Bellavista

Overview

Setting

In the heart of the Cloud Forest Canopy.

The accomodation itself is simple, but comfortable. The forest around the lodge is literally buzzing with hummingbirds, which you can observe from your private balcony and the main area around the lodge.

As well as spotting some spectacular birdlife the 360 degree view from the Dome also allows you to see across the forest canopy to the rugged peaks of the Pichincha and Cotacachi Volcanoes in the distance.

At an elevation of 1,650 to 2,350 meters, with plunging valleys and tall trees festooned with orchids and bromeliads, Bellavista is a perfect place to discover the beauty of a cloud forest.

Restricted range birds such as the Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, the Toucan Barbet, and the rare Tanager-Finch live here.

Making a Difference
Bellavista started off in 1991 as a deforesested farm of 55 hectairs which was purchased by the British-Colombian owners. It is now a reserve of over 700 hectares in the buffer zone of the Mindo-Nambillo Protected Forest.

• Roger Ahlman - Many-spotted Hummingbird.
• D. Moore – Golden Tailed Sapphire

 

If you would like any more information or to chat over the details of the trip we would be delighted to help. Telephone 01482 872 716 for more information or email us today.

Facilities

Rooms

15 rooms have hot showers and comfortable beds in different houses:

• The Trailhead House: the newest construction made from brick and wood with spacious balconies each with chairs and hammocks. Can accommodate a family of 6 on the second floor and with two cosy double rooms on the first floor.
• The Dome: offers 5 double rooms with private baths and balconies. On the top two floors dormitory-style with 12 beds and shared bathroom, with 360 views and a large balcony. ** Although they have great views we don’t recommend the Dome for anyone with mobility problems as you have to access the rooms via very steep ladder-style steps.
• House in the Woods: If you would like your own mountain forest hideaway there is a 2 storey house with a bathroom on each floor offering complete seclusion.

Rates

Price per person sharing double room $98 (approx GB£70)1, single Room $116 (approx GB£82), for dormitary accomodation $61 (approx GB£43) – full board including 22% taxes

Check-out

Flexible depending on availability.

Amenities

Bellavista offers an excellent network of more than 10 km of trails through the 700 hectaire reserve around the lodge. The trails range from easy to genuinely adventurous through some truly beautiful forest filled with amazing birdlife with some small waterfalls hidden deep under the forest canopy. Although many trails are self-guided, naturalist guides and specialist birding guides are available (and recommended for at least part of your stay, to really bring the forest alive for you).

Food & drink

Simple but tasty Ecuadorean and international cuisine (vegetarian, trout, chicken – red meat not usually offered)

Activities

Fantastic birding, from the joy of watching hummingbirds on your own private balcony, to explorations to find elusive forest species, with over 320 species of birds recorded in the Tandayapa Valley where the lodge is located. Emerse yourself in this truly magical forest through the range of trails with self guided trails designed for anyone from aged 10 to 101. Nearby visit to Mindo, with its Butterfly and Orchid Farms and different bird species to be discovered. Horse-back riding and mountain biking are also available.

 

If you would like any more information or to chat over the details of the trip we would be delighted to help. Telephone 01482 872 716 for more information or email us today.

Birding

Bellavista – (Western Slopes)

4 most common hummingbird species
Tawny-bellied Hermit	Collared Inca
Green Violetear	Buff-tailed Coronet
Kling Violetear	Gorgeted Sunangel
Andean Emerald	Purple-bibbed Whitetip
Speckled Hummingbird	Booted Racket-tail
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Brown Inca	Purple-throated Woodstar

The following birds are arguably the 57 most likely encountered birds at Bellavista
Black Vulture	Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant
Turkey Vulture	Golden-crowned Flycatcher
Plain-breasted Hawk	Blue and White Swallow
Roadside Hawk	Plain-tailed Wren
Sickle-winged Guan	Grey-breasted Wood-Wren
Band-tailed Pigeon	Great Thrush
Plumbeous Pigeon	Glossy-black Thrush
Red-billed Parrot	Turquoise Jay
Squirrel Cuckoo	Blackburnian Warbler
Common Potoo	Spectacled Whitestart
Band-winged Nightjar	Slate-throated Whitestart
White-collared Swift	Russet-crowned Warbler
Masked Trogon	Grass-green Tanager
Toucan Barbet	Dusky Bush-Tanager
Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan	Rufous-chested Tanager
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker	Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager
Powerful Woodpecker	Thick-billed Euphonia
Strong-billed Woodcreeper	Orange-bellied Euphonia
Montane Woodcreeper	Golden Tanager
Azara's Spinetail	Flame-faced Tanager
Red-faced Spinetail	Beryl-spangled Tanager
Streaked Tuftedcheek	Blue-and-black Tanager
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta	Rufous-collared Sparrow
Spillmann's Tapaculo	Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch
Green and black Fruiteater	White-winged Brush-Finch
Streak-necked Flycatcher	White-winged Brush-Finch
White-tailed Tyrannulet	White-sided Flowerpiercer
Cinnamon Flycatcher	Masked Flowerpiercer
Smoke-coloured Pewee	Yellow Grosbeak

13 target birds often seen around Bellavista
Rufescent Screech-Owl	White-faced Nunbird
Cloud Forest Pygmy-Owl	Giant Antpitta
Swallow-tailed Nightjar	Ocellated Tapaculo
Green-fronted Lancebill	Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
Crested Quetzal	Plushcap
Golden-headed Quetzal	Tanager Finch
Beautiful Jay

 

If you would like any more information or to chat over the details of the trip we would be delighted to help. Telephone 01482 872 716 for more information or email us today.