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NEAR QUITO > ALAMBI CLOUD FOREST RESERVE
Alambi Cloud Forest Reserve, just 70 minutes from Quito, on the main highway that links Quito to the coast, is a family home-style guesthouse set in 250 hectares (625 acres) of mostly primary cloud forest at the foot of the Tandayapa Valley, famed among world birders. Alambi is a hummingbird paradise with more than 30 species recorded and over 15 species visiting the feeders every day. Alambi is a perfect base for exploring Ecuador´s Northwest.
The guesthouse at Alambi was originally built by a ship´s captain as a family retirement residence. In 2004 Alambi was acquired by Fabian Luna who was inspired to preserve the forest and promote its conservation.
The guesthouse can sleep six guests, so the emphasis is on exclusivity and peace. It is set in its own mature gardens on the banks of the river Alambi. Many fruits including lemons, mandarins and oranges, avocado, coffee, papaya and guava grow in the gardens alongside native orchids while, on the river, Torrent Ducks and White-capped Dipper live in the currents and Andean Cock-of-the-Rock nests under the bridge annually. At 1480 metres above sea level the average temperature is about 21° C (70° F) year round.
The more remote parts of the reserve are home to larger animals such as Spectacled Bear, Jaguarundi, Puma, four species of Guan, to-date 250 species of birds have been recorded at Alambi. This is one of the highest totals for a single private reserve in the region. This is because Alambi covers a large range of altitudes (1450-2200masl), with several different habitats. Rare or special sightings recently include: White-faced Nunbird, Crested Guan, Long-billed Starthroat, Maroon-chested Ground-Dove, Undulated, Yellow-breasted and Giant Antpitta, Uniform Treehunter, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Tamandúa Anteater and Spectacled Bear. For a full species list click here.
Alambi has, of course, experienced bird guides and is the perfect base for birding tours, situated just 50 metres from the main highway that links Quito to the coast, the traditional artery used by all birding tours in Ecuador´s Northwest. This makes the logistics of a tour easier, and gives you some extra time in bed. Sites you can reach in a day from Alambi give you access to virtually all the species of Ecuador´s Chocó, over 600 species.
For more information, a price list or to make a reservation, e-mail: info@alambicloudforest.com jairo@alambicloudforest.com or reservations@alambicloudforest.com Phones: 593 - 9 - 974 0781 / 593 - 2 - 211 6245 / 593 - 9 - 897 3966
Click here to see more of Alambi Cloud Forest Reserve
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WILDSUMACO WILDLIFE SANCTUARY and LODGE, ECUADOR
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| Foothill Screech Owl © Roger Ahlman |
A new lodge in Ecuador's Eastern Foothills, built for birders by birders.
For years, birders have visited the Sumaco area to see species that are tough to find elsewhere, but until now comfortable guest accommodations have been unavailable.
Set on a ridge in the Andes' Eastern Foothills, Wildsumaco Lodge has panoramic views reaching across the Rio Pucuno Valley and to the Andes beyond. On clear days the distant snow-covered heights of El Altar, Chimborazo and Antisana Volcanoes glow white against the blue sky. North of the lodge is Sumaco National Park, with the volcano Sumaco stretching up some 3800 meters.
Wildsumaco Lodge was built with birders and outdoor enthusiasts in mind. At the end of a long day, birders want a quiet, comfortable room, a private bathroom with a hot shower, outlets to recharge electronics, and space to spread out books and birding gear. Wildsumaco Lodge features home-style cooking from around the world and 3 meals a day are included in the rates. Soft drinks, wine, beer, and bar drinks are available. The lodge can accommodate either individuals or private groups, or tour groups of up to 20 persons in our 10 guest rooms.
Birding at Wildsumaco is fantastic, and our bird list now contains over 400 species. Amazing mixed species flocks, recently containing Straw-backed Tanager, can be leisurely studied from our deck. Possibilities from Wildsumaco's trails include birds that are rare and nearly impossible to see elsewhere, such as Gray-tailed Piha, Yellow-throated Spadebill and Chestnut-crowned Gnateater. Short-tailed Antthrush and Wing-banded Wren often sing, while more uncommon species like Gray-throated Leaftosser and Plain-backed Antpitta are seen occasionally. The very rare Andean Laniisoma has a territory along one of the trails.
Twenty-two species of hummingbird are known to have visited our feeders to date, and on one wonderful day in July 2008, 17 species were seen in a hour or so, including Napo Sabrewing, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Gould's Jewelfront, Violet-fronted and Black-throated Brilliant, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Rufous-vented Whitetip, Violet-headed Hummingbird and Gray-chinned Hermit and our first record of Lazuline Sabrewing.
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We have a day perch for Great Potoo, and at any time the endangered Military Macaw or rare Spot-winged Parrotlet might fly by, or Black Hawk-Eagle soar overhead. In the evening we have stakeouts for Foothill and Rufescent Screech-Owls and Band-bellied Owl.
For additional information or reservations, please view our website www.wildsumaco.com, or send an email to: bonnie@wildsumaco.com
Click here to find out more about Wildsumaco
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| TAPICHALACA RESERVE, ECUADOR
The Tapichalaca Reserve protects an unusually wet area of montane forest on the eastern slope of the Andes that includes almost all of the known range of the recently discovered Jocotoco Antpitta. The area is home to other vulnerable restricted-range birds such as the Bearded Guan, Golden-plumed Parakeet, and Masked Saltator. Large mammals such as Spectacled Bear and Woolly Mountain Tapir can also be found here. With assistance from World Land Trust, Fundación Jocotoco has created a 6,000-acre private reserve with a small lodge for visitors.
World Land Trust-US is an international conservation organization that purchases and protects lands that are critical for preventing immediate species extinctions and are exceptionally rich in biological diversity. Other World Land Trust-US Projects (http://www.worldlandtrust-us.org/projects/index.html) include:
• Buenaventura Reserve, Ecuador, an area of unusually high bird endemism and the only habitat of the critically endangered El Oro Tapaculo and the El Oro Parakeet;
• Cosanga Valley, Ecuador, lands covered by Andean cloud forests, host many endemic, rare and endangered species;
• San Rafael, Paraguay, a core tract of endangered Interior Atlantic forest;
• Tumbesian Region, Ecuador of south-western Ecuador, a highly threatened tropical dry forest with hundreds of endemic species.
Save land with World Land Trust-US: Your $100 contribution purchases and saves an acre of rainforest forever. http://www.worldlandtrust-us.org/supporting/index.html
Click here to find out more about the World Land Trust
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| MINDO, ECUADOR > PACHIJAL ECOLODGE
Pachijal is a shining example of conservation and sustainability.
More than 500 of 1500 bird species of Ecuador are in the Valley of Mindo. Our guides can help You to see them.
We have one single and five double rooms, four of which can accommodate up to four beds. Every rooms hasa its own bath and hot shower. Every room has its own covered patio. A panoramic roof terrace has tremendous views.
Other activities include biking and horseback riding on more than 40km trails in the forest, guided nature tours, cultural history and much more.
Click here to see Pachijal
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| • Approximately 50,000 birdwatchers every week.
• Ranked the Number 1 Amazon.com Associate for Birding websites
• Ranked in the Top 5 for Birding Websites by both Yahoo! and Google
• Every one of our readers are birding enthusiasts from all over the world. Over 60% visit the site every day, making Surfbirds one of the most popular birding websites in the world .
• Only costs $100 or £75 or 100 Euros for a listing for a year!
 Email us for details on how to be included (click here)
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