
Located deep within Ecuador’s stunning Chocó Andino cloud forest, Tandayapa Bird Lodge provides an exceptional birdwatching adventure for both nature lovers and dedicated birders. This 5-day, 4-night journey takes you into one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots, surrounded by verdant forests, flowing waterfalls, and the melodic calls of countless
Prices are Per Person – 2026
Tours
Included
- Transportation with a full time, licensed driver.
- Bilingual, professional BIRDING GUIDE.
- Meals, from lunch on the first day to lunch on the final day.
- Lodging at Tandayapa Bird Lodge, for tours longer than 1 day.
- Entrance fees to all of the reserves specified in the itinerary.
Rooms
Tandayapa Bird Lodge features a main structure housing nine guest rooms, along with an additional building nearby that offers two more rooms.
These external rooms are ideal for guests seeking a closer connection to nature and are located about a 4-minute walk from the main lodge. Each room includes a private bathroom, 24-hour electricity, and hot water. Wi-Fi is available in the common areas.
The highlight of the lodge is its balcony, where multiple feeders attract numerous species of hummingbirds every day.
Dining at the lodge includes a mix of local and international dishes, such as traditional Andean soups and freshly made tropical fruit juices.
- Zuro Loma
- Yanacocha
- Refugio Paz de las Aves
- Amagusa,Mashpi
- Milpe Bird Sanctuary
- Rio Silanche
