Shadier Coffee has 8 acres of coffee planted at the Tandayapa Bird Lodge and you are welcome to come bird it! We also have some 4 acres of coffee beginning to produce at both the Milpe and Río Silanche Bird Sanctuaries of the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation. The birding opportunities are outstanding.

There is more here than birds -- NW Pichincha province in Ecuador begins where Quito ends and forms an altitudinal transect that connects the Tropical Andes and Magdalena-Choco-Tumbes biodiversity hotspots (as characterized by Conservation International). Simply put, Ecuador is one of the world´s few mega-diverse countries and our stomping grounds are among the most diverse in Ecuador. Come see orchids, tree ferns over 50 feet tall, stunning vistas, waterfalls. Learn the difference between a cloud forest and a rain forest. Hiking, biking, river tubing and more.

We are happy to set up tours or recommend operators if you´re interested. A week visit could include pre-incan ruins, coffee farms, bird walks and hummingbird gardens with up to 24 species. That´s not a typo. The Tandayapa valley boasts the world´s most active and most diverse hummingbird activity, short ones, skinny ones, tall ones, fat ones, racketed tails and long streaming violet ones too.

Did I mention South America´s first eco-scenic birders´ trail, the Ecoruta el Paseo del Quinde?

When are you coming?