Sachatamia

Overview

Setting

Lush Tropical Cloud Forest next to Mindo-Nambillo Reserve.

A comfortable and cozy wooden lodge set in lush tropical cloud forest just next to the Mindo-Nambillo reserve. Built from wood, the lodge is comprised of several cabins next to the forest and a main building with lodging on the first floor and a main dining area and lounge area with beautiful views to the forest and garden of native plants and humming bird feeders which are litterally buzzing with activity.

The lodge is very comfortable and cozy and has an indoor swimmingpool and jazuzzi with views onto the forest which is great for relaxing at the end of the day. Birding is superb, both within the private 120 hectare reserve in which the lodge is located (which includes one of the 2 LEKs in Ecuador for the Umbrellabird Longuipendulo and several dozen species of hummingbird) and in the nearby reserves. Over 320 bird species have been recorded in the valley near to the lodge, with 20 species of humming bird typically spotted on a single day.

One of the advantages of Sachatamia is its good access to the road, means it makes a great base to explore the nearby reserves like Mindo, Los Bancos and the Milpe and Rio Silanche Sanctuaries. For plant lovers, the reserve is home to a wealth of endemic trees, plants and wildflower species, orchids, bromeliads, heliconias and anthuriums.

 

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

Double, Single and Triple rooms available in the main lodge and forest cabins, all with private bathrooms, hot water. Room size can vary, so we will always request a larger room for our guests.

Check-out

Flexible depending on availability.

Amenities

Large open living and dining area with a game area and bar. Miles of trails through private cloud forest reserve, as well as an indoor pool and jazuzzi.

Food & drink

Good food with a combination of international and Ecuadorean cuisine.

Activities

Lots of easy trails through beautiful cloud forest, home to exotic orchids, amazing tropical birds, great for access to nearby cock of the rock LEK and other world renowned birding sites.

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

Sachatamia – (Western Slopes)

• Altitude 1700m
• Temperature 16C - 26C
• 25-30 Hummingbird sp.
• Spectacular Hummingbird viewing

Bordering the Mindo Nambillo protected Forest located strategically near the Junction to Mindo just 15 minutes from los Bancos and 30 minutes from Vicente Maldonado and a 1h.30 minutes from the Capital of Ecuador Quito. Settled among a private forest of around 300hectares makes this place ideal for Birdwatchers who want to use this lodge as a base to cover all the important birding sights in the Mindo area.

With close to 200 birds species see in the area and reserve around the lodge, a nearby cock of the rock lek and one of the two ‘LEK’ registered in Ecuador as pertaining to the Umbrellabird Longuipendulo, found in the reserve it is a great birding spot.

Information on some of the birding highlights from this region - (all can be seen/visited from all three of the lodges we work with in the Western Andes region)

Cock of the Rock
The Cock-of-the-rock, which compose the genus Rupicola, are South American cotingid birds. The Cock-of-the Rock is one of the world's most spectacular birds. Its fantastic plumage and colorful courtship display equal those of any bird of paradise. the remarkable Cock of the Rock. A bright red, Jackdaw-sized bird, males romp strenuously and noisily on steep forested hillsides at displaying areas known as leks. Each morning and evening the males stage a colorful, noisy mating display at a “lek”,. Each bird competes to be the loudest and brightest performer to impress the females, which in comparison are rather drab.

Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are birds comprising the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, and include the smallest extant bird species Hummingbirds are specialized nectarivores[4] and are tied to the ornithophilous flowers they feed upon. Some species, especially those with unusual bill shapes such as the Sword-billed Hummingbird , are co-evolved with a small number of flower species. Hummingbirds will also take sugar-water from bird feeders. Such feeders allow people to observe and enjoy hummingbirds up close while providing the birds with a reliable source of energy, especially when flower blossoms are less abundant. Every Native American culture had a word to name these birds: "huitzitzil" in nahuatl language, "quinde" in quichua, "guanumbi" in guarani, etc. In Andean America, hummingbirds are commonly called "quindes". The biggest number of species is found in the humid forests of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Ecuador and Colombia have the world record with more than 130 species each.

Antpitta
The antpittas in the genera Grallaria, Hylopezus, Myrmothera and Grallaricula are a sexually monomorphic; they resemble the true pittas in that they are virtually tailess; they hop like some thrushes, and are much easier to hear than see – although their vocalizations may be rather atypical for perching birds. These are forest birds that tend to feed on insects at or near the ground since many are specialist ant eaters. Most are drab in appearance with shades of (rusty) brown, black, and white being their dominant tones. Compared to other birds that specialize in following ants, this family is the most tied to the ground. The long, powerful legs (which lend the birds a distinctive upright posture) and an essentially vestigial tail aid this lifestyle.

Angel Paz
This small private reserve has become the latest birding sensation in the northwest and is sometimes affectionately referred to as "the antpitta farm". Here Angel Paz, a local farmer has gained the trust of some normally rare and shy forest species by offering them juicy worms. Yellow-breasted, Moustached, and Giant Antpittas are now regularly seen here (Yellow-breasted being the most reliable), and the local covey of Dark-backed Wood-Quail is seen on perhaps one out of three visits. Other forest birds regularly encountered are Golden-headed Quetzal, Toucan Barbet, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, and Scaled Fruiteater. Crested Quetzal can occasionally be found at fruiting trees. There is also a lek where gaudy Andean Cocks-of-the-rock display at dawn, and Angel and his brothers have constructed a viewing blind. If you arrive before first light you can witness this spectacle at close range.

 

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.