Tandayapa Bird Lodge

Name: Tandayapa Bird Lodge
Address: Nanegalito, EC
Telephone: +593994980922
Rating: 5

Casa
Ecuador
Nanegalito
Tandayapa Bird Lodge

The Tandayapa Valley in northwest Ecuador is world famous as a hotspot for birds, and birders. It sits within an internationally recognized Important Bird Area.
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More than a place to stay, Tandayapa Bird Lodge is your gateway to Ecuador’s Andean Cloud Forest, where remarkable wildlife, breathtaking scenery, and genuine comfort come together to create an unforgettable nature experience Tandayapa Bird Lodge opened its doors in 1999, and has been getting a regular stream of birders and photographers after the many specialties of the area, and general nature l

overs, from all over the world, since then. Located just 90 minutes by road from Quito, it is readily accessible from the Ecuadorian capital, and sits close to many world-famous birding sites, like Mindo and Mashpi, making it an attractive base for exploring not only the cloudforests of the Tandayapa Valley, but a variety of forest types lower down, which bring with them whole new sets of birds. The lodge was designed and developed with birders and bird photographers in mind, and it is now well established as not only a great birding venue and base, but also one of the premier places on Earth to photograph and film hummingbirds. Visits from Birding Adventures TV, National Geographic, and the BBC Natural History Unit are all testament to this.

27/08/2026

SITE SHOWCASE: MASHPI. This encompasses a few different reserves in the foothills of the Andes, about 2 hours from the lodge (the longest day trip). It is covered on lodge visits of 4 nights or more. Though the journey is longer than others, the avian rewards are great and make this trip very worthwhile. Mashpi boasts an amazing suite of birds, quite a few of which are either only possible on this day trip from the lodge, or are at least much easier to see there than anywhere else, including Moss-backed Tanager, Glistening-green Tanager, Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Rose-faced Parrot, Indigo Flowerpiercer, and Pacific Tuftedcheek. The lower elevation reserve closeby sometimes has Emerald and Gray-and-gold Tanagers and Orange-fronted Barbet at their feeders too! It is a remarkable area.

26/08/2026

SITE SHOWCASE: FRUTTI TOUR (lowlands). On extended birding stays (3+ nights) we visit an area of the Pacific lowlands (c.980ft/300m elevation) near the town of Pedro Vicente Maldonado, west of the lodge. The birding there is markedly different from that within the cloudforest around the lodge (5740ft/1750m), so many new birds are to be expected. We usually start the day at Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary for some forest birding before visiting the unique and amazing feeders at Frutti Tour, where a siege of birds comes in. The hummingbirds are crazy there, with some special ones to target, like Long-billed Starthroat, Bronzy and White-whiskered Hermits, Purple-chested and Violet-bellied Hummingbirds, and Black-throated Mango. These are only easily seen here in the Tandayapa region. Then you have other feeders, which attract three species of woodpeckers (Golden-olive and Black-cheeked Woodpeckers, and the massive black, white, and red, Lineated Woodpecker). The feeders also often attract Dusky-faced Tanager, for fans of family listing, as this is from the small Mitrospingid Tanager family. Other lowland birds that may be seen there include, Pacific Antwren, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Red-billed Scythebill, and Great Antshrike. It is so totally different from the other days spent higher up, it is a thrilling experience that often surpasses a hundred species between the two sites and plentiful photos at the latter one, Frutti Tour. Here are some of the birds from Frutti Tour, a newish and exciting site that has become a must visit one in a very short time, and has brought in a good income for the private people who run the reserve from their birding and photography visitors. So it is a local conservation success story as they now protect some forest that would have been flattened for farming. Our visits help keep the forest standing. Sam

25/08/2026

A lot of birders like to see new bird families, and there are many families available in the Tandayapa area. This is particular true for first timers into the region. Here are just some of the bird families that can be seen while staying at the lodge.....GUANS, CHACHALACAS, CURASSOWS; NEW WORLD QUAIL; NIGHTJARS; OILBIRD; HUMMINGBIRDS; HAWKS, EAGLES & KITES; TROGONS; MOTMOTS; PUFFBIRDS; JACAMARS; NEW WORLD BARBETS; TOUCAN-BARBETS; TOUCANS; WOODPECKERS; NEW WORLD & AFRICAN PARROTS; TYPICAL ANTBIRDS; ANTPITTAS; ANTTHRUSHES; OVENBIRDS & WOODCREEPERS; MANAKINS; COTINGAS; TITYRAS & ALLIES; TYRANT FLYCATCHERS; DIPPERS; TROUPIALS AND ALLIES; NEW WORLD WARBLERS; MITROSPINGID TANAGERS; TANAGERS AND ALLIES, among others. Here are a few of these families to feast on...

24/08/2026

Foothill Zone Tanagers: Continuing our looks at the tanagers of different destinations, we go to below the lodge, (easily accessible by full or half day tours). If you thought that the Subtropical Zone Tanagers were good, you are right to think so. However, some of the foothills ones match them for appeal. Take a look, and remember ALL of these tanagers in the three posts are all perfectly gettable on a multiple night stay at the lodge (4 nights or so)....

20/08/2026

Subtropical Zone Tanagers: Moving lower down than the temperate zone, around the lodge and nearby areas is within cloud forest in the subtropics of the Andes, one of the richest areas for birding, hummingbirds and one of the richest for tanagers. Here is a heady selection of regular tanagers at this altitude. Next up, we will focus on the foothills below the lodge where there are some very spectacular tanagers indeed!....Sam

19/08/2026

Temperate Zone tanagers. We usually cover some higher elevation sites between Quito and Tandayapa, as they are conveniently located along the scenic route there. This is where we usually get our first taste of both the remarkable hummingbirds of the Andes but also the tanagers, which only become more diverse and multicolored once you reach the lodge itself....Sam

18/08/2026

Birding packages from 1 to 7 days are available. We also offer tailor-made packages designed around your interests.

For more information, email [email protected] or contact us on WhatsApp at +593 98-409-9520

18/08/2026

TROGONS OF TANDAYAPA: Trogons are some of the most highly-desired of the exotic tropical families, and the Tandayapa region boasts 8 species from this family (Masked, White-tailed, Blue-tailed, Choco Black-throated, and Collared Trogons, and Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals). Sam

14/08/2026

VALLEY LIFE: A selection of birds that inhabit the Tandayapa Valley, one of the most hallowed sites in Ecuadorian birding! Sam Woods

14/08/2026

Wake up surrounded by cloud forest, enjoy exceptional food, explore nature, and discover the unique experiences waiting just beyond the lodge. Come experience Tandayapa Bird Lodge.

📧 [email protected]
📱 WhatsApp: +593 984 099 520

Dirección

Nanegalito

Teléfono

+593994980922

Página web

http://www.tandayapabirdlodge.com/

Notificaciones

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