San Isidro (Eastern Slopes)

Overview

Setting

Nestled in the picturesque Quijos Valley, one of the westernmost headwaters of the Amazon basin, San Isidro (of Napo, Ecuador and only 2 ½ hours from Quito) lies at an elevation of about 2,000m (6,800 ft.) above sea level in a zone still mostly blanketed by extensive humid forest. San Isidro has built a reputation for being the premier spot for serious birders whose interests lie in seeking out the birds - rare or common - of the lush subtropical zone of the east slope of the Andes.

Cabañas San Isidro offers kilometers of well marked and well maintained forest trails that will lead you through a variety of habitat zones typical of the region, including some of the most beautiful, accessible, and well preserved montane humid forest to be found anywhere on the east slope of the Andes; you wouldn't want to miss a stroll down the trails below the cabins that teem with wildlife.

Just outside your cabin doorstep is our Mirador lounge where groups can tally bird lists or just sit back and enjoy the breathtaking view of the surrounding hills after a long hike. At the days back in our cozy living room of the main house with a local welcome cocktail that is sure to warm you up.

Some History
Cabañas San Isidro was founded over forty years ago by the Bustamante family of Quito, Ecuador, when the uncharted lands of eastern Ecuador where first made available to the public by a government campaign to convert unclaimed lands into productive farms. With a deep concern for proper natural resource management as well as for the urgent need to protect the unique flora and fauna of the zone, Simón Bustamante (one of the pioneer modern-day explorers of the Ecuadorian Amazon) left the majority of his vast (now 1,300 hectares) property untouched despite the pressure from many levels to clear the forest for what was then considered land improvement.

Over the years and through a slow evolution, Cabañas San Isidro has matured into a comfortable birding/nature oriented lodge surrounded by some of the largest and most accessible tracts of primary, humid subtropical forest that today - as it has for the last 20 years - is run by Simón's daughter, Carmen.

Making a Difference
In recent years Cabañas San Isidro was able to facilitate an important land purchase adjacent to its property. Private friends and donors together with Mitch Lysinger (of San Isidro) became partners in conservation and co-landowners when they acquired 550 hectares (1,210 acres) of mature forest to connect to Cabañas San Isidro's already existing 620 hectare reserve.

Cabañas San Isidro maintains a vital role as one of the front-runners on Ecuador 's east-slope with respect to tying together land acquisition and protection projects, serious biological research, community involvement and world-class nature tourism in one of the most ecologically sensitive and important zones that the country has to offer. The lodge serves as the major nexus in the Cosanga Valley that links the Antisana and Gran Sumaco Reserves by way of a wide and splendid flat montane forest reserve - flat forests these days in the Andes are hard to come by since much of this habitat type has been converted into pasture.

• 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

Facilities

• Excellent and very easy trails through private forest which takes you straight to the birds.
• Birding from the porch of the cabins!
• 11 comfortable double rooms all with private bathroom, electricity and private living rooms.
• At the main lodge, beautiful views of the surrounding hills, with a cozy living room in the main house and a separate ‘hacienda style’ dinning area.
• Excellent home cooked food, a combination of international and Ecuadorean cusine.

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

San Isidro (Eastern Slopes)

Cabañas San Isidro and its immediate surroundings now boast a bird list of about 310 species, many of which are more easily found here than anywhere else in the country.

San Isidro Lodge is situated at about 2050 meters above sea level, but the trails lead through elevational gradients that pass through habitats from 2,400 meters all the way down to 1,850 meters. What this means to birders is an ideal base to observe Andean birds from the lower reaches of the temperate zone down into the heart of the subtropical zone.

Birds such as Highland Tinamou, Greater Scythebill, Bicolored Antvireo, Peruvian and Giant Antpittas, and White-rimmed Brush-Finch are a few of the exciting rarities that make their homes at San Isidro Lodge. The White-faced Nunbird might even put in an appearance as it has been seen at San Isidro more in recent years than at any other single site on the east slope in Ecuador.

Mammals are becoming increasingly rare in the neotropics - especially in the Andes - but species such as Spectacled Bear, Mountain Tapir, Pudu, Night Monkey, White-fronted Capuchin, Oncilla, Puma, Jaguarundi, Tayra, and even Giant Anteater are reported with increasing frequency on San Isidro's property.

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.